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What do I need?

Matt Call

Matt Call

Supporting Member
Aug 1, 2004
2,351
262
38
Minneapolis, MN
#1
OK. Let me just start by saying, I have never used a lot of effects. However, I'm starting to go in another direction with my playing.

I'm looking to build a pedalboard that I can plug my basses into, and sent a DI out to the board.

What I have so far is merely a Fulltone Bassdriver and an Aphex Punch Factory.

My plans thus far are to add a:

Lehle Dual Switcher (or else a Radial Tonebone)
Volume Pedal (EB Active or else Visual Volume)
Tuner (TU-2 or Strobostomp)
Octave Pedal (Open for suggestions...)
Sadowsky Pre/DI

As far as basses, I mainly use a Sadowsky Metro and will be getting a Musicman HS(S) soon. There's also been talk about someone giving me an old fender (:hyper: )

I'm just wondering, since I'll probably be playing without an amp for a while now, if there's anything else I should consider adding. I've thought about an envelope filter; but I don't know that I'd ever actually use it... :rolleyes:
 
#3
superbassman2000 said:
what kind of music do you play?
Click to expand...

...duh. *hits self on head*

Right now I mainly play at church and will be starting to play with small jazz quartet in the next week or so.

I'm mainly looking to replicate a big rig as best I can without it. Also, with more control - if that makes sense.

As far as what I do at church, there's two different things I'm involved in:

1) Kind of a contemporary rock band. Playing a variety of different things. If anyone's familiar with Chris Tomlin, David Crowder, or CFNI... we play a few of their songs. Mainly, driving rock with some lax times. It varies so much sometimes. We occasionally do a "Late Show" type of thing where we play random cover songs (the last time involved music of: Salt & Pepa, MC Hammer, SRV, The Scorpions, and Queen) Anyway...

2) Sunday morning service. Relatively R&B/Soul, with some rock. We do a few songs similar to the first band; but have to throw hymns in there. The choirs always gotta sing the classics...



I'm also starting to do some solo stuff, so that opens up room for a lot of different things I guess.
 
#5
Here's what I use in my Christian Rock band, which also does plenty of P&W services at various churches around the state:

Link Removed

I always run the compressor, and occasionally use the chorus. I rarely use the other effects. I haven't found a way to work in the overdrive or envelope for church stuff. I love the strobostomp, it is one of my most valued pieces of gear.
 
#7
Oh, one other thing I forgot to mention. My band uses the Bose PAS stuff, so much like going straight into a PA. I now take along a BBE BMAX-T pre-amp. I would suggest you check out some good pre-amps, if you are looking for something to fill that void left by your Aguilar, then I suggest something with tubes.
 
#9
I've thought about taking along a preamp; but I'm not sure. The tubes (or lack thereof) aren't a huge deal to me. I've found that I actually prefer solid state for the most part; but occasionally like tube warmth/grit. I just don't like it all the time. For this reason, I've considered picking up a tube drive pedal like the EBS valve drive. Or even, as crazy as this sounds, both a solid state and a tube head and A/B them.

I really want to build a pedalboard that can not only be plugged straight into the board; but work well with a rig when I eventually build one up again.

A preamp is an awesome idea; but I'm just not 100% sure yet.
 
#10
Well, there are many tube pres that are not "over the top" with the tube warmth thing. I think the BBE is one of them, but there are plenty of others. I mean, look at me, my usual "sound" comes from my EBS HD-350, so you know I lean toward the solid state side of the sonic spectrum. More bright control, plz!

Are you going to let the sound engineer (or whomever is running the board) do your EQ stuff for both stage and room? That's alot of power to be givin' up, kudos to you! heheh

At the VERY least, you need to pick up a quality DI. Look to Radial, my friend. You'll be amazed at the sound quality between a decent DI (meant for bass) and a cheaper one. You can also get some active DIs that will give you at least some tone control (which may or may not overlap with what your sadowsky can do). Oh wait, I forgot you said you wanted a Sadowsky DI. Why have two Sadowsky pres in your signal path?
 
#11
I'd just have one Sadowsky pre in the signal path. For when I use a passive bass, or feel that one need that extra "oomph."

The BBE is actually one of the pres that I've always wanted to try out; but never have got around to it. If I did have a pre though, I'd just worry about the long-term useability of it. I'm planning on picking up an Epifani UL-502 in the next few months, and would be using that quite a bit.

I've also looked into the Radial stuff, and am definitely considering it; but at the same time... the 502 does have two channels, so there's another "dilemma."

Maybe I'm putting too much thought into this.
 
#14
Sean Baumann said:
If you are going to use the 502 when you are going direct w/ no cabs on stage, then you don't need a pre. You got that covered!
Click to expand...

I was actually meaning to use as a head, powering a cab; but...

I can just use that as a pre, can't I? Score.

As far as the Sansamp BDDI... I had one, and just sold it. If I get another, it'll be the programabble version. As great as the unit is/was, I just found myself wanting to use it as an effect and not take full advantage of the DI. The programmable version makes more sense to me.
 

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