Alembic Guitars Club
Alembic products => Owning an Alembic => Fun Stories => Topic started by: alanbass1 on April 17, 2005, 03:52:41 AM
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I play both guitar and bass. When playing guitar I have two approaches; strat straight into a Victoria LP Twin tweed replica or through a myriad of effects into my Badcat amp; and I mean a lot of pedals with a custom routing set up. When playing bass I have always gone for straight into an amp and a quality compressor. For some reason I just cannot get into effects for bass, yet I love hearing people like Pino Palladino when they go through chorus or whatever. Anyone out there with some favourite effects that might be worth trying out?
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Alan; there have been several threads on this subject and I imagine that if you run a search you will find quite a bit of useful information. As for myself, I just use a little reverb which I leave on all the time.
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The Envelope Filter! If you only use one effect, that should be it.
My favorite is the EBS Bass IQ Triple Envelope Filter.
I affectionately refer to it as the Liquid Funk.
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To be honest; I prefer the sound of a bass without any effects. But nowadays you almost can't go without the effects. I've tried several in the past, so here's my experience..... (hahaha)
boss chorus - nice
electro harmonics - nice but with hiss..
boss dimension C - great
boss octaver - combined with a chorus for that 'Pino Palladino sound'
EBS pedals - all great
mutron - that very weird bootsilicious sound
compressor/limiter - for that 'Stan-sound'
auto wah - cool
etc. etc.
Nowadays I use a Line6 basspod pro for my sounds. It works fine, has a lot effects onboard and is very practical. But I prefer the sounds of the pedals which have more 'balls' in their sounds.
And finally, when I plug my bass straight into my amp.... it's like coming home....
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I have a Dunlop Bass Wah that I occassionally use on old Parliament Funkadelic stuff. I also have a Sansamp BDDI on the way for use with my small rig (G-K1001rb head).
I've also added the Alesis QuadraVerb2 with a midi pedal to my small rig. I yanked the QV2 out of my big rig (DS-5R, F-1X,Crown,Xs500,Korg DTR1)when I sold my SF2 because I had just too many tone options to deal with.
Peace,
James
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I've got a Dimension C in my guitar rig. I will have to extract it and give it a try
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In the old Tweak Peaks set-up was a Lexicon MPX-100 Multi-effetcs thing.
I left it out but in the new set-up I willplace it in the backside of the rack. I only use it sometimes with Bonnie and I use the Chorus/echo or Chorus/reverb combinations fretless with Chi.
Paul the bad one
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I occasionally use a Morley Pro Flanger (the chrome thing with the big pedal on the top). Very very rarely, I'll use some tube distortion.
One thing I've always wondered about was Chris Squire's use of 'Harmonised Rickenbacker Bass' on a few tracks off 'Tormato' - what's that all about then? Apart from the fact that I personally think it sounds bloody marvellous!
Rog
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All I can say about Chris Squire is that he has defined the Rickenbacker sound. Everytime I think Rickenbacker I think of the classic Yes songs. He also played a plethora of other basses but seemed to make them sound like a Rickenbacker....can't figure that either. I actually played in a band with his cousin, who was an excellent drummer but never got to meet Chris.
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Hi Alan ,
Well , i'm using a boss multi-pedal effect : me-6 for bass of course...What i can just say is that i'm not a big fan of effects , but it helps to build your own sound . Boss me-6b works fair but since i've tried ebs pedal effects , i found what will be my next purchase : 3 or 4 ebs pedals: chorus , octaver , ...or may be a tc electronic effect rack...( chorus , reverb , delay...)which is fantastic !In fact , i 've changed my former trace elliot rig for all new ebs amp head ( fafner model ) and 2 - 4x10 + horn speakers , let me tell you it sounds really terrrrrrrrrific !
Enjoy your new mk bass , and if you're a fan a mark , i've some pictures of him , strings he gave me after a show...i'm really happy with that ...but ...it doesn't really help me playing better ...ahahah!!!
Bye
ALAIN
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I don't use alot of FX with my bass, but when I want/need to I use mainly rackmount.
Rig #1
SWR Super Redhead w/ ART SGX Nitro in the amp's FX loop
Rig #2 SWR SM 900 w/ ART SGX Nitro in the FX loop
Rig #3 SWR SM 500 w/ Lexicon MPX G2 in loop and amp input
ART X-15, X-12 and Lexicon R1 foot controllers
also sometimes use a Dunlop Bass Crybaby 105 Q, Tube Works Blue Tube and Digitech Bass Whammy pedals.
