Whats the point?

[oldprussians]

But posting about not seeing the point of effects in the effects forum is a bit like going onto the Double Bass section and asking them why they don't just get a proper Precision...

Fair point.... But as I explained, it was my frustration with the trade off between full tight bass and the addition of higher end harmonics that come with effects....

 

[Pollinator95]

OK but... are you actually asking for advice or something? I usually try to be comprehensive, but it seems like you just said "I don't like effects, I'll go and tell the effects forum".

 

[oldprussians]

OK but... are you actually asking for advice or something? I usually try to be comprehensive, but it seems like you just said "I don't like effects, I'll go and tell the effects forum".

It was just a rant, and you never know like an AA meeting I might find kindred spirits....

And hey I love the Octaver when soloing and the Auto-Wah. I also like the Phaser and I have been known in a Previous band to be in constant use of the Chorus and Delay. But that was a three piece Funk Rock-ish Band. that was my Ibanez PUE5B

I actually find it useful in a three piece using a Chorus or Phaser to fill out the sound as the Guitarists solos...

 

[HolmeBass]

I think as MSUSousaphone said maybe you should consider this more a problem *with the specific effect pedals you used* rather than a problem with effect pedals in general. I know I am finding it challenging to always get a styling effect tone that pops but still sits in a mix and getting it right involves eq choices, musical choices, and searching for the right pedal!

The "band you're in" consideration is also huge, the band I am focusing on right now is definitely much easier to use effects in than my previous main band. Last Saturday I was kicking some fuzz on in the chorus of this one rock tune and I was feeling a bit underwhelmed on stage, nothing major and I wasn't losing too much low end, but it wasn't as "boom and doom" as I had hoped for. But the song itself went over like gang-busters with the audience, so count it as a win. Then one guy came up afterward and said he really liked the tones I was getting, so nice to know it did come through out front.

Of course later on when I ran BOD with Grind almost all the way up into a SparkleDrive and the HazTron for a solo, there really was no mistaking it at all- it was huge. Both the guitarist and the keyboardist were just smiling at the hugeness of it all.

 

[topo morto]

Before taking up bass I used to mess around a lot making techno music. One of the most common experiences/problems is making a great, unusual sound, but then finding it difficult to get it to 'sit' in the track you're writing. Sometimes with clever processing and mixing skills, you can twist it in, but it's often very hard. I'd go as far to say that most sounds don't work well together, and when people find a combination that works they tend to milk it for all it's worth - which is why, despite the infinite possibilities available to you when writing synthesized music, most tracks fall into a few recognisable styles with sets of sounds that work well together.

By the same token, acoustic music has recognised setups - the string quartet in classical, the piano trio in Jazz... and for amplified music, the classic drumset, clean(ish) bass, one or two distorted guitars, and vocals is another setup that works...

.... Stick the cymbals in and two guitars that weren't Heavy sounding either, and the great sound was lost in the Mid to high mix.

So... distorted bass and quite clean guitar didn't instantly seem to work so well - at least in the track you played. But there's so much you can change - EQ, ambience, playing technique, levels - you can probably get most effects to work with most songs, if you're prepared to tweak every instrument. But if messing with sounds like that doesn't interest you that much - it's true, why bother? At the same time, for some people messing around with sounds is the whole point... the songs are just an excuse...

My conclusion: if its Bass you play keep it bassy!

in some styles, sure... other times, it's the bass drum that holds down the low end, and the bass is free to be percussive, melodic, chordal... places where effects might work better.

But again, i think I know what you're saying - how many classic basslines (of any style) are played by really complex sounds?

 

[Matt Dean]

I think of my effects board very much the same as the tone knobs on my amp. I am a pretty dedicated tone snob, including clean tone. I use a Mesa Buster 200 as my base-line tone generator (it kills BTW) and then add effects as needed - determined by the requirements of the song and my ear.

IMO its all good – from clean to massively effected!

 

[RickenBoogie]

Yes, effects pedals are tools, and sound modifiers. Some are crappy, and will not enhance anything except the noise floor. Others are plain awesome, but change the sound in a way that makes the bass NOT sound like a bass. There are reasons to use them, and reasons not to, but that's an individual, or band decision. I think the OP came off a bit dismissive and confrontational, being in the effects sub-forum, but no harm was meant, so all is well. My advice to the op would be first, try some better pedals, and two, realize that the very purpose of some of these boxes is to change the basic sound of a bass guitar.

 

[jwr]

I think fuzz has to be the worst of them all. Sounds all muddy and choppy and fuzzy. Who would want their bass to sound like a buzzsaw anyway? That's just weird. Not me that's for sure. Yup. I like me a nice big Natty Ice and some laid back Country Western.

 

[DeltaPhoenix]

Amen Brother!

