Worship Bass Pedalboards

[jacoby75]

Compressor is what I have noticed as a common theme on most boards posted here. There are so many effects out there, and I've been a bass-cable-amp guy for so long it's a huge learning curve.

Added the Tone Hammer a few months ago, when we eliminated amps on stage, and that has been fantastic...that pedal is a beast.

I'm the same way. Played professionally for a number of years without effects. Every once in a while I would try something like a compressor, but always wound up feeling like my bass sounded better just straight to the amp. And then churches started going ampless. And I've spent the last three years chasing the ever-elusive perfect combination of pedals.

 

[Audiomicrowave]

This may be the wrong place to ask, so please let me know if I need to post elsewhere, but I have a few questions. I'm a long time player (30+ years), but new to adding effects to the signal chain.

• First, I'm looking to add a compressor, then likely an octave pedal of some sort (unless I can get a 5-sting first).
• When/how would you use an overdrive pedal? I understand it's use with standard guitar, but not sure about bass in the contemporary worship (Hillsong-style and the like) setting.
• What do you use an Envelope Filter for? I haven't tried one since the late 80's, and remember it mostly added a "quack" to the tone.
• What does a bass synth pedal do? I don't recall ever hearing one; at least when I was aware of it being there.
• Do you find reverb useful for bass? It seems that it would get muddy in the lower frequencies.

I'm sure I'll have other questions as I expand my board, but this is a good start for me. Thank you all for your time and input.

 

[jacoby75]

This may be the wrong place to ask, so please let me know if I need to post elsewhere, but I have a few questions. I'm a long time player (30+ years), but new to adding effects to the signal chain.

• First, I'm looking to add a compressor, then likely an octave pedal of some sort (unless I can get a 5-sting first).

Almost everything I ever needed to know about compression I learned from two guys who are pretty popular in these here parts:

Compressor Reviews

Testing Compressors: Cali, Smoothie, Empress, Diamond, Keeley, FEA, Darkglass, Doc Lloyd, JHS & more

That oughta keep you busy for a while, lol. There are a bajillion and a half reviews out there, and these guys know their stuff.

 

[Audiomicrowave]

Almost everything I ever needed to know about compression I learned from two guys who are pretty popular in these here parts:

Compressor Reviews

Testing Compressors: Cali, Smoothie, Empress, Diamond, Keeley, FEA, Darkglass, Doc Lloyd, JHS & more

That oughta keep you busy for a while, lol. There are a bajillion and a half reviews out there, and these guys know their stuff.

Thank you.

 

[jacoby75]

When/how would you use an overdrive pedal? I understand it's use with standard guitar, but not sure about bass in the contemporary worship (Hillsong-style and the like) setting.

Personally, I have only used overdrive/distortion sparingly, to give my bass some more edge and cut. But more so in classic rock/country stuff than in worship. But I do use it at times in worship, particularly when I'm playing a more rocking song with a pick, like "This is Amazing Grace" by Phil Wickham. But you'll get a ton of different opinions about overdrive. And I'm no expert. It all depends on what you want. Most recently, I switched to a TC Spark Booster to add some "tube-like grit" to my direct-only pedalboard. Wouldn't use it all the time. Just when I want a little extra push.

 

[scubaduba]

Used this setup again this morning except I changed the 12AX7 to 12AY7 in the Olympic. Didn't need as much harmonic content (tube breakup) for the music today.

Really happy with this. The Effectrode is a phenomenal compressor and the RC Booster gives me plenty of extra umph when I need to pop out of the mix. And of course the Olympic is my always on tone machine/cab sim/DI to FOH.

Always on HPF set at 30hz kills the flub before hitting the compressor.

 

[jacoby75]

Used this setup again this morning except I changed the 12AX7 to 12AY7 in the Olympic. Didn't need as much harmonic content (tube breakup) for the music today.

Really happy with this. The Effectrode is a phenomenal compressor and the RC Booster gives me plenty of extra umph when I need to pop out of the mix. And of course the Olympic is my always on tone machine/cab sim/DI to FOH.

Always on HPF set at 30hz kills the flub before hitting the compressor.

View attachment 3526549

'Tis a true thing of beauty. Brings a tear to my eye.

