Worship Bass Pedalboards

[glassmoon]

the FOH guy said it's the best I've sounded

if your guy gives you that sort of feedback, that is indeed a win for you and the tone

the band said the IEM sound especially was noticeably improved.
See, I get the IEM thing - it's a very controlled auditory response... but that is good!

At first I thought it was just that a compressor helped. But I've used other compressors. Not $460 compressors, so maybe three really is something to be said about quality. Not that the MXR M87 isn't a good compressor, but it isn't a $460 tube compressor running at 12 volts and all that.

That is a chunk of change though... I could not justify that sort of money on a single unit.

Maybe a really good preamp/DI (tube or no tube) really does make a difference. And if it makes a difference to us and the band, maybe that's enough.

I do think that a quality preamp is a better investment than a quality DI. If your sound is great to begin with, even a cheap DI will reproduce enough of that great tone.... but if your bass is coming up short, I'm pretty certain that a quality DI will only exemplify that deficiency in the tone....

If the church is prepared to buy both quality units, then great. I have played in some big places, and it's 99/100 times a Radial box and whatever I bring to the party

 

[Low F#]

From this morning.

 

[Low F#]

From this morning. View attachment 4007144

I'm considering swapping out the Aguilar Chorusaurus for a JAM Ripply Fall Bass (chorus/phaser/trem combo)... There's nothing I really dislike about the Auguilar, but I want a phaser for fun and figure the JAM fits the bill, covers the chorus + trem, and doesn't require an additional power source, the Noble will cover it.

Any experienced thoughts? Should I just keep the Aguilar and go with a standalone phaser? Is the quality of the JAM chorus worth the cost of the upgrade?

 

[ExaltBass]

New DI to try this week. Lightning Boy TI Box. Much bigger than expected, and I hope the sound is as good as expected! It required a re-think of the arrangement. I also decided to try the LA-1A at the beginning of the chain. Rehearsal Thursday.

 

[SteveC]

You'll have to let us know what you think. I'm debating just a simple passive DI as well. Leave my little board as is and just toss the DI and a patch cable in my bag...that or a REDDI...

 

[Erithon]

I'm considering swapping out the Aguilar Chorusaurus for a JAM Ripply Fall Bass (chorus/phaser/trem combo)... There's nothing I really dislike about the Auguilar, but I want a phaser for fun and figure the JAM fits the bill, covers the chorus + trem, and doesn't require an additional power source, the Noble will cover it.

Any experienced thoughts? Should I just keep the Aguilar and go with a standalone phaser? Is the quality of the JAM chorus worth the cost of the upgrade?

I've never played the Chorusaurus so I cannot compare them for you, but I own a JAM Waterfull (the chorus circuit of the Ripply Fall) and think it's fantastic. I'm sure the JAM phaser is as well. I love a wide, slow phase with some sort of dirt. It just adds nice interest to a bass line without being too busy. Also the Ripply Fall is a gorgeous looking pedal so for aesthetic reasons alone you should get it haha

I've been trying out a MIDI set-up with a DMC-6 so at the moment I'm using a Chase Bliss Warped Vinyl and Wombtone. I prefer the Waterfall's tone, but the Warped Vinyl has presets and MIDI so that's what's on my board currently. But the Waterfall will return if I decide I don't need chorus presets.

 

[Low F#]

I've never played the Chorusaurus so I cannot compare them for you, but I own a JAM Waterfull (the chorus circuit of the Ripply Fall) and think it's fantastic. I'm sure the JAM phaser is as well. I love a wide, slow phase with some sort of dirt. It just adds nice interest to a bass line without being too busy. Also the Ripply Fall is a gorgeous looking pedal so for aesthetic reasons alone you should get it haha

I've been trying out a MIDI set-up with a DMC-6 so at the moment I'm using a Chase Bliss Warped Vinyl and Wombtone. I prefer the Waterfall's tone, but the Warped Vinyl has presets and MIDI so that's what's on my board currently. But the Waterfall will return if I decide I don't need chorus presets.

Thank you! I was looking at the Waterfall, I use chorus subtly and love that thick analog kind of gooey slow swing it seems to have on demos, and then I saw the Ripply Fall Bass... GAS...

... I would be lying if I said that the Delay Llama Xtreme didn't get a partial bump because of its looks when I was shopping for an analog delay.