 

[oldprussians]

But again, i think I know what you're saying - how many classic basslines (of any style) are played by really complex sounds?

That had occurred to me several times!

On another note:

Hai almeno seppellito quel povero topo?.....

 

[oldprussians]

Yes, effects pedals are tools, and sound modifiers. Some are crappy, and will not enhance anything except the noise floor. Others are plain awesome, but change the sound in a way that makes the bass NOT sound like a bass. There are reasons to use them, and reasons not to, but that's an individual, or band decision. I think the OP came off a bit dismissive and confrontational, being in the effects sub-forum, but no harm was meant, so all is well. My advice to the op would be first, try some better pedals, and two, realize that the very purpose of some of these boxes is to change the basic sound of a bass guitar.

Maybe its just me but I like to meet people with different perspective to me. Just because I strongly disagree with someone, doesn't mean I want to be their enemy... I actually like to be challenged, it makes me HAVE to think and reflect.

But I take your point I may come across as too aggressive which might cause injury to someone which is not what I intend; Challenge yes, offend no.

The interesting thing of better pedals are that, yes most of the time, more money means better, but not always. And what sounds good in shop or room may not sound all that better in loud rehearsal. But by the time you get there you've paid you money.

The one thing I do know is that I have talked to many pros and not many use multi effects, mostly use individual. (Bass player I mean).

In fact if we pushed we'd probably find the Doug Wimbish and the others were paid to design a sound with the Zoom B3, (Bought one and sent it back), rather than use it on their own rig.

 

[topo morto]

On another note:

Hai almeno seppellito quel povero topo?.....

ma guardando le cose in decomposizione è interessante...

And what sounds good in shop or room may not sound all that better in loud rehearsal. But by the time you get there you've paid you money.

Definitely had to learn that lesson myself - thanks to classifieds and ebay the lesson cost less money than it otherwise would!

Having found out what sounds good to me and then filtered it down to what actually works relatively easily in a band situation, next/current step is actually getting the pedals to feel like part of the instrument, rather than some extra thing I'm fiddling with.

The one thing I do know is that I have talked to many pros and not many use multi effects, mostly use individual. (Bass player I mean).

The let-down for me with muiti-fx is always the routing and control - I want to use things my way, not the designer's preconcieved way.

 

[oldprussians]

ma guardando le cose in decomposizione è interessante....

Si come fai con la puzza? menomale che non era un pesce....

Anyway I now have gone for the Zoom B2 as an Auto-wah/Phaser/Tuner (Sounds that are OK on the Zoom) and the EBS Octaver, along with the distortion of the amp, which I'll probably never use..... That is until I lose my marbles one more time and get an EBS Bass IQ and Phaser.

 

[cyclomatic]

I think you probably should check out the other areas of TB that may be more suitable to an honest rant just for the sake of ranting. You want challenges; you'll get them most times. But maybe take time to consider how you approach it. Thus you end up with the desired "effect".

Nothing wrong with an honest rant but a title that has to be explained to everyone else, is usually a bad start. Again, good luck with the Behringer.

 

[topo morto]

good luck with the Behringer.

Deep

 

[Webtroll]

Live I haven't used effects 95% of the time, and the other 5% just a mild chorus. That said I have nothing against them; hell I have a box full of them. I'll put a board together sometime, but for now I know better than to act pompous by implying that the use of effects somehow means the user is not playing to his full potential. I'd rather act pompous by mocking those who can't grow a full mustache.

 

[alexa.]

My point is if I'm now trying to find a piece of music to justify the equipment, I feel its all Bottom about Breast! I mean the equipment is there to enhance the music right, not the other way round?

Or maybe its something I don't get...

You gotto look in the right places for the right gear to do what you want to do:



and they do every sound/effect/channel you hear there, live. the three of them. perfectly. unimaginable skills.
it's not music for everyone, but there is no such music as music for everyone really.

 

[behndy]

oi. again?

at least it gives Sousie a chance to drop some gems.

damnit. now i want Airport Sushi. i don't care what you say homie, Narita and Haneda Airport have some BOMB *** food. hell, even the 7-11's out thar have better sushi than some spots in the states.

CRAP I WANT SUSHI NOW THANKS.

 

[oldprussians]

I think you probably should check out the other areas of TB that may be more suitable to an honest rant just for the sake of ranting. You want challenges; you'll get them most times. But maybe take time to consider how you approach it. Thus you end up with the desired "effect".

Nothing wrong with an honest rant but a title that has to be explained to everyone else, is usually a bad start. Again, good luck with the Behringer.

I'm binning or putting into storage the VB-1 It was only 20 quid!

 

[cyclomatic]

Don't waste 20 quid! Makes a great paperweight!!