• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Worship Bass Pedalboards

#7,901
bignc said:
This is alot. So forgive me and help me!
Never had a board. Only Zoom MS-60b live and a B1Four to practice through at home. I do have a Radial ProDI. I also could POSSIBLY see a RARE use case for bringing and using 2 basses at one set. (one Standard and one BEAD tuned.) I like edge of breakup tone, occasionally more drive/ distortion, and chorus either alone or overdriven. I know from listening to tons and trying some things out (either actual pedals and amps or simulations through Mfx) what I think I like.

I practice through the zoom b14. I have no amp/cab and not really room at this time for it- and church is DI to FOH. I have long cables to make my IEMS reach and to get the aux in from the laptop when I practice with a course or youtube stuff... My wife would LIKE for me to not pile it all up on the floor (even neatly!) by the sofa. I'm thinking a pedal case/ bag will hold some things.....

So lets say I go to our classifieds and find a Southampton and a Westinghouse (I know, they are there now and I have seen them before so just as examples.) WH as always on warmth and the SH to go a little more dirty. Or get something like the Walrus Pedal that @soundsupport1 has found. Or something else from sushi could probably do both with the stomp of a button?

And I want to (at least for now) use the MS-60B I have as Tuner/ compression/ noise gate. (Other sounds abound of course.) Not sure if the zoom goes first or last in this situation but I am trying here. :) And I throw a Julia Chorus on the board. That's 4 pedals for now plus my RadialPro DI. Maybe the Zoom goes to a worthy youth at church eventually and I get a separate Tuner and one of Scuba's recommended Comps.

So, Pedaltrain Nano, Nano+ or Metro. Power supply- Isolated. The MXR DC brick seems to have good bang for buck.

I have a small amount of money at Sweetwater. So I am thinking I get patch cables and the board and maybe power. I can get the pedals when deals arise or I may just go for it.

What am I missing? How would you set these components up? Would the MS-60b be a good backup and just go analog since all I would be missing really is tuner/ comp? What about HPF/LPF? Read about buffers but dont k now if I need it? Will I need a noise gate? I play the Zoom stuff all with a HPF and Noise Gate active- is that only necessary because of digital noise?

I need a drink and a nap.
Click to expand...

I can tell you what has worked really well for me. I have a Nano board. I have a CIOKS power supply mounted underneath. I have a tuner/mute (Sonic Research), my Rolls box for my wired IEM's, a compressor (Empress) and drive box(Genzler 4 on the Floor). That goes to my REDDI (not on a board) and to FOH. If I wanted it all on the Nano, I'd get a smaller tube DI with some slight drive potential and replace the 4OTF, like an Oracle or Olympic. Easily fit it a Nano or Nano+. I've been tempted but I just love the REDDI too much right now.
 
  • Like
Reactions: bignc and furym
#7,902
SteveC said:
I can tell you what has worked really well for me. I have a Nano board. I have a CIOKS power supply mounted underneath. I have a tuner/mute (Sonic Research), my Rolls box for my wired IEM's, a compressor (Empress) and drive box(Genzler 4 on the Floor). That goes to my REDDI (not on a board) and to FOH. If I wanted it all on the Nano, I'd get a smaller tube DI with some slight drive potential and replace the 4OTF, like an Oracle or Olympic. Easily fit it a Nano or Nano+. I've been tempted but I just love the REDDI too much right now.
Click to expand...
How well do you think stacking an Oracle or Olympic with the Reddi would work? Too much tube? (Is that even possible) I suppose it would depend on if the affected signal is XLR only on those.
 
#7,903
furym said:
How well do you think stacking an Oracle or Olympic with the Reddi would work? Too much tube? (Is that even possible) I suppose it would depend on if the affected signal is XLR only on those.
Click to expand...
I don't think I'd stack them. One is plenty. I think you can get too much of a good thing. Like i said, if I wanted just my Nano I'd probably get the SLO (it can be powered by a CIOKS with the rest of my pedals) and call it a day. One power cord, plug in the bass, plug in the DI. Done.
 
