Author Topic: Best effects for a bass? Rack or pedals? (Read 425 times)

peoplechipper · « **Reply #30 on:** March 24, 2009, 10:41:33 PM »

Not at all LLoyd.

The sansamp bass DI is the only pedal (guitar or bass) that has ever been on ALWAYS and is great sounding; gives the right amount of grind and treble (I play in a three piece and the guitar player is a noodly type so I have to cover a lot of ground...) If you ever get another analog delay try the idea I posted earlier(repeats on treadle) the one you have is totally clean so don't mess with it...my old guitar pedalboard was 4'x2' two rows of pedals; I use SO much less now on bass

qualloyd · « **Reply #31 on:** March 25, 2009, 11:55:36 AM »

Hi Tony, Thanks for the shout. I've had my DM-3 since I bought it new a looooong time ago. Being the pack-rat I am I hang on to equipment if it doesn't take up much room in storage. I've Googled it and see I've got a somewhat well received piece. I just know that it sounds better than the Ibanez Tone-Lock Delay and the more expensive re-issued purple box, whatever it's number.
Lloyd

peoplechipper · « **Reply #32 on:** March 27, 2009, 02:47:50 AM »

Lloyd, try the wah delay thing it is much fun...find a rough dm-2 or Ibanez ad-9 and go dub crazy...if you use overdrive before the delay they go crazy!!!...fun! Tony

qualloyd · « **Reply #33 on:** March 27, 2009, 08:56:53 AM »

Hi Tony. I just checked my purple box and it is an AD-9. I think my experimenting is over. I've stumbled upon many cool/wild/interesting sounds, especially driving them with my 8-string! Besides being impractical, it cheapens the natural beauty of owning an Alembic, IMHO. Like I stated earlier, I lean towards subtly enhancing a bass's sound, not masking it. I usually jam with two guitars and drums...very LOUD! Before Christmas, one guitarist couldn't make it. I had THE MOST FUN as a three piece band! The sound blended quite well. My only effect was the VT Character Series with my 4-string Spoiler. I think I'll save the board for the 8-string Exploiter since I really like a bit of chorus/flanger with it. Man, I've got to learn to keep my posts short! Lloyd

bassman10096 · « **Reply #34 on:** March 27, 2009, 10:36:05 AM »

You guys sound like you're having a lot of fun and good results with the effects you mentioned. I've never warmed up to any effect enough to want to take it home with me. For me (and obviously not for all) the natural output of my Alembic or other basses, sliced and diced with passive and active EQ and tonal filtering (eg SF-2, though I just sold mine) is all I ever found interesting. I'm very, very choosy about the basses I play, so I don't need effects to change the fundamental output sound. Interesting that I have so little desire to try a bunch more effects. No knock on those who do - to each his own - and I do like plenty of players' processed sounds. Just not for me. Given that I experiment with just about everything else about my gear (I'm one of the few hardy souls who lugs a BagEnd ELF sub to many gigs), it seems strange to me that I have no interest in effects - could it be a genetic flaw? The result of poor diet? (LOL)

(Message edited by bassman10096 on March 27, 2009)

qualloyd · « **Reply #35 on:** March 27, 2009, 02:31:33 PM »

I'm hesitant to call the Tech-21 SansAmp DI and it's non-DI little brother the VT Character Series effects pedals. I know, by definition they are, but they work more as a pre-amp, affecting (effecting?) the tone by extending EQ parameters, not so much as shaping, modifying, or death-metal distorting the input signal. This could lead to a new thread! Rack-mount vs. pedal pre-amps! Or how about compressors? BBE makes an excellent pedal based on their rack comp. As long as it's not turned up to the point of squashing the tone, it's hardly noticeable unless switched off. I've always wanted to try a Sonic Maximizer in pedal form. Is running straight into an amp equipped with a built-in comp different than using a pedal? My Genz-Benz NeoPak 3.5 has a tube pre-amp that gives me an overdrive if needed, nicer than the b@ll$-out distortion of my Digi-Tech Bass Driver I tried for a short while. Let's not worry about the signal loss or resistance of additional wires and plugs and jacks and...
MY BRAIN HURTS...but just a little. It's a good thing I've got a little brain!
Lloyd

qualloyd · « **Reply #36 on:** March 27, 2009, 02:38:19 PM »

MY BAD! I just realized the thread's title IS Best effects for a bass? Rack or pedals?

I must've taken a left at Albuquerque.

And some people wonder how I got the name QuaLloyd.

peoplechipper · « **Reply #37 on:** March 28, 2009, 01:50:28 AM »

Lloyd! I think the folks here are perfectly fine with detours and rabbit holes...I haven't been kicked off yet, so they must be accomodating...or they tink we're 'special ed' and giving us longer rope!!!!
I play in a 3 piece band and my guitar player is a wild card at best, so I can't go wild on effects...but I highly reccomend modifying that AD-9 into a wah...live dub if you want it, or controllable accents(if they're big spaces...) Tony

terryc · « **Reply #38 on:** March 31, 2009, 01:01:24 AM »

Davehouck..I have done some bistro/restaurant gigs on my own, I use loop station and a Zoom B1u which has a drum machine in it.
The loop station is great as you can set up a lot of backing loops into it and solo over the top as well as switching between different phrases.
I re wrote most of the patches on the Zoom, I think these little units are very underrated as they got the 'cheap' label attached to them but they do say that the processor chip used in these units is very advanced for it's price range.

Beatles tunes always go down well!
Just get out there and do it, the first one is always the hardest!!!

David Houck · « **Reply #39 on:** March 31, 2009, 06:38:22 AM »

Terry; thanks for the comments! I have actually done one short gig, the performance of which was quite poor. So, I'm not wanting to go back out until there is significant improvement in my playing. Personally, I don't like playing with loops and drum machines, so the stuff I'm working on is fairly chordal so that listeners hopefully still have enough content to make it interesting. I did have one Beatles tune on the list, but I haven't worked on it in quite some time. I should probably revisit it; thanks for the reminder.

blackelan · « **Reply #40 on:** March 31, 2009, 09:15:28 PM »

Keep talking I just bought a Tech 21 DI bass driver for my rig.

I am definatley going with pedals for my bass rig, I am just looking for a Boss DD3 Made in Japan model.

I also have to find someone to build me a pedal board.

gtrguy · « **Reply #41 on:** April 01, 2009, 09:39:16 AM »

Hey Dave, a Rusty Young fan! Wow, I am getting out my Melobar tonight and plugging it in!
Bye,
Dave

peoplechipper · « **Reply #42 on:** April 07, 2009, 01:24:48 AM »

Dave, you actually HAVE a Melobar?! COOL! I've never seen one in the flesh, so I'm kind of assuming no one in Vancouver has one...do they still make it? Tony

David Houck · « **Reply #43 on:** April 08, 2009, 07:25:59 AM »

Tony; apparently so. The web page for Melobar is here.

peoplechipper · « **Reply #44 on:** April 10, 2009, 01:57:50 AM »

Cool! but only the Sidewinder is a REAL Melobar; their clame to fame is the stand-up steel guitar..glad it's there! Tony

Author Topic: Best effects for a bass? Rack or pedals? (Read 425 times)

blackelan