Effects and my SR5

[bigvissch]

Hey all, I have been playing bass for a lot of years and my SR5 for the last 12. My regular setup includes plugging through a Zoom BFX708 and DI into the desks (FOH and F/B). The venue also supplies an Ashdown 2*10 300 combo which is used as dedicated bass foldback (nice amp).

The music style varies greatly from Rock to R&B to ballads. So I do change my pickup positions a fair bit. For the most part I use a custom patch on the BFX which I constructed with a very small amount of delay and overdrive and is compressed. I have set the compression to be controlled by the expr. pedal which is handy when soloing or changing quickly from one style to the other. Apart from three or four other occasional patches (including the Jaco patch which gets used often) I don't do much else with the BFX.

I have been a long time fan of Nathan East and love the studio sound he gets with Fourplay in particular and I assume he would have a decent rack to shape his sound (he would need it seeing as he uses non MM basses). But I suspect the main component is a decent compressor. I love the SR5 sound and punch but I need to be able to get the best out of it in a quieter setting. The BFX just doesn't quite cut it as you would expect for a cheaper multi-purpose pedal. Would others agree or is their some other secret ingredient?

How many use a compressor in a live setting? If so what do you use?

 

[high mileage]

I use an Aphex Punch Factory compressor which sounds better than you'd think given the price tag. I've heard that it doesn't stand up to much abuse but mine is mounted on a board and kicked on with a looper so I don't even touch it to use it. Mine only comes on with the Octaver (PF > Oct) which helps a little with tracking.

Nathan East has been one of my favorites for years, and I would guess it's just carefully applied eq & comp that you're hearing. He did have a signature parametric EQ pedal offered by "that other brand" of basses that he's endorsing. They may still make it, but they're really cheap on that big auction site. Haven't owned one but I think it's always on, no foot switch.

 

[bigvissch]

Fantastic advice. Thanks. I have seen Aphex rack gear in studios and FOH but I hadn't seen their pedals before. They look great from the specs. The Aural exciter looks good to. I checked out their Australian distrbutor and he is literally 15 minutes from my place and just around the corner from my favorite music shop. I haven't seen their gear in the shop but I can't say I have been specifically looking that hard. I'll check them out.

 

[bigvissch]

Does anyone else use a decent compressor pedal or even a so called "aural enhancer / extender / magic in a box??" on stage that they think is the bees knees?

 

[Aussie Mark]

I also have an Aphex Punch Factory comp on my board. You'll save a ton if you buy a new one from the US off eBay rather than paying Aussie prices. You can BIN them on eBay and even with shipping you're getting them for less than half what you'd pay locally.

 

[Hellboy]

Does anyone else use a decent compressor pedal or even a so called "aural enhancer / extender / magic in a box??" on stage that they think is the bees knees?

I personally am not as picky live as in the studio and when I say picky I mean PICKY!!!! I use a EBS Multicomp live and that one works perfectly and is very reliable and I´m very happy with it in all ways. But I most often use a Retrospec Squeeze Box in the studio and that thing works magic. More or less a LA 3 in a pedal. Wonderful. They are not made any more unfortunately and I think that Retrospec is no longer around. Too bad. Wonderful stuff.

But I use a pedalboard full of EBS pedals live and it´s a great setup that has never failed me. Love it. All fx´s I need and very sturdy indeed.

//Jan

 

[bigvissch]

Thanks guys. It looks like the Aphex gear is worth pursuing but I'll also have a look at EBS. Not having been looking for some time I guess I am a whole generation out of touch. I guess I have a bit of catching up to do. I appreciate your input.

 

[strummer]

I use an EBS stomp box, it's the best I know of. Except rack, then dbx160 rules

 

[high mileage]

or even a so called "aural enhancer / extender / magic in a box??"

I don't know about the Aphex unit, but BBE sonic maximizers are like a pre-set EQ. They add lows and scoop the mids which in a live setting would drive a bass amp really hard with the added lows but at the same time make it so you couldn't hear yourself... BBE's sound great on a DJ rig, but not at all what I'd want on a bass rig.

Never played around with EBS pedals but I don't think I've ever heard anything bad about them. They sound great from the clips at their website.

 

[bigvissch]

Thanks. But sounds like the BBE gear is not really what I'm looking for. It's tough enough hearing yourself when your FOH engineer keeps telling you "turn it down, you're too loud". Perhaps standing next to the drumer for 30 years has affected my hearing a little.

I'm happy enough to run the amp (or fold back) EQ flat and just enhance or emphasise tonal variation through the bass EQ. But the tricky part is the dynamics. Particularly when jumping from a pumping R&B song to something mellow and the "Jaco" patch comes out (or vice-versa). In each case I think a decent compressor would allow me to worry less about jumping on the volume just so I can hear myself and yet still give a nice tight clean sound. (it'd probably keep the FOH dudes happy as well)

The compressor in the Zoom does this to a degree but I don't like the "pumping effect" that sucks all the life out of the dynamics when the compression is a bit high. By pegging the compression back a tad tends to lose it's effectiveness. There doesn't appear to be a clean, tight happy medium.

 

[Hellboy]

The compressor in the Zoom does this to a degree but I don't like the "pumping effect" that sucks all the life out of the dynamics when the compression is a bit high. By pegging the compression back a tad tends to lose it's effectiveness. There doesn't appear to be a clean, tight happy medium.

People most often use too much compression. Not a good idea to twiggle around too much cause you´ll lose tone if you compress more than around 3 or 4 dB´s. Here are some websites to check out for more info:

Link 1

Link 2

Link 3

As with everything else, it´s always a good idea to really learn how to use a compressor and learn how they work. As with most things, less is more. And regarding the Zoom. There is no digital compressor on the planet that beats a analog compressor. Same thing with EQ´s. Digital reverb and delay units are fine indeed but you want to go analog when it comes to compressors, EQ´s and that kind of fx´s. Digital is no option. At least not in my world.

//Jan

 

[bigvissch]

Thank Jan. That makes good sense. I understand the principle behind how the compressor works but hadn't worked out about the differences between analogue and digital. To be honest I didn't even think about the Zoom as digital. Cool advice, thanks.

 

[bigvissch]

Great links BTW.