  • Like
Reactions: furym
#7,905
SteveC said:
So, why aren't more people using a SLO? It is tube, small, has a preamp, can get drive, and is pedal board size and power friendly. Seems to hold it' sown against a heavyweight like the Noble. Hmmm.

Click to expand...


Coming from someone that has used both the SLO and the Noble there is no comparison. There's a reason why the Noble is the most sought after Tube preamp on the market.
 
  • Like
Reactions: abassman84 and MTN.bass72
#7,906
SteveC said:
So, why aren't more people using a SLO? It is tube, small, has a preamp, can get drive, and is pedal board size and power friendly. Seems to hold it' sown against a heavyweight like the Noble. Hmmm.

Click to expand...

Coming from someone who has used neither (so take my opinion for what it's worth), I think it comes down to that certain difficult-to-define-but-you-know-it-when-you-hear-it/feel-it "weight", "heft", "3D quality" that is added to the tone by things with big hunks of iron inside. (A characteristic that I would assume the Noble has but the SLO does not, even though the SLO undeniably has a great tone). Whether or not that difference or distinction is worth the price difference to you is a question only you can answer. But the fact that a number of pros I've seen use the Noble, that has to mean something.
 
#7,907
bignc said:
This is alot. So forgive me and help me!
Never had a board. Only Zoom MS-60b live and a B1Four to practice through at home. I do have a Radial ProDI. I also could POSSIBLY see a RARE use case for bringing and using 2 basses at one set. (one Standard and one BEAD tuned.) I like edge of breakup tone, occasionally more drive/ distortion, and chorus either alone or overdriven. I know from listening to tons and trying some things out (either actual pedals and amps or simulations through Mfx) what I think I like.

I practice through the zoom b14. I have no amp/cab and not really room at this time for it- and church is DI to FOH. I have long cables to make my IEMS reach and to get the aux in from the laptop when I practice with a course or youtube stuff... My wife would LIKE for me to not pile it all up on the floor (even neatly!) by the sofa. I'm thinking a pedal case/ bag will hold some things.....

So lets say I go to our classifieds and find a Southampton and a Westinghouse (I know, they are there now and I have seen them before so just as examples.) WH as always on warmth and the SH to go a little more dirty. Or get something like the Walrus Pedal that @soundsupport1 has found. Or something else from sushi could probably do both with the stomp of a button?

And I want to (at least for now) use the MS-60B I have as Tuner/ compression/ noise gate. (Other sounds abound of course.) Not sure if the zoom goes first or last in this situation but I am trying here. :) And I throw a Julia Chorus on the board. That's 4 pedals for now plus my RadialPro DI. Maybe the Zoom goes to a worthy youth at church eventually and I get a separate Tuner and one of Scuba's recommended Comps.

So, Pedaltrain Nano, Nano+ or Metro. Power supply- Isolated. The MXR DC brick seems to have good bang for buck.

I have a small amount of money at Sweetwater. So I am thinking I get patch cables and the board and maybe power. I can get the pedals when deals arise or I may just go for it.

What am I missing? How would you set these components up? Would the MS-60b be a good backup and just go analog since all I would be missing really is tuner/ comp? What about HPF/LPF? Read about buffers but dont k now if I need it? Will I need a noise gate? I play the Zoom stuff all with a HPF and Noise Gate active- is that only necessary because of digital noise?

I need a drink and a nap.
Click to expand...
I run a b1x four into a radial stagebug-2 DI. I power it via a usb power bank so I don't even need a power cord. The zoom has literally everything you've mentioned - noise gate, lpf, hpf, tuner, chorus, compressor etc, and if you're practicing with it, might as well gig with it. I love new gadgets but it's hard to get excited about new stuff you gotta pay for and power.

I built a mini-snake with a guitar cord and 3.5mm extension cord. One end plugs into headphones/iem and bass, other into zoom guitar input, and the 3.5 either into the iem system or for practice into the zoom out (with a 1/4 adapter). One less cable to manage that way.

the only thing I wish I had that I don't is a VU meter of some sort. Nobody seems to make that as a stand-alone pedal, so I am building my own; but I'll probably hack it into the zoom as well and just expose the leds off to the side, if there's enough room in the case.
 
