I would relocate stuff but the HX stomp would be the winner for price/capability/space. The possibilities are endless with it.
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Thinking off adding one more pedal to this board. What would you add?
- Thread starter Pedulla-Player
- Start date
I agree about the octave and also about the fuzz, so why not do an octave/fuzz, like the EHX Lizard King? Good bang for the buck.
Agree with our pal @InkCow in post #14 above... the Line 6 HX One could be something worth checking out to see what it might be able to offer you.
I picked up a used one from my local Guitar Center after being overwhelmed by the Line 6 POD Go about a year ago - thought I could use the POD Go for both some bass stuff and also a good bit of guitar noodling, but I just didn't click with that thing. To my surprise, the HX One hasn't been nearly as intimidating for me and a lot of the effects in there really sound terrific. They're also not hard to tweak.
What makes sense for me about the HX One is that I can use it to potentially cook up "this" sound for one tune that we do, "that" sound for another, and on and on as needed. Instead of going out and buying let's say three or four different fuzz boxes to try (
), I have way more than that at the ready in this one gizmo along with a very broad array of other effects. No need to drop over $100 on an effect that I'll only use for one song that the band might drop after we play it out a few times.
I should note that I'm not at all an effects maniac, but I'm trying to expand on what I can do right now. Although I've been doing nicely with a Zoom B6, I'm also thinking of putting together a tidy board that includes what seem to be a few essentials beyond just the Broughton HPF that I have in front of my amp all the time. The HX One can be really good for turning a single parking spot on a board into many useful things. Just consider that we can only use one of those many useful things at a time.
I picked up a used one from my local Guitar Center after being overwhelmed by the Line 6 POD Go about a year ago - thought I could use the POD Go for both some bass stuff and also a good bit of guitar noodling, but I just didn't click with that thing. To my surprise, the HX One hasn't been nearly as intimidating for me and a lot of the effects in there really sound terrific. They're also not hard to tweak.
What makes sense for me about the HX One is that I can use it to potentially cook up "this" sound for one tune that we do, "that" sound for another, and on and on as needed. Instead of going out and buying let's say three or four different fuzz boxes to try (
), I have way more than that at the ready in this one gizmo along with a very broad array of other effects. No need to drop over $100 on an effect that I'll only use for one song that the band might drop after we play it out a few times.I should note that I'm not at all an effects maniac, but I'm trying to expand on what I can do right now. Although I've been doing nicely with a Zoom B6, I'm also thinking of putting together a tidy board that includes what seem to be a few essentials beyond just the Broughton HPF that I have in front of my amp all the time. The HX One can be really good for turning a single parking spot on a board into many useful things. Just consider that we can only use one of those many useful things at a time.
Another cool aspect of the HX One (especially for bass, since stereo isn’t usually a priority) is that you can put the rest of your pedals in its insert loop and each preset can be set for the beginning or end of the loop. Want to use an octave or an envelope? Set it at the beginning. Want to use modulation or delay? Set it to the end.
It solves one of the bigger inconveniences of integrating a Swiss Army knife type pedal into an existing board.
It solves one of the bigger inconveniences of integrating a Swiss Army knife type pedal into an existing board.
I like the ambitious ideas like envelope filter (try earthquaker decives spatial delivery) or maybe somthing more subtle, like the Strymon Deco, which gives you a little delay and a smoothing, warming effect for old songs...beautiful and subtle pedal.
I like the idea of adding an octave pedal, and you can get some really great ones in the $100 neighborhood (MXR makes two really good analog ones, Boss has the OC- series that are all very good, etc). They're awesome for adding a little beef to an entrance or drop, emulating a synth line, just sounding big and cool. If you've got any cash left over after that, I'd think about a Q-tron or a MXR Bass Envelope Filter for fun.
A synth pedal like the C4 or MXR would also be a good add but it seems like your band is more towards the rock end of the pop spectrum, so I suspect you usually prefer to keep your sounds a little more natural and bass guitar-oriented. Apologies and ignore me if that's not the case. The synth stuff on the market now is super super cool but I associate it more with function bands than what seems like a rock and roll band, if that makes any sense.
A synth pedal like the C4 or MXR would also be a good add but it seems like your band is more towards the rock end of the pop spectrum, so I suspect you usually prefer to keep your sounds a little more natural and bass guitar-oriented. Apologies and ignore me if that's not the case. The synth stuff on the market now is super super cool but I associate it more with function bands than what seems like a rock and roll band, if that makes any sense.
