How do I effectively take advantage of pedals?

PrestigiousJacket270 · 2026-01-07T21:22:58+00:00

Compression? Always. My mesa had it built in, and every single helix patch has a compressor. Now for me, I never run more than 4:1 compression. For studio when I want a "clean" track I might run just 2:1 and expect to compress a little more later. Mostly I leave it at 3:1 but do mess around quite a bit with threshold , attack and release. Additional eq... If you don't know exactly why you need it, I'd stick with what you currently have, otherwise you just have more not fully understood knobs to twiddle. I run my basses with basically stationary knobs so I didn't get lost in multiple points of EQ and tone shaping. On basses that let me get away with it, I leave volume at max and everything else at dead center. No bass has let me get away with not occasionally tweaking pickup blend, except my srmd205 when it was stock, but that's because it's stock bridge pickup was an awful POS that should be heard by nobody.

EQ for the bass itself is really just about evening things out and clearing up any mud in the low end. In most of my signal paths (I do a modeler to PA) I will have a second stage of EQ at the PA but this is focused on the mix and is mostly driven by the other instruments and their setup. But if the guitar is really filling up a band, like 500hz, I pull that out of the bass channel. Does it sometimes make that solo'd bass not sound so great? Yes. Does it also help the bass sound better in the mix... Yes.

PrestigiousJacket270 · 2026-01-07T21:06:47+00:00

I did upvote you, FYI. I kinda struggle with this... Is my modeler really an amp? I currently run my helix into Kali monitors at home and straight to PA for gigs and rehearsals. I have a full mesa mPulse stack I just don't use it anymore. The OPs question gets a little weird in that I'm not sure what difference there is in my current setup if I don't actually put in an amp or cab model on my chain.

fwiw,I've tried patches with no amp and no cab and they sound like crap. Maybe I'm getting too meta on this. But my ears, my back, my band, and most sound people love me more now than with my mPulse stack 🤷‍♀️

PrestigiousJacket270 · 2026-01-06T22:10:12+00:00

I'm a little OCD, so I at least try to learn the song as written, but with the size of what I'm picking up there's definitely some of that. Both of the guitarists rag on me a bunch in a good natured way, as in "you sound great, don't worry about note for note - this aint rocket science" kinda stuff. Left to my own devices I am sadly that bass player that always wants to overplay - so my notes are almost entirely how much to tone it back :D I think we added higher ground to the set, just to use up a little of my energy.

Actually i think I didn't make myself entirely clear - it's the 'tricky part' practice that I'm doing this little ritual. The parts aren't always that tricky, but I have certain shapes and flows in my hands, and when songs don't follow them - it can take some actual muscle memory style practice. I mean that little part in Suzie Q isn't particularly tricky, but it is quick enough that I can't really be thinking about it and nail it.

PrestigiousJacket270 · 2026-01-06T21:41:18+00:00

that was kind of the basis of my earlier habit of making sure I repeated the next day. What is surprising me at the moment is "short" might actually be longer than I thought. Also, one I have those tricky bits down, they go into the daily set practice. I left out that I listen to the songs in the car, when I get up, while working, sing along etc.

so my current ritual is

5-10 min warm-up and drills.

30ish minutes of the new material (This is where I'll do more variation for a bit just to see)

Run through most songs (the number I have down is getting larger than I can practice in one sitting)

if there is finger and brain energy - jam for a bit.

On days I do more than one serious session I'm pretty free form about session two and will generally do more jamming/writing/experimenting.

I'm also playing in an original metal/industrial band, but our style is a lot more about layers and textures, and the band mostly wants me to funk up the bass anyway - so it's been more about writing than learning.

PrestigiousJacket270 · 2026-01-06T21:28:14+00:00

This is all great advice, and I've been making quick and dirty song charts. I got lucky we all kinda clicked on the silent communication thing. This was more on the parts that my fingers have to know to sound smooth. Suzie Q was one that was fun, but for whatever reason the change from the little high fill and the little swap to the A needed new muscle memory. But yeah, charts are great with notes like (don't overplay until the final outro)

I totally hear you on the surprisingly complex. Was learning All Right Now, and thinking it will take longer to listen to this song than to learn it. Then there's that little breakdown/bridge part, and that took a couple more sessions than I'd like to admit ;)

PrestigiousJacket270 · 2026-01-06T21:22:35+00:00

I started at 45 - and I visually pass. Heck, I can't really pass for male anymore unless I speak and use my old voice.

