Worship Bass Pedalboards

[Rumble Thunder]

Love my EHX Pulsar trem. I use it for a variety of uses. Mostly for ambient/tonal variation - say on a bridge go to whole notes with the trem for a washy feel and then Keep it on through the build turn it off when going back to the big chorus. Or as a background wash tone on more spacey sounds like My Soul Longs For You or More Love, More Power. Think Chris Squire's tone on Starship Trooper.

More recently I've also been adding it to an OD/Wah combination to get another variation on a synthy type bass tone. Again, just for songs like the EDM influenced ones by Planetshakers, Hillsong Y&F and the like.

I have been wondering how to incorporate tremolo into worship. I'll give it a whirl on a bridge or two and check it out. I'm not sure what you mean when you say the "washy" sound though. Do your band mates/congregation notice the tremolo effect and dig it? I'm going to using it tomorrow at rehearsal!

 

[Rickter]

Hey @TrevorR, in your pedalboard pics you have a Morley Bass Wah. I'm trying to research wahs and am really wanting a Morley as opposed to a Crybaby. Have asked if there are Morley users in other threads, but I've gotten little response. Do you like the Dual Bass Wah?

I would really like to go with Morley's mini Maverick switchless wah, but there's not a bass specific version. Morley says that all of their wahs are good for bass, not just guitar, but I question that. Cliff Burton used a Power Fuzz Wah back in the day, but that was a 70s model that he was using...

Anyone know if Morley's non-bass specific wahs are any good with bass?

 

[jacoby75]

Hey @TrevorR, in your pedalboard pics you have a Morley Bass Wah. I'm trying to research wahs and am really wanting a Morley as opposed to a Crybaby. Have asked if there are Morley users in other threads, but I've gotten little response. Do you like the Dual Bass Wah?

I would really like to go with Morley's mini Maverick switchless wah, but there's not a bass specific version. Morley says that all of their wahs are good for bass, not just guitar, but I question that. Cliff Burton used a Power Fuzz Wah back in the day, but that was a 70s model that he was using...

Anyone know if Morley's non-bass specific wahs are any good with bass?

Can't answer your questions specifically, but I have a Dunlop Bass Crybaby which I love. Haven't found a place for it in worship yet (I bought it for an 80's cover band that never happened). But it sounds great. It definitely retains the low end and fundamental of the bass tone while giving you an adjustable sweep and volume boost. I recently decided to try it in the loop of a clean blend pedal, and love it even more. Before I bought the Dunlop I tried my Dimebag "Crybaby from Hell" that I use for guitar on my bass and it sounded like garbage. What frequency center it's "wah-ing" makes a big difference. As does the wah's ability to maintain the fundamental of your tone. And you can get the Dunlop used pretty cheaply. In retrospect I wish I had bought the mini version because the standard takes up a lot of space on a board I'm trying to keep compact, but I have gigantic feet and thought I'd have a problem with that.

 

[TrevorR]

Funny, just been chatting about it on this thread today. Best Bass Wah? Hadn't spotted your other posts!

Here were my comments...

I love my Dual Bass Wah...

The two modes are really good. The standard Wah is very smooth but sounds really nice. The Funk Wah mode has a much more envelope filter vibe to it so great for some P-Funkisms. That takes a bit of getting used to so that you find the sweet spots and where the quack is. Both modes work great fed with some overdrive fro a more synthy effect.

To my ears anyway and with the flats I use. Ultimately only your ears will tell you if you prefer it or another Wah.

The build is certainly bomb proof.

The Morley Dual Bass Wah pedal is sprung so it returns to the end of the Wah range where the full signal range bass is coming through anyway so the off sounds seamless when it turns off. The sprung pedal does mean that you can't do the Stevie Ray Vaughan trick of setting it half cocked and leaving it there for a choked nasal tone. But then I've never found a point where I actually wanted to do that for bass... or wanted to do it for long enough that keeping my foot on was a problem.

Also I like the fact the Morley uses an optical control rather than a pot to control the Wah effect.

I used it for some rock stuff and funk stuff for many years in my old wedding band. Now it's used rarely for real, old school Wah Wah effects in worship but is great for those EDM synthy bass type tones with a bit of OD... think Alive, Let Praise Awaken, Let It Be Known...

 

[bassgiant15]

It is an amazing pedal. It has changed the way I hear myself - and my FOH sound as well - in my IEM's. The only thing I've changed in the last few years where everyone actually noticed a difference and liked it. I can bring a different bass and people don't notice. The OCSD in the chain and bam.

As soon as i get the money i'm pulling the trigger

 

[Rickter]

Funny, just been chatting about it on this thread today. Best Bass Wah? Hadn't spotted your other posts!

Here were my comments...







I used it for some rock stuff and funk stuff for many years in my old wedding band. Now it's used rarely for real, old school Wah Wah effects in worship but is great for those EDM synthy bass type tones with a bit of OD... think Alive, Let Praise Awaken, Let It Be Known...

Just saw that post too!! Funny timing, eh?

 

[ak56]

So for you flatwound guys here. How long do you keep your strings for?

I changed the strings on my '78 Musicmaster about 2-1/2 years ago.

 

[ak56]

Some recent changes to my terribly complex pedalboard.
Have had the Sansamp and the TU-3 tuner a long time. Recently replaced my one-spot with the CIOKS Adam supply. Just this weekend added the Airturn DUO bluetooth page turner to turn pages on my tablet, because it was sooooo much work to reach out and touch the screen to turn pages (my family has been mocking me for this one).

 

[adamaarts]

Some recent changes to my terribly complex pedalboard.
Have had the Sansamp and the TU-3 tuner a long time. Recently replaced my one-spot with the CIOKS Adam supply. Just this weekend added the Airturn DUO bluetooth page turner to turn pages on my tablet, because it was sooooo much work to reach out and touch the screen to turn pages (my family has been mocking me for this one).