Just for basic effects, Chorus, Flanger, -12 Octave, L & S Delays, Reverb, OD/ Dist ( ART & Lexicon)
OD & Boost ( Blue Tube)
Chorus/Detune, Octaver ( Whammy)
also have an ART Nightbass and Digitech Bass Harmony Machine, which I haven't gigged with yet, but they are pretty cool.
Chris Squire might have been using a Eventide Harmonizer on Tormato, He used a Tobias Custom 5 string on Big Generator tuning the low B string down to an A and a MPC Electra on Drama it had fx modules that plugged into the back of the bass Tempus Fugit..........it just goes to show you even tho he used different basses he still sounds like Chris Squire and Rickenbacker.
His website has some info on his gear and some transcriptions to some Yes songs, although not in his gear list, you can see he has a ART Nightbass in his rack......www.chrissquire.com (http://www.chrissquire.com)
Bruce
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My SF-2 is in the effects loop of my amp, does that count as an effect?
Wilfred
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Anyone tried a BBE sonic maximizer or an Aphex Big Bottom pedal? Mike
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I rarely use any effects. I do have a Bass Balls, but I can't remember the last time I used it. I have a bass with a tremolo, but I'm not sure if that would count. I, personally, like to use no effects because I like to hear the true tone of the wood, neck, frets, strings, etc.....
Paul TGO
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I read a few years back that Squire used an Eventide Harmonizer on several albums, including Tormato. His site is worth checking out.
Over the years I've tried all kinds of effects,distortion,compressors,delays,chrous,wah wah's ,etc. I've also always prefered using 2 amps ,one with a straight bass tone,the other with a slightly different eq and whatever effects.
Recently I've been experimenting with a TC Electronics M 1-XL, also stick a BBE sonic maximizer at the end of the chain before returning to the amp.
I recently picked up a Mesa M-2000 head which has a crossover built into the efx loop so you can affect only a certain frequency range..still experimenting with that.
I've also been meaning to pull out the old Boss SE50 which has harmonizer programs to play around with.
Never saw a problem using effects if it helps out the sound and isn't over powering. Always thought effects should be almost invisible..the listener knows somethings going on, but can't quite figure it out . It always seemed to me that alot of people over use effects to the point where they become the sound.
Gary
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I use the Bass Pod XT pretty regularly, though more for modelling than for effects in the classical sense of the word. Occasionally I use the envelope filter and there's a cool synth strings patch that I mix in a parallel effects loop for a passage here and there.
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I use:
A Morley Power Wah
An Ibanez Bass Chorus (it's ancient, but it works)
A Boss Tremelo
A Carl Martin Compressor
That's it.
Alan
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I wish I still had my Morley Power Wah.
I occasionally use:
MXR Stereo Chorus (old A/C powered model)
MXR Envelope Filter
I'm looking to add a volume pedal to even out the
level when I go from single to both pickups on my BB.
Keith
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jlp--
I've been using a BBE 411 Maximizer for 10+ years--every other component has changed, but the Maximizer makes every rig I've used sound better to my ears. (My SF2 runs a close second in longevity in the rig.) I tried the Aphex unit recently with my Walkabout combo and didn't care for it--sounded mushy when engaged, to my ears. Also, its gain structure didn't work well with my Rogues--distortion when using the passive setting, and padded down too hard with the active. To my ears, the rig sounded much better without the Aphex, exactly the opposite experience I've had with the Maximizer. YMMV.....
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The Aphex seems geared more towards processing low end frequencies and accentuating them. Thats works nice for recording and maybe live vocals. The BBE seems to restore some upper end and presence to the sound,especially after eq's and processors.
G
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I used to use a ridiculous setup that sounded great. Various envelope filters, distortions, Whammy pedal, wah, Lexicon LXP5 and LXP plus a Jamman. It took up a huge amount of real estate and a 12 space rack. Now I just use a Lex G2 and the Jamman (although I did just add an Electro Harmonix Bass Microsynth, it's awesome!) and I can get almost everything I had before plus more. Lots of fun!
Edwin
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Edwin,
Sounds wacky-ville. Bob Moog does a set of envelope filter type effects, might give these a try. Any other makes out there?
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Toys, I love 'em and I hate 'em: I presonally use:
Boss Octave pedal
Digitech Bass Chorus
Digitech Bass Delay
which I run into a Aphex Aural Excited. Which gets some very heavy low end, fat round tones. I am trying to get my hands on Lovetone Meatball, but it's just not in the budget today. For those of you who love the Mutron, this thing will warp your mind!
