Tugmonkey Posted March 31, 2017 Posted March 31, 2017 I recently made the switch from guitar to bass in November last year and I just joined a local covers band. We play a bunch of songs from the 60/70s with a few newer numbers thrown in. Since playing bass, my passion and interest in music has skyrocketed more than it ever did playing guitar, and recently I decided to take a bit more interest in tone shaping. So I ordered myself a compressor and 10 band EQ to get me started. As I was researching effects I began to realise that I don't think I've ever (at least consciously) picked up on anyone using bass effects in songs, maybe that's down to what I've been listening to. So I wondered if you guys would share some examples of songs or isolated tracks that utilise different effects, envelope filters, phasers, distortion, synths etc. Just as a starter so I can hear how they are used as I just can’t seem to pick them out. Cheers. Quote
BigRedX Posted March 31, 2017 Posted March 31, 2017 If you are not using an amp with valves in it then you should invest in a pedal with some in, or one that emulates valve style distortion. If you have ever heard the isolated bass tracks from 70s rock recordings you will surprised by just how much dirt is in the sound, that isn't anywhere near as obvious when you listen to the whole mix. Once I'd figured this out my bass bedded much better into the whole band sound, than when I had been going for a predominantly clean sound. Quote
NoirBass Posted March 31, 2017 Posted March 31, 2017 (edited) Ok, I'll start us off with the humble Phaser: The O'Jays - For The Love Of Money (Live) [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjuRhETwbI0"]https://www.youtube....h?v=kjuRhETwbI0[/url] Envelope Filter: Red Hot Chili Peppers - Sir Psycho Sexy [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHKlQfCHcMg"]https://www.youtube....h?v=mHKlQfCHcMg[/url] (starts at 0:25) The Meters - Funkify Your Life [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWEWwAFOJUE&feature=player_embedded"]https://www.youtube....player_embedded[/url] Here's a bit of distortion: Graham Central Station - The Jam [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Is665CtmBUc"]https://www.youtube....h?v=Is665CtmBUc[/url] Metallica - For Whom The Bell Tolls https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIVgxFabzdE Muse - Hysteria https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dm_5qWWDV8 And a synth: Tom Browne - Funkin' for Jamaica [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuUy2ShGLyo"]https://www.youtube....h?v=uuUy2ShGLyo[/url] Muse - Time Is Running Out https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QfwEUzzDtzo Jamiroquai - Deeper Underground https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIUAC03YMlA (starts 0:54) Gone on a fairly funky based tip there, but there are examples across all genres (update: I've added a few) Edited March 31, 2017 by NoirBass Quote
Tugmonkey Posted March 31, 2017 Author Posted March 31, 2017 Awesome responses so far guys, I'll give a listen on my lunch break! Quote
TKenrick Posted March 31, 2017 Posted March 31, 2017 An unlikely example of great envelope filter usage (and generally filthy bass playing throughout): http://youtu.be/MSXP8jQZWT4 Quote
BrunoBass Posted March 31, 2017 Posted March 31, 2017 Playing in a rock covers band as I do, I use pedals that will help me approximate the bass tone of the song we're covering. I use a bass overdrive (Ibanez Phat Hed) for a few songs, and a Big Muff (for the two Muse songs we do). I've never felt the need for anything else, but obviously it depends on the genre you're playing. Other than that a very slight amp crunch works for me. For my own stuff, I use no effects at all, just the pure eq'd sound of the bass. Quote
Skol303 Posted March 31, 2017 Posted March 31, 2017 I posted this recently... you'll need to put aside any prejudices about Justin Timberlake and mainstream pop music , but it's well worth a listen as the bass is [i]just great.[/i] I can't advise on which specific FX are being used, but I've since come close using an EH BassBalls. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ru0K8uYEZWw Quote
toneknob Posted March 31, 2017 Posted March 31, 2017 Akai Deep Impact synth http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEaUz-wyjEU Quote
Conan Posted March 31, 2017 Posted March 31, 2017 (edited) [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qXNfNGQdSE[/media] [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARESSkDiIDw[/media] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBmwK7zqONI Edited March 31, 2017 by Conan Quote
LewisK1975 Posted March 31, 2017 Posted March 31, 2017 I've always thought Thin Lizzy's 'Waiting for an alibi' gives a great representation of a phased Bass sound. Nice and high in the mix too. Quote
