software

I play bass myself and really don't feel a need for pedals like when i played guitar. I understand in some situations that overdrive, dist and fuzz may be of use so as an envelope filter/follower, but i don't see the use of reverb, phaser, flanger etc

What do you think? Comment

I don't use any effects mostly, but occasionally I have been known to throw my tube screamer in with my bass rig to glorious effect of course, it's a John Spina modded tube screamer, so it maintains the low end, making it a great bass overdrive

You couldn't hold yourself to the poll didn't ya, just kidding, vote please

i have played with bassists who could tastefully add octaver, chorus, and/or compressor to really get a very satisfying tone ...

i have played with bassists who made me want to jump out a window for their misuse of effects

it just all depends

cheers
t4d

I personally don't like it, but bassists in general can use whatever they want to get their sound.... just like guitarists.

I like a chorus sometimes to fatten up the sound for solos--and I usually
always use my old MXR Dyna Comp (compression) pedal, even though
it's a subtle effect.

A bass player who can still interact with/play off the drummer and keep a beat can play his bass with a violin bow for all I care. Effects are a little superficial if the guy's really good...his/her technique will only be accentuated by whatever other tools they use...

I voted for any. I think that there's a time and place for most bass effects and if they sound right for the song, it's great. But the most important thing is that the bassist be able to do his job without the pedals. Once he can nail the beat, work with the drummer and keep the energy of the song going, he can throw in the fx.

the bass player in my band uses a bass overdrive and a fuzz for different tones and they usually work pretty well. He knows when to use them, not just for the sake of having an effect on. He bought a boss bass fx processor, but he decided not to use it. I think a distortion or fuzz effect can be useful if used sparingly.

If it's used well and doesn't sound out of place or isn't distracting, then I think effects on bass are cool. I like distortion, wah, and chorus best.

I agree with T4D, compression, possibly octave and chorus can be used for bass. Occasionally fuzz. The bass just has too many frequencies going to sound good with reverb and delay. In most cases it would just end up being a muddy mess. I think usually a rackmount compressor is all a bass player really needs, if that.

IMO, a bass player can use whatever he/she wants to obtain a bass sound... so long as that sound fits the rest of the band and doesn't sound like crap! But first, like some of the other guys have said, comes technique.

No! Bass players shouldn't use picks, or play anything but the bare minimum of notes either. Anybody who does more than the dude from AC/DC is a tasteless show-off.

j/k. I hate the mentallity that the bass player's job is to quot;back upquot; the guitarist. Talk about pretentious.


Originally Posted by JB_From_Hellj/k. I hate the mentallity that the bass player's job is to quot;back upquot; the guitarist. Talk about pretentious.

I wouldn't say that it's a bass player's job to quot;back upquot; the guitarist, I'd say that's it's every musician's job to serve the song. If that means playing 1 note or 87, with or without effects, whatever, the song should come first. Check out the great bass line to quot;Everyday Peoplequot;, it's just one note! When people overdo it and try to feed their own ego is when the song and the band suffer. Sometimes simple is best for the good of the ensemble. To that end, I prefer bass players who play basses with 5 strings max. I think (just my opinion) that, with few exceptions (Jaco), bass solos are usually pretty horrendous.
On a related note, I also find that the quality of drummers is generally inversely proportional to the size of their kit. If a guy is playing a simple 4 or 5 piece he's probably excellent. When they bring out the roto-toms, China crashes, and the gong, it's probably gonna be headache-inducing and way overdone. This could be because most working drummers who are not rock stars have to lug their own gear, and they realize pretty fast that they don't need the excess crap, and it's a major pain to cart around. Hence, guys who play a lot keep it simple. Guys who don't play a lot want to bring every toy they can get their hands on. Look at Charlie Watts, he plays on the biggest stages of the world, anchoring his band with a 4-piece kit. It's not about the amount of gear, it's what you can do with it. That applies to all instruments. To summarize, bass effects are just usually not necessary. Listen to James Jamerson, who is probably The All-Time Man when it comes to groove and great bass lines. I doubt he was using flangers and harmonizers and wahs.
And the worst thing ever? Bass whammy bars!!!!

I really do think that a bass player should have some effects, because they have the right to add some mods or delays to their sound... remember they have rights you know...
JJ

The bass player for my current band is a delay freak. In between songs, the two of them are just putting on layer and layers of delay and fuzz. I brought some of my stuff over once (I'm the drummer), so immediately the bass is going through 5 distortion pedals and two delays.Anyway, I would only use multiband compression and an overdrive pedal, but that's just me. If you're doing stuff like tool, then a flanger might be tasteful.

i would love to see that.... and hear it as well, the bass player in my band doesnt even know how to setup his EQ on his amp... thank go he has a hell of a partner...
hehehe
JJ

is there an artist or group that ur playing sounds similiar cause that can be very important and will give me some idea the appropriateness

i use a big muff

Should a bassplayer have efx pedals?Only if you're gonna use 'em. I've actually thought about quot;going bassquot; quite a few times and I thought if I ever did I'd probbaly get one of those little Bass Synth Pedals boss makes, an overdrive, and an EQ.