Double Bass Where to place my footpedals?

[audunramo]

I´m working on a master thesis about double bass and the use of footpedals/rack-units. My focus is mostly pointing on physical aspects - not aestetics - which until now might have been the main topic in the discussion.

Maybe somebody out there have made up their thoughts about challenges when it comes to where to place their footpedals..?

In my opinion there is at least difficult to obtain stabile control of the bass while combining arco-technique and effect-pedals. It could maybe be done with less effort by sitting on a chair - but for me it "just don´t feel right".

I´m placing my endpin somewhere in the black dot - leaning the bass a little backwards to balance the wah-wah. I also prefer to have the lenght of the endpin a little longer then usual - when I play acoustic or with no effects at all - to ex. manage to have some kind of balance of the bass while using the wah-wah.

 

[Ed Fuqua]

You doing your master's at Phoenix University?

 

[JtheJazzMan]

On some of the boss gear, plus many other brands im not familiar with, you can plug in extra pedals and foot controllers.

Im currently using a gt10b and while its on the floor you obviously cant reach down and change settings while holding the bass. But Ive been meaning to buy an extra foot switch so i can utilise my feet while having the pedal unit at a height within arms reach to change settings while standing.

Some stuff to think about.


.....or maybe youve already got that in your setup, i cant tell from the pic.

 

[Huy Nguyen]

photo hurts my eyes.

 

[Marcus Johnson]

I don't use any pedals, so take this for what it's worth (.00) ... if I played that many pedals with DB, I'd probably have to sit.

 

[jrlynch]

for some reason the image of playing the doghouse with your teeth popped into my head.

 

[D McCartney]

Motor's running slow, line dragging 50' behind the boat???

 

[draftsmann]

Blimey! Treadling a wah pedal while playing standing up - you must have the poise of a flamingo!

Does an auto-wah not do it for you?

If you repost or post a link to this thread in the EUB section you might elicit more replies.

Adrian

 

[St Drogo]

Maybe not the place to ask, but could you perhaps point me to a youtube video or a thread with some soundclips of your set-up?

I'm really from the electric side of the forum you see, and I'm very curious as to what a double bass with those kinds of effects on could sound like.

 

[audunramo]

Thanks a lot for the replies...

About the wah-wah: It could of course be done with auto-wah, but I think it´s cool to be able to treat the wah-wah the same way as I do with electric bass. Sometimes I simply use it as a low-pass filter - other times I do other stuff.

I also have a Lexicon Mx-200 and a Korg Kaoss Pad placed on a table in front of me while playing - because these are units I need to have in a proper height to operate...

Again, I think I´ve got to remind you guys that my master thesis is not mostly about what kind of effects I use - or why I use them at all. I LOVE playing double bass within the typical tradition (feel free to check out some albums I play double bass without effects on: Michael Aadal Group - Desertion (2009), Grande - Uppers, Downers, Screamers & Howlers (2007), Crank Bros. - Black Midnights, Stars & Streetlights (2009))

On my myspace (Link Removed) you can check out the track called "Phonics Foundation" - it´s a medley that displays some of the soundscapes I create with some of these effects mentioned. This band is actually going to studio this weekend to record our debutalbum - so I guess there will be some more material online in a short while...

In Norway, where I come from, there´s a "bible" on modern double bass playing, technique and physical aspects written by Knut Guettler - it´s mostly written for classical double bass players - and in English . Does anyone know about any good american litterature written about the theme (Standing posture, etc.)?