Bass players, what effects do you use?

[hydrargyrum]

I just built a Zvex Woolly Mammoth clone for our Bass Player.  He plays a passive Spector though.
 
(Message edited by hydrargyrum on July 14, 2010)

[hydrargyrum]

Sorry for the number of posts, but I wanted to show off my pedal, and the first photo I uploaded was gigantic.
 

[briant]

It should be noted that I use a pedalboard to get closer to the original recorded bass sounds on all the songs my cover bands play.  When playing original material I rarely screw around with effects.  That said...
 
Currently sitting on my pedalboard:
 
EBS Octabass
Akai Deep Impact
Chunk Systems Octavius Squeezer
TC Electronics Chorus
DOD bass flanger
 
All connected through a true bypass 4 loop pedal to isolate certain effects and/or to make it easy to switch multiple effects at a time.  The DOD bass flanger is a total POS - but I use it because it sounds exactly right for the god awful tone Rudy Sarzo had on Metal Health.  As far as bass synth pedals go you really can't beat the Akai Deep Impact or the Octavius Squeezer.  Both are ridiculously cool and track insanely well.

[jacko]

Terry, my mistake, the pics of the q-tron on the internet are wrong, they have the mode settings reversed. I have mine set to LP (right hand of the three settings - it doesn't work anywhere else), 'Q' at 3 o-clock and Drive at 1 o-clock so roughly the same relationship as yours, just 'more' :-)
 
T answer the thread, I also have an EBS multidrive and EBS Unichorus. In addition, I'm bi-amping so the Fender TBP1 footswitch covers tube overdrive, 'Vari-Q' and the effects loop while I'm using the ampeg footswitch to bring the graphic eq settings into play. (When we play Hysteria, I turn the ampeg drive up to 3 o-clock to get a very good representation of Chris Wolstenholme's distorted sound).
 
graeme

[cool_hand_luke_fancy]

I suppose the only effect that I use at this point is my Yamaha Nathan East Parametric EQ. Boy do I love this thing. Even with roundwounds I can get a nice thumping flatwound sound with the Deep Setting on. And even with flatwounds I get a bottom end Fat Bastard would be proud of.

[toma_hawk01]

None. Naked as a J-Bird.

[rockbassist]

I don't like effects on bass. In my opinion, they all sound aweful. Its more self indulgent than anything. I have tried several just out of curiosity and don't see the point of using them.

[mario_farufyno]

Jacko, you should verify if all pots are properly set up. I use a Q-Tron and sometimes it behaves erratic if range and mode knobs are half turned.  
 
Mine Q-Tron is always set like:
 
- Drive Up ^
- Boost on > (I don't use my Rogue's trim pots full gain)
- Low Pass (LP) Mode
- Low (Lo) Range
- 7 o'clock Gain
- 10 o'clock Peak
 
To use Mode in Band Pass (BP) or High Pass (HP), I prefer to keep Drive button Down and demands chenges in Gain knob (but confess that I almost always use it in LP Mode).
 
Gain Knob is the sensible setting because it changes if the battery life is near end. I've always have to adjust it slightly to keep the tone I want.

[mario_farufyno]

Rockbassist, even if you don't like to funk, you should hear some Larry Grahamm and Bootsy Collins. Then you will hear how some tones that you simply can't get without effects. Both of this (amazing) players defined their voices using effects. If you like to rock, remember some greats like Cliff Burton, Geezer Butler and all guys who crancked up their amps to reach distortion.
 
The point is always about Tone and being able to express your inner voice with any tools it needs. Remember that Bass or any Effect are just tools and a tool can't be bad it self (although we can misuse them badly).
 
If we were in the 50's we all would hear from acoustic bassists that they didn't get our point using eletric basses. Well, we play them because we have to, because it gives us the tone we seek and because we're drawn to its tone, at first time. But we may be just self-indulgent or frustrated guitarrists because we do prefer to play it electric...
 
You simply can't be purist about changing natural sound if you're using eletric devices to distort and change strings pure motion tone. It is just a matter of taste if you don't like it, but pointless is to be conservative about art, self-expression and music.
 
If someone hears it that way, how can it be pointless?
 
Others point-of-view doesn't need to be wrong to make your point right, right?
 
Best Regards...

[hb3]

I got yer shameless self-indulgence....
 
http://www.box.net/shared/ivkbjxgkys
 
Performed on piccolo bass.  
 

[jbybj]

I LIKE IT! I like clean bass too, why limit yourself. What did you use for the step filtering?

[hb3]

That is a Prometheus Subdecay.

[hb3]

Or a Subdecay Prometheus.

[hb3]

[oops!]
 
(Message edited by hb3 on August 11, 2010)

[jazzyvee]

I'm still happy with the clean, naked sound of my Alembics so from a personal preference and due to the fact I've never been asked to use them on a session. I would prefer not to distort that with effects.  
 
Jazzyvee