Effects? Say it Ain't So.
I always thought I'd be the bass player that didn't want to use any effects. But I've recently come to the conclusion that I need two pedals: Overdrive/Distortion and Wah. I'm not going for the huge pedal board or anything like that...I just want these two. I can't recreate the sounds without them. I'd like to spend under $150 each.
Here's what I've been looking at. Since I value your opinions, I was wondering if anyone has had any experience with any of these products. Or do you have any suggestions?
Overdrive/Distortion
Boss ODB-3 Bass OverDrive Pedal $89.99
MXR M-181 Bass Blowtorch Overdrive Distortion Pedal $139.99
Wah Pedals
Dunlop Crybaby 105Q Bass Wah Pedal $99.99
Snarling Dogs Bawl Buster Bass Wah $99.99
Morley PBA-2 Dual Bass Wah Pedal $79.99
-Ann-
I've experimented with
I've experimented with different effects and I agree with you. A couple of high quality pedals is nice to have.
For distortion/fuzz I have an EHX Double Muff. While it has the vintage fuzz sound I was looking for I wouldn't recommend it. It's noisy and cuts a lot of low end. I'm going to get a Brown Dog distortion pedal one day. I love the sound and the quality is great. Only trouble is it's expensive.
As for Wah I wouldn't use a Wah pedal myself, I like an Auto-Wah. Right now I use the built in effect on my Behringer mixer, but I have an Agent 00Funk pedal on order. It is also expensive but a truly great pedal.
If you are interested you can listen to them both here at the Chunk Systems site.
I basically use a multi
I basically use a multi board for the bass but from time to time I will use these pedals
Rocktron Rampage Distortion - 70$
Rocktron Tri-Wah - 70$
Both can be used for bass. The Rampage kicks out some serious distortion and and the Tri has a guitar or bass setting and works great especially if in front of any other pedals.
Hazz
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Musicians Collaboration Studio / a place for musicians to get together and create music on-line
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Carburetors man!! That's what life is all about."
Musicians Collaboration Studio
Boss
I'll probably be getting the Boss Overdrive and an auto-wah. I don't want to get to crazy.
__________________________________________________________________
So what do bass players that can't play do?
How does an auto wah work
How does an auto wah work exactly? I know a traditional wah you have to use your foot constantly. Does the auto wah just do it on it's own?
-Ann-
Yeah, the auto-wah varies
Yeah, the auto-wah varies the wah according to your attack. If you play harder the wah gets more pronounced. Listen to the sound samples on the chunk systems site I linked above. Then you'll hear how it sounds. Or listen to my first recording of 'Yes You Can'. I'm using an auto-wah on that. It was a little too much for the song but at least you'll hear how it sounds.
auto-wah
Hey, we could re-name the capital, auto-wah ON. LOL
B #
B #
LMAO!!!! I love it,
LMAO!!!! I love it, Auto-Wah, capital of Canada.
I should add that between
I should add that between the two distortion pedal you've listed I like the Bass Blowtorch the best. I've heard both and the blowtorch is closest to the sound I like.
Boss OD
I'd say the Boss Overdrive is worth every cent. It's really versatile and can add just a little tube-like warmth or get really dirty and evertyhing in between. I haven't tried an bass wahs (but wouldn't give up my crybaby for guitar).
B #
B #
I have a Boss ODB-3 and I
I have a Boss ODB-3 and I like it quite a bit (I should have reviewed it here by now!). It has a wet/dry balance, so you can mix your clean and distorted sound. I use it mostly to dial in just a little grit, though it will do fully overdriven sounds. It doesn't do really edgy, tattered distortion like you'd get with a ProCo Rat. It's a smoother sound, like all overdrive pedals. I dig it. It also sounds great on electric guitar. Very bluesy.
I'd like to try the Blowtorch sometime, just to compare. MXR makes good stuff. Can't comment on the wah's, really, though I doubt you can go wrong with the Crybaby.
Wheat
bassplaying.com
I have this little monster
The distortion and wah effects on this are the best two out of the 19 effects it has.
List price is around $110.00 US
Geoff :-)
Aussie,Aussie,Aussie,Oi!,Oi!,Oi!
Ouch
[quote]List price is around $110.00 US[/quote]
That Digitech multi effects pedal is about $79 most places in the US and can be had used on EBay for about $40. I have the guitar version with a wah pedal that I bought new for $79.
I have the Zoom 705 multi effects pedal for bass that I bought a couple of years ago new for $50 plus free shipping.
The deals are on the Internet. ;)
I bought it for $79.00
Most sellers list $79.00 for this as their "discount price". It is funny that there is such disparity between the manufacterers so called "list" prices and the sellers "discount" prices
Geoff :-)