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Gare, at the risk of sounding like a puritan - but you mention The BBE seems to restore some upper end and presence to the sound,especially after eq's and processors. That's exactly what fx units do: they add nice things to your sound -but always at a cost.
Go direct into the BBE and I'm sure you'll notice that it takes away good things. Perhaps less than a stomp box, but still ...
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The reason I have always gone 'natural' with the exception of high quality compression is that effects often 'muddy' the sound by stripping out the definition of the notes. However, I want to have a go with a few things for a change. Anyone tried the Boss Bass Synthesizer pedal that I noticed on the MusicToyz site?
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I've played with the Boss Synth lots of times. It has nothing to do with that 'natural' bass-sound. But it big fun to play with. It gives yoy the opportunity to make a (almost) real synth-sound. It has little problems with the tracking. The muddier the original bassound, the more problems you have with the tracking. You have to play very accurat.
But, like i stated earlier, it's fun to play with. You always have people in the audience who will look at you with the idea that wath they hear isn't real....
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Hi Adriaan
I agree with you,I guess my remarks were feeable attempt to compare the 2 units,which to my ears are opposite.
I've always found it interesting to see how others do things,after all where would we all be without experimenting and making mistakes ?
Never tried going just into the BBE,have to give that a try,I've always used it to try and restore some brilliance at the end of the signal chain.
It's interesting to see how other people setup their signal chain. Played with a guitarist once who ran a delay before a distortion box,I thought it sounded terrible, he thought it sounded great..to each their own.
Gary
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Back in the 70s, I was giging regularly in Iowa, and used my stereo Guild Starfire with an Electro Harmonix Y-Trigger Filter on the neck pickup and a Small Stone Phase Shifter on the bridge pickup. I never used them together. The Trigger Filter was cool for Chameleon ( a poor man's Mutron), but has died long ago. The Small Stone is still kicking. I might break it out again and try it with my Epics.
Mike
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I play through a bass pod pro, but don't really use the effects much, though it does have a nice feature of being able to cross the effects over to keep the low unaffected. I have been known to run a true stereo chorus through the mains, which makes the bass sound huge (adding a touch of reverb to the lows really enhances the effect too). I've also got a BBE unit that really livens up a dead room, but I don't use it all the time. I am a big fan of a little compression to get the ringing JE I'm-beating-the-Hell-out-of-my-Rotosounds tone, though I don't like losing control of my dynamics that much. It's like everything has elements of Ying and elements of Yang and I don't know if I'll ever find a good balance of either! I use a little Alesis microverb on my DX-7 that's run by a set of Fatar bass pedals, just to get a bit less definition and a better rumble...
John
(Message edited by 811952 on April 22, 2005)
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I play clean and straight 99% of the time...but there's a couple of tunes that I need the funk on...so I use these tools for that.
My Series bass into a Crowther Audio Prunes & Custard - EBS OctaBass - EH Q-tron in a loop that only goes to my dedicated high cab. In the rack is EQ and a Rane DC24 dual band compressor which are always in the signal path.
http://www.lilypix.com/photos/data/c81e728d9d4c2f636f067f89cc14862c/600_p42002.jpg (http://www.lilypix.com/photos/data/c81e728d9d4c2f636f067f89cc14862c/600_p42002.jpg)
http://www.lilypix.com/photos/data/c81e728d9d4c2f636f067f89cc14862c/600_p41993.jpg
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I also use a Bass Pod (thinking of upgrading to an XT in the near future)..mostly because I want the SVT tone w/o having to drag a SVT beast around. As for effects, I have 2 set in the Pod -- the Octave Divider for a couple of Hendrix tunes that I like the 8-string sound on, and the Flanger for the bass part on Comfortably Numb -- it's not like the original, but that slow sweep really gets noticed.
--T
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Do you find the Bass POD does the SVT thing convincely? I have tried the POD XT for guitar and always felt it could not really get the warmth, clarity and definition of the Valve amps it was trying to emulate; it got a lot closer using a valve power amp but then..... Anyhow, as the SVT is all valve just wondered how close it got.
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I find it's quite acceptable for live gigs, but then I also have been using all-tube power. I used to know a guy who could reliably pick out whether or not gold connectors were being used in the patch panel of a certain recording studio by sound alone, and you may be one of those specially-gifted people. My ears aren't THAT good by a long shot, so I may be missing some heinous butchering of the signal. If it's any help, here is the url listing people who use Line6 stuff: http://www.line6.com/artists.html (http://www.line6.com/artists.html)
john
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The XT is much more real sounding to me than the original. That said, it doesn't have a matching set of presets to the original. I haven't played with programming it, but I don't think it has the same set of effects. If you're using the original, I'd strongly recommend doing an A/B test with the XT.