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Cool name for a power supply...

 

[Adamixoye]

Cool name for a power supply...

I agree, very tasteful

 

[TrevorR]

Some recent changes to my terribly complex pedalboard.
Have had the Sansamp and the TU-3 tuner a long time. Recently replaced my one-spot with the CIOKS Adam supply. Just this weekend added the Airturn DUO bluetooth page turner to turn pages on my tablet, because it was sooooo much work to reach out and touch the screen to turn pages (my family has been mocking me for this one).

View attachment 2996285 View attachment 2996286

I've got an AirTurn too. Just point out to them that there are plenty of times when you need to turn a page while still playing notes with both hands. So there are three alternatives... 1) don't turn the page and hope for the best, 2) us an AirTurn pedal or 3) attempt page turning with your nose...

..actually, four... 4) one of them has to volunteer to stand motionless on stage next to you through the entire worship set and all rehearsals so that THEY can turn the page for you. They'll definitely choose option 2). No wait... they won't... using your nose it is!

 

[TrevorR]

Cool name for a power supply...

I agree, very tasteful

I always wondered about sticking a "Godlyke Power" supply unit on my board and seeing if there were any raised eyebrows!

 

[tedsalt]

Today may be the day. USPS shows OCSD expected delivery on Thursday April 26th by 8:00 pm. Of course, I'll be working till 10. Anticipation ...

 

[glassmoon]

Hey guys - sorry for being the last one to the table, but why the sudden focus around cab sim tech? I've been using IEMs for over a decade and have never had any kind of cab sim tech at my disposal - what is the immediate advantage/difference to running bass > DI > desk > IEMs?

Many thanks in advantage

 

[jacoby75]

. . . Why the sudden focus around cab sim tech? I've been using IEMs for over a decade and have never had any kind of cab sim tech at my disposal - what is the immediate advantage/difference to running bass > DI > desk > IEMs?

Oh dear. You just opened up a can of worms, my friend. I'm gonna just sit over here and watch.

I will sum up my viewpoint this way:
- Because tone. It may be subjective to an extent. But to me my bass sounds better with a cab sim of some kind in the chain. Especially passive basses.
- Drive pedals - if you use them - sound like butt when running direct without a speaker sim to tame the harsh fizzyness.
- The HPF/LPF nature of cab sims tightens up your tone and gives you more control over what you're sending to the house.
- If you use an actual amp live and/or mic your amp, it may be a bit redundant. With the exception that when engaged it can maybe make your amp sound like a different amp. Most use a cab sim when running ampless to give your tone a more life-like, amp-like tone.

 

[tedsalt]

Hey guys - sorry for being the last one to the table, but why the sudden focus around cab sim tech? I've been using IEMs for over a decade and have never had any kind of cab sim tech at my disposal - what is the immediate advantage/difference to running bass > DI > desk > IEMs?

Many thanks in advantage

Everyone else is doing it, why not me? Ha! Well, when @SteveC went from a full board to just the OCSD, and others when they first use the OCSD say the sound guy noticed immediately, that piques my interest. So I'm trying one. And it's pretty much an EQ plus cab sim plus more! The EQ should take the place of my Markbass Super Booster's VLE which was basically a LPF I think, to give a more vintage sound when needed.

 

[jmbjandfam]

Hey guys - sorry for being the last one to the table, but why the sudden focus around cab sim tech? I've been using IEMs for over a decade and have never had any kind of cab sim tech at my disposal - what is the immediate advantage/difference to running bass > DI > desk > IEMs?

Many thanks in advantage

I have used the cab sim in a Zoom MS60B before and while it sounded pretty good in my IEM's, my sound tech wanted me to reduce it's effect to open up the sound more. It may have just been my settings but he preferred it without it. I am intrigued by the Omni Cab Sim Deluxe though.

 

[jacoby75]

Hey guys - sorry for being the last one to the table, but why the sudden focus around cab sim tech? I've been using IEMs for over a decade and have never had any kind of cab sim tech at my disposal - what is the immediate advantage/difference to running bass > DI > desk > IEMs?

Many thanks in advantage

I will add as I've stated elsewhere that it may also depend on the quality of your tech/sound system and what setup you're using. Much in the same way that you might not need a compressor pedal if you have a tech who knows how to add it appropriately, the cab sim might choke off some of the signal that a qualified tech might want to have at his or her disposal to play with. But from what @SteveC has said, the OCSD will earn you compliments from your tech. I'm still waiting for mine to come in the mail.

 

[sigterm]

Everyone else is doing it, why not me? Ha! Well, when @SteveC went from a full board to just the OCSD, and others when they first use the OCSD say the sound guy noticed immediately, that piques my interest. So I'm trying one. And it's pretty much an EQ plus cab sim plus more! The EQ should take the place of my Markbass Super Booster's VLE which was basically a LPF I think, to give a more vintage sound when needed.

That's how vle work's on my head, lpf.

 

[ExaltBass]

I'm a huge OSCD fanboy, and it didn't take very long. I was fortunate that a local shop carries them, so I did a stop over lunch. A short trial later, I forked over my cash. Went home and dialed in a sound that worked for me over my in-ears. I was playing at church a few days later, and our soundtech was floored, as was I. I love that I can use it as an occasional flavor, or as an always-on pedal. I now have two OCSDs, and with the Noble I will have 3 distinct sounds at my disposal.

Through an amp with my secular rock group, it has been handy to kick in when needed for a special sound (All Right Now, the Who's version of Summertime Blues with added B3K, etc).

It has become an essential tool.