Worship Bass Pedalboards

[Dan Knowlton]

This is my current board but I don't get to use it playing out as much as I would like...the good side is that I recently bought a Darkglass M900 and I can get the drive that the VMTD gives me with that. I usually go from the UniChorus to the DI at the church, although I bring a JDI just in case theirs is particularly bad. What is it about sound guys that makes them think that a CHEAP DI is OK?

Time to redo the driveway!

Dan

 

[Adamixoye]

I'm thinking about replacing my markbass supersynth with the SY-300. How do you like it? I'm going for that effect that'll give me a keyboard synth tone. The supersynth is okay at best with subpar tracking and a limited amount of tones I can generate that sound like a keyboard synth.

Well, I like it a lot but my relationship with it is complicated. I play both bass and guitar, my board is a combo board. The main way in which I've used the SY-300 live is on guitar for the synth lead line on Phil Wickman's "This Is Amazing Grace." It's great for ambient and/or sequenced type stuff. For "fatter" synth tones, I would go with the Future Impact (and for reference, I am a former SuperSynth owner).

 

[Turn Em Loose]

I actually do not think the Jesse Reeves video is a good video. No one is listening to Tomlin's music for the bass tone in the first place, that doesn't mean that no one ever hears effects, that they are useless, etc.

I liked it quite a bit. I found the video refreshing. He has a philosophy that works for him and the music: Less is more. And he states a few times "IMO". He's out there doing it (or was doing it) at a pretty high level under, what I assume are, pretty high standards of performance/tone. Good to listen to and learn from people that are out there and doing it at this level!

YMMV, IMO, etc etc.

 

[dab12ax7ef]

I've recently added a Future Impact to my arsenal. Has anyone worked on patches useful for worship songs you're doing?
I need to work up sounds for some Hillsong Y&F, Elevation worship, Wickam, etc. songs. I'm starting with patches from the FI patch share thread and will adapt them from there, but was wondering if anyone has done work on this. I'll upload what I've done when I get to that point.

 

[SteveC]

I've listened to a bunch of tunes and have yet to really hear any obvious effects. Mostly sounds like bass to board. Probably a passive Jazz or Precision type bass. Occasionally there are some low Eb, D type notes. Maybe detuned but some sound pretty solid making me think its a good 5 string with a good B string.

 

[Ktrack]

mmmmm Noble

That's exactly what I say everytime I plug in haha

 

[simotek]

Do any of you use a small head (like a Genzler or Aguilar) as a DI? I really liked the Magellan 800 I played thru a while back. I wonder about using it as a DI - run it post to get some EQ, Contour, maybe even drive in the house and more importantly my IEM's.

I have a really nice set up right now with the Nano board with the TU-2, M87, JDI and my Rolls receiver for my IEM's and the custom cable made by Dave. It's hard to give up the size and ease of that set up.

I don't need a new amp but would love an excuse to get a Magellan head and 12-3 cab for home practice and occasional small non-PA gigs. Kill 2 birds. I know it's just G.A.S. justification, but it has been mentioned as an alternative to trying to find a more "present" sound for my IEM's as while fantastic, the JDI is really clean.

Thoughts?

I used the DI of my Mark Bass, Little Mark III post EQ before I got my Two Notes Le Bass, it worked well for me. As I don't have a proper XLR splitter now I run DI out of my Le Bass, into the balanced in of the head then out its DI Pre EQ. Its a very hifi sounding combo so I find it works better running into it with a cab sim on then compensating back on the amps EQ (Its only a foldback anyway)

 

[RockinBass85]

Yes, this.

My point is that I don't think Reeves is offering a "just my opinion" or "what works best for me." He's being pretty dismissive of effects in general even though his sound guy, the style of Tomlin's music, and his own personal playing probably are all significant factors. I've seen that video brought up a lot on Talkbass, not just in a worship context, but in the context of dismissing effects. I just don't think his viewpoint is that insightful. It may be true for his situation but I imagine it could easily be changed if he really wanted it to.

I agree too. I was thinking about it, and in certain venues (I.e. Massive venues like Stadiums, or very large open air concerts) the effects could get lost. I could picture this happening if you're sitting in the nose-bleed section of a stadium, for example. I don't think that's always the case though. To me, he appeared agitated in the video. His body language, his tone of voice, it all screamed attitude to me and I had a hard time accepting his dismissal of effects because of it.

 

[sk8]

I've listened to a bunch of tunes and have yet to really hear any obvious effects. Mostly sounds like bass to board. Probably a passive Jazz or Precision type bass. Occasionally there are some low Eb, D type notes. Maybe detuned but some sound pretty solid making me think its a good 5 string with a good B string.

Agreed. At most I've heard an overdriven amp. Hourses for courses but if it ain't broke, don't fix it!