I wonder when the next generation is coming?
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I don't think I have any particular gift with sound, just that the POD I played through with a guitar just did not have the body, depth and warmth that either my Victoria or Badcat has. It seemed to get worse at gig volumes where it remained quite thin sounding in comparision to the fatness of a valve going into compression. Also, they lacked that almost three dimensional sound that I get out of my valve amps when they hit the sweet spot. I'm not saying they are bad units, just that they did not seem to do a particularly good job at emulating how valves behave, which is why I wondered about the SVT setting on the bass POD. I'm guessing that the solid state bass amp emulations can pretty much be spot on.
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I have a pod pro and never muched like it...thin. I suppose in part because I'm used to the uber-phat Aguilar pre and power amp. Plugging into the pod after that is just a big bummer.
I bought one of those Digitech floor pedals with digital modeling and digital recorder -- I liked it, surprisingly. It was cheap, too, and I guess discontinued. I may be the only bass player on the planet to buy one.
I also bought the Digitech Hendrix pedal off the recommendation on another thread. Not bad, but I feel somewhat like a dork. Look, ma, I'm Jimi Hendrix! But ok, I guess. I used to hate Digitech's products, but I can now have fun with their stuff, at least.
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Come to think of it, I did find the Pod to be relatively without deep bottom when I first got it. I don't consider that a *fault* of the unit, but moreso simply a personality. I've been using tube power exclusively of late, usually through a Peavey 210 cabinet. I usually end up rolling-off some of the bottom by the time all is said and done, so I figure it's more of a tuning it to the room than anything else. I had similar experience with my old F2-B, in that real control of the deep lows doesn't appear to be something designed into the system and is best achieved by having a well-voiced cabinet or two (or four) and possibly an additional eq or BBE (do they still make the pedal? That was sweet). And, of course, a massively massive all-tube industrial monoblock from the '50s or '60s just makes *everything* sound better and shake more. I've gotta take some pictures of those things and post them so you guys can all see what a true equipment slore I really am... ;)
John
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Friday night I saw a band that the guitar players were using Tonelab modelers, and they sounded great. I would have swore that everything was coming from what appeared to be Vox AC30's on stage. In reality it was a couple of repo Vox cabinets and the guitarists shared a stereo power amp.
Now if they could come up with something that sounded as good for bass....
Gary
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Alanbass-- yes, I do get a convincing SVT sound out of my Pod, but I do it in a very strange way. I run the output from the pod to my Carvin head, and that out to my two Hartke Cabs (1x15, 2x10). Originally, I meant just to use the Carvin for the bi-amped 400 watts of power, but I found that plugging the output of the Pod into the guitar input instead of the bypass, running everything flat except for the bass boost switch turned on gave me the low end response I felt was lacking from the POD.
--T
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Gary,
Guitarists *sharing* an amp, albeit a stereo power amp, must surely be one of the signs of the pending apocalypse. Either that, or you made it up... ;)
John
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Nope John..it's for real.
Most of their sound was FOH,the cabinets on stage were more or less monitors. Their on stage sound level was pretty low.
I think we should just go with the apocalypse theory..what next ? Bass players trading off on guitar ? Being asked to sing ? (gasp!)
Playing one of those instruments with the black and white thingys you press down to make noise ?
Where will it all end ?
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I use a Trace Elliott SMX Dual Compressor with my Trace Elliott 1210H (4x10 300 watt combo)
Compression really just helps to keep a consistant volume level from note to note. Which is very helpful to finger style players who dig in a little harder on certain riffs.
I've played around with bass multi effects units but I have no use for them professionally.
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Well, I got a pair of Moogerfoogers over the weekend, the MF-101 low pass filter and the MF-102 Ring Modulator. I got them as they were so much fun and just sooo funky it's unreal. Will I have much use for them at gigs, probably not without completely hacking off the band, but I'm sure going to use them for recording. I have just got a close approximation to the old 'Doctor Who' sound on guitar, but it's with bass that these puppies really shine.
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i have been looking into getting a digitech whammy for a while i have just ordered a digitech bass synth wah which i look forward to toying with. what do you juys think of the whammmy pedal for bass also do they make a bass specific version. have any of you heard the mad capsule markets the bass player uses an effect i think maybe a whammy pedal anyone know?
