Distortion on bass guitar

[Stag]

...how do you actually use it, in a live gig situation?

Im in a rock covers band. I have a nice Rick 4001 and a Les Paul bass. Both of these are grrrrrreat (as Tony T Tiger would say) for using with distortion but, its just [i]where[/i] you use the distortion thats the thing that gets me. I know it would suit a blazing solo or something but we dont really have a lot of call for that... yet. haha

Anyone else's opinions would be welcome. Do you like it? Do you use it? Tell me your stories oh wise ones...

[Jase]

Have a read up on Billy Sheehan, he's got it sussed when using distortion.....don't quote me but I think he actually considers himself a distortion expert

[Oscar South]

Don't plan it, just have it ready on your pedal board, make sure to give it a good volume boost or you'll just drop out of the mix, you'll know when the moment is right.

Edited November 24, 2008 by Oscar South

[Alun]

Most people would go for the loud rocky moments but it can sound quite effective in ballads surprisingly - listne carefully to "She's The One" by Robbie Williams - distorted bass galore!

Cheers
Alun

[Mr. Foxen]

Don't Ricks come with stereo output as standard, perfect for Billy Sheehan tyle bi-amp goodness?

[ARGH]

Geddy Lee...GEDDY LEE...(cough) Geddy LEE!!!!!!

[Stag]

yes... Mr Lee has made some good things happen with it, and not necessarily all the way through a song either (Tom Sawyer being the obvious good example under the solo). Still thinking about where I can drop it in our set... and get the level right on it like mentioned above, dont want to just drop out of the mix :-(

[Dood]

[quote name='Stag' post='336030' date='Nov 25 2008, 09:09 AM']yes... Mr Lee has made some good things happen with it, and not necessarily all the way through a song either (Tom Sawyer being the obvious good example under the solo). Still thinking about where I can drop it in our set... and get the level right on it like mentioned above, dont want to just drop out of the mix :-([/quote]


I'll give you a shout in a tick Steve! ;o)

[Stag]

im not at work today DJV... awaiting delivery of Ampeg B-410 HLF at home!

Edited November 25, 2008 by Stag

[Tait]

depends what you play, timmy c is nearly always using different levels of distortion throughout Rage Against The Machine songs.

[YouMa]

John paul jones,black dog.

[Bernmeister]

Listen to Doug Pinnock of Kings X bass distortion galore, especially on the Dogman album

[lateralus462]

[quote name='LWTAIT' post='336454' date='Nov 25 2008, 05:13 PM']depends what you play, timmy c is nearly always using different levels of distortion throughout Rage Against The Machine songs.[/quote]

Timmy C is an awesome example of how Distortion should be used!!!!

[thisnameistaken]

See if you can find Daisy Chainsaw's one hit "Love Your Money" - lovely grindy noisy bass sound on that.

And of course there's the Ben Folds Five back catalogue for Muffed-up goodness, although Robert Sledge didn't have a guitarist in the way. His Muff pretty much makes this performance of [url="http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=XG1INvA1aes"]Fair[/url].

[agoulding]

whats this "should be"? its all bollocks. where do YOU feel it goes best. it isnt about what should and shouldnt be its an art form...you wouldnt say to matisse "that house is wonky, its wrong start again"

[Stag]

That Ben Folds one is quite interesting... thats kind of the sound im looking at, a driven fuzz sound but not so OTT that it rules the whole song. Their sound guy was on the money for that one.

My question again isnt really where it "should be"... some times I can "feel" where it would suit but then the other little voice in my head says "noooo... the band wouldnt like it". Or is that just me?

[thisnameistaken]

[quote name='Stag' post='336700' date='Nov 25 2008, 10:10 PM']That Ben Folds one is quite interesting... thats kind of the sound im looking at, a driven fuzz sound but not so OTT that it rules the whole song. Their sound guy was on the money for that one.[/quote]

Not OTT? That's a green russian Muff completely cranked!

But yeah, he's a tasteful player. It suits the song in a way that you wouldn't expect.

[quote name='Stag' post='336700' date='Nov 25 2008, 10:10 PM']My question again isnt really where it "should be"... some times I can "feel" where it would suit but then the other little voice in my head says "noooo... the band wouldnt like it". Or is that just me?[/quote]

I loved this earlier advice so much that I didn't want to contradict it: "Don't plan it, just have it ready on your pedal board, make sure to give it a good volume boost or you'll just drop out of the mix, you'll know when the moment is right." I'm sure he typed it with his tongue firmly in his cheek but it's top quality.

Fuzzing up the bass is something you can only do with the co-operation of the rest of the band. If the guitars are fuzzed it probably won't work. It works best on tunes where the bass drives the thing along, where you can be at the front of the mix. Or it works well to add sustain to long notes (as in that Ben Folds Five tune), or it's handy for adding colour to other effects, or to give a filter something more interesting to chew up (when I crank the resonance on my Meatwad and put heavy fuzz through it, you can hear each individual harmonic get popped off the top of the sound as the filter sweeps down).

Basically, fuzz is a versatile effect, but everybody has to be on-message for it to work. If you're scared of upsetting your band mates by switching it on, you'll never switch it on.

[YouMa]

[quote name='thisnameistaken' post='336600' date='Nov 25 2008, 09:27 PM']See if you can find Daisy Chainsaw's one hit "Love Your Money" - lovely grindy noisy bass sound on that.

And of course there's the Ben Folds Five back catalogue for Muffed-up goodness, although Robert Sledge didn't have a guitarist in the way. His Muff pretty much makes this performance of [url="http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=XG1INvA1aes"]Fair[/url].[/quote]
Daisy chainsaw were brilliant i fancied the pants off katy jane the singer.

[The Funk]

I use distortion with a wah for some of our tunes (and we're a funk band). You can use it anywhere.

[thisnameistaken]

[quote name='YouMa' post='336744' date='Nov 25 2008, 11:09 PM']Daisy chainsaw were brilliant i fancied the pants off katy jane the singer.[/quote]

I saw her first!

Yeah I remember when that EP came out every boy in every sixth form across the land had to launder his trousers. She was ace.

Not wanting to lower the tone (too much... hehehe) but, bloody hell...

[The Funk]

[quote name='thisnameistaken' post='336762' date='Nov 25 2008, 11:27 PM']Not wanting to lower the tone (too much... hehehe) but, bloody hell...

[/quote]

I second that emotion!

[Stag]

That is an attractive bottom. I dont care about distortion anymore.

[The Funk]

[quote name='Stag' post='336800' date='Nov 25 2008, 11:48 PM']That is an attractive bottom. I dont care about distortion anymore.[/quote]

[thisnameistaken]

The only way to see the video for Love Your Money on YouTube at the moment is to hit the 1:46 mark on [url="http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=gD4fwjmpPdI#t=1m46s"]this one[/url]. But it's worth it, really gnarly tune!

Ooh, and after that you get Sugarcubes - Hit! Old-school Bjork and the worst rapping probably ever.

Edited November 26, 2008 by thisnameistaken

[GЯДИКФЯ]

Pete Steele uses it 90% of the time