Subtle or over the top?

[fightthepower]

It's all about balance in my set up. It's over the top in the sense that for 90% of my current material there is no original bass tone left. It's then replaced by a shaped octave/s, filtered and modulated. With smooth octaves I may use a harsh gated fuzz, but I filter out much of the higher frequencies with a filter, leaving mostly texture. I like to then flange and sometimes phase shift this signal, but the flange or phase will be relatively subtle, as to not place all the emphasis on that particular effect, and also not to suck out low end and/or create huge boomy peaks.

I also like subtle use of blended fuzz on top of a smooth octave into a modulated filter and/or modulation- The Prunes&Custard is great for this with low gain and about 50% blend into an envelope or modulated lowpass- it increases the harmonic content and gives a little grain/texture. This into an filter with the resonance low (no wetness) sounds great and changes the character of the octave+filter combination. You hear the filter moving but not in the standard resonant wah voice.

I generally keep the resonance very low on modulated filters and envelope filters. I like the sound of a wet filter with the resonance dimed and a clean or lightly overdriven tone, but for synth tones, a highly resonant filter can be overpowering both with peaks, and a very pronounced 'wah'. The more texture/fuzz I use, the lower the resonance I dial in. Most of my filter/modulation settings would be nearly inaudible with a clean bass tone.

The end result is 'over the top' in a sense, but I generally add 'subtle' amounts of multiple effects to get there. If I went over the top with all of them, I'd probably blow something up

 

[dj150888]

I use pretty subtle effects myself, but I'm not a big effects guy. I use chorus and phaser across some parts just to give it a little "shimmer" across the top. I don't want the crazy tones I CAN get with them, I just want that little bit of sparkle.

 

[JimmyM]

Good replies. Iridium made a pretty good comparo about studio vs. live...I probably operate that way my own self, keeping it more subtle on recordings.

 

[rcubed]

that reminds me: this is exactly why the addition is gonna be stereo ("dry"+wet). Keeping at least one signal bassy is something I'm really looking forward to having

This what I'm doing right now and I love it. I will still continue to build pedals that have good low end but I'm less concerned about low end loss for dirt pedals now or worried that delay will muddy up the sound too much.

 

[meekee73_2008]

It all depends. That's why I like versatility/blend knobs for many effects.

For overdrive, I like it subtle; for fuzz, pretty much in your face (unless it's a good "fizz" effect), chorus and modulation somewhere in between.

All as a generality, though.

simply...i quote you

 

[Jared Lash]

As I've said before, I've come to realize that "delicate", "subtle" or "just a touch" are not terms I want to use to describe any effects I use. But like fighthepower mentioned, I often use individual effects on a subtle setting but in combination with other effects that give a very obvious overall effect. Phaser is like that. I will often turn the rate way up and the depth way down just to give a synth sound a pulsing quality.

I often use phaser by itself, but generally only when I've got some sonic space so the context makes it a lot more noticeable.

Recordings are a different story, but live I just don't see much point to adding a subtle effect. The other thing that is interesting is that the settings I use on effects when playing live seem WAY over the top without the rest of the band, but seem just right in the actual mix. For example, my fuzz is set for a big volume boost when I turn it on but it sounds right with the band.

 

[HogieWan]

I use a POD X3. Mostly I like it clean or just a touch of overdrive or chorus, but sometimes you need to lay it on thick

 

[dj150888]

As I've said before, I've come to realize that "delicate", "subtle" or "just a touch" are not terms I want to use to describe any effects I use. But like fighthepower mentioned, I often use individual effects on a subtle setting but in combination with other effects that give a very obvious overall effect. Phaser is like that. I will often turn the rate way up and the depth way down just to give a synth sound a pulsing quality.

I often use phaser by itself, but generally only when I've got some sonic space so the context makes it a lot more noticeable.

Recordings are a different story, but live I just don't see much point to adding a subtle effect. The other thing that is interesting is that the settings I use on effects when playing live seem WAY over the top without the rest of the band, but seem just right in the actual mix. For example, my fuzz is set for a big volume boost when I turn it on but it sounds right with the band.

With me, the parts I generally bring the phaser or chorus in are parts where the guitars have dropped back or aren't playing big chords, so I have a lot more space and I'm a lot more audible. In a situation like that, the difference might be subtle, but its definitely noticeable. Full blown synth-y tones really wouldn't work in my band, so I don't use them. (Though, before I started using some of my effects, i was told, "theres no place for that in your bands sound!" and they were wrong, so maybe I'll do a little experimenting...

 

[Happynoj]

Subtle is for losers.

 

[bigblondeafro87]

Can I say both? Some effects need to be subtle or it would sound cheesy and/ or bad (compression, chorus, some envelope filters, etc). Other effects sound best when you are trying to be over the top, rude, and when you want people in the audience to walk away with the jaws dragging on the floor. Sometimes subtle effects or extreme effects can have the same spine tingling effect, but it really depends on how they're used.

 

[dj150888]

Subtle is for losers.

A very intellectual post that. I can see the error of my ways and I would like to attend some classes where you teach me how to be more like you. Will you take a credit card for payment oh mighty one?

 

[warwick.hoy]

As I've said before, I've come to realize that "delicate", "subtle" or "just a touch" are not terms I want to use to describe any effects I use. But like fighthepower mentioned, I often use individual effects on a subtle setting but in combination with other effects that give a very obvious overall effect. Phaser is like that. I will often turn the rate way up and the depth way down just to give a synth sound a pulsing quality.

