Worship Bass Pedalboards

[SteveC]

So a couple of things. A.) Price difference B.) Less controls which for me, would be better. C.) Has the bass synth sound I'm looking for. Here's a link I found that kinda sold me.

Using a Sub Bass Synth In Worship

I’ve seen that video as well. You make 3 good points.

Yeah, I agree. After having put my LA-1a in front of an Oracle and Noble the Oracle/LA-1a combo is the winner IMHO. It is the more spatial, punchy, and colorful combination. If you need the XLR out and don’t want a separate box than the Noble is a fine choice too.

I’d really like if there were an XLR out.

Can’t disagree with A or C. However...

B) maybe? In the synth world there’s often a big emphasis on one knob per function. sub 37 has that. Sub phatty/sub 25 will hide settings behind “shift” keys so fine tuning some settings will require a learning curve/looking it up in the manual.

I’ve very much been on the fence for some type of synth bass for a loooong time. Sub Phatty/25, or Sub 37 would do the trick, no doubt. Anyone have experience with a Novation Bass station II and can compare it with a Moog?

I am a big fan of no menus - one thing I hate about the Korg - and I am not a synth geek at all. At this point in my knowledge, one knob per function (what does this knob do?) May be a better option for learning?

Yeah, the Sub 37 is expensive, but it’s the one I see next to bass players more than any other these days.

 

[JoshC]

Here's the setup I've kind of settled on during quarantine, a modular setup. Generally speaking I would just take the Noble/Stomp. If there are songs on the setlist I want to use synth with, which is the one sound I don't think the Stomp does well, or I want wireless I can bring the other Nano and just place it in the front. This lets me use my Mono bag+Tick most weeks, but I can just bring the 2nd Nano if I want. Should hopefully give me a nice blend between options and carry-ability.

Between this setup and the medium scale P bass with TIs I just got all setup I'm pretty amped to get back to playing out.

 

[SteveC]

Can’t disagree with A or C. However...

B) maybe? In the synth world there’s often a big emphasis on one knob per function. sub 37 has that. Sub phatty/sub 25 will hide settings behind “shift” keys so fine tuning some settings will require a learning curve/looking it up in the manual.

I’ve very much been on the fence for some type of synth bass for a loooong time. Sub Phatty/25, or Sub 37 would do the trick, no doubt. Anyone have experience with a Novation Bass station II and can compare it with a Moog?

My choices when I purchased (locally) were the Bass Station II and the Korg MicroKorg. I went Micro because it had 3 octaves, and seemed better at the time. I now wish I had full size keys (like the Bass Station II) and a better sound. At the time, I didn't want to spend too much as it was a new thing (synth bass) for me and a new band. $300 seemed about right to spend for my initial purchase.

I think to some degree, you get what you pay for. Both the Bass Station and microKorg are good synths and get mentioned often when I do research. Some touring guys use the Bass Station. But when you go to the next level, it's just really obvious in build (the Korg feels like a toy) and sound.

 

[SteveC]

Here's the setup I've kind of settled on during quarantine, a modular setup. Generally speaking I would just take the Noble/Stomp. If there are songs on the setlist I want to use synth with, which is the one sound I don't think the Stomp does well, or I want wireless I can bring the other Nano and just place it in the front. This lets me use my Mono bag+Tick most weeks, but I can just bring the 2nd Nano if I want. Should hopefully give me a nice blend between options and carry-ability.

Between this setup and the medium scale P bass with TIs I just got all setup I'm pretty amped to get back to playing out.

View attachment 3834051

I have debated a "split board" in the past. The basics for any gig (tuner/mute, Rolls for IEM's and LA-1A compressor) on a Nano, like I have now basically.

Then another Nano with drive, envelope filter, octave, reverb, whatever for cover band gigs or wherever I use more than a basic bass tone.

I could do that now, especially with the Cioks DC-7 power supply. It will be the power for my LA-1A, tuner and Rolls board. It also has a "one spot" type cable that can power multiple lower draw pedals so that could just be hanging around and easily be run to the 2nd board.

 

[kevk]

Buy once, cry once...

SUBsequent 37...for church, 25 keys was plenty sufficient for the few times used there. But for rock, the added keys are really useful. A couple of the presets are “dead on” for MJ tunes...no programming necessary.

I ended up buying the heavy flight case (w/wheels)...personally, I wouldn’t trust it in a soft cover bag. I’d sure prefer a more traditional flatter keyboard slope for case/schlep purposes. “Real deal” tone, and one purchase I’ve not regretted!

Placed some mixing board tape (w/notes written) above the key bed. I’m not a keyboard player, but more importantly, my young student rock band uses it often, too.

[EDIT:add] lol—it’s easily paid for itself, just by me staying out of the synth pedal rabbit hole!

 

[ExaltBass]

Buy once, cry once...
View attachment 3834190
SUBsequent 37...though strictly for church, 25 keys was plenty sufficient for the few times used there. But for rock, the added keys are really useful. A couple of the presets are “dead on” for MJ tunes...no programming necessary.

[EDIT:add] lol—it’s easily paid for itself, just by me staying out of the synth pedal rabbit hole!

I have thought of that! Too bad it wasn’t before all the synth pedal flipping searching for that perfect sound!

 

[SteveC]

Yeah, I was fighting playing/buying a synth and thought I could do it on my bass with pedals, but in the end, I'll save money NOT buying/trying pedals and just getting something like this. And there are things you just can't do on a bass that you can on a synth. Long sustained notes for example. "Pads" at church. Things like that.