I was going to suggest the HX One. Small but has access to a ton of effects. Should be ready for whatever comes your way. On sale for 250 right now.
I know you could do this with the HX Stomp, but didn’t think the HX One could. I must be missing something in the manual.
In the “Settings View Options” section of the manual, look at “I/O Config” and “Insert Position”.
Your board is very nice, I’d be happy to play it! If it were mine, and because there is plenty room left, I would absolutely need two more things. As many have already said, an octaver. OC-2 or MXR Vintage Bass Octave, in my case. Second, a separate flanger. I have no idea how the flanger mode in the MXR chorus pedal sounds like, but I don’t like having to push a tiny button between songs.
if you want to stay analog and want a fuzz AND and octaver, this discontinued Red Witch pedal is pretty sweet, especially the way it can sputter.
https://reverb.com/item/93040988-red-witch-zeus-bass-fuzz-suboctave-2010s-chrome
https://reverb.com/item/93040988-red-witch-zeus-bass-fuzz-suboctave-2010s-chrome
Thanks for all of the great suggestions. I decided to get a little funky and went with the MXR Envelope Filter. The pedal should arrive Friday. I think it could be useful on a couple of songs on our set lists. I will still have a little room on the board, so maybe I'll add another Fuzz or Octave pedal down the road. I had an OC-5 a while back and it didn't really suit my needs, but I'd be willing to try a different kind of Octave if I went that direction again. Thanks again.
We recently switched singers because our old singer wasn't available to gig much and we got sick of turning down gigs. We decided to give a young singer her first experience of being in a band. She's sang a lot of karaoke and has a great voice but she has never performed in a live band situation before we gave her a shot. She had to learn a lot of new songs and we learned several songs for her. She's got a few gigs under her belt with us and is getting better every show, but she still has a way to go with remembering lyrics and her stage presence.
Like I said, she been improving every gig and she has a great voice, so we are willing to go through the growing pains of breaking in a new performer. Heck, my first band gave me a chance and had to deal with my growing pains. She actually played her first gig with us after two practices, so I give her huge props for that. It's like your dad rowing you out to the middle of the lake and throwing you in and saying "Now swim!". She wants to perform and get better and we haven't had to turn down any gigs since she joined and she has gotten complimented on her voice at every gig so far. This is a video from our last gig:
Like I said, she been improving every gig and she has a great voice, so we are willing to go through the growing pains of breaking in a new performer. Heck, my first band gave me a chance and had to deal with my growing pains. She actually played her first gig with us after two practices, so I give her huge props for that. It's like your dad rowing you out to the middle of the lake and throwing you in and saying "Now swim!". She wants to perform and get better and we haven't had to turn down any gigs since she joined and she has gotten complimented on her voice at every gig so far. This is a video from our last gig:
You could get more radical with what you already have, by putting a Line Selector in there (Boss - simple and straight forward / EHX - larger, more versatile, and complex).
But yeah, the obvious options would be Octave, or Delay, as for my money I prefer to use an actual synth, rather than a synth pedal, and envelop filters are of very limited niche use for the music I play.
But yeah, the obvious options would be Octave, or Delay, as for my money I prefer to use an actual synth, rather than a synth pedal, and envelop filters are of very limited niche use for the music I play.
Great choice of material for her voice.
Once she gains the experience / confidence to ditch the lectern, she'll natural step up her stage presence (without that prop to hide behind).
That said, she doesn't seem at all out of place, or out of her comfort zone - those types of gigs don't really demand too much in that department; so long as it sounds good, and the music flows nicely, without driving people away, you're doing your job.
The real test is when the band is up on a sprung stage, as the centre of attention, and the whole reason for the paying audience being there ; then you really have to own the stage with confidence, and have an energetic repartee with the crowd - clearly you are taking it one step at a time, and she's excelling.
Thanks! That was one of the songs that she brought into our mix. She does have a diverse range. She also had us learn Animal I Become by Three Days Grace and nails that song as well. She also sings country really well.
Playing to her strengths will make the band sound much better, because it will sound natural - and the results will do wonders for her confidence as a performer.
It might be a change of direction from what you set out to do, with the old singer, but that makes it an opportunity to take an objective look at what makes the band sound it's best, what audiences really enjoy, and whether you want to maximise the bands potential vs play the Rush cover versions that the drummer is insisting on.
