Worship Bass Pedalboards

[Erithon]

I am looking for a little input on signal chain. I have seen a lot of differing opinions on the subject, so I figured I would reach out to the brotherhood of worship bassists. The pedals I am using:
TC Electronics PolyTune3
EHX Bass Clone
EHX Big Muff
Darkglass Hyper Luminal Compressor
Darkglass Microtubes X Ultra
View attachment 4155220

I would start with...

TC Electronics PolyTune3 --> Darkglass Hyper Luminal Compressor --> EHX Big Muff --> EHX Bass Clone --> Darkglass Microtubes X Ultra

... and then experiment from there. I like to use a compressor before gain because for me the whole point of something like a fuzz is untamed hair. I use my compressor to thicken up my clean signal, not compress the harmonics of a fuzz.

 

[MascisMan]

This is a crossover post from the Hx Stomp thread. Thought I would share here as well.

Today's church service. Chain is JM4 > Photon Death Ray > Stomp (w/MIDI Baby 3)> Studio One DI.

The Stomp chain was like so:

HPF/LPF > Simple Pitch > Split Crossover > A. No blocks B. Vermin Distortion > HPF/LPF > Split returns to A > Mod/Chorus Echo > Plate Reverb > Fullerton Nrm Amp > HPF/LPF

Some notes:
1. I ran a Snapshots + Stomp combo with the MIDI controller today. Here are the three Snapshots:

1. Clean - HPF (40) > Crossover Split OFF > Fullerton Nrm Amp > HPF (60)/LPF (8k)
2. Overdrive - HPF (40) > Crossover Split (1kHz) > A. Clean bass (no blocks)/B. Vermin Distortion + HPF (7.5k) > Split returns to A > Fullerton Nrm Amp > HPF (50)/LPF (8k) block
3. Octave - HPF (40) > Simple Pitch > Crossover Split OFF > Fullerton Nrm Amp > HPF (60)/LPF (8k)

2. On the MIDI Baby 3 I have two buttons assigned as FS4 (Plate Reverb - orange) and FS5 (Mod/Chorus Echo - silver) with the third (red) button assigned as the tuner. The Left and Rights (FS4/5) are also programmed with long presses to switch between Preset Up/Down and Snapshots modes.
3. The Fullerton Nrm amp block is set up the same as the "tube DI" conversation a few pages back with the only adjustment being the Gain upped to 1.9.
4. The S1 DI is running its EQ flat with light HPF (around 60Hzish?)/LPF (around 8kHzish?) filtering. Don't be confused by the "Freq" knob. It is doing nothing since the Mid knob is at noon.
5. On the choruses of the first song (Glorious Day) is where you can hear Snapshot 2 with the Vermin Distortion.
6. On the choruses of the final song (Whole Heart - 45:23) is where you can hear the octave snapshot. I'm running a pretty subtle 35% Simple Pitch mix.
7. I used the Plate Reverb (FS4) here and there today, to taste. Usually during quieter parts when I'm palm muting a bit just to fill empty space.
8. I'm running both pickups all the way up with the tone all the way open.

 

[ExaltBass]

Arkham Oracle in-bound... I should have it up an running for next week's rehearsal and service. I will be using it with my Empress Bass Compressor, and I will need to decide which DI? Lightning Boy? Or ETDI? @scubaduba I'm sure you have some insight into my choice.

 

[WhoopingHonky]

After some soul searching, I am finally opting to stop chickening out and buy the EHX Hog2. Ripped the board apart to figure out how to make room for it, think I finally did. Had to ditch my volume pedal to do it, but it is what it is. Also found out the DI on my DSM Bass Station only has background noise when the headphone jack is in use, so I can move that back to the preamp section of my board.

Going to end up rigging my OBNE Signal blender for a split loop, one with the Hog2, a dirt pedal, and a delay/reverb for pads and the like, the other with my main bass dirt pedals. That'll run to the preamp with my modulation and reverb/delay in the effect loop. Clean blend will be always on at no volume so the blender doesn't bypass and with the other loops off I have a mute, should get me a setup where I can have solid pad sounds or my main bass tone in one press instead of having to tapdance or invest in a switcher.