I should use my "use it or lose it" and get this and be done. Then I can just get off TB and learn to use what I have. Synth, DI with my head, etc.

 

[kevk]

......I should use my "use it or lose it" and get this and be done. Then I can just get off TB and learn to use what I have. Synth, DI with my head, etc.

At some point, you got to stop “circling” the airport...and just land the plane!

 

[Eric_71]

Yeah, I was fighting playing/buying a synth and thought I could do it on my bass with pedals, but in the end, I'll save money NOT buying/trying pedals and just getting something like this. And there are things you just can't do on a bass that you can on a synth. Long sustained notes for example. "Pads" at church. Things like that.

I should use my "use it or lose it" and get this and be done. Then I can just get off TB and learn to use what I have. Synth, DI with my head, etc.

Uh huh. Definitely.

 

[SteveC]

At some point, you got to stop “circling” the airport...and just land the plane!

Yeah, I'm really bad at that. I could NEVER be a pilot. Bugs my wife to. You should see what I go thru when deciding what vehicle to get.

My wife has a sweet '16 Dodge Charger with all the bells and whistles. I had a GMC Sierra Crew Cab truck that I liked. Went to the Audi after the truck lease was over. Now I see a dog in our near future. We don't really have a "dog ready" vehicle but we just bought our cars about 6 months ago. I'll spare you guys any details in the dog vehicle thought/justification process.

 

[SteveC]

So here’s the board with the CIOKS DC-7 as power. Works great, even on a little board like mine. It’s just velcroed in but seems to be light enough that I don’t need to drill...well see.

edit: yep I did it upside down. Well, I’ll go get more Velcro Tomorrow as I’m out and the store is closed. Shoot. I worried so much about getting the power cables in the right place and the AC cord going the right direction....

 

[scubaduba]

@SteveC Why not Velcro the bottom of the CIOKS so you have access to the dip switches?

 

[SteveC]

@SteveC Why not Velcro the bottom of the CIOKS so you have access to the dip switches?

Because I’m stupid. I thought I had it right and then as I was posting my bragging pics I realized I wasn’t thinking upside down when I was setting it up.
I’ll get more Velcro and redo it tomorrow when the store opens. good news is it all worked and it looks great and it’s awesome having just the one AC cord to plug in. No wall wart to take up space on the power strip. This, my amp if I use it. Both the same. Moog Sub 37 makes 3.

 

[scubaduba]

That little CIOKS is pretty sweet isn’t it.

 

[kevk]

View attachment 3834871 View attachment 3834872 View attachment 3834873 So here’s the board with the CIOKS DC-7 as power. Works great, even on a little board like mine. It’s just velcroed in but seems to be light enough that I don’t need to drill...well see.

edit: yep I did it upside down. Well, I’ll go get more Velcro Tomorrow as I’m out and the store is closed. Shoot. I worried so much about getting the power cables in the right place and the AC cord going the right direction....

You might think about several EBS gold flat patch cables...might give you more space options, down the road.

Can’t imagine NOT using a DC7, also can’t imagine NOT using flat cables.

ebs gold flat patch cable | Sweetwater

 

[jacoby75]

You might think about several EBS gold flat patch cables...might give you more space options, down the road.

Can’t imagine NOT using a DC7, also can’t imagine NOT using flat cables.

ebs gold flat patch cable | Sweetwater

EBS flat patches are the bee's knees. Saved me sooooo much space on my small board that I could add another pedal or two.

 

[SteveC]

I’m not too crowded but those are nice cables. I just need the one from the tuner to the LA so maybe I’ll measure and see. Looks like the 4” one should work. I need to order up a Sub 37 and case anyway...

 

[kevk]

I’m not too crowded but those are nice cables. I just need the one from the tuner to the LA so maybe I’ll measure and see. Looks like the 4” one should work. I need to order up a Sub 37 and case anyway...

#Landtheplane

 

[SteveC]

Cleared for landing (wife said what the hell, no rules during covid) so I ordered the Sub 37 and bag this morning. Arrives Thursday. Time to start redoing my sounds for the cover band. Should be easier with this synth. Maybe even I can edit sounds with all those knobs. Turn the and see.

Also going to find a nice "bass pad" sound for church for those songs with the long, sustained intros and such.

 

[speedball3]

Buy once, cry once...
View attachment 3834190
SUBsequent 37...for church, 25 keys was plenty sufficient for the few times used there. But for rock, the added keys are really useful. A couple of the presets are “dead on” for MJ tunes...no programming necessary.

I ended up buying the heavy flight case (w/wheels)...personally, I wouldn’t trust it in a soft cover bag. I’d sure prefer a more traditional flatter keyboard slope for case/schlep purposes. “Real deal” tone, and one purchase I’ve not regretted!

Placed some mixing board tape (w/notes written) above the key bed. I’m not a keyboard player, but more importantly, my young student rock band uses it often, too.

[EDIT:add] lol—it’s easily paid for itself, just by me staying out of the synth pedal rabbit hole!

I feel there’s a lot of wisdom in this post. Even if I got the bass station and loved it, i would always wonder about the Moog stuff... and if I got a sub phatty/25, I’d wonder about the arpeggiator...

Man, it’s a pretty penny to cry over tho, esp if we are talking about adding the flight case and probably a keyboard stand of some sort. Makes me wonder if it’s ok if I spend more money on a synth than on my bass guitars... but I guess the easy solution is buy more basses (or not care ab that point).

@SteveC congrats and enjoy!!!!