• 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.

synth bass pedals

Cristofre

Cristofre

Jul 8, 2004
153
56
55
Georgia, USA
#1
Anybody here use synth bass pedals? I am referring to either the types with built-in synth (Moog Taurus style) or MIDI style.

I just got a set of old Hillwood bass pedals (simpler Taurus copy) about a month ago and I have been gradually working them into my music.

I am wondering how you use them in your music.

So far I have been mostly using them at home to accompany myself when I am writing or practicing on acoustic guitar. I did bring them on a gig a while back and tried to fit them in here and there on different things.
 
#2
I have a Moog Taurus. It's great for rattling dental fillings (it puts out some serious low end.)

I use them in a similar way prog bands like Rush, Genesis, and Marillion use(d) theirs.
 
#3
keb said:
I have a Moog Taurus. It's great for rattling dental fillings (it puts out some serious low end.)

I use them in a similar way prog bands like Rush, Genesis, and Marillion use(d) theirs.
Click to expand...


Somehow I never heard of these until a year or so ago. I had always wondered how some of these bands were able to get those sounds, or where those mysterious synth parts were coming from.

So far I have been scouring Youtube.com for videos of prog band proformances,etc. to see how these bands used them.

I have been using them sparsely live with my band and trying to figure out where I can fit them in (we are anything but a prog band so I am trying to be "low key" )
 
#6
nig said:
I had a set of taurus pedals in the 80's, sold them to the outfield, whatever happened to them ? I now have a set of studiologic fatar midi pedals and a roland unit, its a great set up.
Click to expand...

I thought about going the MIDI pedal route, but the thought of buying the pedals, then buying a synth module to make them work when all I wanted to do is add some bass parts seemed a bit expensive and complicated.
Though now that I have had the chance to use the analog pedals a bit I've found there are times when it might actually be cool to throw in a synth pad or some strings or something.
 
#7
Winston TK said:
I have a set of Crumar bass synth pedals, the CPB-2. They're great. I use them quite regularly with my band, The Tomorrows. I use them for much needed analog bass synth punctuation in many of our tunes, both live and in the studio.
Click to expand...


Yeah, I bid on some of those on Ebay, but I ended up getting these even lesser known "Hillwood" bass pedals.
I recorded a song including about three tracks of these and no bass guitar at all- all those overtones and richness in the analog tone just makes this huge sound.

One problem is that my band tunes a half step down so I had to open mine up and adjust things for a few days so I could get them to tune to that range. I had them so screwed up the notes were not only not in tune, but all in the wrong order!
Luckily I figured it out, though I did get spare circuit boards and parts when I got these...


Check out this cool video I found demonstrating that analog bass sound:

 
#8
Cristofre, that is a GREAT video clip Steve Hackett's band! Thanks so much for posting that link! I just LOVE that early 80's Prog vibe going on there. I always thought that would be such a cool thing to do, the whole pounding the Taurus with the fists thing. Heh heh.

And, that analog sound is definitely killer. Actually, the Crumar pedals deliver that exact sound very well. I'd still love to get my feet on an original Taurus set one day, though. I just need to sell off a few houses to pay for them.
 
#9
I have a set of Taurus 1 Pedals. I also use a set of the Roland midi-pedals. With all the humidity around New Orleans I find the contacts on the Moog have to be cleaned way to often. The Rolands are very reliable. But you can't deny the diarrhea inducing rumble of the Moog.

Cheers,
Jim
 
#10
Winston TK said:
Cristofre, that is a GREAT video clip Steve Hackett's band! Thanks so much for posting that link! I just LOVE that early 80's Prog vibe going on there. I always thought that would be such a cool thing to do, the whole pounding the Taurus with the fists thing. Heh heh.

And, that analog sound is definitely killer. Actually, the Crumar pedals deliver that exact sound very well. I'd still love to get my feet on an original Taurus set one day, though. I just need to sell off a few houses to pay for them.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I had never heard that piece of music, I was just randomly searching on youtube for examples of bass pedal playing and found that.

I think the thing about the Taurus pedals is that they have an extra oscillator so it gives it a more complex harmonic quality.
I have tried plugging my bass pedals into some chorus and delay to give them an even bigger sound. I still need to experiment with that some.

In any case these pedals are absolutely one of the coolest things I have ever owned- period.
 
#14
keb said:
Haha yes, that's awesome. I might put mine up on a stand and try that fist mashing action.

(Love the Mellotron in there too.)
Click to expand...

I guess it does kind of negate the whole purpose behind having a PEDAL synth.

but I imagine its pretty cool having the controls right there in front of you so you can control parameters on the fly like the guy in that video.
 
#15
ElectrAcoustic said:
Can't believe noone has mentioned the Deep Impact pedal.. they're a little flaky (I've had mine repaired twice), a bit expensive and I don't think AKAI even makes them anymore but for synthbass, I haven't heard anything come close to it.. You can even get the Stevie Wonder synth bass thing exactly..
Click to expand...

We are actually discussing something a bit different: Not an effect pedal, but an actual keyboard synthesizer that has giant keys you play with your feet. Ths lets you play one instrument with your hands (bass guitar) and another with your feet.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
 
#16
jazzbo58 said:
I have a set of Taurus 1 Pedals. I also use a set of the Roland midi-pedals. With all the humidity around New Orleans I find the contacts on the Moog have to be cleaned way to often. The Rolands are very reliable. But you can't deny the diarrhea inducing rumble of the Moog.

Cheers,
Jim
Click to expand...

Jazzbo, I've always been interested in the Roland PK-5 pedals. What module do you trigger with them?
 
#17
Live I trigger an Alesis Micron. In my studio I trigger my Modular.
DSCF0082.jpg


Cheers,
Jim
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back