 

[RockinBass85]

Well, I like it a lot but my relationship with it is complicated. I play both bass and guitar, my board is a combo board. The main way in which I've used the SY-300 live is on guitar for the synth lead line on Phil Wickman's "This Is Amazing Grace." It's great for ambient and/or sequenced type stuff. For "fatter" synth tones, I would go with the Future Impact (and for reference, I am a former SuperSynth owner).

I saw a video from worship artistry (i think it's worship artistry, some young blonde-haired dude has a website that teaches modern songs), where the dude was showing how the effect was done with just a chorus pedal. And it sounds true to the song. That synth sound must sound super cool for the chorus part of This is Amazing Grace.

I like my supersynth, I just hate it's tracking. I chased after so many reviews where people swear this Pedal has like ground-breaking tracking ability. I've even heard some impressive recordings showcasing the pedal's abilities. I currently use it for only one preset I've developed. Suboctave and octave up with minute tweaks to the fine tuning. Sounds like a basic fat synth. I then adjust the freq to whatever I deem necessary manually. It's a wonderful sound, but alas a one trick pony.

 

[RockinBass85]

Agreed. At most I've heard an overdriven amp. Hourses for courses but if it ain't broke, don't fix it!

Some groups favor more than others. Example, Switchfoot - Meant to Live. Bassist is using a fuzz, Reverb, and some other effect for the intro, and then a light overdrive (sounds like an OBD-3) for the chorus.

There are other times where the effects won't be so obvious but the bassist will be filling in other areas such as ambient swells ala hillsong and Jesus Culture. I recommend checking out their videos on their respective rigs. JC bassist breaks down more for what and how he uses each pedal (Like having a TCE Nova ND-1 to use on 3 songs in conjunction with his volume Pedal to do ambient swells).

I would just say don't dismiss effects pedals completely. You don't need effect pedals to worship. However, the added intricacy and diversity of sound Is akin to choosing to paint with a palette that bares more than just primary colors. You don't need the extra colors, but the diversity and complexity they offer make for deeper self-expression. Our expression of worship through our instrument is an expression of what's in our hearts for God.

Psalm 33:3 Play skillfully and with a loud noise.

Even better is when we present what we want to do to the Holy Spirit and let our Father direct how our sound should go, whether or not He wants overdrive or a simple clean tone because after all this is for Him.
I've seen first hand how God can influence effects and sound.

 

[sk8]

Some groups favor more than others. Example, Switchfoot - Meant to Live. Bassist is using a fuzz, Reverb, and some other effect for the intro, and then a light overdrive (sounds like an OBD-3) for the chorus.

There are other times where the effects won't be so obvious but the bassist will be filling in other areas such as ambient swells ala hillsong and Jesus Culture. I recommend checking out their videos on their respective rigs. JC bassist breaks down more for what and how he uses each pedal (Like having a TCE Nova ND-1 to use on 3 songs in conjunction with his volume Pedal to do ambient swells).

I would just say don't dismiss effects pedals completely. You don't need effect pedals to worship. However, the added intricacy and diversity of sound Is akin to choosing to paint with a palette that bares more than just primary colors. You don't need the extra colors, but the diversity and complexity they offer make for deeper self-expression. Our expression of worship through our instrument is an expression of what's in our hearts for God.

Psalm 33:3 Play skillfully and with a loud noise.

Even better is when we present what we want to do to the Holy Spirit and let our Father direct how our sound should go, whether or not He wants overdrive or a simple clean tone because after all this is for Him.
I've seen first hand how God can influence effects and sound.

I think you've miss understood me. I've not dismissed effects or those that use them. I don't doubt your points and negativity wasn't my intention. I was just agreeing with @SteveC that I had come to the same conclusion as he had. Each to their own, and as you say its all for Him

 

[RockinBass85]

I think you've miss understood me. I've not dismissed effects or those that use them. I don't doubt your points and negativity wasn't my intention. I was just agreeing with @SteveC that I had come to the same conclusion as he had. Each to their own, and as you say its all for Him

No I understood what you were saying. There are times where the effects aren't so obvious. My response bounced off your reply but it wasn't directed specifically to you, it was towards the conversation topic in general and to SteveC, like as if to say "yeah guys, but also all this stuff I want to say". I should've really quoted SteveC in my reply lol my bad if I'm coming across negative or as a jerk or something lol i forget to emote sometimes lol

 

[sk8]

No I understood what you were saying. There are times where the effects aren't so obvious. My response bounced off your reply but it wasn't directed specifically to you, it was towards the conversation topic in general and to SteveC, like as if to say "yeah guys, but also all this stuff I want to say". I should've really quoted SteveC in my reply lol

 

[simotek]

I also use the "Slow Gear" function on my boss multifx + a drive to get a cello like sound and sometimes use a reverb instead of the drive to do a pad.

