Stoner/Doom Bassists Thread, Part 90: Maxed Out

[br1qbat]

I happened upon my old multi-effect unit, a Zoom g2nu that I bought years ago when I still mainly played guitar and was goofing around with synths. I had bought it as a cheap USB interface (does a decent job of it too). Never ever had played it thru an amp and cab before. My bandmate and I were tracking drums last Saturday, so I brought it down with me to have a go with. Most of the effects are limited/useless for me as a bassist, BUT, I was pleasantly surprised just how good they generally sounded overall.

The stars were the heavier distortion and fuzz (which always sounded like butt thru headphones, like most dirty DI signals tend to do). The Muff patch made me miss having a a flavor of muff on my board. Oh, dang, my wallet is tingling. . . Might have to build or buy a Muff one of these days... But also I really really liked the 'Jimi Fuzz' patch which had to be a Fuzz Face, but it also had a tone control, so not 100% sure it was based on the Fuzz Face, but in any event, I dug it. Might use it and the muff here or there on the record. The octave up effect worked ok, when it tracked, and filled out the fuzz too. Good to demo live some pedal combos I've toyed with getting to try out.

The low gain patches were all pretty meh, including the Rat, when A/B'd against the real thing, but the HM-3 and High Gain amp (probably a Mesa Dual Rec? styled patch) were quite good too. So was the Talk box simulation and Comb Filter. The delays and stuff are fine but I've never gotten along with delays on bass. The flanger flanged and the phaser phased, but neither touched my Electric Mistress Deluxe or the Phasetone.

Always good to have a pleasant surprise!

 

[Kawai2g4b]

Are any of y’all aware of Weedpecker? Just gave their album IV: The Stream of Forgotten Thoughts. Absolutely killer heavy psych from what was originally more of a straight stoner band.

 

[Novarocker]

Are any of y’all aware of Weedpecker? Just gave their album IV: The Stream of Forgotten Thoughts. Absolutely killer heavy psych from what was originally more of a straight stoner band.

No, I don't think I have, though the album cover seems familiar. Good look, thanks for throwing it up here.

@br1qbat I remember a buddy having one of those multi effects and thinking it was the bee's knees back in middle school! Can't remember what brand though. I agree, the high gain on digital stuff is great, just sometimes a bit different than analog. Maybe that's why most complained, or the headphone thing.

Feel free to reach out if you'd want to. I got tons of misc dirt pedals and a few different muffs if you want to try or use any of em for recording.

 

[br1qbat]

Are any of y’all aware of Weedpecker? Just gave their album IV: The Stream of Forgotten Thoughts. Absolutely killer heavy psych from what was originally more of a straight stoner band.

Yeah, been awhile since I listened to them, they kinda have this floyd meets stoner vibe. Quite unique

 

[Kaa]

Are any of y’all aware of Weedpecker? Just gave their album IV: The Stream of Forgotten Thoughts. Absolutely killer heavy psych from what was originally more of a straight stoner band.

I am sooooper digging this. Just what I needed for my depressive phase.

 

[kleinenenten]

Been a bit quiet around here this week. Not much going on here bass-wise, been reading a bunch. Here's what I've been debating, though:

In my continued effort to NOT buy stuff, I think I've finally settled on just re-tuning some of my basses/guitars as needed, and maybe upgrading one or two of them instead of getting new instruments. With that in mind, does anybody know of a reason why I shouldn't UP tune a bass? As in raise the notes typically tuned to? I play 95% 5 string basses, or possibly more. My thoughts are that all of my songs so far are either in standard or dropped a whole step - and I have a separate 5 string bass set up for each. Some songs I want to learn are originally played on a 4 string tuned to C standard - which I can easily achieve by tuning my standard 5 string UP a half step. Will the extra tension cause any harm?

I have a similar situation regarding other songs, but as they would be tuning UP to Eb from D on my D standard 5 string, it's not really a concern. It's actually closer to standard tuning, which is clearly fine.

I think if I can do this without ill effect, a vast majority of material I would want to learn would be covered, with maybe the exception of some drop D stuff, which I can play on one of my two 4 strings as needed. And that would also allow me to keep my P/J (the only bass without humbuckers that is my "different sounds" bass) wearing flats. I think this may just be the ticket...

 

[cusar5]

Some songs I want to learn are originally played on a 4 string tuned to C standard - which I can easily achieve by tuning my standard 5 string UP a half step. Will the extra tension cause any harm?

