What pedals for synth sound?

[el murdoque]

Go analog/pedals:
Get a capable filter pedal - this is the hard choice. There are the classics: Moog MF-101, Lovetone Meatball, Mu-Tron III. All these are discontinued and really expensive, and all these have been copied. PastFX PX-101 is a great version of the Moog, FTElettronica does a great copy of the Meatball (available on Reverb) . . . . there are more, and it really is a rabbit hole.

Octave is pretty simple. Get an OC-2 and call it a day. These are discontinued for a while, but can easily be found, not that expensive either.

Dirt is, yet again, highly specific. Zvex Mastotron is a good starting point for a fuzz that's not that expensive and versatile for synth sounds.

When you go 80's, you need a chorus, too. Can't do 80's without overdoing chorus sounds.

Put them all together and start experimenting. It's a winding path through noisy bushes.

Or go the easy way: Future Impact and/or C4. Both pedals are great, both really benefit from a MIDI controller and both let you customize your sound on the computer, save it to banks and recall it later. The big advantage over regular pedals is that you get ONE synth sound from a pedal chain and you better glue down some knobs because tiny increments of movement can completely screw up your sound. With the digital all-in-one pedals, you recall a preset and it will sound the same every time.

 

[hennessybass]

For single pedals I'd use - Octave, Fuzz, Filter, Chorus.

Exactly what I was going to say.

 

[Krisfield]

I'll give Ian Allison credit. I use the same idea in my mfx unit. Works very well. Sometimes I'll add a compressor to squash and add sustain.

Exactly what I was going to say.

 

[MuthaFunk]

Do folks gig with the FI? I like the way it sounds but getting levels etc right is a pain.

I do extensively! The FI is empowering because it doesn't matter what new tunes my band comes up with, I'm confident I'll be able to get something usable out of the FI. There are controls on the pedal to modify the presets on the fly but I never used them. The program FI created to edit the presets on your computer is pretty fun to use and the detailed control you have is unreal.

If you're going to gig with the FI the editor on the computer is key. Play with the presets to imitate the sound you need, or check the web site as many of us cover band people have already done that and uploaded the sounds. Load that sound the in bank # you want. I grouped all my presets together. Simple as that.

After I ended up with more than 4 specific presets I started to add the memory # to a master set list so when the band leader calls out a tune, I reference which # I'm going to.

The longer I gig with this group the more I've come to rely on the FI. It's saves a lot of pedal board space. Seemingly unlimited syth sounds can be had for almost any keyboard sound I've encountered from the 70's music to now. Got a new song that needs an octave effect? No problem, the FI can do that and tracks deep notes incredibly well. Lets do 70's funk tune, the original Bootsy line has all kinds of envelope filter on it, no prob, the FI can do that. How about an 80's tune that needs some chorus, no prob! The FI can do that. What about a weird intro that might need some Reverb and / or Slap Back delay? No problem, the FI can do that! How about a little distortion blended into your clean sound for when the guitarist takes a solo and the band doesn't have a rhythm guitarist to carry the chords.... No problem, the FI can do that.

It's really handy and just keeps on giving the longer I use it. Playing with the editor and learning the capabilities of the FI takes a bit of time. If you're playing covers, it's time well spent IME.

 

[john_g]

Depends on what synth sounds you are going for. If you are tying to do the synth bass sounds, things like the Digitech Synth Bass Wah (what I use) is great for not alot of money. You can also get an ocatve pedal with maybe a filter or fuzz.

But, in my opinion, if you are trying to get other sounds like pads, strings, leads, etc, you are better off getting a real keyboard. I play pads/strings/pianos/etc with my feet while still playing bass.

 

[Eli_Kyiv]

Zoom B3n offers a variety of synth bass patches plus ability to create your own ones.

 

[LowendG]

I'm going to be playing in an 80's dance band and need to cop some synth sounds… what pedals do I need to make it work? Or should I just break down and buy a keyboard?

If this is a band where everyone is expected to sound really sonically accurate I'd just cut to the chase and go with option #2. So many great, cheap synths out there these days. Doesn't have to be an analog monosynth/bass-specific one either - an all-rounder polysynth that already has presets for the bass sounds you're after can make things way less fiddly.
Aside from the sounds, it'll be way more effective if you're trying to nail the performance of those parts. Plus it's fun, and it makes you more versatile. If "close enough" is OK, then by all means run a bass guitar w pedals.

 

[JRA]

for synth sounds, i've owned an EH Bass Mono Synth (for a few years, a few years ago) and the SA C4 (currently). both are righteous, IMO.

