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What Should I get next?

fretless19

fretless19

Jun 4, 2012
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#1
Currently I have a Digitech bass synth wah, a Boss DM-2, Enigma Q, Fab flange and a Behringer overdrive distortion.
The flange and OD are both attempts at "testing out" some effects with a cheap unit. the od sounds very harsh and effects the dry signal, and, you know, Behringer hate and what not. The flange sounds alright with a power supply, but with a battery there is literally no effect.

The enigma, while certainly powerful, can be very challenging to dial in, as many have stated before me. I really get the sense that I'm not using it right. and volume spikes, oy! so the digitech really performs as a more predictable, but still over the top, effect.

How different are Phasers from Flangers in a practical sense? that is, I realize they produce an effect through different means, but what makes them different EFFECTS?

I'm starting to dip my toes into the concept of OD vs Distortion vs fuzz, but it's all very subjective, and much easier to recognize what I Don't like rather than what i'm looking for. I like "soft" fuzz, and i dislike "SHARP" distortion.

How do "Harmonizers" differ from a chorus?

What should i get next? power supply, better units, different effects,etc? do i need a compressor?

over all, i'm interested in trying new sounds, and I'm cheap. I'm very interested in your input on this.
you all rock/funk forward :bassist:
 
#2
I would get a used OC-2 off the classifieds. Cheap as chips and an absolutely classic pedal.

Compressors completely changed by bass tone. I love them and keep on investing in new ones. Check out Bongo's site for cheap alternatives that he says sound great.
 
#4
fretless19 said:
How do "Harmonizers" differ from a chorus?
Click to expand...

A chorus creates slightly pitchshifted sounds that, in concert with your original signal, sound like multiple instruments playing together. Literally a "chorus" of whatever is playing through the pedal. Think of three people singing the same notes in unison where they don't all have the same pitch control---one is on pitch, another is slightly sharp, and one is slightly flat. That's roughly the idea behind a chorus, though I'm oversimplifying.

A harmonizer actually produces harmonies, and the pitchshifting is more significant. For example, a harmonizer will take your input signal and add a +3rd interval to it. Some are "smart" and some are "dumb"---the dumb ones use a fixed interval, the smart ones recognize the notes based on a pre-specified key. So a "smart" harmonizer would play either a minor 3rd or a major 3rd depending on the note you play and that pre-specified key, while the a "dumb" harmonizer would just add a note X number of semi-tones above regardless of the input note.
 
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#5
Edmang said:
If you want to try new things fairly inexpensively, you may want to check out a Zoom MS 60B or a Zoom B3. Will let you try multiple effects instead of just picking up only one new thing.
Click to expand...

THIS for sure. Also check out Source Audio and their Soundblox 2 series of pedals. All of those are just plain awesome and are rather inexpensive comparably. The Zoom stuff would give you a better idea of what direction you may want to go in as far as wanting which effets. To me the biggest difference between a phaser and a flanger is the phaser is more wooshy and "moves" a little more. A flanger can also do this but to me, phasers do it more so. A flanger is more like a more shimmer, more painted chorus. If any of that makes sense. If I were you, I would go for the modulation and delay or octaves first, it may be easier for you to narrow down what you want because there are sort of more popular "standbys" in those categories. The dirt and fuzz may have you searching for a long while and a lot of money. But man is it fun most the time!

Me, in your shoes, I would start with a Source Audio OFD for dirt, a Zoom, either the B3 or MS60b for modulation, delay octave and reverb. Just having those two pedals would get you pretty well versed in those areas I named and teach you how to use them so to speak and the parameters and frequencies involved in how they work. Then after some time with those, do your research, hang out in the effects forums here in the meantime and learn. Its a lot of fun going down the rabbit hole. I know it was/is for me. But it was also very expensive for me. I dont regret any of it one bit! Love effects :)
 
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#8
fretless19 said:
That B3 :jawdrop: holy smokes thats alot of settings! How is zoom rated in general? they produce good product? also, is the B3 plastic or metal?
Click to expand...

I've worked pretty hard to put together a couple nice boards of single effects, but picked up a Zoom B3 on a whim for my birthday last year. I was looking for something that I could use for travel gigs, and it turned out to be quite a lot more than that.

For the price, the B3 is tough to beat. Lots of usable effects, DI, phrase sampler, "rhythm trainer" (*very* basic drum machine capabilities), headphone option, etc. There are multiple ways to set up your patches and lots of programmability with controls like global volume, blend on each effect, effect order, etc. The only real "***?!" that I've found on the Zoom is the Bomber... play a note and you're literally dropping a bomb (an explosion sound effect). lol

It's tough to compare to single effects... The B3 does a lot of things fairly well, where a single effect does one thing really well. There are a few weak effects in the B3 (example: the tracking on the Zoom's octaver is pretty bad), but Zoom did a good job with the emulators overall.

It has become my travel board, but I still grab it occasionally for small home gigs, and I'll grab it for rehearsals when I don't feel a need to bring one of my actual pedalboards. I also use it as my practice rig at home, since I live in an apartment and don't want to piss off neighbors by using an amp.

If you've got some time and a pot of coffee ready, there are some threads you might be interested in if you're looking to really learn more about the B3 from users:
New Zoom B3 Has Arrived
Zoom B3 Multi-effects
Zoom B3 Multi-effects Part 2
Zoom B3 Patch Ideas

Lots of good information in those threads. You can sure PM me if you like, too... always happy to talk gear!

5sg.
 
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