Crawford13 Posted March 31, 2017 Posted March 31, 2017 If you are getting into pedals it's worth following the pedals and effects you tube page. Juan Alderete pretty much rules the bass pedal world. Also worth following the Janek Gwizdala you tube page. Janek does a daily VLOG and he talks about pedals a lot and plays with pedals a lot. Quote
dudewheresmybass Posted March 31, 2017 Posted March 31, 2017 Geezer butler - dirt and wah in nib, generally valve dirt throughout. Quote
barneyg42 Posted March 31, 2017 Posted March 31, 2017 [quote name='LewisK1975' timestamp='1490970098' post='3269494'] I've always thought Thin Lizzy's 'Waiting for an alibi' gives a great representation of a phased Bass sound. Nice and high in the mix too. [/quote] Likewise Dancing in the Moonlight!! Quote
spectoremg Posted March 31, 2017 Posted March 31, 2017 [quote name='LewisK1975' timestamp='1490970098' post='3269494'] I've always thought Thin Lizzy's 'Waiting for an alibi' gives a great representation of a phased Bass sound. Nice and high in the mix too. [/quote]I always used a flanger for that and got the sound spot on. They're kind of the same aren't they? Quote
JapanAxe Posted March 31, 2017 Posted March 31, 2017 [quote name='spectoremg' timestamp='1490980980' post='3269620'] I always used a flanger for that and got the sound spot on. They're kind of the same aren't they? [/quote] Yes and no. They both feature multiple swept filter notches resulting from delaying the processed signal and mixing it with the original. However, in a flanger the delay time is the same for all frequencies, whereas in a phaser the delay time is frequency-dependent, so each frequency is delayed by a different amount. Hope that helps! Quote
TrevorR Posted March 31, 2017 Posted March 31, 2017 [quote name='barneyg42' timestamp='1490976462' post='3269575'] Likewise Dancing in the Moonlight!! [/quote] [quote name='spectoremg' timestamp='1490980980' post='3269620'] I always used a flanger for that and got the sound spot on. They're kind of the same aren't they? [/quote] [quote name='JapanAxe' timestamp='1490983641' post='3269658'] Yes and no. They both feature multiple swept filter notches resulting from delaying the processed signal and mixing it with the original. However, in a flanger the delay time is the same for all frequencies, whereas in a phaser the delay time is frequency-dependent, so each frequency is delayed by a different amount. Hope that helps! [/quote] And there was me thinking that Alibi was a phaser but Dancing was a chorus. Listening back now it does sound more like a phaser. Much more pronounced effect on Alibi, though. http://youtu.be/VcrY6eSViXQ http://youtu.be/gJZDyqR4JuE Quote
blue Posted March 31, 2017 Posted March 31, 2017 Every major bass signal recorded has some type of effect on it Me I'm running way to many pedals. I think most of us can get by with a little overdrive, chorus and compression. Blue Quote
JapanAxe Posted March 31, 2017 Posted March 31, 2017 Blue that's 2 more pedals than I ever use, and that one is a tuner! Quote
Guest bassman7755 Posted March 31, 2017 Posted March 31, 2017 [quote name='TrevorR' timestamp='1490988677' post='3269714'] [media]http://youtu.be/gJZDyqR4JuE[/media] [/quote] Sounds like a flanger to me. Quote
blue Posted March 31, 2017 Posted March 31, 2017 [quote name='JapanAxe' timestamp='1490995291' post='3269793'] Blue that's 2 more pedals than I ever use, and that one is a tuner! [/quote] I was an amp to bass guy for most of my life. My current band and gigging situation calls for processing. Blue Quote
Tugmonkey Posted March 31, 2017 Author Posted March 31, 2017 Thanks for all the responses guys. I'll be popping my cans on and doing some listening tonight and throughout the day tomorrow. Quote
paul_5 Posted April 1, 2017 Posted April 1, 2017 Octave pedal. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uH5kb5_TnfI Quote
blue Posted April 1, 2017 Posted April 1, 2017 (edited) [quote name='paul_5' timestamp='1491032009' post='3269923'] Octave pedal. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uH5kb5_TnfI [/quote] The Bass Octave Pedal; "Don't leave home without one." Blue Edited April 5, 2017 by blue Quote
RhysP Posted April 1, 2017 Posted April 1, 2017 [quote name='bassman7755' timestamp='1490996119' post='3269803'] Sounds like a flanger to me. [/quote] I always thought that "Waiting for an alibi" is a flanger & "Dancing in the moonlight" is a phaser. Quote
LewisK1975 Posted April 3, 2017 Posted April 3, 2017 [quote name='RhysP' timestamp='1491083360' post='3270446'] I always thought that "Waiting for an alibi" is a flanger & "Dancing in the moonlight" is a phaser. [/quote] Based on the responses I reckon you could get with using either effect on either song! Quote
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