Is there a simple pedal to add a "rythm guitar" sound?

[hankhill]

I play bass in a 5 piece rock covers band (2 guitars, bass, drums, vocals), but sometimes we have to gig as a 4 piece as our rhythm guitarist can’t make it. Our other guitarist fills in well, but when he’s playing a lead break the overall sound thins out. In rehearsals yesterday I used an Ashdown amp that had a button that added a harmonic note, and that thickened out my bass sound a bit. Is there a simple pedal that could add maybe a higher octave note, maybe with some distortion, to my bass, to thicken our overall sound for when the lone guitar is soloing? I borrowed a Zoom B2 but after playing with it for 2 hours and staring at the manual, I still have no idea how to use it and would be too scared to use something that complex in a gig. Does a simple pedal exist? I’ve looked at octave pedals but they all seem to add a lower octave, not a higher one.

[Daz39]

TC sub n up? 

[Cuzzie]

8 or 12 string bass is an option.

I know it’s not an octave pedal but the Tech21 DP3X pedal fills out your sound.

If you listen to KingsX and hear how huge their sound is, they are a 3 piece.

Edited August 1, 2018 by Cuzzie

[JimBobTTD]

Akai Unibass will do just this. They are not easy to find any more. Perhaps someone will chime in with a good replacement. 

At times, I regret selling mine. I used it in a three-piece for when the guitarist started soloing. 

[fretmeister]

Either enjoy the space not having the other guitarist gives you as it also gives the audience a break from the wall of sound, or listen to more Jack Bruce and move the bass part around. Cream never sounded thin.

Do some walking - or play some octaves with the drums.

 

3 piece bands (or 3 musicians and a singer !) are the best fun for bassists. Enjoy it!

[songofthewind]

Totally agree with the last comment. My current beat combo is a trio plus singer. Mind you, keys fill things out much better than guitar does. It gives me loads of room, which I take advantage of. I use pedals for octave, envelope filter and chorus, and we’re away. I used to be a guitar player, but I’ve almost completely recovered..

[JimH]

Might be worth a watch for ideas/sounds at least?

 

[operative451]

Depends on what you want to spend but the Zoom B3n has a '+rhythm guitar' preset..

[Happy Jack]

3 hours ago, JimBobTTD said:

Akai Unibass will do just this. They are not easy to find any more. Perhaps someone will chime in with a good replacement. 

At times, I regret selling mine. I used it in a three-piece for when the guitarist started soloing. 

I had one of these years ago and, despite the high reputation and exorbitant price, I wasn't actually that impressed with it.

More recently I needed the same effect again so I bought https://www.andertons.co.uk/fishman-fission-bass-pedal-pro-fsn-bas?LGWCODE=PROFSNBAS;56375;6335&gclid=CjwKCAjw14rbBRB3EiwAKeoG_zZAI2_khAMhHZUjIvSXjJzLqRdiI2DL4UjTcLu8CsKsHvb9WG-RWRoCY2QQAvD_BwE

Still bloody expensive, but iMHO a better pedal.

 

[Daz39]

Yes - I remembered the Fission too, but a) expensive and b) you don't see them around much second hand (cue 5 smartypants linking ebay auctions.)

[songofthewind]

Blimey, that Fishman on YouTube thing is nuclear. I use the Digitech iStomp with Swing Shift loaded, and it sounds OK, but not like the Fishman.

[jposega]

Digitech Bass Whammy or Ricochet

EHX Nano Pog or Pitchfork 

And there are clones of those, too. Pair any of them with some overdrive for a bigger sound.

[Akio Dāku]

19 hours ago, jposega said:

Digitech Bass Whammy or Ricochet

EHX Nano Pog or Pitchfork 

And there are clones of those, too. Pair any of them with some overdrive for a bigger sound.

This. ^

[Dragonlord]

Digital octavers can track great but the sound is usually a bit, well, "digital". A good analog octaver with an upper octave will give a more musical sound with a little fuzz. I had a Foxrox Octron which was great, and the COG T-65 should be similar. If it doesn't absolutely have to be one octave up, my latest addition is a tube overdrive (Crazy Tube Circuits Locomotive) which has a very open and natural, guitar-like overdrive and I love it. I also had an Akai Unibass a long time ago, and an Electro Harmonix HOG, which can add an octave+5th above that, but this may not always be ideal because you could find yourself playing outside the scale, since the 5th is always fixed.

[skidder652003]

A pedal will never replace a 2nd guitarist, just enjoy the space you've been given and fill it tastefully, I would never go back to a 4/5 piece band, if its good enough for Cream, Rush, Hendrix...PS the money's better

Edited August 3, 2018 by skidder652003

[Al Krow]

I think the advice to not pretend to be a rhythm guitarist has got to be right; however thickening up your sound can be a good thing if done well. 

I personally prefer the Digitech Mosaic to the EHX Pitchfork, having had both, as it sounds a little more natural to my ears and a little less "digital".

Operative 451 also mentioned the Zoom B3n rhythm guitar patch which I agree is not too bad. 

Here's a few samples comparing them which I pulled together in a spare moment this afternoon:

1) plain (Yamaha BB1025 on P setting)

2) + Zoom B3n rhythm guitar

3) + dirt & chorus

4) + Mosaic & chorus

 ... you may decide you actually prefer the "plain" bass, but I'd be interested to hear your thoughts  

BB1025 - plain.WAV

BB1025 + Zoom rthmgtr.WAV

BB1025 + dirt & chorus.WAV

BB1025 + mosaic & chorus.WAV

Edited August 3, 2018 by Al Krow

[Muzz]

This one could be useful for me - I'm struggling to find the Zoom +rhythm guitar patch on my B3 (or in fact any reference to it anywhere), is it only on the B3n?

Advthanksance... 😁

[Al Krow]

19 minutes ago, Muzz said:

This one could be useful for me - I'm struggling to find the Zoom +rhythm guitar patch on my B3 (or in fact any reference to it anywhere), is it only on the B3n?

Advthanksance... 😁

I suspect it's just a B3n patch... 

Edited August 3, 2018 by Al Krow

[songofthewind]

Correct.

[mic mac moe]

This gave me some food for thought, as I have a guitar amp gathering more dust than a Dyson

 

[tonyquipment]

+1 to the pitchfork. Very interesting pedal. Tracks almost perfectly. You can get some odd sounds out of it. Bring on the organ grinder 

[dudewheresmybass]

i play in a three piece + singist.

I dont have an issue with 'drop out' during solo passages. My basic sound is beefy enough to fill the space nicely.

That being said, i do occasionally add dirt pedals or an octave down in one or two songs to create the illusion of getting close to the original tunes. 

[Ghost_Bass]

If you're happy with just adding a note one octave up then buy a octave down pedal, and then simply play that line on the upper octave and let the pedal put out the bass.  Cheapest alternative!

[Jack]

On 30/08/2018 at 16:27, Ghost_Bass said:

If you're happy with just adding a note one octave up then buy a octave down pedal, and then simply play that line on the upper octave and let the pedal put out the bass.  Cheapest alternative!

Certainly solves the tracking issue with pedals down low.

[Marc S]

On 02/08/2018 at 13:11, songofthewind said:

Blimey, that Fishman on YouTube thing is nuclear. I use the Digitech iStomp with Swing Shift loaded, and it sounds OK, but not like the Fishman.

Yes, they're pretty damn good. I use one occasionally, when a 4 piece I'm in, has to play as a 3 piece. It helps a lot
Although I haven't used the feature on my Zoom B3 for some time (which someone mentions above) - it's definitely a step up from that.
As has been said though, they're pricey, and you don't see many coming up second-hand....