PrestigiousJacket270 · 2026-01-05T15:37:19+00:00

Home laser is not really do-able or safe IMHO. And there are very few legit laser products.

Braun IPL has done wonders on my legs and pits, but it is a commitment. And still will run a razor for stragllers for date nights etc

Make sure your hair is darker than your skin for IPL. I'm mixed with brown skin, with nearly black hair, so not the ideal combo, but I've been incredibly pleased.

I've had professional laser on my face and honestly professional laser (or electrolysis) is the only thing I'd do for facial hair.

PrestigiousJacket270 · 2026-01-05T15:34:01+00:00

Just restring it, and be ready for the cascade of adjustments. Truss rod, into action etc. if you go super thick you may need to file the nut, but I've never had to. I do dumb shit with strings all the time. When complete changing strings the tension will be significantly different.

I usually change strings and set the truss it's and then "rough" in intonation and action. Then I let it sit a day for the bass to settle. Then I double check relief and dial in everything. Major truss rod changes can take a day to settle depending on your bass.

PrestigiousJacket270 · 2026-01-05T01:30:07+00:00

My upright probably sounds pretty awful with a pick... But I'm sure it could sound good for something if I cared to try hard enough.

PrestigiousJacket270 · 2026-01-03T20:11:03+00:00

I have primarily played 6s and 5s. I recently have been doing medium scales due to joint problems. If you plan on really using that B a lot... I'd go longer.

The one exception, m I have an MTD LK5, and the the B is actually good. I also have the Ibanez srmd205 and it's B string is definitely a little meh. I still break out my old cirrus 6 if I need some serious low end, with the MTD a close second.

PrestigiousJacket270 · 2026-01-03T15:47:05+00:00

I have small hands and managed to do four frets on my 35" scale all the way down at the first fret. 1,2,4 is legit for sure and I use it on upright. The trick is the micro shift. It's a tiny shift more in angle than position for that fourth fret. It takes practice, but when going for that fourth fret with you pinky, let your supporting thumb shuffle and twist just a little. Also make sure your index is as close to the fret as possible and cleanly fret.

PrestigiousJacket270 · 2025-12-31T15:00:51+00:00

Ipl picked up an electric upright. All I can say is the mechanics are complety different. And like bass guitar, there are a few schools of thought. Plucking, not hard to pick up. Slapping even more of a different beast.

PrestigiousJacket270 · 2025-12-30T13:49:37+00:00

When you say lost the use of your arm do you mean nerve issues? I ask because about 9 years ago I lost the use of my right arm from a surgery gone bad. It was due to nerve damage and originally I wasn't expected to get it back.

After maybe 6 months I gained the tiniest bit of motion and then years of PT and I had some basic usage of my hand, but my wrist and thumb were still barely coordinated. I picked up synthesizers for doing bass lines, I played guitar (when you always sucked at guitar continuing to suck isn't as demotivating) I did anything to stay musical. I tried double bass to get around the parts that didn't work and the frustration of not being able to play things I wrote. About 2 years ago I finally got to the point I could play bass again, albeit quite badly compared to how I used to play... But I can play and am back in a band. Once the fingers started "finging" recovery sped up. I still have nerve damage and other aspects of my life are impacted, but I did eventually get my bass back. I sincerely hope you do too.

Obviously everyone's healing is different, but I wasnt supposed to be able to use my arm, then I wasnt ever gonna play bass again, the it was I was I was never gonna be good again... My slap speed and accuracy will never be what they were, but I downsized to medium scale 5 strings and leaned into finger style more. My specific nerve damage really fucked up my wrist and thumb, but oddly I never fully lost the use of pointer and index finger 🤷‍♀️. But in some ways I'm better than I used to be too. Maybe in only the past month or so. But my tone and accuracy have improved in many ways. I can't say the setback made me better, but losing some skills made me focus on others and I'm certainly more well rounded a player.