  • Like
Reactions: bignc
#7,908
ETJ said:
I run a b1x four into a radial stagebug-2 DI. I power it via a usb power bank so I don't even need a power cord. The zoom has literally everything you've mentioned - noise gate, lpf, hpf, tuner, chorus, compressor etc, and if you're practicing with it, might as well gig with it. I love new gadgets but it's hard to get excited about new stuff you gotta pay for and power.

I built a mini-snake with a guitar cord and 3.5mm extension cord. One end plugs into headphones/iem and bass, other into zoom guitar input, and the 3.5 either into the iem system or for practice into the zoom out (with a 1/4 adapter). One less cable to manage that way.

the only thing I wish I had that I don't is a VU meter of some sort. Nobody seems to make that as a stand-alone pedal, so I am building my own; but I'll probably hack it into the zoom as well and just expose the leds off to the side, if there's enough room in the case.
Click to expand...
Oh also the setup fits in a regular size laptop bag along with spare cables, music, iems, snacks, and a small folding stand I use.

By itself, the zoom and di can fit in a bag designed for a mini 10 inch laptop.
 
  • Like
Reactions: bignc
#7,909
jacoby75 said:
Coming from someone who has used neither (so take my opinion for what it's worth), I think it comes down to that certain difficult-to-define-but-you-know-it-when-you-hear-it/feel-it "weight", "heft", "3D quality" that is added to the tone by things with big hunks of iron inside. (A characteristic that I would assume the Noble has but the SLO does not, even though the SLO undeniably has a great tone). Whether or not that difference or distinction is worth the price difference to you is a question only you can answer. But the fact that a number of pros I've seen use the Noble, that has to mean something.
Click to expand...
Sure. It's the same thing I say about my REDDI. Weight. Iron. But I thought the SLO sounded pretty darn good, and it can be powered by a CIOKS and I could fit everything on my Nano. It's a thought is all.
 
  • Like
Reactions: bignc
#7,910
ETJ said:
I run a b1x four into a radial stagebug-2 DI. I power it via a usb power bank so I don't even need a power cord. The zoom has literally everything you've mentioned - noise gate, lpf, hpf, tuner, chorus, compressor etc, and if you're practicing with it, might as well gig with it. I love new gadgets but it's hard to get excited about new stuff you gotta pay for and power.

I built a mini-snake with a guitar cord and 3.5mm extension cord. One end plugs into headphones/iem and bass, other into zoom guitar input, and the 3.5 either into the iem system or for practice into the zoom out (with a 1/4 adapter). One less cable to manage that way.

the only thing I wish I had that I don't is a VU meter of some sort. Nobody seems to make that as a stand-alone pedal, so I am building my own; but I'll probably hack it into the zoom as well and just expose the leds off to the side, if there's enough room in the case.
Click to expand...


Don't get me wrong, I HAVE used my MS-60b and it was fine. There are songs where I switch OD off and on. There are places where chorus and maybe octave "thickening" is useful. So I'd need dozens of patches to do this on both- OR I'd have to find a way to switch between stompbox and patch mode- and that's just not super easy. There ARE times I will continue to use just a zoom pedal playing live- I prefer the MS-60B for that especially if no dirt is needed. I like dirt and chorus from analog pedals a LITTLE better than from the zooms. Honestly, I've thought about the B3N since it has 3 stomps and 3 paddles.... Not off the table, really. There is the cool factor and GAS. I am a pretty good steward and I have been blessed enough that I don't always have issues spending money to facilitate enjoyment in a hobby.