Other than my new synth wah i use a marshall distortion which i am not thrilled with a dan o wah pedal which is okay but i will replace soon with a dunlop and my amp has a built in octiver type thing which is cool. Different notes cause different objects to vibrate in the room which is good fun a low B just about shakes my house down.
andrew
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I also play guitar as well as keys and have never used effects on bass. I just don't find it necessary unless you are playing in a band where you are the sometimes the lead instrument. I have seen many bassists who think that they have to keep up with guitarists who have tons of pedals. Many of them end up destroying the song and their original intent by over using efects and over playing. I'm not implying that this is the case with you. Afterall, you are intelligent enough to play Alembic. Anyway as a rule, in most bands we are not the lead instrument yet when we see people bobbing their heads, tapping their feet or dancing, whether they realize it or not they are doing so because of the bass line. I have always looked at my role in several ways. First of all, if I am playing with a solo artist, my job is to make him/her look good. Be prepared and don't be a dick. Do what they need you to do. Secondly, I have always looked at a song as a living breathing thing. The guitar, keys and vocals are it's personality. The bass and drums are it's heartbeat and respiration. Therefore we give it life. I don't feel that effects are necessary to give something life. I like a clean punchy tone similar to Marcus Miller. Even though my influences include Marcus, as well as many other styles like Paul McCartney, James Jamerson, Jack Bruce, John Entwistle, John Deacon, Phil Lynott, Gene Simmons, Geddy Lee and others. I have played everything from 60's and 70's rock to one hit wonders, rock and hair bands of the early 1980's original blues and country. I cannot say that any one is my favorite but I have never used effects on bass.
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I play with brianstatik; we are an electronic progband. i use an Eventide eclipse. Many times it doesn't even sould like a bass, better than MIDI real time tracking!
I run a wet and dry channel, so I can decide how out there I want to be on the fly.
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Jim; I'm listening to some of your mp3 samples. Very nice!
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I've used some light effects in the past put I'm more of a straight signal man. I have nothing against effects just not my bag.
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This ever happen to you? Buy effect just like this week's bass hero uses. Got all stoked up on a Pino Palladino/Paul Young article, just HAD to have a BOSS octave box like PP uses.
Guess what? I'm no Pino Palladino and nothing I play sounds even half-way right once I fire up the thing! Learned 'Burn Your Playhouse Down': Never played it, the band could've cared less . . .
J o e y
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I really like my EBS octabass, it gives me lower notes than a 4 string without having to go to a 5 and is super clean- Michael (Flame Koa Essence)
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I recently bought a Line 6 Pod XT Live for guitar. It generally goes against my preference for analogue pedals due to their warmer sound than digital.
Really I got it hoping I would get a more consistent live sound when on tour based on the idea that their modelling amps would be reasonably authentic and I could just use the backline amp as just a poweramp.
However so far having tweaked with the sounds I have yet to find anything that gives any warmth, that inherent feeling of power nor the clarity I was hoping for.
I still find it a bit thin and buzzy and over processed for the overdriven, distortion sounds. With a clean setting it's very digital especially in the higher register the sound is almost unnatural for a guitar sound.
I have a gripe about these digital boxes not giving a straight bypass of the digital processing and this is no difference.
In my analogue board I have a Boss line switcher to keep my effects out of line till I need them. I plan to try the Line6 with that over the weekend and also use the blend setting which should basically give me a wet and dry mix of effect and clean guitar which I hope will keep the clarity of my Orion guitar and I can add as much of the XT Live as I feel neccessary.
I have a mate who has the rack version and swears by it..... so far I've only swore at it.
Its not horrendous but sounds very digital. I'll have to spend a bit more time trying to tweak the settings to get some some warmth out of it. Failing that you may see it on ebay... lol
I still don't think digital is there yet with effects pedals but its better than it used to be.
I tried the Boss GT8 I think it was..... .... hmm didn't blow my socks off but is marginally better than the GT6.
(I have a preference for tube amps and have a fender twin which I love, although its in repair at the moment).
Anyone had any success with it?
Any tips for getting warmth. I only plan to use my Alembic on the road this year so experience with Alembic guitars would be good. I have yet to try my strats through it.
ps: is the display visible under bright sunlight or bright stage lighting?
Jazzyvee
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I recently STOLE a NIB Aphex 661 TubeEssence compressor. Had resigned myself to a DBX 160A and then I found this. Really digging it as it has an automatic mode which 'follows' you from thumb to fingers to pick, pretty handy. Or you can adjust the 4 controls separately in a manual mode to really fine-tune for a given attack. It seems strange to wait for the tube to warm up before it's ready.
