Anyone use effects for bass?

[alanbass1]

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?

[David Houck]

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.

[rami]

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.

[mattheus]

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....

[malthumb]

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

[alanbass1]

I've got a Dimension C in my guitar rig.  I will have to extract it and give it a try

[palembic]

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

[rogertvr]

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

[alanbass1]

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.

[dubalbal]

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

[beelee]

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
 
Bruce

[the_mule]

My SF-2 is in the effects loop of my amp, does that count as an effect?
 
Wilfred

[jlpicard]

Anyone tried a BBE sonic maximizer or an Aphex Big Bottom pedal?   Mike

[elzie]

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

[gare]

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