Well, I got a DOD looking new in the box for $5, so I think I will use that one!
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
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
- Thread starter Cshanks5
- Start date
Much wisdom here.
Hey now, those Roadworns really do play nicely, but I attribute that all to the necks.
Same here lol. I just got a Tone Hammer 500 in this week and my third Tone Hammer pedal has cycled in as well.It doesn’t seem to matter how many great preamps I try, I always keep coming back to the Tonehammer.
Maybe it is time just to stick with it! Unfortunately swapping pedals out is just too much fun
My second run through with the MXR Bass Synth and I am liking it. Gets Big Moment sounds that can replace the Bass Microsynth. Doesn't duplicate the BMS but just as effective or perhaps better. The sub octave oscillator pumps out some amazing deep bass that the BMS doesn't.
I am liking it so far as well. Still getting use to it though. Gonna try it with an expression pedal this wknd.
Son of a... maybe I can catch a used one, from all the haters, at a discount.
I think the pedal sounds good and does a lot of cool sounds, but I think a lot the reaction is typical newshiny GAS that has people rushing to preorder. For funsies I looked back a decade ago to see what the top pedals were that people here were over the moon about and a substantial percentage are either discontinued or lost their popular sheen.
I don't see much "hate" for the MXR but I see surprising pushback from critical opinions. There's a place for synth pedals like this but it's really a niche within a niche. At least in NYC any band I'd see that had regular need for synth bass sounds would have a keys player onstage with a BS2 or a $350 Monologue nestled next to their synth/controller keyboard (or it'd be a VST running in a split keyboard), with a larger variety of sounds as well as being able to do real-time adjustments of filters.
I don't see much "hate" for the MXR but I see surprising pushback from critical opinions. There's a place for synth pedals like this but it's really a niche within a niche. At least in NYC any band I'd see that had regular need for synth bass sounds would have a keys player onstage with a BS2 or a $350 Monologue nestled next to their synth/controller keyboard (or it'd be a VST running in a split keyboard), with a larger variety of sounds as well as being able to do real-time adjustments of filters.
Modern worship boards often include the older EHX Bass Microsynth, which is definitely a niche within a niche, used for a specific application on an infrequent basis. The MXR could be a cost effective, smaller, more versatile, perhaps better sounding alternative. That could be a good thing.
Yeah, its definitley not the end all be all, and I'm sure it will be overhyped causing there to be lots available in the classifieds, but for what I need, it works great so far. Of course it wont sound like my Subsequent 37 or my Little Phatty, but it also takes up a quarter of the board space as a BMS and has storable presets which is super handy. The BMS for the most part is a one trick pony, as I dont know many people changing settings from song to song on that thing. The Bass Synth seems more usable and it has very convincing tone capability.
So do you then sort of choose “Synth Gig” or “Bass gig” or sometimes bring both? I have way more piano/ keys knowledge and have thought about bass synth so asking from that perspective.
Last edited:
Yeah, it depends on the songs being played. If the songs require all synth bass or predominantly synth bass, I’ll bring the Moog. If its just parts of a song that require synth bass, I’ll just use pedals. I was using a Subterrograph for this duty but now I'm gonna see if the Bass Synth can handle it. Fingers crossed as its a fraction of the size of the SubT.
I play a lot of piano synth at church. I sometimes cover it with pedals if it’s only a few bars. But I usually have both set up on stage. I have a Moog that I keep at church. The WL said I can leave it permanently set up on stage, so soon I’ll just walk in and it will be ready to go.
I saw this older post on TB regarding the Tone Hammer. The post is about the head, but specifically calls out the pedal and AGS circuit.It doesn’t seem to matter how many great preamps I try, I always keep coming back to the Tonehammer.
Maybe it is time just to stick with it! Unfortunately swapping pedals out is just too much fun
This is probably why I will always keep my Tone Hammer and run it with AGS always on. It has become the primary definer of my tone. And all my TB friends say, “Until something else comes along…”.
Aguilar - Official 'Tone Hammer 500' 3.8lbs 500w Megathread!
I seem to keep coming back to the THDI, as well. While I've always used it in the CCM mode with AGS always-on, I recently was fiddling with preamps and tried the THDI with AGS off and was delightfully surprised by how good of a clean preamp it is. The EQ controls totally change and sound great. It's like a 2-in-1 device: lovely clean preamp/DI or with AGS a great saturated amp sim.
Last edited:
I threw this minimalist board together and it really does work well and sounds good.
Bye-bye to the Bass Micro Synth.
I might could still squeeze a compressor on there.
Bye-bye to the Bass Micro Synth.
I might could still squeeze a compressor on there.
Last edited:
I’m still crazy about your custom THDI. Please let me know if you ever want to sell that amazing design.
Would be even awesomer if the two sounds could be independent and switched A/B
I just got the MXR Bass Synth and found a used HX One on FB Marketplace for $200. Both are going on my small board. I am still on the fence about my Kilt V2. I will try that with the MXR Bass Synth as you suggested @projectapollo
My THDI is for sure going on my small board. Will post pics when finished.
I am just learning what works downstream of the MXR Bass Synth. Less is more, at the moment. The more I fiddle with it, the more I like it.
The Kilt full-gain mode definitely makes a statement. It really needs a full band with a strong drummer, then it slots right in. If the band is doing softer more polite versions, the THDI is sufficient, I feel.