Thanks for the reminder/ thoughts. It's possible that I slow my roll and stay with what I have. But, having never owned any analog options, I feel like I am leaning that way.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ETJ
#7,911
SteveC said:
Sure. It's the same thing I say about my REDDI. Weight. Iron. But I thought the SLO sounded pretty darn good, and it can be powered by a CIOKS and I could fit everything on my Nano. It's a thought is all.
Click to expand...
I have thought the same thing about the SLO in the past (at least in clips online). It really does sound good. It's certainly no slouch, and I'm sure would make many people very happy. Shift Line makes great stuff. I'm still pretty hard-pressed to hear the difference in a blind taste test, but I know it's there.
 
  • Like
Reactions: bignc
#7,912
Makes sense. I used to run a full rack of analog stuff - compressor w noise gate, ampeg tube preamp, racked chorus, etc, so I get it :). I'm pretty amazed at what can fit and sound good in a multifx pedal these days.
The b3n is a good option too because it is fairly easy (compared to b1) to stomp on individual effects.
 
  • Like
Reactions: bignc
#7,913
jacoby75 said:
I have thought the same thing about the SLO in the past (at least in clips online). It really does sound good. It's certainly no slouch, and I'm sure would make many people very happy. Shift Line makes great stuff. I'm still pretty hard-pressed to hear the difference in a blind taste test, but I know it's there.
Click to expand...
Scuba said the same thing. It'd be kind of nice to have all my stuff on my Nano, put it in a Tick and clip it to a Mono case. But, the Pelican case solution is pretty sweet, and I think the band would kill me if I got rid of the REDDI/Empress combo.
 
  • Like
Reactions: bignc
#7,914
bignc said:
This is alot. So forgive me and help me!
Never had a board. Only Zoom MS-60b live and a B1Four to practice through at home. I do have a Radial ProDI. I also could POSSIBLY see a RARE use case for bringing and using 2 basses at one set. (one Standard and one BEAD tuned.) I like edge of breakup tone, occasionally more drive/ distortion, and chorus either alone or overdriven. I know from listening to tons and trying some things out (either actual pedals and amps or simulations through Mfx) what I think I like.

I practice through the zoom b14. I have no amp/cab and not really room at this time for it- and church is DI to FOH. I have long cables to make my IEMS reach and to get the aux in from the laptop when I practice with a course or youtube stuff... My wife would LIKE for me to not pile it all up on the floor (even neatly!) by the sofa. I'm thinking a pedal case/ bag will hold some things.....

So lets say I go to our classifieds and find a Southampton and a Westinghouse (I know, they are there now and I have seen them before so just as examples.) WH as always on warmth and the SH to go a little more dirty. Or get something like the Walrus Pedal that @soundsupport1 has found. Or something else from sushi could probably do both with the stomp of a button?

And I want to (at least for now) use the MS-60B I have as Tuner/ compression/ noise gate. (Other sounds abound of course.) Not sure if the zoom goes first or last in this situation but I am trying here. :) And I throw a Julia Chorus on the board. That's 4 pedals for now plus my RadialPro DI. Maybe the Zoom goes to a worthy youth at church eventually and I get a separate Tuner and one of Scuba's recommended Comps.

So, Pedaltrain Nano, Nano+ or Metro. Power supply- Isolated. The MXR DC brick seems to have good bang for buck.

I have a small amount of money at Sweetwater. So I am thinking I get patch cables and the board and maybe power. I can get the pedals when deals arise or I may just go for it.

What am I missing? How would you set these components up? Would the MS-60b be a good backup and just go analog since all I would be missing really is tuner/ comp? What about HPF/LPF? Read about buffers but dont k now if I need it? Will I need a noise gate? I play the Zoom stuff all with a HPF and Noise Gate active- is that only necessary because of digital noise?

I need a drink and a nap.
Click to expand...

Enjoy your drink and your nap :)

Lets start with buffers. Yes, they are useful and indeed necessary in certain scenarios; very long cable runs being one of them. Another is multiple pedals strung together. What is a buffer for? it's there to help solve a problem with very long cable runs, or multiple pedals (which is actually the same thing - the signal has to travel a long way!); the problem of capacitance. Think of the cable as being like a passive tone control: the longer the cable, the more treble rolloff you'll experience.
A buffer effectively puts the treble back in.

