I am by no means suggesting that bass players shouldn't use pedals. In fact, I think they are important for enhancing and improving the sound. However, I think that they should be used subtely (I think the same thing about guitar effects).
I play lead in a four piece blues-rock band. Recently the bass player has been getting more interested and experimental with pedals. While this is fair enough (we all love pedals
![:) :)](/plugins/EmojiExtender/emoji/fb/1.gif)
)sometimes he is playing with multiple effects at full blast, turning the bass noise into a mushy, shrill, tinny distorted wah flanger mess. In my opinion, this sometimes affects the solidity of the songs. Also, occassionally it limits what myself and the others can do because we're trying to hold the song together.
I have absolutely nothing against his use of pedals, but I'm not sure how to move forward. We've all been playing in bands for years, and I respect him and his musical choices.
Has anyone got any advice on how to handle the situation?
What do you think of bassists using loads of effects?
Comments
Should be more of it.
I’m so bored I might as well be listening to Pink Floyd
If it's not working in your situation though, you're gonna have to talk about it. Can't think what else you could do. Go out for a drink with him or something and just come out with it. You have to sort it even if it's a compromise where he's a little gentler with the effects.
Good luck man
Looks reasonable to me. The Macbooks are out of shot.
I’m so bored I might as well be listening to Pink Floyd
Maybe he is an alien?
That looks pretty cool.
Keep it light and fun, and include your bandmates.
BUT - would I use a shit ton of distortion and flanger in a blues tune?
Actually - probably yes. But SHOULD I use them in a blues tune? NO!
Slap that fool before he makes the rest of us look bad. There is a time and a place.
I’m so bored I might as well be listening to Pink Floyd
As we all know, bass players are ten a penny.
Currently I'm using only one - it's an extremely unsubtle fuzz. You cannot be in any doubt as to when it's on!
In the past I've used wah, overdrive, bass boost, limiter/enhancer, chorus, flanger, tremolo, octaver and synth as well... but rarely more than one of those at once, and as far as I can remember never more than two at once with the exception of the limiter/enhancer, which was an always-on pedal.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
Is it me?
I’m so bored I might as well be listening to Pink Floyd
Let that hat be a lesson to ya, bassists!
I think...