molan Posted September 17, 2014 Share Posted September 17, 2014 Our rhythm guitarist adds keys on a few songs and brought along his new baby Novation MiniNova to rehearsals last night. I had a quick play and it was great fun using the squelchy bass settings to try and cover Bernie Worrel type Parliament funky bass parts (although my playing was pretty useless!). With all the new, relatively low cost, analogue bass heavy synths out there at the moment (Novation Bass Station II looks cool) I just wondered how many people used one alongside a bass for either recording or live work? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyf Posted September 17, 2014 Share Posted September 17, 2014 OOOOOOOO! That looks fun. Of course I've just splashed out on a EHX Micro Synth but one of the ideas our keyboard player had was for me to do the 80's and 90's R&B tunes we cover by doing the synth bass lines on erm, bass synth. Kinda makes sense. Of course my playing is flipping useless but I suppose that's no excuse. On the downside, it's just one more bit of kit to setup and break down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted September 17, 2014 Share Posted September 17, 2014 I can think of several numbers where this would work. I'm interested. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doddy Posted September 17, 2014 Share Posted September 17, 2014 I've been doing some stuff on synth for a few years now. I've got a bunch of synth pedals too which do a good enough job, but there is a sound and feel that I think you can only get playing a synth.Plus,I tend to approach it differently than I would if I was playing electric bass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gelfin Posted September 17, 2014 Share Posted September 17, 2014 Where needed I use an original Novation bass station and Moog Taurus 3 pedals. Actually I use the Taurus even when not really needed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AntLockyer Posted September 17, 2014 Share Posted September 17, 2014 I've been doing a bit. Marlowe DK has a couple of nice bits on Youtube too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted September 17, 2014 Share Posted September 17, 2014 I've been playing synth (and not just bass parts) since 1981 when I bought an EDP Wasp. From 83 to 89 I was in an all-electronic band where I only played synth with the guitar and bass relegated to writing duties only. Over the last 30 or so years I've owned loads of synths including Korg MS20, MS50 and VC10, Roland SH09, SH101 and Jupiter 6, Ensoniq ESQ1, Casio CZ101, CZ5000 and CZ1. These days my hardware synth of choice is the Nord Lead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chriswareham Posted September 17, 2014 Share Posted September 17, 2014 (edited) I use a Novation Super Bass Station (rack mounted module) and an obscure thing called a Firstman SQ-01, which has a built in sequencer. I have used them in the past along with bass guitar, but more often on completely electronic tracks where both modules are often playing different bass parts simulataneously. Some of my electronic stuff is up on [url="https://soundcloud.com/namesinmarble"]Soundcloud[/url]. I've always loved the way that New Order combined synth bass and bass guitar, as well as various industrial rock bands that also did interesting things along these lines. In particular, Stabbing Westward whose songs featured excellent bass guitar and synth parts. Edited September 17, 2014 by chriswareham Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casapete Posted September 17, 2014 Share Posted September 17, 2014 (edited) I used a synth a few years ago after breaking my left arm/shoulder. Bought a Roland D5 s/h and played it on around 25 gigs until I could manage my Stingray again. Worked okay IIRC, and my band mates were great about it too. If I'd been unable to do this would have suffered a lot of financial hardship as was a pro function band. (Also saved me the nightmare of getting deps who turn out to be better than myself!) Edited September 17, 2014 by casapete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger2611 Posted September 17, 2014 Share Posted September 17, 2014 We played a wedding anniversary last year and the couple wanted "You Spin Me Round" by Dead or Alive, I worked the bass line out on bass but couldn't get it to sound right so I worked it out on my Micro Korg, I played it on the night it sounded great and I really enjoyed it, I now try to work out all of our original song bass lines on the synth just to see how they sound Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hen barn Posted September 17, 2014 Share Posted September 17, 2014 i Wish someone would make a synth bass pedal that you could use. (that doesnt sound like a silly rasberry)i play in an 80s band and have tried every one out there and still cant get that basic 80s synth bass sound???? i am currently using a Zoom B3 which is ok?? One day some one must do it???? i think it would really sell? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
molan Posted September 17, 2014 Author Share Posted September 17, 2014 [quote name='hen barn' timestamp='1410976082' post='2555272'] i Wish someone would make a synth bass pedal that you could use. (that doesnt sound like a silly rasberry)i play in an 80s band and have tried every one out there and still cant get that basic 80s synth bass sound???? i am currently using a Zoom B3 which is ok?? One day some one must do it???? i think it would really sell? [/quote] MarkBass is the best one I've tried (apart from an Akai which is really expensive now). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted September 17, 2014 Share Posted September 17, 2014 [quote name='hen barn' timestamp='1410976082' post='2555272'] i Wish someone would make a synth bass pedal that you could use. (that doesnt sound like a silly rasberry)i play in an 80s band and have tried every one out there and still cant get that basic 80s synth bass sound???? i am currently using a Zoom B3 which is ok?? One day some one must do it???? i think it would really sell? [/quote] IMO synth bass pedals are pretty much a waste of time. Even with my very rudimentary keyboard technique I can do synth stuff far more easily and more accurately on the keyboard then I'll ever be able to manage using the bass through pedals no matter how much I practice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lojo Posted September 18, 2014 Share Posted September 18, 2014 Anyone fancy posting some clips of good live synth bass work ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTUK Posted September 18, 2014 Share Posted September 18, 2014 Outside of a pedal, No... The only advantage I can hear is the actual way you'd play the keyboard as it is so hard to get bass gtr part anywhere near close, IMO. For the gigs I do, it is another set of kit to carry set against the sound and feel I'd gain in a few numbers. So... it is not for me.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ratman Posted September 18, 2014 Share Posted September 18, 2014 I haven't used a synth pedal yet, but what I do use for synthy sounds are combinations of my pedals. Fuzz/overdrives into filters, or octaves into fuzz/overdrives. I can get a lot of very different sounds by using various combinations of pedals. They work pretty well for my needs at the moment, and my board is already full up so there's no room for more toys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheSiberian Posted September 18, 2014 Share Posted September 18, 2014 I have the Moog Taurus 3 and the sound shake the house. Best Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Posted September 18, 2014 Share Posted September 18, 2014 I use the Roland Gaia and love it. Perfect for modern pop stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassAgent Posted September 26, 2014 Share Posted September 26, 2014 I use this: For my 90s cover band, and everywhere where it's needed. I love it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WalMan Posted September 28, 2014 Share Posted September 28, 2014 DSI MoPho, PK5 & A300 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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