 

[Adamixoye]

I saw a video from worship artistry (i think it's worship artistry, some young blonde-haired dude has a website that teaches modern songs), where the dude was showing how the effect was done with just a chorus pedal. And it sounds true to the song. That synth sound must sound super cool for the chorus part of This is Amazing Grace.

I like my supersynth, I just hate it's tracking. I chased after so many reviews where people swear this Pedal has like ground-breaking tracking ability. I've even heard some impressive recordings showcasing the pedal's abilities. I currently use it for only one preset I've developed. Suboctave and octave up with minute tweaks to the fine tuning. Sounds like a basic fat synth. I then adjust the freq to whatever I deem necessary manually. It's a wonderful sound, but alas a one trick pony.

I'm sure a chorus can play a nice part in faking that lead line in the intro, but it definitely sounds like an actual synth to me.

I was reasonably happy with the Supersynth's tracking, with my points of comparison at the time being the simple synths like the Behringer BSY600 / Boss SY5 / etc. It was definitely better than those, but it wasn't perfect. The Future Impact has tracking which is at least as good or better, and whatever glitches you get tend to be musical (I know that's a stupid cliche, but it's kind of true). The Future Impacts sounds are also MUCH better than the Supersynth. The SY-300 is in another class as far as tracking goes. The weakness of the SY-300 is that the sounds aren't necessarily oriented for bass. You can get a lot of good sounds of it, but I don't think it really does that keyboard-style synth. At least, none of the presets are like that and I haven't explored it enough to find the type of sounds I think you're talking about.

 

[RockinBass85]

I'm sure a chorus can play a nice part in faking that lead line in the intro, but it definitely sounds like an actual synth to me.

I was reasonably happy with the Supersynth's tracking, with my points of comparison at the time being the simple synths like the Behringer BSY600 / Boss SY5 / etc. It was definitely better than those, but it wasn't perfect. The Future Impact has tracking which is at least as good or better, and whatever glitches you get tend to be musical (I know that's a stupid cliche, but it's kind of true). The Future Impacts sounds are also MUCH better than the Supersynth. The SY-300 is in another class as far as tracking goes. The weakness of the SY-300 is that the sounds aren't necessarily oriented for bass. You can get a lot of good sounds of it, but I don't think it really does that keyboard-style synth. At least, none of the presets are like that and I haven't explored it enough to find the type of sounds I think you're talking about.

Thanks for your insight. I've heard the Future Impact before and I like it a lot, just not so much the price lol. I guess I know where to set my sites for year's end!

 

[RockinBass85]

Hey to all the guys running their own iem setups, and to any sound guys on this thread. I wanted to make my own system on the extremely cheap just to try stuff out. If it works out well at church, then I can get the church to fund for something better.

I was thinking of getting a Behringer Powerplay P1 and splitting my Tone Hammer's DI output, one to FOH one to the amp, and then splitting the signal from one of the stage monitors, one to the monitor and one to the amp. This is complicated to explain but short version is techs can't/won't work with me on getting my own aux return from the mixer, so I'm forced to consider alternatives. Any thoughts/advice?

 

[SteveC]

At most I've heard an overdriven amp. Hourses for courses but if it ain't broke, don't fix it!

Didn't mean to stir things up. I know it's a Pedal Board thread so people here probably use effects.
I was just thinking out loud, debating about how I'd maybe like to try something different, but how when I listen to lots of recordings I don't really hear much in obvious effects use.

The Jesse Reeves video is just an opinion I found that makes a case (regardless of his perceived attitude) for going straight as I've done for forever.

I tried some basses and effects yesterday and I think it further enforced my thinking that for me, playing my Roscoe basses (with D'Addario strings that I just tried and really like) into a JDI to the FOH is what works for our church.

Maybe if the secular band takes off...

 

[RockinBass85]

Update on my pedal board. I got the DD-500 yesterday and the Bass Soul Food today.

I like the Neunaber Wet Reverb a lot, but I wish I would have known about the Seraphim because I would've ordered that instead. I'm going to see if Neunaber will allow me to exchange it.

The shimmer setting on the boss dd-500 is absolutely terrible. It shouldn't even be there. In fact, they should release a firmware update removing the whole function from the product in order to save themselves embarassment. The shimmer delay effect at its cleanest sounds EXACTLY like that ambience instrument used to build suspense in horror movies. It's absolutely terrible. I'm very disappointed. I'm actually going to return it for a TCE Flashback x4 or something.

The Bass Soul Food is heaven. I bet if Jesus ever needed overdrive, He'd have one in his pedalboard. I love love love it. I have to crank up the drive quite a bit, but it's delightful. Transparent, with just the right amount of hair it sounds beautiful!