Subtle effect pedals

[lburton2]

My bass setup runs very transparent.. And I would just like to get a few different sounds out of it without tweaking the amp.. So I'm looking for a pedal or pedals that can achieve a vintage tone (round and thick like an old amped) and a scooped slap-pop sound. The latter will probably come from a colored compressor, but I don't know what one(s) to check out.

I had tried the mxr, and it was too transparent for my like.. Basically.. I'm looking for tone magic in a box

 

[scottfeldstein]

SansAmp makes some vintage-sounding stomp boxes. Start there. I have the Bass Driver DI.

I use an MXR compressor. Love it to pieces, but I wouldn't say that it's "colored." I find it very transparent, but excellent for squashing signal spikes when going from slap to finger style and back.

 

[caeman]

Barber Linden EQ for the vintage tone, maybe. You can achieve a mids scoop by boosting the highs and lows -- there is no mids control.

 

[BioDriver]

If you want to scoop your sound on the fly why not look at an EQ pedal instead?

 

[scottfeldstein]

That's a pretty good point.

 

[lburton2]

I am actually considering an eq pedal. Maybe one with 2 or more presets would probably do the trick and then some.

 

[caeman]

Source Audio Programmable EQ.

 

[scottfeldstein]

Source Audio Programmable EQ.

Doesn't seem geared for bass frequencies so much as six-string.

 

[Stringmaster]

Seymour Duncan makes a cool DI box with a switchable EQ and a Slap Contour. Could be hit or miss, but worth looking into.

 

[grygrx]

I think the Diamond Bass Comp hits the 'magic tone in a box' checkbox pretty well.

 

[caeman]

Doesn't seem geared for bass frequencies so much as six-string.

There is a 7th frequency for the bass end accessible via Page Mode stuff.

 

[Sam Evans]

and a scooped slap-pop sound

The Boss LMB-3 Bass limiter. Not only is the limiting good for slapping, it has an "enhance" knob, which is basically just a mid-scoop.

 

[Inconnu]

For that vintage tone, I'd second the Tech21 suggestion.
Otherwise, I'd suggest you take a look at EHX's Analogizer. It's some sort of very short slap-back delay+overdrive. I love the way it sounds with a bass on the demo they have on their website, but haven't tried the actual pedal yet.
For the scoop thing, an EQ should do the trick.

 

[Systolic]

SansAmp makes some vintage-sounding stomp boxes. Start there. I have the Bass Driver DI.

I use an MXR compressor. Love it to pieces, but I wouldn't say that it's "colored." I find it very transparent, but excellent for squashing signal spikes when going from slap to finger style and back.

Basically this. My vote is for the VT Bass Deluxe. Absolutely love mine.

 

[lburton2]

I really want to try out the VT Bass Deluxe - And the Source Audio EQ - My only problem with the Source Audio being that it's completely digital.. However.. The VT takes up quite a big footprint...

 

[caeman]

Is your problem with digital one based on some sort of scientific analysis that proves the signal really is inferior to your old analog EQ...or based on the age-old idea that digital = sterile?

 

[lburton2]

honestly -- the latter.

Does anyone have experience with both pedals to help compare between the two?

Also - How is it that you access the 7th Freq. in the Source Audio EQ?

 

[lburton2]

From what I can read - the additional frequency is at 62hz.. And from my understanding, a Low E is around 41Hz, and the Low B at 31Hz.. So I don't think the Source Audio is really going to cut it for reaching down that low :/

 

[scottfeldstein]

I also have had the same thought: that the Source Audio programmable EQ isn't really geared for bass guitar frequencies. Although we're getting pretty esoteric here--my cabs can't even reproduce a fundamental of 31Hz.

 

[CopperheadLXXIX]

From what I can read - the additional frequency is at 62hz.. And from my understanding, a Low E is around 41Hz, and the Low B at 31Hz.. So I don't think the Source Audio is really going to cut it for reaching down that low :/

Most of what you hear from those very low notes is harmonics, not the fundamental. Few bass cabs can reproduce frequencies lower than 40hz. Boosting in that range is general just going to result in boomy, indistinct mud. If you want to hear the bass better, it's more beneficial usually to boost the high bass/low mids like say somewhere between 100-200hz.