| Author | Message | ||
| stout71
Advanced Member Username: stout71 Post Number: 246 Registered: 7-2011 |
I usually use a TRS cable into a splitter into my F-2B and then R/L out into two channels on the board for recording. However, I'm thinking about using a fuzz pedal for some stuff and I can't wrap my head around how I could make it work well. I haven't gone looking for stereo pedals (yet), but my first thought is that even if you could go TRS into a pedal, you'd lose your stereo signal on the output side. In addition, one pedal I tried wouldn't even accept the balanced signal. I got no signal at all on the output. I've thought of some seemingly over-complicated ways to get it done, but there has to be an easier way. Thoughts? Also, I'm aware that splitting the pickups as two signals doesn't really make it "stereo", but for the sake of this conversation, we can leave the semantics out of it. Thanks for any help with this! | ||
| hieronymous
Senior Member Username: hieronymous Post Number: 1448 Registered: 1-2005 |
stout71 - I have occasionally pondered this issue as well. I always use effects, even if just a compressor. One issue for you is fuzz. Generally, fuzz doesn't work well with active electronics, but it also works best at the front of the chain. One solution is the Z Vex Mastotron. Another is to use a distortion pedal instead - there are a bunch of bass distortions available now that don't cut the low end (a potential problem if using guitar effects). But then you have the issue of which pickups to put through which effects? A lot of it has to do with the type of effect. I could see putting something like phaser or echo on only the treble pickup. Distortion too - that's what Chris Squire of Yes would do. But now you don't really have to worry about losing low end with distortion - some pedals even have a blend control that allows you to blend in clean signal. As I have posted elsewhere here, I have recently been using just the neck pickup, and at this point I think I personally prefer just going mono. If you are going in stereo, how are you summing the signals clean? Couldn't you just put the distortion on one pickup, leaving the other clean? If you want it on both, then why go stereo? Those are the kinds of questions that went through my head. You could use an F-2B or a mixer to combine the signals. For fun, here is my board in its current state: on/off (yellow box) --> MXR EQ --> CAJ V-Comp tube compressor --> MXR bass octave --> EHX Small Stone phaser --> Fulltone Bassdrive distortion  I intend to keep working on this - the EQ is to adjust for when I play with a pick - I am currently trying to analyze the frequency differences between finger and pick playing (look for a post in the future). I also need a (clean) boost pedal at the end of the signal for solos, which will probably take the place of the Small Stone. If I don't need the EQ for pick --> fingers, then it might end up being the boost so that I don't need to buy another pedal. | ||
| stout71
Advanced Member Username: stout71 Post Number: 247 Registered: 7-2011 |
Yeah, I thought about using a pedal only for one pickup. That's what I was talking about when I said "overly-complicated." I guess that would work for the studio since I don't have to move stuff around quickly like I would at a gig. As for fuzz vs. distortion, I really prefer the EHX analog fuzz stuff. It just has a "softer" vibe to it. Hell, I like going from the output of channel A into the input of channel B and back out mono sometimes. But for the studio, I'd rather preserve the stereo image if I can. Thanks, man! | ||
| edwin
Senior Member Username: edwin Post Number: 1904 Registered: 5-2002 |
I can do this with a Lexicon MPX G2. Fully stereo signal path. The overdrives and fuzzes are actually pretty decent, in fact, better for bass than guitar in my view. Or you can double up your pedals with an overdrive for each pickup! Check out Bootsy Collins' rig. 5 pickups, each with its own series of effects. | ||
| pace
Senior Member Username: pace Post Number: 1099 Registered: 4-2004 |
This the main reason why I've contemplated selling the F2-b and picking up two F1-x's..... For fuzz, I'd like to try putting a low>high impedance transformer in front of the pedal out of the loop..... | ||
| stout71
Advanced Member Username: stout71 Post Number: 248 Registered: 7-2011 |
A pedal for each pickup sounds like a brilliant idea, except that it could be hard on the wallet. I'm still pondering all this. If I come up with something cool, I'll post back here. Thanks. |