I was surprised as I have fairly even attack. Especially how it tended to tighten up the low Cs and Ds and to pull up the dreaded dead spots on some of my other axes.
I'm in line for the new TC G-Sharp: Dual engine, Rev/Effects, and an all-knob faceplate: I hate trying to scroll through a bunch of pages in a panic.
I always wanted to add invisible compression, a light chorus in spots, and a very light reverb to my sound. I bought a great bass and amp, and wanted that final bit of 'studio seasoning' to finish out my sound. I hope I'm fixing to FINALLY be there.
J o e y
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Joey:
As a fellow suffer of G.A.S., I can assure you that you will NEVER be there. For once you actually get there, there becomes here and, guess what? There's a NEW there there! Enjoy the compressor and rock on!
Bill, tgo
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Joey; I use a TC reverb/effects unit, which I like a lot. All knob controls sounds great; I'll have to check it out.
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I am really liking my POG now. Makes for a very nice 8-string sound and can do some more wacky things if you're into that. I just use it in a 3-piece setup to get a fuller tone on some tunes.
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Hi Folks ,
...just a little word to say that i bought a few month ago the TC electronic G-SYSTEM , originally made for guitar . In fact , these are kind of studio effects that suits bass too . The presets are tailored for guitar but when u build your own sound , it's really great tool ! Great choruses , delays , reverbs , parametric eq ...everything but distortions...I'm really happy with it !
The only limitation is the tuner , it doesn't match the E+A strings...with the harmonics it's ok however .
I also uses a ebs octaver .
I ' m also intersted in the ebs valve drive pedal as , i still need to try it !
ALAIN
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To all those out there considering Digitech pedals etc. I used to work for them as a Sound test tech. It was my job to make sure they worked as advertised before they went out the door. As an employee, I got to buy anything I wanted for cost! I could never bring myself to buy a single thing! Need I say more? (nudge, nudge, wink, wink)
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My current board/chain rig is:
Boss Volume
Boss Distortion/Bass overdrive
Morley bass wah
MuTron III
Digitech synth wah
Digitech Whammy II
Boss Chorus
Boss Flanger
Boss Tremelo
Moog Bass Murf
Digitech Compressor
Boss octave
Boss Loop Station
Boss reverb/delay
a Morley A/B switch fopr multiple basses
then a rack tuner, power conditioner, my Alembic pre amp.
All mogami, monster cables
might add more distortion options this year.
I used to run the effects only through the treble pickup and ran true stereo-two amps- but I soon will run them mono to a crossover and two cabinets.. this way the Moog, Mutron, synthwah, and other effects sound much richer.
Alembic custom 8-string (The Riff King) and soon a 4 string series II (OhMyGa) plus a custom fretless..all stereo
BTW I have even more crap for my electric guitars.
Over twenty years of simplification and enhancement, improvement and trial, trial, error, error...
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I'm not a fan of bass effects live although I had considered using a compressor on my bass rig at one point, but was talked out of it by a forum member so for now I'm clean and controlling dynamics myself. It's good to know the sound I get is just my fingers and my bass.
My experience with effects on guitars over the years has led me to be very disappointed with digital devices. I bought a Line6 XTPro live last year for my guitar as I was getting a variety of guitar rigs whilst touring and wanted to get a make sure I was getting a constent tone.
They are good at what they do but you do sacrifice so much of the natural sound of the instrument. To keep this to a minimum, I use a line switcher to keep the XT out of the signal path till I need an effect. Then I add it to my clean guitar sound rather than have just the processed guitar sound. That way I keep the clarity of the natural guitar sound.
This year I am considering going back to using the analogue stomp boxes as I've managed to arrange for a specific guitar amp which means I should be able to get what I want soundwise.
I can't see that I would use bass effects live at all. But then it's not required in the music I do for bass.
Jazzyvee
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does anybody have any views on the boss bass overdrive pedal.
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Boss bass overdrive... I have one and love it.
But the real discussion might need to go deeper...
do you want valve overdrive?
valve gain?
distortion/overdrive?
fuzz?
scooped?
dark/.dirty or buzzy like a mixer line overdrive?
with tonal/filter sweeps?
Depending on hwo much noise you like you can end up with several effects.
My equally-massive guitar pedal board has a Line 6 distortion modeler (gold, three switch one)and many of its sounds are great on bass, too. To my ears.
good luck
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The built-in compressor that is on my Eden WT-800 is bypassed, so the only effect I use is an Eleectro-Harminix Baseballs, for that Bootsy' type sound. Everything else is me & my fingers.