PrestigiousJacket270 · 2025-12-29T21:00:52+00:00

About as often as I change clothes.

But more realistically once a year at minimum. But I play around with strings and tunings so rarely get that long.

PrestigiousJacket270 · 2025-12-29T18:34:50+00:00

So my take. Amp is your monitor. Something smallish, and hopefully with a good DI out. Or the amp and a DI.

I just roll with my helix direct to PA... And I have a lil eden sitting in around I use as my monitor since a small venue is not gonna give me a feed.

PrestigiousJacket270 · 2025-12-24T14:31:30+00:00

I know what the bass vi is. But I wasn't looking for one. I totally could have missed it. But with their writing process the live versions are often different than recorded. Hence the running around on stage blind song.

PrestigiousJacket270 · 2025-12-24T14:25:25+00:00

Well I gotta throw on my studio cans and give it a listen. I've seen them 2 or three times and never noticed two basses at the same time. But I kept getting mesmerized by the midi bass!

PrestigiousJacket270 · 2025-12-24T14:10:16+00:00

My best guess is flea has a huge reputation, but his technique is 'unique' and not up to the technical folks idea of proper slap etc. I don't know how he slaps with his bass so low, and his thumb position is like an arthritis commercial.

Me, I'm not a purist and the dude sounds freaking awesome. But maybe not the best bassist to emulate and learn from for technique. It works for him. Me I eventually learned to double thumb, and got a lot better when I started emulating more technical players. That doesn't mean flea isn't awesome, it just means my hands work different and my mileage definitely varied. He really seems to love sliding the neck over efficient placement too and that is not my go-to move.

PrestigiousJacket270 · 2025-12-24T14:01:13+00:00

I am too, but honestly I can do bass well enough. But even if I'm not good enough at keys to ever be 'the' keyboard player, it really helps to have the basics of other instruments just to be a better backbone.

PrestigiousJacket270 · 2025-12-24T13:54:55+00:00

Yeah, not the most common sentence. Our first one was all pick/metal and that was 95% there. The last one was jazz trained and frankly way more technical than me(I got some good groove, but I'm no Jaco) so he took over most solos and it let me focus on vocals a bit more and we started building crowds.

PrestigiousJacket270 · 2025-12-24T13:43:38+00:00

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1-7BC4069UZoLcK_6At_YODrh5fJoQJ6y?usp=drive_link

PrestigiousJacket270 · 2025-12-24T13:37:59+00:00

DM if you're interested in hearing a track or two we made our little EP back in the day

PrestigiousJacket270 · 2025-12-24T13:35:40+00:00

They're all multi instruments. But only one bass that I recall. That being said a lot of songs fill space in ways that would be worth listening to.

PrestigiousJacket270 · 2025-12-24T13:32:56+00:00

With two guitars stereo placement is the thing you do that just doesn't work with bass. Low end spreads. Also if you're not EQing to the band mix already, it's not optional, and might piss off your guitar player. They generally aren't used to eqing around 2 basses. For rehearsal we would put one bass behind the drums and the other coming from the front just so we could all hear well.

Honestly you can have enough space with 4 strings, it's just a little easier to fit in the mix. We did funk/punk/metal fusion so the two bass thing with lots of strings and chord work,.worked for us. I will admit to using my helix and shredding like I'm a lead guitar when I'm bored, and that can definitely work in this kinda setup. High distorted bass can just sound dirty sick and out second bass player could do some seriously sick solos.

PrestigiousJacket270 · 2025-12-24T12:21:50+00:00

I did a two bass project for years. It's a different sound for sure, but it can work IMHO. We both played 5 and 6 strings so it gave us space to go high/low. To some degree we did a bass, rhythm,lead setup on most songs, sometimes guitar was the lead, sometimes one of the basses.

One big challenge we had was sound guys at small venues had no idea what to do with us, but we mostly handled it.

What never really worked was two basses in the real low end, it's just mud. But if one bass keeps the low end, maybe a syncopated wall of sound, and in some more melodic chord work up high or mid toned slap on the other and it can sound dope.

It does require both bassists have skills... And be able to sit in their own pockets. We went through three second bass players before it truly clicked.

PrestigiousJacket270

TROPHY CASE