leftyhook Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 I've been actively using BC for a few months now and have been amazed at the amount of effects for sale/wanted/on display. Some of your effects boards are truly mind-boggling! I have to say, of the bands I have witnessed of the past few years, I've noticed that only a low % of the bassists use effects live, or if they have, nowhere near as many as some of the boards here in bass chat. I wouldn't know where to start with some of your gadgets.! My few effects have yet to be gigged due to time constrains setting up. I like 'fooling around' with them, but I know I can live without, gig-wise. I have to ask, [b]1) what % of your effects do you deem 'essential'?[/b] [b]2) could you gig without them? [/b] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phil.i.stein Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 (edited) 1) about 50 % 2) with one band only OD is a must, with the other, all get used, so i guess that's a yes and a no. Edited February 17, 2012 by phil.i.stein Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uncle psychosis Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 I also play guitar and I have been through dozens of effects pedals with my 6 strings. Weirdly, though, I think 99% of effects sound awful on bass. Occasionally you want a bit of dirt or maybe a synth but on the whole bass effects are a big no-no for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul_5 Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 yeah, I'd reckon about 50% of the FX are fundamental and get used all the time. Things like octave and chorus will always be on the board, and I'd consider at least one dirtbox essential. The rest, like envelope filters and wah etc... are for when things get a little bit 'further out' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xgsjx Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 I use all mine, though I only have 5. LPF is always on, though it's not used as an envelope filter for funk wah type sounds all that often. I now wouldn't be without the 5 that I have (Octaver, Bass Murf, Distortion, Chorus & LPF with exp pedal). It does depend on the type of music you play. For a rock band, you could get away with just 1 or 2 fx at most, but if you play electronica type stuff (such as DnB, Dubstep, House & so on) you'll find that effects become a staple part of your sound. I play in a folk band. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pantherairsoft Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 My answer is within this thread from the last person who asked the (almost the same) question - http://basschat.co.uk/topic/166022-why/ xgsjx sums it up nicely though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blind pilot Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 [attachment=100156:2012-01-25 22.56.16.jpg] I provide the low end in a Tool tribute band, so ALL of my effects are essential. Chorus is on 75% of the time, use a fair bit of flange and delay. Then I have three different types of dirt/overdrive. Tremolo for one song.....(not yet played live though), not forgetting mt MXR BEF which I use for four notes in one song and a short solo lol. And then Whammy wah......Used in about 5 to 6 songs! People laugh when they realise my board belongs to the bass player......... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pantherairsoft Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 [quote name='blind pilot' timestamp='1329469819' post='1542819'] People laugh when they realise my board belongs to the bass player......... [/quote] Tell me about it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blind pilot Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 [quote name='pantherairsoft' timestamp='1329471005' post='1542842'] Tell me about it! [/quote] Ah but you play all that modern "dubstep" stuff lol, Im in a rock band maaaannn! lol Seriously your board is superb - a knob tweakers delight! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghost_Bass Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 I have 5 pedals, tuner, octave, fuzz, wah and compressor. Only the middle 3 are fx but they get used constantly. If any stopped working i would have to rethink my bass line on the fly because it was written to be used with the fx - imagine playing Sledgehammer without an octaver... it wouldn't be the same thing... The less used is the fuzz (2 or 3 songs) but the rest are used a lot. So my answers would be: 1) 100% 2) no, not without writting new lines I'm in a funk/soul covers project. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Tipping Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 1: 100% 2: No. If you are in a covers band and you are trying to accurately reproduce a variety of bass sounds I'd find it pretty impossible without any fx. You'd be surprised how many rock bands bass players use quite a lot of fx .. distortion is the obvious one, but compression, eq, chorus, octavers etc. I not talking about totally over the top .. but live a subtle dose of an effect can add loads to your sound. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted February 18, 2012 Share Posted February 18, 2012 My attitude to effects (on bass) has always been that they shouldn`t change the sound, but add slight different textures. As such, as I only use minimal compression & distortion anyway, none of mine are essential and yes, I could get away without using them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fretmeister Posted February 18, 2012 Share Posted February 18, 2012 I could do without everything except compression. But I don't want to. So there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guildbass Posted February 18, 2012 Share Posted February 18, 2012 I use no effects live. I record with 1db of compression on a DI'd Warwick Streamer Stage 1 or a Spector NS-2000-4. Both with brand new strings on for the session...I might use some chorus to fatten the chords on one recording but we'll see! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monckyman Posted February 19, 2012 Share Posted February 19, 2012 Yes. It`s fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martin8708 Posted February 19, 2012 Share Posted February 19, 2012 The only ''effects '' I use are the tone control of my bass , and my fingers . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul S Posted February 19, 2012 Share Posted February 19, 2012 I would rather just plug and play but a couple of tracks I do with both bands either need or sound better with either fuzz or flange so I have to use them. PITA though - just more to cart about and go wrong! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ant Posted February 19, 2012 Share Posted February 19, 2012 Most of my effects are essential, if we gigged without them... Well we would sound awful hahha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blademan_98 Posted February 19, 2012 Share Posted February 19, 2012 I use a chorus pedal with the fretless. No effects on any other bass, live or recorded. Sad innit! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gafbass02 Posted February 19, 2012 Share Posted February 19, 2012 Won't play anything without a compressor to keep it all nice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted February 19, 2012 Share Posted February 19, 2012 Boss TU2 tuner (essential - well not totally essential because I do have ears) and Tech 21 VT Bass (not essential at all). That's it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EskimoBassist Posted February 19, 2012 Share Posted February 19, 2012 I don't really keep anything on my board unless I know that I'll use it live - I was able to downsize from a tourman to a PT jnr using this logic. No matter what the gig is, I've always got my tuner, compressor and pre/DI with me and on top of that I have my octaver, gain, envelope, modulation and delay effects which I include to taste. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted February 19, 2012 Share Posted February 19, 2012 [quote name='Paul S' timestamp='1329644036' post='1545101'] ...tracks I do with both bands either need or sound better with either fuzz or flange so I have to use them... [/quote] He heu he he... you said 'flange'. Er... and 'fuzz'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul S Posted February 19, 2012 Share Posted February 19, 2012 I typed them with a straight face, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xgsjx Posted February 19, 2012 Share Posted February 19, 2012 Good job you never said "Big Muff" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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