 

[SteveC]

Fortunately, my amp has never been part of my sound. Going DI/IEM doesn't bother me much any more. Good bass, played well through a good DI and system is fine for me. Don't need a bunch of pedals and stuff to capture the amp sound.

That's just me.

 

[glassmoon]

For space saving, reducding stress on your pedals and just "looking" correct (for the more OCD among us), right angles are the only way to go IMHO.
Compression is so useful if you have a cloth eard engineer or one that is smothering your tone in "bass" (you know the type).

I read earlier a question about drive? If you listen to the isolated stems of the various P&W teams, the bassists favour a gritty driven tone. I'm not at a fan in the least bit - not one bit at all... but it does have its place. If you're an old school curmudgeon like I am, you just don't use it (unless used as an affect that is). I'm so old, Abe Laboriel had black hair when I was starting out.

 

[goldendomer04]

I have been running this on Sundays and it has exceeded my expectations!

 

[jacoby75]

I've said it before, and I'm sure I will say it again. But I'm done . . . For now . . . At least with the small board. I recently switched out the TC Spectracomp for a Fairfield Accountant. Way more organic sound, and it inspires me to play more.

 

[jacoby75]

Fortunately, my amp has never been part of my sound. Going DI/IEM doesn't bother me much any more. Good bass, played well through a good DI and system is fine for me. Don't need a bunch of pedals and stuff to capture the amp sound.

That's just me.

Sure . . . for now. Mwa-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-haaaa! Just wait. Eventually you'll get sucked in to the dark side like the rest of us (most of us). I mean, at LEAST a tuner and a compressor! Come on!

But really, I was fine for decades with none of this mumbo jumbo. And then I started trying to use overdrive live, and and amp sim became necessary (or did it?). And it was all downhill from there.

 

[SteveC]

Sure . . . for now. Mwa-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-haaaa! Just wait. Eventually you'll get sucked in to the dark side like the rest of us (most of us). I mean, at LEAST a tuner and a compressor! Come on!

But really, I was fine for decades with none of this mumbo jumbo. And then I started trying to use overdrive live, and and amp sim became necessary (or did it?). And it was all downhill from there.

I did try the dark side. I'm good.

 

[jacoby75]

I did try the dark side. I'm good.

 

[jacoby75]

Whoa. That picture's really ginormous. Sorry about that, lol.

 

[timendous]

I've said it before, and I'm sure I will say it again. But I'm done . . . For now . . . At least with the small board. I recently switched out the TC Spectracomp for a Fairfield Accountant. Way more organic sound, and it inspires me to play more.

View attachment 3527148

So you said you use the Spark for subtle grit. That's interesting... any sound you could compare it to? I've been looking for the warm subtle grit sound in my head for a long time. Most ODs are way too harsh, I'm wanting something almost fuzzy but I think most fuzz pedals are too harsh as well.

 

[yobtaf]

I'm running the beta dlx and I think I've found what I am looking for. I run compression before it to tame the signal. I use the boost side for fingers to keep level up and add just a tiny pit of push to the tone hammer. And I use the drive side with pick. Seems to have just a small amount of break up. I'm super happy with it.

 

[Drkwdsman]

I am dying to buy/try the Doc Lloyd Photon Death Ray, but I know I will have to wait. Has anyone tried the Pulp and Peel (3 knob version, not the latest) or the Mad Professor Compressor/Sustainer in a worship setting. GC has these used that might give me some compression flavor until I can get my hands on a Death Ray. Or if you tried something in worship that you enjoy.

 

[extreme]

So you said you use the Spark for subtle grit. That's interesting... any sound you could compare it to? I've been looking for the warm subtle grit sound in my head for a long time. Most ODs are way too harsh, I'm wanting something almost fuzzy but I think most fuzz pedals are too harsh as well.

It sounds like you're describing the Hudson Broadcast run at 24V.

 

[just_chill]

I should have never found this thread...causing serious GAS. Here's my board. It does the job, but now I'm wondering how to make it better. There only seems to be several thousand ways I can go with it.View attachment 3526318

First off, nice Fender Urge!

I slowly built my board after listening to people like Janek Gwizdala and others on YouTube. I would recommend looking at bass pedalboard demos and slowly researching.