 

[dwagner]

Reworked my board. Power supply on top so I can have easier access to routing and can remove it with less work if I need to swap.

Tuner -> OC-3 -> 2020 -> Ethereal -> Tone Hammer

 

[Logic_11]

Reworked my board. Power supply on top so I can have easier access to routing and can remove it with less work if I need to swap.
View attachment 4009992
Tuner -> OC-3 -> 2020 -> Ethereal -> Tone Hammer

Nice! How do you like the ToneHammer and OC3?

 

[dwagner]

Nice! How do you like the ToneHammer and OC3?

That AGS circuit is amazing. Tightens the low end, makes the mids cut through the mix (and in my case, be aggressive). The OC-3 going into the Tone Hammer works really well cause the TH really tames the craziness of the OC-3, tightens it up, and makes it sound thick. So it's perfect for a fuzz-octave-huge sound for big parts of a build. This setup is really chasing the Bethel tone and I think the OC-3 does a good job filling the role of the Microsynth for what I need it to do.

 

[Bassworship1]

New DI to try this week. Lightning Boy TI Box. Much bigger than expected, and I hope the sound is as good as expected! It required a re-think of the arrangement. I also decided to try the LA-1A at the beginning of the chain. Rehearsal Thursday.

View attachment 4009134

Let me know what you think of that TI Direct Box. I'm thinking about getting one if they are what I think they will be also.

 

[MTN.bass72]

New DI to try this week. Lightning Boy TI Box. Much bigger than expected, and I hope the sound is as good as expected! It required a re-think of the arrangement. I also decided to try the LA-1A at the beginning of the chain. Rehearsal Thursday.

View attachment 4009134

Hey Dave, tell me about the MBD2.. I'm possibly interested in one because so many positive reviews, but all the videos I've found are all dimmed about metal with a pick style

 

[Erithon]

Hey Dave, tell me about the MBD2.. I'm possibly interested in one because so many positive reviews, but all the videos I've found are all dimmed about metal with a pick style

I'll let Dave give his own review, but I too use an MBD2. I have it as my second gain stage (the first is a Free The Tone Black Vehicle), but it works just as well as one's first (or only) gain stage. Even as a second stage, I use it mostly for lower gain: more overdrive than distortion. I like to run my Black Vehicle as always on dirt for an edgier tone in fast songs; then I'll step on the MBD2 to help a second chorus or bridge stand out. It has a thick, full tone (the clean blend really shines here) that gives the bass a wonderful presence. Sometimes I'll run a phaser after it to add interest to the harmonics.

 

[MascisMan]

Hey Dave, tell me about the MBD2.. I'm possibly interested in one because so many positive reviews, but all the videos I've found are all dimmed about metal with a pick style

I'll let Dave give his own review, but I too use an MBD2. I have it as my second gain stage (the first is a Free The Tone Black Vehicle), but it works just as well as one's first (or only) gain stage. Even as a second stage, I use it mostly for lower gain: more overdrive than distortion. I like to run my Black Vehicle as always on dirt for an edgier tone in fast songs; then I'll step on the MBD2 to help a second chorus or bridge stand out. It has a thick, full tone (the clean blend really shines here) that gives the bass a wonderful presence. Sometimes I'll run a phaser after it to add interest to the harmonics.

I'll echo Erithon. Tons of booty. You will never be lacking for low end. The Clean blend is really good. Can do low gain/hair stuff well and full out ripping distortion.

 

[fauxtoe]

It's never happened to me before. The singer (who knows nothing about gear) said something, the FOH guy said it's the best I've sounded (he's been with us for years) and the band said the IEM sound especially was noticeably improved. That has never been the case with anything from basses to DI's to whatever. It's just been oh look, Steve's got another new thing.

At first I thought it was just that a compressor helped. But I've used other compressors. Not $460 compressors, so maybe three really is something to be said about quality. Not that the MXR M87 isn't a good compressor, but it isn't a $460 tube compressor running at 12 volts and all that.

Maybe a really good preamp/DI (tube or no tube) really does make a difference. And if it makes a difference to us and the band, maybe that's enough.

Funny that you had someone say something about your tone, because our acoustic guitar player and the drummer said something to me as well how good mine sounded at the last service. Want to know the difference than any other time I've played so far? 1) The 8x10 cab sim was activated on my Shift Line Olympic MKIIIs, 2) I ran a very mild overdrive dialed into the Tech21 YYZ, and 3) On one of the songs in the chorus section I kicked in some heavier OD and low end via my Darkglass AlphaOmega. The drummer REALLY liked that one!

