Bassists vs Guitarists

[snoop-au]

It should be safe in here :smoke:

Anyway, it just annoys me that effects pedals are for guitars unless stated otherwise. I rarely see effects pedals as labelled for electric guitars, but if it isn't stipulated then we have to assume it's for electric guitars. Only if it says it's for a bass then we know it's for a bass.

Of course, there are fewer bass guitar effects pedals available than for electric guitars, but that's because bassists don't need a string of a zillion effects pedals from their guitar to their amp to make them sound any good - just raw bass, yeah baby!

/flees

ITT: Mod getting cranky.

[Sergio]

My bass doesn't seem to mind that half of my pedalboard are "guitar" pedals.:thumb:

[snoop-au]

LOL for real? What you use?

I own a Digitech BASS wah, and Boss BASS OverDrive

[mastrrbasser]

this was stolen from another site, but this is juan alderte from the mars volta's pedal setup:

EFFECTS
I own a lot of pedals, but here’s a rundown of the live setup: MXR DC Brick (1 and 13). It is a convenient way to power up most of my pedals. ’70s Electro Harmonix Bass Micro Synthesizer (2). The craziest of all pedals. Its unpredictability opens up new ideas when creating sound landscapes. Two DigiTech Digital Whammy pedals (3 and 4). Whenever I want to kick up the bass an octave, I go for this pedal. Also, the Doppler-effect sounds are nice in a jam section. The second pedal is set to a whole step pitch shift. They track accurately and are reliable. Moogerfooger Ring Modulator with expression pedal (5). It is invaluable to me when dropping weird, low-end rumbles. Think early ’70s synthesizer sounds.
DigiTech Digital Delay (6). This one sounds amazing, when you kick it off, the pedal continues its effect. It’s a great feature when you want to go to another pedal but don’t want your signal to cut off hard. Boss LS-2 Line Selectors (7). I use these when I want to take an effect out of the main line because of weird output-level issues. I use one on the Bass Micro Synthesizer, the Mutron, and the Moogerfooger—these pedals are really loud and dirty, and the line selectors let me keep my signal to my amp as clean and uncompressed as possible. Fulltone Fuzz (8). A unique fuzz that reacts well when you play lightly, but cuts your head off when approached differently. ’70s Mu-Tron III envelope filter (9). The most over-the-top envelope filter ever made. Sovtek Fuzz, second issue (10). This is my favorite fuzz of all. It has great low end and definition. MXR Phase 100 (11). Good for mellow bass parts. It has that ’70s spaced out sound. DigiTech Bass Synth Wah (12). I use this when I want huge envelopes that sound like the beginning of Rush’s “Tom Sawyer.” Early Boss PN-2 Tremolo/Pan pedal (14). I use it to give the effect of turntable transforming. It cuts really hard and when I use it in stereo, it makes me dizzy. Boss TU-2 Chromatic Tuner (15). Got to be in tune all night long. Two Boss CS-2 Compressor/Sustainers (16 and 18). They’re on most of the set. It gives me a little distortion and compression simultaneously and really brings out the open-string harmonics. Dunlop Bass Wah (17). This wah’s envelope far exceeds any guitar wah. I love opening up the envelope because it freaks out the other pedals. Boss OC-2 Octave pedal (19). Another pedal whose inconsistencies are part of its charm. I use this when I need to drop more low end into the mix. Boss DD-3 Digital Delay (20). An industry standard. I picked this up because Omar said to me, “you can never have enough delays.” He was right, so now I am checking out tape and analog delays. Line 6 DL-4 Digital Delay with expression pedal (21). Arguably the best delay out there, and certainly the most versatile. I love the sampling feature where you can drop a sample an octave lower. Ernie Ball Volume pedal (not pictured). It’s nice to have your distortions going crazy but you can fade them out with this pedal.
As far as the signal chain order, it’s a constant experiment. In the end, all of my pedals are crazy. I am not one to go for subtle pedals. When I step on something, it has to be heard and felt hard or it will never get through the wall of sound coming from the stage.


i have a picture of this setup, but it's in an old bassplayer magazine, and i don't have a scanner.

[Sergio]

LOL for real? What you use?

