• 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.

Tone Suck?

#21
I have done quite a bit of testing with all my pedals and a Radial true-bypass switcher. The Boss pedals do have rather significant tone-suck, IME. So much that I won't run them in my chain, only on a bypass loop. The buffered bypass in my VT Bass is definitely superb, as are the buffered bypasses in my Peterson pedal tuner and TC Electronic Flashback - both of which can run in true-bypass, as well. I haven't run an FFT on the Boss pedals, but their affect on the tone in bypass is noticeable through my Bergantino HS410; the bottom drops out and the bass gets thin and tiny sounding (comparatively).

I have my board arranged in a way to take advantage of the good buffers, keep the bad ones out of the circuit as much as possible, and keep my signal path as short and clean as possible when I don't need certain things.
 
#22
cassius987 said:
My new band is forcing me to step up and finally get real about effects... my rig is a 2-band preamp fretless Ric bass through a fEarful 15/6 right now and that's all I really ever wanted, but these guys are wanting genuine distortion and, interestingly, chorus. I think I've got it covered with a Big Muff Pi and a Boss CEB-3, as well as an MXR M-80 at the front of the chain for a DI. The problem is, while the effects sound cool and all, when I'm using my clean sound only it seems like there is some tone lost. If I go straight in or just the M-80 the tone is noticeably more "authentic" and "three-dimensional" (I know, I know). I didn't think this was an issue if you were using an active bass, since the impedance wasn't a problem. Can anyone advise me how to minimize this effect so I can use... effects?
Click to expand...

Come by my house again sometime and I can give you my take on effects.

bass effects
 
#23
tech21nyc said:
What is your exact signal chain? Which preamp? Are you using the preamp before the M80 and running that DI to the board? Are you positive all you cables are working probably?

It may possibly be a gain structure issue. Do you have the preamp set for unity gain. If you are running your preamp "hot" it is possible that you be may overloading something further down the chain. There are quite a few variables. A true bypass looper may solve the issue but it may not be needed.
Click to expand...

Signal chain: active bass (it's an SGD Lutherie 2-band pre) to the MXR M-80, to the Big Muff, to the chorus, to my TC Classic 450 and fEarful 15/6.

I'm not positive about any of my cables but if they are transmitting a sound I don't know how to determine whether they're the issue or the effect is. The long cables are quality stuff; the short cables are Hosa, fairly cheap.

I am not sure what the term "unity gain" means. If you explain it maybe I can answer your question. EDIT: Found this on Wikipedia: "A gain of factor 1 (equivalent to 0 dB) where both input and output are at the same voltage level and impedance is also known as unity gain." So this applies to bass guitar rigs how...? Is it basically matching the output volume to the volume if there was no output in the first place, or is it matching the volume with effect on and with the effect bypassed?

I do know that when I run the bass straight into the amp or through the M-80 alone it sounds like I want it to.
 
#26
It is interesting and refreshing to read an enlightened and thoughtful discussion on true bypass and buffered bypass. When each are implemented well, they each still have plusses and minuses. A poorly implemented buffered bypass is the worst of all worlds, and has given buffered bypass a undeserved bad rap. As I have noted before, I think TC is on the right track by offering customers the choice of each in one pedal.
 
#29
i have both a muff and the CEB. the CEB doesn't suck my tone at all..(either that, or if it does, it's not enough for me to notice) the muff on the other hand sort of does suck the tone in comparison with my old ODB and it lacks alot of low end IMO. well, i can at least say if the CEB does suck tone it doesn't do it nearly as much as say, digitech (i have a turbo flange..horrible tone suck)
 
#30
I don't see anywhere in your thread where you say that your Big Muff is one of the newer models (which are TBP).

If it's any of the old ones, I doubt that it is TBP and though I've not owned one, the bypass in my Bass Micro Synth was HORRIBLE and sucked the life out of all. Same for the bypass in my bassballs.

I modded it myself to make it TBP.

Sounds like you have it covered with the looper.

I've done the individual looper route and I'm sorry that I didn't get one with a blender and it's back off my board again.

Alot of my crappy fuzz boxes steal low end, the blender lets you put it back.
 
#32
cassius987 said:
I went with this, ultimately: Clean/Dirty Effects Switcher™ w/Master Bypass, Loop-Master Pedals The chorus and distortion will have their own loops with the DI in front of the bypass.

Full report when it arrives.
Click to expand...

I have the Radial version of that; 2 separate bypass loops. I currently have mine with one loop going to an off-board volume pedal (makes it easy to use or not use without messing with anything else), and one loop for my Boss effects. My Xotic, VT Bass, and TC effects are all after the Radial loop pedal. I run an ACG EQ02 in front of the loop pedal to buffer the bass coming in, and give me some level control.

Works well for me needs.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back