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Two essential effects for modern tones?

quadrogong

quadrogong

Jul 6, 2006
2,388
12
NYC
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#1
I'm trying to join something edgy-er, something more modern, heavy etc
My traditional, thick tones are ok but I want to branch out..
I was thinking of a compressor and an overdrive to get some grind, more contemporary rock tones.. Variety..

I was thinking maybe an SFT by Catalinbread
For grind, and a compressor for sustain, and evening out my dynamics slightly..

If u had to pick two effects..
To get some usable, versatile tones..
What would u choose?

Something I'd use a lot..not for special effects..
 
#5
Perhaps its just me, but using an SFT or VT Bass for "modern" tones just seems counter-intuitive as they are based on Ampeg amplifiers. Specifically, they give representations of the more vintage sounding amps, although the VT can get quite high-pitched and shrill at high character settings, but it also changes the drive characteristics as well.

If you're looking for modern tone, get a/some cab(s) with a flatter response curve, an amp that either has a mid hump or can give you one, and a compressor.
 
#7
I've got active EQ & Barts in my main bass, when I wrote, "modern" i knew it would be hard to explain, to me, in this case, I'm looking for overdrive, sustain or anything that will give me good, new,usable tones..For alternative,punk,modern rock
or just tones a modern, heavy rock bassist might be going for..
sometimes I get onstage and use a house rig, and it's super clean, no gain adjustment or whatever..I want to be able to generate my "sound" through any rig I come across..
If the VT or SFT isn't the way to go, I'd live to hear other ideas..
 
#8
to get around the clean house rig, I'd suggest always using your own preamp/di. For what I consider modern tones, I'd go with either a Sadowsky preamp/di (outboard), a Sansamp Bass Driver DI, either rack or pedal, or another similar unit. I think the important thing, based on the info you've given, is that you have your tone coloring, etc., with you to send to the house.
 
#12
I'd say we're past the modern era for music... and are in the post modern era, where anything (utilized skillfully) goes: lo-fi, hi-fi, dirt, clean, synthed, fuzzed, combined, uneffected, compressed, uncompressed, tube, SS, 4, 5, 6, 7 stringed, analogue, digital, modeled... great time to be a bass player!
 
#13
essentre said:
If its a silly question then I apologize because I'm definitely not up to speed when it comes to dialing a great tone, but what exactly will a compressor do?
Click to expand...

Some compressors on some settings give a thickening effect, or make the bass sound more regular and less human, some extreme settings can make the bass level "pump" (this is not usually desirable but it has been effectively used sometimes). There are a few effects that are often produced on bass guitar using a compressor - listen to Stuart Zender's tracks on the early Jamiroquai stuff, or more recently the bass guitar tracks on some of Justice's tunes.
 
#16
Matt Dean said:
I'd say we're past the modern era for music... and are in the post modern era, where anything (utilized skillful) goes: lo-fi, hi-fi, dirt, clean, synthed, fuzzed, combined, uneffected, compressed, uncompressed, tube, SS, 4, 5, 6, 7 stringed, analogue, digital, modeled... great time to be a bass player!
Click to expand...

Great point, and VINTAGE tones are in too, I'm open to suggestions, chorus, octave, fuzz.. Anything to give me some flavor.. Offhand, I think I can use a bit of hair to my tone.. So many thousands of fuzzboxes and stuff these days..
I want the tone to sound a little menacing at times, some sustain without cranking up my stage volume and stepping on the other bandmate's feet, have a few secret weapons to raise a few of eyebrows, for auditions.. Show folks I've got some interesting: inspiring sounds..
 
#19
lgrankin said:
The Aguilar Agro pedal is very nice...:cool:
Click to expand...

Yeah, I was just about to say that after reading the OP's last post. I LOVE my Agro, but I don't like to chime into every thread to just pimp the pedals I love. But, in this case I think the Agro might be right up your alley.

Depending how you set it, it can...

...leave your sound alone, but just add that little extra 'something'...
...or...add some nice 'tubey' warmth...
...or...add some thick overdrive...
...or...add some really aggressive overdrive...
...or...kill everyone in the first several rows.....!!!!!

It can be set to be very transparent, or it can color your tone a lot.


I have had and used some great compressors, and generally, they're an effect that works best when you don't notice it. I don't think it's really what you're looking for.


I think I'd suggest the Agro, and then a 'fun' 'interesting' effect like a flanger, or wah, or delay, etc... With a good clean tone and the Agro, you can fit into just about any genre from acoustic folk to death metal, and then with another 'cool' effect to do interesting things that stand out, you can 'wow' people and/or put your own memorable signature on things...


My two cents...


-JV
 
#20
good advice,
honestly, the compressor is more to even out my level..I live to set it subtly so i don't lose feel,dynamics..but just enough where it helps make my notes more consistent,and a bit more pro sounding, I used to have one on my old combo amp years ago,and it added a lot,when used in small doses,
I figured it may help enhance the overdrive and tone overall as well,kind of a side-effect to having compression,but I basically want it to correct inconsistencies in my playing,in a subtle way.
I think you're onto something, one effect for grind/gain..another for textures,for clean,sustainy parts,mellow intros and bridges..something like phase or chorus..might be useful.
 

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