Using reverb

[vivaknoxvegas]

Anyone use a touch (or more) of reverb as an always on live effect?

 

[bassbrad]

I always use a touch of room or air reverb and also adore larger spaces when soloing or using synth sounds. On my pedal boards I use either a Zoom MS60b or MS70cdr.

 

[MattZilla]

Not always on, but 90-95% on. Turning it off every now & then is pretty dramatic.

 

[GotGroove]

I use it on my fretless. Not all the time though. It works well with synth sounds and slower songs, but I find it can also muddle your tone if the parts are too fast, even if you have a blend knob.

Turning it off every now & then is pretty dramatic.

I agree. Leaving it on all the time (except for certain musical styles or specific songs) takes the value out of the effect IMO. I'm not one that uses effects just because I can. To me, every effect I use has to fit the song. If not, I don't use it.
But we're all different, play differently and play with different musicians. In the end, if it sounds good, it is good.

-edit- typos

 

[Danny C]

I'm just here as an interested party to learn something. Carry on.....

 

[Fat Bottom Kyle]

same

 

[tb-player]

I always have something for sale on Reverb to yeah, it's always on.


Seriously though, I like reverb on for solo bass and fretless.

 

[agedhorse]

For bass guitar, a little reverb goes a long way unless the room is really dead. It can really smear the definition in an acoustically live (and especially larger) room.

 

[jbybj]

For bass guitar, a little reverb goes a long way unless the room is really dead. It can really smear the definition in an acoustically live (and especially larger) room.

Anytime you play out you are “using reverb”, it’s called the room you are playing in.

 

[40Hz]

A hint works well for recording, in a dead room, or for slow songs.

But you might be better served by using some compression or delay if you’re looking for more room ambience. For a delay pedal you’ll want to dial in a very short delay setting with no repeats. Delay also can reduce the chance of your bass getting lost in the mix - which it can with reverb.

 

[pfschim]

for recording, yes ... occaisonally just a touch. Live ? never

 

[ahbradot]

I use the Strymon Bigsky Reverb always on plate or sometimes spring effect.
It just sounds the way I want to hear my bass tone.
Never turn it off.

 

[Killing Floor]

Great for fretless

 

[hieronymous]

I could never see myself using reverb live except as an occasional effect. I want/need for my notes to have definition, and where I cut them off is very important. I would be concerned that those subtle aspects would get smeared out with reverb. Being in a room is bad enough! Why add more of that?

Having said that, for a certain effect which could conceivable last for a bit, I can see how it could be cool. I recorded something for a friend with a Rickenbacker and he added reverb where I never would have thought to - and it sounds cool! But it's also clanky, trebly Ric so it makes sense. It definitely opened my eyes to some different possibilities. Here's the track, it comes in pretty quick:

 

[T-boneParish]

I use a delay pedal always on for a faint slap-back/reverb-type effect. You can't even hear it until you turn it off, and when you do, the sound goes flat. It livens things up a little. I love it. Don't leave home without it!

 

[monsterthompson]

i use it as a heavy effect but i don't play live, and when i use it i'm not playing traditional bass parts.

 

[2thAche]

IMO reverb is not a desirable effect for bass unless you're doing something atmospheric

 

[jasonmitsch]

I like to use it moderately when playing above the 12th fret melodically or chordally. I also like to use a massive long reverb to kick on for the last note of a song. I've never considered using it as an always on effect because I never thought of my sound as 'lacking' reverb. I don't use reverb always-on for guitar or keys either though.

 

[Shenron]

Anyone use a touch (or more) of reverb as an always on live effect?

With the guitar practically always, but with bass no.

 

[Baker69]

Sometimes yes, if you listen through headphones sounds nice but in reality I feel it gets lost in a live setting except for perhaps soloing (if the bass volume gets boosted).