Describe your dream effects rig. Distortions, wah, chorus, etc...

Complete set of EBS Black Label pedals (including the soon-to-be-released Phaser), Moog Low Pass Filter and various Moog pedals, set of Moog Taurus Pedals (do those count? they're pedals, too haha), EHX Bass P.O.G. and Bass Synth, Dunlop 135Q Bass Wah, EHX Q-Tron, SWR Interstellar Overdrive, Korg Kaossilator, Framptone Talkbox, Line 6 Delay Pro.

That's what I can think of off the top of my head. I'm kind of into effects. A little.

Dream? The Old Mutron III and Mutron Phaser -- both AC operated and built like tanks, both discontinued. Probably the EH Bass Microsyntheizer for its fuzz and the ability to simulate bowing effects by setting a volume fade it. Analog man dual compressor (used by Tony Levin). Definitely the Taurus III pedals. Line 6 Delay. Unfortunately, the music I play now doesn't call for many bass effects. Way back when my band covered Yes, I was effects king.

I wish I knew more about Bass effects. I never think about the bass using effects. I know many do and that many pedals exist but I just don't pay enough attention to it. Who would I listen to if I wanted to hear some well-used Bass effects?

Chris Squire of Yes was always one to use effects well. I haven't listened to much of their current music but the things from the '70s and '80s were loaded with harmonizer, fuzz, tremolo, reverb and wah wah. Tony Levin uses effects sparingly, but they are a big part of his sound. He use heavy compression all the time, uses echo and chorus on fretless and has used an octave box with Peter Gabriel. Tony's solos CDs are best for effects.

Check out some Bootsy Collins with Parliment Funkadelic or George Clinton for some serious Envelope Filter and Bass Wah action. It's also pretty dang funky.

Thanks guys. Lakelander, is this the same Yes that does, "I Seen All Good People?"

That's them! On that same album (The Yes Album), check out
Starship Trooper." On the Fragile album, Chris uses tremolo & reverb on "Heart of the Sunrise."

This may be a little off topic, but have you ever heard a band do a decent Yes cover when trying to sound like the original? I feel like the 5-part harmonies and intricate parts make them, along with the Eagles and a few other bands, not the best idea to cover.

Completely with you on that Shackman. I feel the same way about trying to cover Crosby Stills Nash and Young. Some bands here in Nashville try but it seems they don't think the vocals are that important... Guitar guitar guitar is all they think needs to sound good. I think that vocals are what sets a band apart these days. There are a million guitarist that can regurgitate verbatim leads. Gotta be careful when covering vocally strong bands.

When we covered Yes, We had the benefit of four singers, a guitarist who was -- and is -- just as accomplished as Steve Howe (Steve Dudas, who I've talked about on MGR before), a keyboard player who was crazy enough to buy a modular Moog like Keith Emerson's AND a mellotron; a drummer who was able to replicate Bill Bruford; and me, who had a Rickenbacker 4001 bass and could play just about anything Chris Squire laid down. Not trying to sound egotistical, but we did cover Yes very well. I've heard only one local band (Pittsburgh) in 40+ years of playing that had the vocal chops to cover CSN&Y, Three Dog Night and the Eagles. I heard a band in Virginia Beach that played the entire Sgt. Pepper album and had it to a T. My dream would be to have Beatles cover band. The Eggmen, in Austin,Texas, are one of the best.

Alright Shackman, tell me about the EBS black label pedals. I am somewhat unfamiliar with them. I looked them up on the internet but I hadn't heard of them until your post.

There's a preview of two new EBS Black Labels here: http://www.musicgearreview.com/article-display/2958.html.
I have the EBS MultiComp compressor and am pleased with what it does. Well made, too.

How about wah? Do bass players ever play through a wah?

They have bass wah's now that are tailored to bass frequency. The main problem using a guitar wah on bass is that it loses way too much bottom. Back when I played full time, I used to use a Morley Power Wah because you could ramp up the volume to make up for the loss of low end. Chris Squire from Yes used wah on some songs. I'd rather have a really good envelope filter, though.

Yeah, I have a Dunlop 535Q Bass Wah, but the only time I use it for solos, or especially to get the crowed going with a bowed upright and a wah. Pretty cool noise, but more often than not they'll think anything that goes "WAH" is awesome, haha.

The Black Label pedals have always represented a standard in effect pedals to me as a bass player, Matt. At least in the general sense that they do basic things (overdrive, compressor, envelope filter, etc.), but they do them really really really really well. Sure you can get far more specialized with a Moog Mu-Tron or a modded MXR pedal, but I feel like I can do everything I need on a gig with a board of all 8 of those.

Edit: It is eight pedals now, right? Now that they've added the phaser?

Eight pedals! Yah! 10 more and you'll have an "18-wheeler." The most I ever had was four, but I counted the Morley as three since it had boost and fuzz. I used to just love to hit the fuzz & boost at the same time and scare the bejeebers out of people. My fuzz hero is Tim Bogert from Vanilla Fudge.

Nothing like dropping the low B down and cranking the volume just to make people wonder if there's an earthquake starting hahaha!

As a side note, I'm no longer allowed to own a bass in California. But...this is completely unrelated. I assure you.

Unfortunately, I don't own any of the Black Label pedals.



Yet.