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Which synth pedal?

Timmy-Watts

Timmy-Watts

I like bass. And airplanes.
Nov 12, 2010
3,185
2,061
Cincinnati, Ohio
#1
Hi guys.

As far as effects, I travel pretty light these days. A tuner and compressor are the only pedals I bring out usually. I'm all about eq, HPF/LPF, and occasionally some light drive, but my sound is usually clean.

I have a few cover/original band sub gigs coming up, and the set lists have Boogie on Reggae Woman, 24k Magic, Moves Like Jagger, How Will I know, etc., and a few of this gal's dozen or so originals have that type of bass line on the recordings. In the past, I have usually gone clean and just articulated the line, but as I'm going through these tunes today, it became apparent I need a synth pedal.

I have owned some before, the Boss, Zoom, and a few envelope filters and octaves, and I could never get that strong, full, accurate sound like on those recordings. I realize they were all recorded on a real synth, but is there anything out there that gets that fat compressed, pad-like synth sound that articulates well and does the tones on those listed songs? I did a browse through YouTube, and I can't find anyone who plays like me or uses the tones I'd use. Ed Friedland came the closest, but I didn't dig that unit (the EHX). I'd be running a compressor after the synth pedal. And if it matters, I run a Roscoe Century 6j active, a smoothie compressor set pretty subtle for fatness, and a Tecamp Puma 900 and the Tecamp M212 cab.

Recommendations are appreciated.
Thanks
 
#6
May have to go real synth in this situation. The guys who use pedals for synth tones are usually dropping some coin and accepting it won't sound just like a real synth or doing modular setups like an OC2 into a Filter into a Fuzz. I do the latter. It doesn't sound like a Mini Moog though, but it is an absolutely killing tone. I'd look into grabbing a mono synth and using it for tunes where you need it.

On a random side note, I have a Tecamp cab too. They are amazing.
 
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#7
AngelCrusher said:
May have to go real synth in this situation. The guys who use pedals for synth tones are usually dropping some coin and accepting it won't sound just like a real synth or doing modular setups like an OC2 into a Filter into a Fuzz. I do the latter. It doesn't sound like a Mini Moog though, but it is an absolutely killing tone. I'd look into grabbing a mono synth and using it for tunes where you need it.

On a random side note, I have a Tecamp cab too. They are amazing.
Click to expand...
^ this
OC2 > Mastotron/Oxide > MF 101 here..
I also have a Minitaur that earns its wages ;)
 
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#8
I have seen some Markbsss Super Synths in the TB classifieds for under $150 recently.

I just pulled mine out after a long hiatus and was reminded of some of the tasty sounds it can cop. Kind of a pain to program, but it may have a lot to offer you, and your situation.

Of course, if you can play simple keys, the Korg Monologue is amazing, at only $299.
 
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#9
jbybj said:
I have seen some Markbsss Super Synths in the TB classifieds for under $150 recently.

I just pulled mine out after a long hiatus and was reminded of some of the tasty sounds it can cop. Kind of a pain to program, but it may have a lot to offer you, and your situation.

Of course, if you can play simple keys, the Korg Monologue is amazing, at only $299.
Click to expand...

I owned the Markbass, it has many unfortunate quirks but it is definitely a very solid pedal. It's no Future Impact but it's a great budget option if you can get it for that price (I've seen that price and similar).
 
#10
I don't hang around on eBay anymore - but I suspect you could find a Korg G5 for cheaper than what a Deep Impact usually goes for, or the Future Impact for that matter. I have one I bought NOS...It's kind of awesome.

What about the EHX Synth9 that just came out? It's got the one synth-bass sound on it.

Digitech Bass Synth Wah is worth checking out - I don't remember how good or bad the tracking was compared to the Boss but it might be able to handle 24k and the like.
 
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#11
AngelCrusher said:
May have to go real synth in this situation. The guys who use pedals for synth tones are usually dropping some coin and accepting it won't sound just like a real synth
Click to expand...

This right here. I have a TWA Great Divide 2.0 (second run I believe) and while it has a nice sound it was hella expensive. Nice pedal though, however there's lots of great options out there at lower price points.
 
#12
moles said:
What about the EHX Synth9 that just came out? It's got the one synth-bass sound on it.
Click to expand...

I have a different EHX 9 series pedal, and their claim that it tracks down to the low A, but not really any lower, is accurate IME. The other pedals here under discussion go down to the low E or better.
 
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#13
Adamixoye said:
I have a different EHX 9 series pedal, and their claim that it tracks down to the low A, but not really any lower, is accurate IME. The other pedals here under discussion go down to the low E or better.
Click to expand...

Yes - my feeling is that the kind of music in question is often better played in a higher range with an Octave down effect for good measure. YMMV of course, and for a 200-something-dollar pedal it's obviously a consideration.
 
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#14
I've got a Boss SYB-5; I've still trying to get a usable sound out of it and it can't track fast notes.

It could do some slow single notes, but then I figured that I could play them on pedals anyway.

I've been wondering about trying a Sonuus MIDI converter to the Minitaur.

I'll have a few more tries with the Boss...
 
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#16
AngelCrusher said:
May have to go real synth in this situation. The guys who use pedals for synth tones are usually dropping some coin and accepting it won't sound just like a real synth or doing modular setups like an OC2 into a Filter into a Fuzz. I do the latter. It doesn't sound like a Mini Moog though, but it is an absolutely killing tone. I'd look into grabbing a mono synth and using it for tunes where you need it.

On a random side note, I have a Tecamp cab too. They are amazing.
Click to expand...

Try a DAW and some synth sounds (there are all sorts of free stuff out there to test), and borrow a MIDI keyboard. It might be good to help the OP to work out what might work before spending money.

For punchy synth sounds I still like the behringer bass v-amp, but it's limited for general use unless you like only a limited number of other effects, but it might work in a larger set up for punchy sounds with a bypass.

But I'm guessing the OP wants something more pure sounding, and an OC2, with just the -1 octave and playing further up the neck might work.
 
#17
iamprowla said:
I've got a Boss SYB-5; I've still trying to get a usable sound out of it and it can't track fast notes.

It could do some slow single notes, but then I figured that I could play them on pedals anyway.

I've been wondering about trying a Sonuus MIDI converter to the Minitaur.

I'll have a few more tries with the Boss...
Click to expand...

I've got a first generation Sonuus G2M, and it's ok, but finicky. I haven't really got my old, second hand, Yamaha pitch to midi and pickup to work well (inconsistent between strings).
 
#18
moles said:
I don't hang around on eBay anymore - but I suspect you could find a Korg G5 for cheaper than what a Deep Impact usually goes for, or the Future Impact for that matter. I have one I bought NOS...It's kind of awesome.

What about the EHX Synth9 that just came out? It's got the one synth-bass sound on it.

Digitech Bass Synth Wah is worth checking out - I don't remember how good or bad the tracking was compared to the Boss but it might be able to handle 24k and the like.
Click to expand...

I wish I'd kept my G5. The sounds aren't perfect, but I miss it. But even that's expensive now. I think I sold mine in 2000 for around £50.
 
#19
Pitch to midi is still hopeless on bass for fast live playing, unless it's backing slow attack pads and such.
Too slow and glitch.

Which is why I recommend the Boss SY-300, real synth using your bass tone as the oscillator source with no midi involved.

Most demos have guitar, but it works great on bass.

 
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