Ellery (Lowlife)
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many thanks to paulembic for his input,i shall be ordering the pedal as soon as.
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Kimberly joining in.
As a bass soloist I use the following.
Boss RC-50 looper.
Roland GR-20 synth. (I make pretty good use of the different voices that give me the means of offering a 'variety' of sounds to keep stuff from sounding too much alike and thusly boring.)
Lastly, an old school Roland GS-6 for a touch of reverb/delay/chorus. Very handy when playing a tune 'stand alone' to give the tone more texture/color. As well, I use the overdrive/distortion on selected tunes when playing a 'unique', or distinctive sounding guitar part, say for example, American Woman.
To date my most 'complex' tune is five separate parts on the looper and four separate voices (I thought it was five but I just counted them and it's four) with the synth.
On a War tune I use;
The 'standard' bass line (no synth)
A guitar 'type' rhythm (no synth)
Cow bell (synth)
Tamborine (synth)
Conga 'sqeaks' (synth)
All looping away until lastly, a 'full blown' synth voicing for melody and lead. Fun stuff.
By the way, I do everything instrumentally, (never did like to sing) so it is important to be able to 'use the technology' and be able to provide the variety to keep the crowd 'wowed' and happy. Crazy huh? ;)
Kimberly
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I use a TC Electronic G-system with Boss line pedal to mix the TC with the 'clean' amp sound, and powr a Boss TU2 TUNER AS i LIKE THIS MORE THAN THE tc TUNER and an Ashdown subharmonic pedal all neatly housed in a smallish flight pedal board. the tc quality is 'there' (ie. awesome)!
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(Message edited by the_mule on May 20, 2007)
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My standard rig:
Bass -> Alembic SF-2 Superfilter (preamp, mono) -> Glockenklang The Passenger EBS Dynaverb (effectloop)
Wilfred
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My current rig:
Series 1
DS-5R
SF-2
EBS Fafner amplifier
Korg DTR-2000
Furman power conditioner
EBS DynaVerb
EBS UniChorus
EBS OctaBass
I'm considering putting in a multi-effects unit.
Duncan
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I recently purchased a Line-6 Bass Pod XT Live and must admit I am having a world of fun with it. In fact after playing through it I got out my old rack and hooked it up.
My rack has a Yamaha SPX-90,(one of the first), Alesis 3630 Dual Compressor, and a BBE 362 Sonic Maximizer. All 3 of these processors are around 15 years old but still work and sound good.
I just added a F1X to this rack. Getting some cool sounds.
Olie
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Correction for above, my BBE is a 462 not a 362.
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In my rack I have an ancient deltalabs Effectron II that I use for doubling, sometimes a delay or chorus for my fretless bass. IMO,the fretless really needs a touch of chorus to open it up. Besides that, I don't use it for my fretted basses.
Kris
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About a month ago I picked up a slightly used Bass Pod XT Pro..very handy unit. Since we play a vast variety of songs, it comes in handy to pre program sounds per song. The main modeled sound goes to the FOH and direct to my Mark Bass/Schroeder, also have a BBE unit patched in.
My only complaint with the unit is the octave divider, doesnt track well, so when needed I still use a Boss OC-3. Try the Hiway 200 with some sub octave mixed in..a nice full Cheap Trick'y kind of sound.
A good thing, using the Pod I've eliminated the pedalboard, although I'm also using an FBV Express pedal to change sounds.
Most of the effects are pretty usable,the only problem I have is that you can tweak forever and always find new usable sounds.
And I'll have to go along with Kris, fretless does sound nicer with a touch of chorus.
Gare
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My band recently went from 5 pc to 4 (which I rather enjoy), back to my roots so to speak. I just picked up a Boss ME-50B unit. I want a simple stompbox type of all in one unit to add a few sounds during certain intros and during the guitar solos. I have to fiddle with it but I think it will be ok. It has comp/limit, master section, drive/synth, delay/mod and expression pedal. In the studio I sometimes use the POD XT for demos when an SVT vibe is called for.
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This thread elaborates more on this topic. (http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=19538)
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My rig is running this way:
Alembic Rogue (4 string Bass)
ZVex Wooly Mamoth (Fuzz)
Boss LS-2 Line Selector (A/B box with individual volume pots)
*(I used it to keep an Boss Octaver OC-3 and a Dunlop Bass Wha aparted from the main chain)
Eletro Harmonix Q-Tron (envelope filter)
Ampeg SVT-III Pro (head)
Epifani UL-210 (cabinet)
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I use effects only occasionally. When I use them, I run the bass into a Radial Tonebone Switchbone which has two effects loops that can be switched totally out of the chain. One loop is for an Electro Harmonix BassBalls dual filter. The other loop goes to a Yamaha Nathan East parametric EQ thingee, which gives many variations on the mid-scoop sound. In the line are also a Boss Bass Parametric EQ pedal and a SansAmp Bass Driver (for overdrive and DI).