I own a Digitech BASS wah, and Boss BASS OverDrive

Digitech BP200 (Used mostly as a Whammy)
DOD Stereo Chorus (guitar pedal)
DOD Grunge (Guitar pedal)
ProCo RAT (guitar pedal)
DigiTech Bass Driver
DigiTech Bass Synth Wah
DigiTech Bass Squeeze

[Hep Kat]

<words>

Yeah, but Omar Rodriguez-Lopez of the Mars Volta loves to screw around with effects. It's part of what makes him unique.


That said, I usually plug straight into my amp whilst playing guitar. I usually rely on my guitar/amp's natural sounds to get my tone.

[peeted]

loads of pedles can be used on both bass and guitar and many are designed with both in mind (not guitar specific) pluss theres alot more market for guitar peddles. it makes sense to only lable peddles that are specificley just for bass.

[bassistuvdoom731]

I love effects guitar, bass, vocal processor, whatever.

[snoop-au]

Hmm well do you get to a point where you think "I [screw] around with the sound out of my bass so much that what's the point of having a $1,000 bass amp when I could just get a standard PA amp and speakers for about $500?

[twankie]

i really dont like bass guitar effects. dont know why. whenever i plug them in they sound nothing but cheesy to me...

except for maybe a little distortion i tend to steer clear.

[lillitnn92]

thats what i like about going direct into my computer and using the crapload of plugins i can download for free and use in my FL Studio program. of course there's really no substitute for a good amp, but when one can't afford one at the moment, one has to make due. of course i don't use a lot when i'm trying to due something serious, i'm more of a less is more kinda guy.

[Sergio]

Hmm well do you get to a point where you think "I [screw] around with the sound out of my bass so much that what's the point of having a $1,000 bass amp when I could just get a standard PA amp and speakers for about $500?


Was this directed at me?

[BassRevelation1029]

It should be safe in here :smoke:

Anyway, it just annoys me that effects pedals are for guitars unless stated otherwise. I rarely see effects pedals as labelled for electric guitars, but if it isn't stipulated then we have to assume it's for electric guitars. Only if it says it's for a bass then we know it's for a bass.

Of course, there are fewer bass guitar effects pedals available than for electric guitars, but that's because bassists don't need a string of a zillion effects pedals from their guitar to their amp to make them sound any good - just raw bass, yeah baby!

/flees

ITT: Mod getting cranky.
so, exactly whats your point? Effects on guitar sound nice. My guitarist uses the GNX series pedal and its great. If your bass was a lead instrument youd get a pedal too.

[snoop-au]

Was this directed at me?

LOL no no, but standard PA speakers are cheaper than a proper bass rig, so at what point do we say the signal coming out of our basses and string of pedals is no longer a "bass guitar" sound and can be piped directly into the PA amplification system? It was just a general question - what is the purpose of an expensive bass-guitar head and cab, and is there a point where we can say that it no longer has a place in the context of the tone you are producing.

[Sergio]

LOL no no, but standard PA speakers are cheaper than a proper bass rig, so at what point do we say the signal coming out of our basses and string of pedals is no longer a "bass guitar" sound and can be piped directly into the PA amplification system? It was just a general question - what is the purpose of an expensive bass-guitar head and cab, and is there a point where we can say that it no longer has a place in the context of the tone you are producing.

I guess it's because bass amps are more adept at reproducing, or, if you want, coloring your sound. I used to play through my band's PA all the time, until I started using a head and 8x10, and there was a big difference in quality of sound, but, then again, the PA was much lower quality than the bass rig.

[rh15951]

LOL no no, but standard PA speakers are cheaper than a proper bass rig, so at what point do we say the signal coming out of our basses and string of pedals is no longer a "bass guitar" sound and can be piped directly into the PA amplification system? It was just a general question - what is the purpose of an expensive bass-guitar head and cab, and is there a point where we can say that it no longer has a place in the context of the tone you are producing.

Perhaps because sometimes you want to run a clean tone rather than effects. That and greater tone control over the signal.

I will stick to my expensive bass-guitar head and cab since it has every place in the tone I am producing.

[Linkinbassist]

I use guitar effects (Wah and Distortion)...My only bass effect is a bass chorus. The distortion is cheaper and hotter than anything i could picture using...

