Cat Burrito Posted December 31, 2010 Share Posted December 31, 2010 I've been considering getting a small pedal board back up together again. I'm quite happy with my tone as it stands so I guess it's really just to experiment a little rather than transform my sound. I recently picked up a tuner pedal again and I have a compressor (Aphex Punch Factory). I probably only want one more pedal, two at most and wanted some ideas. To give you an idea of my tone / style, I play flatwound strung Fenders (mainly Precisions with foam under the bridge) through an Orange terror mini rig (SP210 cab) or a 1978 Bassman head into a 115E Ampeg cab. Musically we play Americana so somewhere between Dylan to the Stones via Country rock and a little bit of folk rock. I like a lot of 60s / 70s tones and am less into modern active-y sounding basses. I know very little about effects as I usually wind up not using them but we've definitely got some players on here who really know their stuff. So what would you recommend? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tuco Posted December 31, 2010 Share Posted December 31, 2010 [quote name='BurritoBass' post='1073704' date='Dec 31 2010, 02:22 PM']I've been considering getting a small pedal board back up together again. I'm quite happy with my tone as it stands so I guess it's really just to experiment a little rather than transform my sound. I recently picked up a tuner pedal again and I have a compressor (Aphex Punch Factory). I probably only want one more pedal, two at most and wanted some ideas. To give you an idea of my tone / style, I play flatwound strung Fenders (mainly Precisions with foam under the bridge) through an Orange terror mini rig (SP210 cab) or a 1978 Bassman head into a 115E Ampeg cab. Musically we play Americana so somewhere between Dylan to the Stones via Country rock and a little bit of folk rock. I like a lot of 60s / 70s tones and am less into modern active-y sounding basses. I know very little about effects as I usually wind up not using them but we've definitely got some players on here who really know their stuff. So what would you recommend?[/quote] DHA makes great valve overdrive pedals that give a VERY authentic 60s / 70s sound... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GarethFlatlands Posted December 31, 2010 Share Posted December 31, 2010 I'd have said some kind of drive pedal too as you're keeping it admirably old school. Can't give you any tips though as my experience is fairly limited with bass effects. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichF Posted December 31, 2010 Share Posted December 31, 2010 (edited) [quote name='Tuco' post='1073745' date='Dec 31 2010, 03:10 PM']DHA makes great valve overdrive pedals that give a VERY authentic 60s / 70s sound...[/quote] +1 There are lots of options out there but Dave's valve ODs are real nice. I have the VT2 twin which gives me the flexibility I need with just a bit of grit on channel 1 and then full-on drive on channel 2, great control with EQ for both channels etc. Pricey but good. THere are simpler and cheaper DHA options. Edited December 31, 2010 by RichardFoggo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruck Posted January 1, 2011 Share Posted January 1, 2011 [quote name='RichardFoggo' post='1073760' date='Dec 31 2010, 03:30 PM']+1 There are lots of options out there but Dave's valve ODs are real nice. I have the VT2 twin which gives me the flexibility I need with just a bit of grit on channel 1 and then full-on drive on channel 2, great control with EQ for both channels etc. Pricey but good. THere are simpler and cheaper DHA options.[/quote] +1 using a DHA VT2 twin pretty much gets me that Jack Bruce tone! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Fudge Posted January 1, 2011 Share Posted January 1, 2011 I blindly bought a Tech 21 VT bass after reading reviews on here. I absolutely love it. It gives my Markbass a little bit of grit for certain cover songs we do. It also gives you that great Geddy tone for Moving Pictures I have been after without having a second mortgage on a top notch valve amp. I know exactly the ilk of stuff you play and this pedal may be a bit too much, but if you get a chance to test one out I would. Also if you are interested in DHA I have the basic valve model that lived on my pedal board for a few years and I never really got on with. Im not sure that mixing a valve pedal with a solid state amp was the best thing to do. I am certainly no expert though. Let me know if interested. There would of course be a further reduction for a fellow Gram fan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EskimoBassist Posted January 1, 2011 Share Posted January 1, 2011 The Fulltone Bass Drive might be right up your alley as well. Very popular pedal, especially as it has two channels. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted January 2, 2011 Share Posted January 2, 2011 I like the Tech 21 VT Bass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roland Rock Posted January 2, 2011 Share Posted January 2, 2011 (edited) [quote name='Tuco' post='1073745' date='Dec 31 2010, 03:10 PM']DHA makes great valve overdrive pedals that give a VERY authentic 60s / 70s sound...[/quote] +1 The DHA has a lovely old school tone Edited January 2, 2011 by Roland Rock Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat Burrito Posted January 2, 2011 Author Share Posted January 2, 2011 Thanks for all the replies so far. Two added complications for you - Firstly I wouldn't want to spend more than £150 second hand on a pedal and secondly I'm not sure overdrive would suit what we do. Remember we fit in with Americana / Alt.folk so I'm looking at subtle embellishments rather than transforming a tone. Please do keep them coming. I've googled playing videos of the suggestions so far and there are no bad ideas at the moment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GazWills Posted January 2, 2011 Share Posted January 2, 2011 [quote name='BurritoBass' post='1075271' date='Jan 2 2011, 01:25 PM']Thanks for all the replies so far. Two added complications for you - Firstly I wouldn't want to spend more than £150 second hand on a pedal and secondly I'm not sure overdrive would suit what we do. Remember we fit in with Americana / Alt.folk so I'm looking at subtle embellishments rather than transforming a tone. Please do keep them coming. I've googled playing videos of the suggestions so far and there are no bad ideas at the moment. [/quote] i know what you mean, i play a P bass into a bassman and love the tone. i would have suggested o/d myself, but not distortion as such, just a very slightly edgy drive. i use an xotic BB preamp, which replaced my bassdrive, to add the tiniest amount of grit, still keeps a nice bassy-sond. secondhand they're in budget, but failing that any good dirty boost would do the job nicely.. if you're not after dirt, maybe a very subtle phaser, nice little 2-stage like the phase 45, could give a subtle colouration to your tone?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dannybuoy Posted January 2, 2011 Share Posted January 2, 2011 You say an overdrive might not fit, but I think otherwise. Not something like the Boss Bass Overdrive of course which is actually a nasty sounding distortion pedal, but a nice low gain overdrive tomake your hybrid terror sound more like a proper vintage tube amp. I also play P-Basses with flats into an Orange Terror and have tried nearly every overdrive pedal going and I reckon for your application you can't beat the Catalinbread SFT, which for vintage thump with extra hairy balls, slays the VT Bass every time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danbowskill Posted January 2, 2011 Share Posted January 2, 2011 [quote name='EssentialTension' post='1075064' date='Jan 2 2011, 10:27 AM']I like the Tech 21 VT Bass.[/quote] +1 wouldn't be without it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat Burrito Posted January 2, 2011 Author Share Posted January 2, 2011 [quote name='dannybuoy' post='1075820' date='Jan 2 2011, 10:10 PM']You say an overdrive might not fit, but I think otherwise.[/quote] Given the amount of replies to say otherwise, coupled with my general ignorance around effects I'm happy to accept I may be wrong here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nick Posted January 3, 2011 Share Posted January 3, 2011 [quote name='dannybuoy' post='1075820' date='Jan 2 2011, 10:10 PM']You say an overdrive might not fit, but I think otherwise. Not something like the Boss Bass Overdrive of course which is actually a nasty sounding distortion pedal, but a nice low gain overdrive tomake your hybrid terror sound more like a proper vintage tube amp. I also play P-Basses with flats into an Orange Terror and have tried nearly every overdrive pedal going and I reckon for your application you can't beat the Catalinbread SFT, which for vintage thump with extra hairy balls, slays the VT Bass every time.[/quote] +1 : Was thinking exactly the same, definitely try an SFT. I sometimes play the same set-up, P-Bass with flats into a TE (hybrid) V-Type through an SFT clone; great for old school tones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xgsjx Posted January 3, 2011 Share Posted January 3, 2011 My band BigRoom are a mix of Americana, Country, Folk, Blues, Jazz & anything else old school & I find myself using the 2 Moog pedals & the chorus a lot (depending on the song for the way I use the Murf or bypass it). My suggestion for a pedal would be a Low Pass Filter with a pedal. It's good having control over how much top end is coming out. You can have a very muffled sound during quieter sections & open it up to fetch out a fuller sound for choruses or buildups in bridges. Try one first, see if it's what you're looking for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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