IME:
EH bass mono synth = cheaper, great sounds that can be sculpted and tweaked, good for set-it-and-forget-it simplicity.
SA C4 = cost more, can go way deep on the sculpting/tweaking, 6 patches without bending over , costs more time (learning), probably the creme de la creme, especially if you're a "synth guy."

i like them both. i thought the C4 would be it, but i've thought about ditching it and getting another, simpler, bass mono synth. the slight advantages (for my use) of the C4 keep me hangin' in with it. it's just more pedal than i really need. i'm ambivalent, but it's not pathological.

i think you'll have to narrow your choices based on what you think your own use will be, good luck!

 

[bassbrad]

Getting synth sounds from your bass can be easy or more of a challenge to your creativity and pocket book. For an affoprdable and easy solution if is hard to beat either an EHX Bass Mono Synth or a Zoom MS60. The EHX BMoS has many classic sounds that can be tailored a bit to match the song. The Zoom offers many usable synth sounds as well as the effects to enhance the synths or make up your own sounds and textures. The Boss SY200 has all the classic bass sounds plus many more like strings or organ.

Source Audio C4, Spectrum and Panda Future Impact offer options to create synth sounds and both have extensive user sound libraries and have options to save a multitude of sounds but you would want a MIDI controller of some sort to navigate.

 

[logdrum]

I got an Eventide H90 for the echoes and ambient stuff but it has the best tracking and you can do very cool synth stuff with it.

 

[logdrum]

I may be the dissenting voice, but when I was doing something similar, I had a dedicated keyboard. So much easier to dial in the sounds than to have to buy another pedal, learn another program, and tweak ad nauseam to get 80% of the way there. I used a Korg Minilogue XD and it was perfect for the synth stuff. Occasionally I would use the octave-filter-envelope-mod option on bass, but it wasn't accurate enough for me for the breadth of synth sounds I was covering.

Synth pedals.

I use a bass mono synth

Yeah but not everyone can play keys. or prefer layering it with the natural electric bass tones.

 

[Djadja]

Thank you all for your wisdom.
I should add a few pieces here. First I'm a bit of a Luddite. I had a C4 shortly after it was released and it baffled me. At that time I really didn't need it and let it go rather quickly. I also had a Boss GT100 Core (I think that is what it was) and likewise was not able to make it work so it went away. I have a Spectrum that I've got a few useable sounds on but really haven't figured out how to edit sounds in any way that is helpful. Could I learn to program an FI or C4 or Helix Stomp? Probably. Maybe.
I don't have an analog octave or envelope follower... maybe that is a path I should try first. Yes, both of them are there in the Spectrum but Luddite. I do have a chorus, distortion, and fuzz.
My keyboard skills are limited but I think I could pull off a bass part. Could I program a synth? Luddite.

 

[arepa_funk]

Of readily available gear:
MXR Vintage Bass Octave -- Based on an OC-2, great stuff.
Broughton Joshwah -- Built-in gain, so you don't "need" a fuzz.

Then some type of modulation, MXR Phase 95 for versatile, small, and relatively affordable.

I'd put the compressor after the filter, and the modulation after the comp.

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

Yeah but not everyone can play keys. or prefer layering it with the natural electric bass tones.

Synth pedals.

I use a bass mono synth.

 

[mikeswals]

Do folks gig with the FI? I like the way it sounds but getting levels etc right is a pain.

I gig in a couple of bands; and my FI gets used tons live, ever since they came out in the very first batch. My main band is top40/r&b so lots of synth lines.

 

[logdrum]

Synth pedals.

I use a bass mono synth.

Ahh. Gotcha. When I heard bass mono synth what comes to mind is Moog Sub Phartty or a Novation bass station

 

[hennessybass]

I'll give Ian Allison credit. I use the same idea in my mfx unit. Works very well. Sometimes I'll add a compressor to squash and add sustain.

I think Ian actually stole the idea from me.
Back at a show in 2019 I saw him up near the stage eyeing my board.


I had lots of fun with this board while I was playing with a band for about a year before COVID times.
I mostly just plug into an amp.
BYOC Large Beaver Triangle Muff up in the top right. Cool pedal.
I had the V1 Sea Machine, and liked it a lot better than this one.

 

[Medicine Man]

I use a C4 but it took some programming in the app. If you can keep you attack super consistent you can nail those sounds.

 

[dalahorse]

If you want synth, get a synth. If you can only have one synth, get a Moog.

 

[Gopherbassist]

BOSS SY-200

Here's a video: