Wow, pedals may make me a better bass player

[John Metta]

Okay, the title is a bit of a hook, but stay with me.

Recently I changed my always on conditioner from a Strymon Deco to the Darkglass Vintage Microtubes Deluxe. Around the same time, I bought a Broughton always on HPF. The HPF and my settings on the VMT make the clarity of my bass amazing. It's like a different instrument. And it has really pointed out how sloppy some of my technique is. My technique sounded fine with a dry, clean signal going straight from my bass. But now playing the same thing sounds horrible and sloppy. I'm now making myself go back to basics to clean up my technique and intonation because of pedals.

So, pedals may make me a better bass player.

 

[Robertron]

I've had a similar experience where octave pedals have made me more mindful of my plucking and envelope filters have made me more mindful of my dynamics. Effects do help you play better sometimes even when it isn't just placebo.

 

[catcauphonic]

Technique shmeqnique... my distortion pedals make me awesome as long as they're on

 

[Stumbo]

Okay, the title is a bit of a hook, but stay with me.

Recently I changed my always on conditioner from a Strymon Deco to the Darkglass Vintage Microtubes Deluxe. Around the same time, I bought a Broughton always on HPF. The HPF and my settings on the VMT make the clarity of my bass amazing. It's like a different instrument. And it has really pointed out how sloppy some of my technique is. My technique sounded fine with a dry, clean signal going straight from my bass. But now playing the same thing sounds horrible and sloppy. I'm now making myself go back to basics to clean up my technique and intonation because of pedals.

So, pedals may make me a better bass player.

Not sure if it applies but the HPF/LPF, for me, is the one I need to replace my HPF. The LPF can be brought down just enough to take out the high-end click, clack and clank, cleaning up the top end as well.

 

[Bboopbennie]

Play a Rickenbacker, P Bass or a Jazz and it makes you play different. Whole different vibe. No reason a pedal
would not do the same thing. Find a better drummer.. and you will play better ~@#$%&(* > !!!!

 

[Fuzzbass]

Pedals make me happy, and when I'm happy I play better.


I see your point as well. For hard rock I prefer aggressive highs when I dial in dirt (which is why I love edgy pedals such as B7K, X7, DP-3X), and agree that the accentuated highs accentuate my technique -- warts and all.

 

[crguti]

New strings make me a better player.

 

[Killed_by_Death]

The clarity from a good set of pickups & a good amp will do similar.

 

[Fuzzbass]

New strings make me a better player.

The clarity from a good set of pickups & a good amp will do similar.

Quality bass, fresh strings, quality amp, quality speakers.... and quality pedals.


Yeah, pedals are optional, technically, but I dial in at least a little bit of dirt for every gig I play, no matter what genre. Love the extra harmonic content. I use more dirt for harder blues/rock/pop, or certain vintage songs like "Dance to the Music".

 

[Bassmike62]

Okay, the title is a bit of a hook, but stay with me.

Recently I changed my always on conditioner from a Strymon Deco to the Darkglass Vintage Microtubes Deluxe. Around the same time, I bought a Broughton always on HPF. The HPF and my settings on the VMT make the clarity of my bass amazing. It's like a different instrument. And it has really pointed out how sloppy some of my technique is. My technique sounded fine with a dry, clean signal going straight from my bass. But now playing the same thing sounds horrible and sloppy. I'm now making myself go back to basics to clean up my technique and intonation because of pedals.

So, pedals may make me a better bass player.

Adding new pedals is (almost) always fun and it's great to see it also brought you to take a look at the technique part of your playing. I love pedals, but I also believe they shouldn't be used to hide bad playing, they are there to help hilite good bass playing. Inspiration is a big part of playing well, so anything feeding that inspiration should add to the performance, wether it's new gear, new song, new technique, new bandmates or band... everything IMO, of course.

 

[bassbrad]

All of the above is true, no bashing is needed. I remember the first time I heard my recorded bass played through headphones in the studio, I was horrified because I heard things I had never heard before. I spent years making that sound beautiful to my ears and gear every addition or change since must measure up before it is introduced to the outside world. Once it meets my standards I am confident there will be no complaints.

Pedals are good because many force you to correct and adapt your playing style to master and utilize their full potential. Forcing you to hit notes clean and precise for good tracking and attack, proper muting technique to avoid glitching or feedback, and moving your plucking hand to explore different shades and colors. Too often i see people bashing the effect when really it is the nut behind the guitar, the stupid lazy nut.

 

[cosmicevan]

Pedals are doorways into sonic landscapes beyond the traditional.

 

[Real Soon]

I thought I was developing fairly decent time in the groove.

Then I tried using a looper pedal.

Fast forward to last night, when I more recently tried using said pedal some more, and hey-- it only took a couple of tries to get a fairly solid 2-bar loop going. Heh... practicing with this thing is clearly going to force me to internalize time in ways I've been getting away with not doing.

 

[K2000]

When you like your own sound, you tend to perform with less inhibitions. That's why vocalists who are being recorded in the studio might hear reverb over their headphones, even though their take is being recorded dry.