I did this for C standard songs for years. It should be fine as long as you're not using really heavy strings, but you'll probably have to adjust the truss rod. There's something to be said for tuning up, honestly- the notes really "pop" with the extra tension.

 

[kleinenenten]

I did this for C standard songs for years. It should be fine as long as you're not using really heavy strings, but you'll probably have to adjust the truss rod. There's something to be said for tuning up, honestly- the notes really "pop" with the extra tension.

I was hoping to avoid messing with the truss rod and doing extra set up stuff... this sounds like maybe I'd have to get another bass eventually to keep it all in shape. My thought was I'd just tune it up/down a half step as needed between songs. I'll need to try this and see what it feels like too - as of now, there's only one song I know in C standard, and it's simple enough to just play in standard and fret the C on the first fret.

 

[scabpicker]

Will the extra tension cause any harm?

Well, it obviously would depend on how much higher you went and what condition the bass was in, but a half step probably won't harm it.

From the department of "Things you oughtn't to do but you do anyway", the second IdiotBox Rainbotron that I've ever seen went up for sale on Reverb this morning. I hesitated for a moment, because I already have one. But since they both react to each other's light and can interact with each other, I went ahead and got it. Can't wait to have two of them to pair with the Drunk Droid and the Solar Storm.

 

[kleinenenten]

Well, it obviously would depend on how much higher you went and what condition the bass was in, but a half step probably won't harm it.

From the department of "Things you oughtn't to do but you do anyway", the second IdiotBox Rainbotron that I've ever seen went up for sale on Reverb this morning. I hesitated for a moment, because I already have one. But since they both react to each other's light and can interact with each other, I went ahead and got it. Can't wait to have two of them to pair with the Drunk Droid and the Solar Storm.

This sounds incredibly awesome, incredibly weird, and incredibly unnecessary. In other words - I approve, and hope to hear a report soon!

 

[scabpicker]

This sounds incredibly awesome, incredibly weird, and incredibly unnecessary. In other words - I approve, and hope to hear a report soon!

Hehehe, I'll try to get something together once it arrives.

Anyone into Moja? My wife sent this clip to me, and it (and she) rocks. Drums + Bass duo from Tokyo.

 

[Novarocker]

Got a DA120, now I gotta figure out if I can stuff it into another box or somehow fit it into my rig...bolt it to the amp???

Not a whole lot either on my end, though i am taking steps towards my next build. Gotta cut up and joint the 4th side so I can have a bunch of 4S wood, all free from pallets. Debating whether I wanna paint, show off the unwanted wood, or do a mix.

Well, it obviously would depend on how much higher you went and what condition the bass was in, but a half step probably won't harm it.

From the department of "Things you oughtn't to do but you do anyway", the second IdiotBox Rainbotron that I've ever seen went up for sale on Reverb this morning. I hesitated for a moment, because I already have one. But since they both react to each other's light and can interact with each other, I went ahead and got it. Can't wait to have two of them to pair with the Drunk Droid and the Solar Storm.

Dang, I've been lazier that poo. If you ever wanna let one of em go, let me know.

So pumped he's finishing up the last one from last year too.

And thanks for posting up Moja, I dig it!

 

[scabpicker]

Got a DA120, now I gotta figure out if I can stuff it into another box or somehow fit it into my rig...bolt it to the amp???

Hehe, is this a drone aircraft engine, or a Mitsubishi light diesel? Either one, I vote that you bolt it to the amp.

J/K, yeah, that Dunwitch is a big motherscratcher. If you're never planning on switching it off, why not just set it on top of the amp? I did that with my Univox phaser for years, since it's a box with no foot switches. If you actually plan to turn it off, then you're gonna need a bigger pedal board. I have a gigantic one that someone gave me for $50 that I'll probably never actually use. It's yours for the price of shipping.

Debating whether I wanna paint, show off the unwanted wood, or do a mix.

I say pull a Gibson and stain each plank a different color, maybe leave one or two plain. It's all softwood, right? Green, blue, red, orange, black, purple, natural (because it's already yellow), or some combo like that.

Dang, I've been lazier that poo. If you ever wanna let one of em go, let me know.

Heheh, sez the person who salvaged a bunch of wood and is halfway through a guitar body build. Do you realize how much YouTube I watch?

I might be willing to let one of them go if you've got a noisemaker or mystery pedal you're not fond of that I don't already have. <elbows Novarocker and wiggles his eyebrows> You wouldn't happen to have an Orange Cycle, would ya? I saw one go up on Reverb once, didn't grab it before lunch, and then it was gone. Still kinda kicking myself.