[BrodieBear]

(finds excuse to post pic of pedal board)

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y87/mcpapabear/pedals.jpg
also have a boss BF-3 flange, and i now use a really old boss HM-2 Heavy Metal instead of the DS-2.

don't evr let anyoen tell you an effect is just for guitar. if there is a known bass alternative, like bass wah or bass synth, (like mine:thumb: ) then that's fine, but if there isn't a stated alternative, stomp away. distortions don't count cos you can quite frankly use any distortion with any instrument.

[pitchfork]

Hey bassists like to use effects too,
I use distortion (marshall guvnor) sometimes but that really sucks the low end out and I want a complete new pedal setup anyways:
Boss me50b
EBS Wahone
EBS Multidrive
EBS octaver (might be getting second hand for £50 soon)
Fender rack tuner
Bassic patch cables and pedal python
Building the pedalboard as a resistant materials project.
(About £600 all in all)

My new 3 piece band just needs some extra oomph and I do take quite a lead role when playing bass.

Anyways some guitar effects are best on bass, take the EHX Big muff for example.

It's either a new pedal setup, a new amp, a new bass or a new acoustic i'm buying next.

[LewsTherin]

All I use is guitar effects.

I have an MXR Distortion+, Dunlop Dimebag Sig Wah, and used to have a DOD phaser, but i tore that apart.

The only bass-specific effect Ive ever used is the Digitech Bass Driver, which sucked. I also plan on getting an EHX Bass MicroSynth sometime in the near future. My 'guitar' pedals work fine, though.

[Radiobass81]

I use a guitar multi-effects...

[Polyamarous]

There is some stuff that works well with bass and guitar, with no primary market.

[Led_Zeppelin678]

My only effect at the moment is an Electro-Harmonix Small Stone, which is a guitar phaser. I have the best distortion ever created out of my Ampeg SVP-BSP preamp, and at the moment I'm not interested in anything else but Chorus. Eventually I'd like a Line 6 delay and an Eventide Harmonizer, but cash is an issue.

[BrodieBear]

All I use is guitar effects.

I have an MXR Distortion+, Dunlop Dimebag Sig Wah, and used to have a DOD phaser, but i tore that apart.

is your mxr block letters or scroll?

[LewsTherin]

block.

[Phalanx]

I use a Boss DS-1 distortion pedal on my bass which is supposed to be for guitar and it works great and sounds very crunchy

[snoop-au]

Hmm that's funny, because my Boss Bass OverDrive pedal specifically states that it's been either made or upgraded from a previous version to handle 5 string basses better than just 4 strings - wonder if that was just a marketing thing ...

[Myung]

let's just live with it.


We're the special olympics of the musical community.

[lais817]

let's just live with it.


We're the special olympics of the musical community.
hehehe, I like it! although I think drummers may argue with that. Let me see here..I'm currently using:

Electro-Harmonics Big Muff
Boss Bass Overdrive
Pro Co RAT distortion
Guyatone Fuzz
Boss Bass Chorus
Boss DD-3 delay
MXR Phase 100
Electro-Harmonics Doctor-Q (If anybody wants to buy this for $50 AUD, let me know, okay?)
Electro-Harmonics Q-Tron
Morley Mark-Tremonti Power-wah (Same as the doctor-q, I'll let it go for... $120 AUD?)
Behringer 7-band bass eq

Yeah. I like distortion :p . I used to use the boss Metal zone dist. as well, but I needed cash. Most guitar pedals are pretty compatable with bass, the only side-effect is that they tend to suck out you bottom end a bit. But you can fix this a bit with some good eq-ing.

[Jaded]

I hate effects pedals, except for my treble booster pedal I use sometimes for guitar, and my Bass Driver DI.

[TheClap]

I just use a boss ODB-3 bass overdrive usally through one or both of my SWR Workingmen. I use it for the Natural overdrive and for heavy fuzz.

[Jody LeCompte]

My bass doesn't seem to mind that half of my pedalboard are "guitar" pedals.:thumb:
Nor does my guitar care about the bass pedals..

[Atake_]

i want a the digitech bnx3 , u can make recordings with that machine