Now the fun part. Waiting on new pedals and wiring. Oh so much wiring...

 

[scubaduba]

Arkham Oracle in-bound... I should have it up an running for next week's rehearsal and service. I will be using it with my Empress Bass Compressor, and I will need to decide which DI? Lightning Boy? Or ETDI? @scubaduba I'm sure you have some insight into my choice.

Lightning Boy TI box or Broughton ETDI? Different devices. If you can't power the box than go with the Lighting Boy which is totally passive. I prefer the tone of the Lightning Boy too.

 

[jacoby75]

Arkham Oracle in-bound... I should have it up an running for next week's rehearsal and service. I will be using it with my Empress Bass Compressor, and I will need to decide which DI? Lightning Boy? Or ETDI? @scubaduba I'm sure you have some insight into my choice.

I also used it ever-so-briefly with a Telefunken passive DI. Sounded great.

 

[ExaltBass]

Lightning Boy TI box or Broughton ETDI? Different devices. If you can't power the box than go with the Lighting Boy which is totally passive. I prefer the tone of the Lightning Boy too.

Right, totally different animals. I have been using my Effectrode LA-1A into the ETDI successfully, but I have missed the Tube preamp contribution also, and the Oracle seems like a good option. I am planning on using the Empress Bass, instead of the LA-1A, with the Oracle, and wondered if the ETDI is a good fit, or if I should simply go passive.

I do not understand your comment 'If you can't power the box'... can you clarify? Which box? I have a Cioks DC-7 on both of my pedalboards (Metro 16 & Metro 24).

 

[MascisMan]

I wonder how the Telefunken compares to the Lightning Boy TI?

 

[MascisMan]

I do not understand your comment 'If you can't power the box'...

I think he is referring to the ETDI

 

[scubaduba]

I do not understand your comment 'If you can't power the box'... can you clarify? Which box? I have a Cioks DC-7 on both of my pedalboards (Metro 16 & Metro 24).

The ETDI requires 12VDC. If you can't power it then the it isn't an option for you. Since you have the CIOKS you are golden. I still prefer the Lightning Boy.

 

[ExaltBass]

The ETDI requires 12VDC. If you can't power it then the it isn't an option for you. Since you have the CIOKS you are golden. I still prefer the Lightning Boy.

Thanks! That will be in my first configuration. That will also make it easier to switch pedalboards, as I won't need to transfer anything.

 

[dwagner]

Built a mini volume tonight for fun. I wanted something to use for volume but didn't need a normal sized volume pedal or a mini one. This is perfect! With the knob on the side you can roll with your foot. Perfect!

 

[JKos]

With the knob on the side you can roll with your foot. Perfect!

That's awesome. I could see supporting the pot shaft with bearings to take applied loads off the pot itself.

What pot value and taper did you go with?

 

[dwagner]

That's awesome. I could see supporting the pot shaft with bearings to take applied loads off the pot itself.

What pot value and taper did you go with?

I did 250k audio taper for these ones. I'll see how they work in an actual live application! Logarithmic might be better.

 

[Treblefree]

I'm stuck trying to decide to stop going wireless. I have my wireless relay on my board. I really love being wireless, but I'm on my 2nd unit breaking right now and I'm getting tired of buying them.

The only upside I can see to going back wired is that it will free a precious space on my pedal board and I could add one more.

My dilemma with pedal boards is I need to buy one for my guitar eventually because now I just have a bunch of pedals to carry in a bag and set up is a pain. My longer term dilemma is that I really want a few more pedals for my bass and I'm at my limit without giving something else up. Getting into a larger bass pedal board means new pedal board cost and also another 2nd power supply, then have to do the same again for the guitar. Keeps me from buying pedals.