So pumped he's finishing up the last one from last year too.

Hehe, I am too. I opted to not see the artwork before I got it, because I like surprises. What did you choose?

And thanks for posting up Moja, I dig it!

Happy to be of service! Seriously, my wife deserves all the cred. She was cool enough to see it first.

 

[Novarocker]

Hehe, is this a drone aircraft engine, or a Mitsubishi light diesel? Either one, I vote that you bolt it to the amp.

J/K, yeah, that Dunwitch is a big motherscratcher. If you're never planning on switching it off, why not just set it on top of the amp? I did that with my Univox phaser for years, since it's a box with no foot switches. If you actually plan to turn it off, then you're gonna need a bigger pedal board. I have a gigantic one that someone gave me for $50 that I'll probably never actually use. It's yours for the price of shipping.



I say pull a Gibson and stain each plank a different color, maybe leave one or two plain. It's all softwood, right? Green, blue, red, orange, black, purple, natural (because it's already yellow), or some combo like that.



Heheh, sez the person who salvaged a bunch of wood and is halfway through a guitar body build. Do you realize how much YouTube I watch?

I might be willing to let one of them go if you've got a noisemaker or mystery pedal you're not fond of that I don't already have. <elbows Novarocker and wiggles his eyebrows> You wouldn't happen to have an Orange Cycle, would ya? I saw one go up on Reverb once, didn't grab it before lunch, and then it was gone. Still kinda kicking myself.


Hehe, I am too. I opted to not see the artwork before I got it, because I like surprises. What did you choose?



Happy to be of service! Seriously, my wife deserves all the cred. She was cool enough to see it first.

A Vox nighttrain and yeah I've thought the same of putting it on top. Ended up reaching out to Ryan of RCO and he agreed that cloning it and throwing it in another pedal as always on could work. If he can fit it, surprisingly the circuitry takes up less space than the knobs do and it'd be a shame to wreck something so bad ass.

As much as going with a bigger board could be an option, I realized I don't want to let myself have that real-estate. I already have some on the board that I do use like crazy but probably shouldn't, and I hate being a tap dancing fool instead of just playing.

Good call on the Gibson I might just do that. I thought of making it look like a basketball court too. I feel ya on the youtube bit, I have been lazy though honestly. It's taken me only 6-8 hours worth of work, but over maybe 4-6 months to get to that point. And I was a dumb ass and cut them to 1.5" instead of giving em +1/16th in extra on each side to plane flat...oh well, sets me up to put a top on it.

Wish I had an Orange Cycle, that the Rainbotron and another that seems to escape me are ones I'd love to have. I've also though about cloning a bunch of what I do have and letting the originals out into the wild to be coveted. I like a ton of em and want them on the gig board, but at the same time, don't want to abuse them.

 

[cornfarmer]

Hehehe, I'll try to get something together once it arrives.

Anyone into Moja? My wife sent this clip to me, and it (and she) rocks. Drums + Bass duo from Tokyo.

Pretty cool, kind of a mix of Ruins and Melt Banana in that Japan/Boredoms vibe.

I had to see if somebody had P.O.N. on youtube and sure enough somebody does........some of the most focused stuff comes out of Japan sometimes.

 

[monsterthompson]

Saw this pop up today. I know the channel has come up a few times. I follow Beholden on IG and I'm finally sitting down and checking out his YT page.

 

[Matt-J2]

Saw this pop up today. I know the channel has come up a few times. I follow Beholden on IG and I'm finally sitting down and checking out his YT page.

Definitely my favorite bass channel on YT, I really need to sub to his Patreon. I've been wondering if he's on here as well.

 

[Kaa]

Hey, all. Nothing new to report. Basement noodling, watching horror movies, being old.

 

[ravlin]

I was hoping to avoid messing with the truss rod and doing extra set up stuff... this sounds like maybe I'd have to get another bass eventually to keep it all in shape. My thought was I'd just tune it up/down a half step as needed between songs. I'll need to try this and see what it feels like too - as of now, there's only one song I know in C standard, and it's simple enough to just play in standard and fret the C on the first fret.

Capo the first fret for C standard. As this is the DOOM thread, it is convenient that many capo's come in black.

 

[kleinenenten]

Capo the first fret for C standard. As this is the DOOM thread, it is convenient that many capo's come in black.

I've debated that as well! Not a fan of the aesthetics, but I definitely don't have to worry about my "image" when I'm just jamming along in my basement.