Who else...

[Ryan Mohr]

A chorus is an effect best used in moderation IMHO

I keep mine turned way back and at a very slow sweep, almost can't tell it's working as opposed to a big swooosh! of 80s sound. Used under a slow ballad it just gives a little fill and with an octaver adds a little sweep and shimmer. Still at best it's a compromise as opposed to a Uni/Micro Vibe running on reduced voltage (what I usually use), but the original post was about a three pedal basic setup.

All effects have their place and never thought of them as being a cover for bad technique ... but to each his own I guess.

Under the best circumstances they are worked into the music so well that the audience (as opposed to other musicians) are blissfully unaware that an "effect" is being used at all. The Pino Paladino clip is a perfect example, just can't imagine anyone hearing that, thinking, hey I wonder if he is using a Boss OC-2 on that? Even a good fat overdriven basic rock tone ... is that a real 72 SVT or a VT Bass pushing a GK 1001rb, is not a subject you will likely hear the crowd talking about.


And as it has been stated you use what "your" music calls for, Reverb, delay and a Q filter are not on my list of needs but I can see how it could fit in to someone elses.

... The way I use effects the audience should be un-aware of them and the sound just fits the tune.

+1 on all of this. I think these effects deviate less from your clean tone, which in my case is a good thing.

 

[Ryan Mohr]

Would Overdrive, Octave, and Modulation be a better fit for most people? I do like phaser, tremolo, leslie sim, and vibe, but chorus is my personal favorite. I have trouble using flanger or vibrato as they are more radical IMO.

 

[fishtx]

A chorus is an effect best used in moderation IMHO

I keep mine turned way back and at a very slow sweep, almost can't tell it's working as opposed to a big swooosh! of 80s sound. Used under a slow ballad it just gives a little fill and with an octaver adds a little sweep and shimmer. Still at best it's a compromise as opposed to a Uni/Micro Vibe running on reduced voltage (what I usually use), but the original post was about a three pedal basic setup.

All effects have their place and never thought of them as being a cover for bad technique ... but to each his own I guess.

Under the best circumstances they are worked into the music so well that the audience (as opposed to other musicians) are blissfully unaware that an "effect" is being used at all. The Pino Paladino clip is a perfect example, just can't imagine anyone hearing that, thinking, hey I wonder if he is using a Boss OC-2 on that? Even a good fat overdriven basic rock tone ... is that a real 72 SVT or a VT Bass pushing a GK 1001rb, is not a subject you will likely hear the crowd talking about.


And as it has been stated you use what "your" music calls for, Reverb, delay and a Q filter are not on my list of needs but I can see how it could fit in to someone elses.

... The way I use effects the audience should be un-aware of them and the sound just fits the tune.

+1...I absolutlety agree...very subtle use of Chorus can add a nice dreamy shimmer to your sound that is, hardly noticable, but useful in a lot of situations...

Having said that, overuse...or what I will call for lack of a better term..."thick/heavy" chorus, can be very annoying (IMO) and very dated sounding.

 

[Ryan Mohr]

+1...I absolutlety agree...very subtle use of Chorus can add a nice dreamy shimmer to your sound that is, hardly noticable, but useful in a lot of situations...

Having said that, overuse...or what I will call for lack of a better term..."thick/heavy" chorus, can be very annoying (IMO) and very dated sounding.

That's the key, not overusing chorus or not using too much chorus. I have a blend control on my chorus and when it's around 25% you get an effect that sounds more like doubling that chorus.

 

[René_Julien]

Would Overdrive, Octave, and Modulation be a better fit for most people? I do like phaser, tremolo, leslie sim, and vibe, but chorus is my personal favorite. I have trouble using flanger or vibrato as they are more radical IMO.

I don't like chorus. I tried it but wasn't my thing.
I use "rotary speaker" effect or "leslie sim" like you say it.

IMO rotary is a fine alternative for chorus.

On a guitar I like a chorus effect, same with distortion (overdrive).

Octave... I have a EHX POG. It's a great organ emulator. I don't use it for a deep octave down effect.


Delay, that's my favourite. Digital delay.
It give the sound extra dimension while keeping the signal dry. (Sort of speak.)


I don't think you'll find a consensus on what is the most usefull effect for bass.



... except maybe fuzz.

 

[isher1992]

to me, Octave has to be used very sparingly. I always get drowned out when I play with it with two guitars.

To me, for Alternative, you should have Delay, Fuzz, Wah, and Chorus. However, I like also having Phaser and a clean and dirty (Overdriven) channel. That's just me though. Phaser and Chorus used together sounds a lot like Flange, but slightly different. I like using it in Bridge/Break type things.