Anyone use effects for bass?

[trekster]

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

[alanbass1]

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.

[811952]

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
john

[bsee]

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?

[alanbass1]

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.

[hb3]

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.

[811952]

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

[gare]

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

[trekster]

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

[811952]

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

[gare]

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 ?

[exploiterplayer]

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.

[alanbass1]

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.

[mint_bass]

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

[rockbassist]

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.