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Hey folks, I have been tossing around the idea of getting that radial bassbone.
would anyone recommend this? I am in a tribute band to the music of the Who and think I need an overdrive/distortation pedal and possibly a chorus pedal. I believe this is what i'm hearing on some of the live performances of John's. Is this correct? Can anyone offer some suggestions. I currently use a Epic 4, Trace Elliot SMX GP12 head, partnered with a SWR Triad cab.
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Chris, there are several Entwistle experts on the board. Most folks don't read all the messages everyday; but I expect at some point someone while chime in on what was used on which song.
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Chris..there are plenty of bass OD/Fuzz units made by Boss etc.
I would take your bass AND amp to your local store to test them, the reason I say take you own gear is because
a) They may not have your specific gear
b) Your bass will be set up for you
c) testing effects through gear you don't know may not give the results you want thru' your own bass & amp.
If your gear is too big to get to the store then at least take your own bass and use an amp with all the tone settings set at neutral
best of luck with the hunt.
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It seems that Ox was always a rig freak:
http://www.thewho.net/whotabs/equipment/bass/equip-entwistlegear.html (http://www.thewho.net/whotabs/equipment/bass/equip-entwistlegear.html)
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I just got a Boss SYB5 Bass Synth pedal. Prior to the playing session I was trying to find a usable starting point on the pedal, and I gave everybody in the room a headache (including me) within 10 minutes (it wasn't even that loud - just obno). It seems the effect settings are very extreme, and in order to find a usable sound I had to set the effect volume very low in relation to the un-effected volume.
I want a sound that still sounds like a bass, only gnarlier.
Anybody got any suggestions?
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I recently picked up an EHX micro POG, polyphonic octave generator. Three knobs, source level, sub octave level, and octave above level, you can blend them as you please. I really like the thickness it provides, and it tracks extremely well. With a little distortion before, and a little chorus, envelope, or flange after, it can get, what I would call, gnarly. Still in a very bass-centric, musical fashion. I was especially pleased with the way it integrated in a jam setting. So often we can fiddle around with effects on our own, only to find they don't play well with others. The Micro POG is my favorite new sound.
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I've just bought a Bass Big Muff pi and I'm very impressed with it. I've been able to get a pretty accurate 'chris wolstenholme - hysteria' style distortion. I've over the moon about this as up till now I've been trying to achieve distortion using an EBS multidrive but that just didn't give the right kind of buzz. I also have a mini Q tron and an EBS chorus in the effects chain - can't think of anything else I'd need.
Graeme
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Graeme - other distortion units that I particularly like are the Demeter Fuzzulator and Fulltone Bass Drive.
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I split my treble signal with a Chorus and compress the bass signal into a dual input amp.
Series one preamp and power supply played on a fretless.
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I would like to throw in some kudos to the Yamaha NE-1 tone-shaping device, sometimes known as the Nathan East Magic Box. This thing is a highly adjustable mid-scoop circuit, which seems to work even better than the aural enhancer found on such amps as SWR and Eden, offering additional clarity to the sound. Plus it is all shiny chrome with chicken-head knobs....
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I stand by the Q-Tron. I use some other stuff, but that is my favourite..
Rick
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Here's my board as it stands just now. The big black box is the Eden navigator footswitch and I'm not using the board's inbuilt power supply (after a blue flash one gig).
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/394/60211.jpg)
This all sits in the navigator's side chain so I can control how much effect gets blended into the dry signal. I also have an Aphex Bass Xciter between the bass and the amp. I absolutely hate the eden enhance sound so never have it switched on.
Graeme
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Graeme
Did I run through all of that at the Scottish Reunion??
Must confess though.............I LOVE the Eden Enhance Sound!!
Horses for courses!
G
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Just the 2 EBS pedals george - Chorus and Overdrive. I didn't have the Qtron or big muff that long ago. Once we get the next reunion on the go you'll be able to click away to your heart's content.
Graeme
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Hi all, I ditched a run of boss pedals for tcelectronic g-system for use with my alembic and other basses. I hooked it up with a boss line selector to mix a 'clean sound' with tc sound - the quality is awesome (especially with a series bass!!) as tc arguably make the best effects in the world currently.