BUT. For most bassists, a buffer is not necessary as long as you use good quality cables! That would be my starting point for you. A brand that keeps getting mentioned in those Rig Rundown videos is Klotz, and for good reason. I went from Fender cables (not bad at all, no real complaints) to a Klotz La Grange cable, and the difference was extraordinary. Much fuller, stronger signal, much more treble detail. For players with long cable runs, item one on the agenda is to use really good cables.

A buffer on your board is nice too, but it's more for guitarists. Unless your board is absolutely massive, I doubt most bass players would notice having a buffer at the end of the signal chain or not.

I have no noise gate and don't miss it. But that's just me. If there is noise in your signal and it irritates you, try a noise gate and see if you prefer it.

The Walrus Audio Eras is not a warm pedal. It's a pretty cold distortion box, I wouldn't recommend it as a one-size-fits-all OD. For that the two most popular choices I see around here are the Source Audio Aftershock (which is one of the most versatile distortion pedals ever made) and the Way Huge Pork'n'Pickle OD/Fuzz, which is also very very good. There are plenty of good reviews of both on youtube.

Rereading your message, I think the pedal order would be: OD-> Distortion-> Chorus-> Zoom-> DI.
As a general principle, signal goes pitch (I.E. octave) -> Fuzz (Big Muff etc.) -> OD -> Distortion -> Modulation (chorus, flanger, phaser) -> Tone shaping (EQ, Compression etc) -> DI.

But.
But.

There are no rules about any of this.

Many many people will try and help, give you their opinions (as indeed I am now), but please remember the number one rule of music.

------If you like it, it is correct.------

One slight caveat to that: certain things can sound great but damage your equipment. They're definitely wrong!

Nevertheless, if someone tells you to try something different, listen; if someone tells you "you're doing it wrong", you can ignore them with an entirely guilt-free conscience.

Have fun experimenting, but remember to stop when you find a sound you like!

Peace,
SoundSupport
 
  • Like
Reactions: bignc and furym
#7,916
bignc said:
Don't get me wrong, I HAVE used my MS-60b and it was fine. There are songs where I switch OD off and on. There are places where chorus and maybe octave "thickening" is useful. So I'd need dozens of patches to do this on both- OR I'd have to find a way to switch between stompbox and patch mode- and that's just not super easy. There ARE times I will continue to use just a zoom pedal playing live- I prefer the MS-60B for that especially if no dirt is needed. I like dirt and chorus from analog pedals a LITTLE better than from the zooms. Honestly, I've thought about the B3N since it has 3 stomps and 3 paddles.... Not off the table, really. There is the cool factor and GAS. I am a pretty good steward and I have been blessed enough that I don't always have issues spending money to facilitate enjoyment in a hobby.

Thanks for the reminder/ thoughts. It's possible that I slow my roll and stay with what I have. But, having never owned any analog options, I feel like I am leaning that way.
Click to expand...
Where in NC are you? I have a B3n like new in the box sitting in the closet. You could try it if you are close by or maybe we could work something if you were interested.
 
#7,917
Bassworship1 said:
Coming from someone that has used both the SLO and the Noble there is no comparison. There's a reason why the Noble is the most sought after Tube preamp on the market.
Click to expand...

I guess everyone is different but I've owned and played both the Noble and the SLO and prefer the SLO, both in tone and form factor. Fits on a Nano+ along with my MBD2 and Empress Bass Compressor, Tuner and Zoom MS60b for the very occasional need for octave or chorus.
 
  • Like
Reactions: bignc and furym
#7,918
jmbjandfam said:
I guess everyone is different but I've owned and played both the Noble and the SLO and prefer the SLO, both in tone and form factor. Fits on a Nano+ along with my MBD2 and Empress Bass Compressor, Tuner and Zoom MS60b for the very occasional need for octave or chorus.
Click to expand...

there will always be some that prefer things that others don't. All I was saying is there a reason why the Noble is considered the Gold Standard for bass tube preamps. They sale for more used than they cost new and normally sale within an hour. Still I've found things I prefer over it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: bignc

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back