Or, should I get a decent size larger pedal board (like a 36) and just make one pedal board for both guitar and bass? I'm intrigued by this because I have used some of my bass pedals on my guitar already. VMT sounds awesome on guitar and bass. In the opposite direction, I've used my Keeley Plus guitar compressor on my bass and it is really cool too. Interesting to switch between single coil and humbucker on both guitar and bass. Gives a different effect. I'm sure others of my pedals would be cool on guitar and vice-versa.

Thoughts?

 

[dwagner]

I'm stuck trying to decide to stop going wireless. I have my wireless relay on my board. I really love being wireless, but I'm on my 2nd unit breaking right now and I'm getting tired of buying them.

The only upside I can see to going back wired is that it will free a precious space on my pedal board and I could add one more.

My dilemma with pedal boards is I need to buy one for my guitar eventually because now I just have a bunch of pedals to carry in a bag and set up is a pain. My longer term dilemma is that I really want a few more pedals for my bass and I'm at my limit without giving something else up. Getting into a larger bass pedal board means new pedal board cost and also another 2nd power supply, then have to do the same again for the guitar. Keeps me from buying pedals.

Or, should I get a decent size larger pedal board (like a 36) and just make one pedal board for both guitar and bass? I'm intrigued by this because I have used some of my bass pedals on my guitar already. VMT sounds awesome on guitar and bass. In the opposite direction, I've used my Keeley Plus guitar compressor on my bass and it is really cool too. Interesting to switch between single coil and humbucker on both guitar and bass. Gives a different effect. I'm sure others of my pedals would be cool on guitar and vice-versa.

Thoughts?

Idk, I never minded using a cable.

I never delved into wireless just because I never had the need — and haven't ever taken the plunge because I've always been afraid of the tonal implications.

I think having the extra spot for another pedal is much more useful to me than going wireless. I love to move around when I play, but it's still only probably within a 3x3foot box.

 

[MascisMan]

Every once in awhile I get the itch to try a wireless unit but more so to hear what tweaks sound like in the front of house.

Then I think about it more and change my mind. I trust our sound engineer and we have a good enough relationship where he can come to me and say "Hey, your overdrive is a little harsh" or "your octave is not at unity with your clean signal, it is too low."

As for the movement freedom, I can see that being an attraction but I pretty much stick within my little 5ft. bubble. Plus, it is nice not having two packs on my person (we use wireless IEMs) which, in itself, grants a level of freedom.

 

[dwagner]

Every once in awhile I get the itch to try a wireless unit but more so to hear what tweaks sound like in the front of house.

Then I think about it more and change my mind. I trust our sound engineer and we have a good enough relationship where he can come to me and say "Hey, your overdrive is a little harsh" or "your octave is not at unity with your clean signal, it is too low."

As for the movement freedom, I can see that being an attraction but I pretty much stick within my little 5ft. bubble. Plus, it is nice not having two packs on my person (we use wireless IEMs) which, in itself, grants a level of freedom.

Yeah, I agree. I think it's a great exercise in trusting the engineer. I think buying wireless just to be able to walk out and listen to FOH tone is a little frivolous.
I think wireless IEMs are great because it's one less cord to trip over. But I think a guitar cable is fine. It's one extra thing to worry about (batteries, remembering to turn it on, frequency crossover, etc).

 

[SteveC]

I was all wireless for a little while. It's kinda of nice, but really, I stay in the same area and don't run around a lot so it seemed like more of a hassle then it was worth. I have a nice "snake" for myself that Dave made (I think it's nice, I haven't had a chance to try it yet) that ties all my bass/synth/DI/IEM stuff into one handy cable. Should be awesome.

 

[Wfrance3]

Built a mini volume tonight for fun.

That is super sharp! I like how clean it looks. I wonder if adding a treble bleed might be a good idea?
I added one of these to a passive bass I used to have:
V-Treb Variable Treble Bleed Circuit
It was really good in the band I was in b/c there was a belief at the mixing board that if you could actually make out what the bass was playing, it was a bad thing...
I would roll back about 25% of my volume and that would give me enough wiggle room to come up a little. The bleed made it to where I could roll off vol without getting anywhere near the outskirts of mudville...