I often use phaser by itself, but generally only when I've got some sonic space so the context makes it a lot more noticeable.

Recordings are a different story, but live I just don't see much point to adding a subtle effect. The other thing that is interesting is that the settings I use on effects when playing live seem WAY over the top without the rest of the band, but seem just right in the actual mix. For example, my fuzz is set for a big volume boost when I turn it on but it sounds right with the band.

That's how it is for me....

In a trio setting with a spastic drummer and a guitarist playing a Vox AC30....my Supercollider with quite a bit of volume really fills the sound out.

 

[Mudfuzz]

I go with my whims on the situation at hand, always.

 

[El Beardo]

I think a players opionion on this matter is usually(not always) related to how happy they are with their clean tone. As we all know finding a set up that reproduces the tone you hear in your head can be a loooooooong road. I've noticed players that have found the amp/bass/strings/picks/etc. they like and are totally happy with their clean tone tend to be the ones the like subtle effects that are only a slight variation of their natural tone. While someone who is not quite as obsessed with whats in their rig will turn all parameters to 10 and use an effect to completely transform their tone, and you'll always have a middle ground which is where I am. I don't like having alot of pedals in-line as it ruins my tone and gives me signal loss, but when I do use effects I like crazy noises just as much as a super subtle overdrive. at the end of the day it's always about contributing something positive to your music, playing something that adds to the songs while also supporting it imo.

 

[FrigginChris]

for me, it really depends on the effect. i like my overdrive somewhat subtle to color my tone and give it a little "push" in certain parts of songs. but then for my fuzz tone i want it to rip the audience's face off. for pitch shifting effects, as far as i'm concerned there is no such thing as subtlety. delays work well in subtle and over the top settings, i set mine for an almost reverb like effect a lot of the time then other times a little self oscillating chaos is very effective.

 

[bigntasty]

I have 2 effects on my board right now. When I use Chorus, I like it to sparkle. When I use distortion, it's mainly to simulate a tube head so I keep it subtle - just barely hear it crunch.

 

[Happynoj]

A very intellectual post that. I can see the error of my ways and I would like to attend some classes where you teach me how to be more like you. Will you take a credit card for payment oh mighty one?

I'll tell you what - the first lesson is free.

It's really quite easy. Any time your brain tells you to buy something nice or classy (or that might make you blend in at all) just clamp down on your reflex action and go in completely the opposite direction.

For example:

- You're choosing a suit for your wedding. Now, tradition and common sense tell you to go for something simple and black/grey, with a carnation (or similar) through the button hole. To avoid being a loser, you're going to have to go for a sequinned white Zoot suit and purple spandex shirt.

- When choosing shoes, forget black or brown - go pink!

- When buying a car, always choose the brightest colour - orange or yellow, rather than blue or black.

- When ordering a custom bass guitar, forget your original plans for a 4 string Sadowsky P in 3 tone sunburst with a delightful tort pickguard. You need a BC Rich with fretboard LEDs and at least 6 strings, and it should probably either be white with a massive glittery rainbow and a unicorn on the front, or black with day-glo green and orange blood splatters.

- As for pedals, anything that makes the other people in the shop wince while you're trying them out is good, as is anything that completely obliterates your clean sound or makes you sound like a cat with abscesses having its teeth pulled.




Next week - Advanced Gaudiness.

 

[dj150888]

I'll tell you what - the first lesson is free.

It's really quite easy. Any time your brain tells you to buy something nice or classy (or that might make you blend in at all) just clamp down on your reflex action and go in completely the opposite direction.

For example:

- You're choosing a suit for your wedding. Now, tradition and common sense tell you to go for something simple and black/grey, with a carnation (or similar) through the button hole. To avoid being a loser, you're going to have to go for a sequinned white Zoot suit and purple spandex shirt.

- When choosing shoes, forget black or brown - go pink!

- When buying a car, always choose the brightest colour - orange or yellow, rather than blue or black.

- When ordering a custom bass guitar, forget your original plans for a 4 string Sadowsky P in 3 tone sunburst with a delightful tort pickguard. You need a BC Rich with fretboard LEDs and at least 6 strings, and it should probably either be white with a massive glittery rainbow and a unicorn on the front, or black with day-glo green and orange blood splatters.

- As for pedals, anything that makes the other people in the shop wince while you're trying them out is good, as is anything that completely obliterates your clean sound or makes you sound like a cat with abscesses having its teeth pulled.




Next week - Advanced Gaudiness.

Do you have a website? Whats the subscription fee?

 

[warwick.hoy]

Do they even have Zoot Suits in the UK?

 

[Happynoj]

Do you have a website? Whats the subscription fee?

My website is currently under construction, and will be located Link Removed. Fees will be a new system where you pay per style tip, so you only need to buy as much as you need - if you feel like people aren't noticing you then just pop over to my site and purchase a new tip. Tips will be on a graded scale from £0.50 (for quick and easy fixes) up to £100+ (for the more advanced user). The tips I gave you above were worth roughly £10 - they're part of the basic starter package.

Do they even have Zoot Suits in the UK?

You can certainly get hold of them. I don't have one as I'm not married yet - my leopard print tailcoat works for most occasions right now, especially when paired up with my pink/black zebra striped trousers and lime green dress shoes.