• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Some basses just sound better with effects

bassgrackle

bassgrackle

Aug 17, 2010
983
2,211
#1
I love my MTD basses (535 and Saratoga with Aguilar Super Doubles), but I can never get them fat and dirty the way I need them to be. On the other hand the active electronics in my Stingrays sound amazing with some dirt on them. And then the classic Jazz bass was just made to be dirty. Am I the only one finding this to be the case with more "HiFi" basses like the MTD?
 
  • Like
Reactions: skydivingninja
#5
Swimming Bird said:
Yeah, my hifi basses have active preamps that tend to not play well with dirt. So I pretty much just always use my one passive instrument. If I wasn't so sentimental I'd probably flip em.
Click to expand...

I agree. But I really love the hifi tone in some cases. Which is why my new obsession is basses with a active passive switch and tone knob in passive. I had a few like this in the past and never understood the beinfit. Now I get it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Swimming Bird
#6
bassgrackle said:
I agree. But I really love the hifi tone in some cases. Which is why my new obsession is basses with a active passive switch and tone knob in passive. I had a few like this in the past and never understood the beinfit. Now I get it.
Click to expand...

Yes, it really is the cake and eat it too scenario. I love a Stingray sound, but the Pbass / Jazz sound with dirt is also a love. Having options in one bass really goes a looooong way to be versatile, and to maximize what comes out of the effects. And for me, it's just another one of those combo situations, where impedance and output frequency find a musical use, and distinction.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Swimming Bird
#7
Alien8 said:
Yes, it really is the cake and eat it too scenario. I love a Stingray sound, but the Pbass / Jazz sound with dirt is also a love. Having options in one bass really goes a looooong way to be versatile, and to maximize what comes out of the effects. And for me, it's just another one of those combo situations, where impedance and output frequency find a musical use, and distinction.
Click to expand...
I have found the stingray get responds better the most active basses to effects. Better then any of the MTDs I play.
 
#8
My L-2000 gets all the fx love these days.
So much to do with the L2K: Passive, active, treble boost, series, parallel, neck pu, bridge pu, combined, even single coil split mods, etc.
Leo’s finest IMO.
 
#9
bassgrackle said:
I have found the stingray get responds better the most active basses to effects. Better then any of the MTDs I play.
Click to expand...

It does certainly work better than the others, but there is a EQ curve in the preamps that when removed makes for some awesome hidden sounds.

XXL said:
My L-2000 gets all the fx love these days.
So much to do with the L2K: Passive, active, treble boost, series, parallel, neck pu, bridge pu, combined, even single coil split mods, etc.
Leo’s finest IMO.
Click to expand...

I modded my single pickup stingray clone in a similar vein that the G&L lives - split coil selection, parallel and series. Then a 3EQ active / passive toggle with a passive tone. My fav sound is the "neck" coil in either active with a small bass bump or passive with the tone back a bit. It's so flexible that I can dial in or out different fx behaviour all on the bass.
 
#11
i feel my bass that works best with my effects is my Modulus (stingray-esqu bass) and the bass that does not play well with effects is my Spector Euro Rebop. It sounds great with light dirt but anything else and its just too hot.

I have a Sire v7 on its way soon so i am interested to see how it will play with effects.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back