 

[kevk]

Hey Dave, tell me about the MBD2.. I'm possibly interested in one because so many positive reviews, but all the videos I've found are all dimmed about metal with a pick style

I'll let Dave give his own review, but I too use an MBD2. I have it as my second gain stage (the first is a Free The Tone Black Vehicle), but it works just as well as one's first (or only) gain stage. Even as a second stage, I use it mostly for lower gain: more overdrive than distortion. I like to run my Black Vehicle as always on dirt for an edgier tone in fast songs; then I'll step on the MBD2 to help a second chorus or bridge stand out. It has a thick, full tone (the clean blend really shines here) that gives the bass a wonderful presence. Sometimes I'll run a phaser after it to add interest to the harmonics.

I'll echo Erithon. Tons of booty. You will never be lacking for low end. The Clean blend is really good. Can do low gain/hair stuff well and full out ripping distortion.

Lol—I'll also echo Erithon and MascisMan...MBD-2 is extremely versatile, both for tone objective and chain placement. Lately, I've been using my MBD-2 as an additional "thickener" (no break-up) to my already thick LA-1A tube comp...

Everything on my board is always on, with a boost option as needed. Take the MBD-2 out of the chain...you just want to stomp it back in...it matters.

MBD's sound phenomenal as a low gain/light break-up OD, too! The low end is well-preserved with an MBD...a lot of options with this pedal for sure.

 

[ExaltBass]

Hey Dave, tell me about the MBD2.. I'm possibly interested in one because so many positive reviews, but all the videos I've found are all dimmed about metal with a pick style

I'll let Dave give his own review, but I too use an MBD2. I have it as my second gain stage (the first is a Free The Tone Black Vehicle), but it works just as well as one's first (or only) gain stage. Even as a second stage, I use it mostly for lower gain: more overdrive than distortion. I like to run my Black Vehicle as always on dirt for an edgier tone in fast songs; then I'll step on the MBD2 to help a second chorus or bridge stand out. It has a thick, full tone (the clean blend really shines here) that gives the bass a wonderful presence. Sometimes I'll run a phaser after it to add interest to the harmonics.

I'll echo Erithon. Tons of booty. You will never be lacking for low end. The Clean blend is really good. Can do low gain/hair stuff well and full out ripping distortion.

Lol—I'll also echo Erithon and MascisMan...MBD-2 is extremely versatile, both for tone objective and chain placement. Lately, I've been using my MBD-2 as an additional "thickener" (no break-up) to my already thick LA-1A tube comp...View attachment 4011475 Everything on my board is always on, with a boost option as needed. Take the MBD-2 out of the chain...you just want to stomp it back in...it matters.

MBD's sound phenomenal as a low gain/light break-up OD, too! The low end is well-preserved with an MBD...a lot of options with this pedal for sure.

Just another echo here! I am pretty new to it, but I am using it primarily as a gain stage, and it does do a really nice job of thickening the tone. I used it tonight at rehearsal, after the LA-1A, with my Fender Road Worn Precision and it sounded massive!

Let me know what you think of that TI Direct Box. I'm thinking about getting one if they are what I think they will be also.

The TI Box was also a success! FOH gave it 2 BIG Thumbs UP and a huge smile. He will be buying one for the church soon.

 

[MTN.bass72]

Just another echo here! I am pretty new to it, but I am using it primarily as a gain stage, and it does do a really nice job of thickening the tone. I used it tonight at rehearsal, after the LA-1A, with my Fender Road Worn Precision and it sounded massive!



The TI Box was also a success! FOH gave it 2 BIG Thumbs UP and a huge smile. He will be buying one for the church soon.

Wow!! Thanks Dave!... I was afraid this would be the case... in a good way, of course ... I'm thinking this would be perfect with my Cali 76CB and Mesa Subway DI... plus a couple of other goodies I'm planning on having

 

[Valveman]

Keeping it simple. This board now stays at church, along with Monique and Minnie.

 

[jacoby75]

Keeping it simple. This board now stays at church, along with Monique and Minnie.

View attachment 4011778

View attachment 4011800

Sometimes . . . or most times . . . simple is best. I'll bet that sounds really good.