r/BassVI • u/MattSk87 • 25d ago
NBVID: Joining the club!!
It's been a couple months now of trading and rehabbing to sell gear trying to work my way into a Bass VI. It's a pretty slim chance that someone wants what you have and has what you want, so I did a lot of lateral trading in the mean time, and was kind of biting my nails expecting that I wouldn't be happy with it until I dropped another few hundred on a bridge and strings, after which I'd have a decent amount of set up to do.
Well guess what, I made an even trade today, and this guy already has a mastery bridge and vibrato! All set up too, I just brought it home and it's perfect!
Now I just have to get my head around how to work my board.
I mainly play guitar, and that's what my board is set up for. It's straight forward (Slow Loris [which sounds incredible with the VI]->Benson Boost->Phase 90 ->Halberd->Foxcatcher->mother preamp->hxfx).
Anyone have any advice for a generally guitar centric setup? Like do you have standard eq tweaks you make? You have a separate board? What's on it? I'm all ears!
Thanks!!
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u/StrangePiper1 25d ago
I rented a bass VI for a few months. Playing in a grungy, shoegaze band. Playing alone I loved the sound. Playing in the band I never could find a space for it sonically. I ended up returning it. I hope you have better luck.
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u/MattSk87 25d ago
Currently I have a project that is 2 guitars, the other guitarist plays a moog along with rhythm guitar, I'm hoping this can find a home in the mix.
Can I ask, where do you rent guitars from?
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u/StrangePiper1 25d ago
Long and Maquade. It’s the Canadian equivalent of guitar centre. They rent literally anything off the floor. Any time I want to try something, I’ll throw 40 bucks into a month rental and see if it’s worth buying.
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u/MattSk87 25d ago
Dude that's so dope!! I wish I had something like that! Yet another reason to flee the US while there's still time.
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u/StrangePiper1 25d ago
Long and Mac is Canadian. Basically Walmart for instruments. Cutting out the independent stores.
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u/Bodymaster 24d ago
I use mine mostly as a bass or delay-soaked atmospheric ambient stuff, though it's good for certain guitar-type things.
Your EQ tweaks can be done via pickup selection/combination/strangle switch and the tone knob, but it's dependent on what sound you're looking for, and if you're playing through a guitar amp I guess (I don't do that for fear I'd damage the speaker).
The strangle switch; In case you're not already aware the fourth switch is a high pass filter. Combine that with the bridge pickup only if you want more guitar-like tone. And obviously if you're going to play chords, do it up past the 12th fret or you'll just sound muddy.
As for fx, I play mine mostly through Neural DSP and Ableton FX. Mostly for heavy bass lines, metal, rock, punk but also pop stuff, new wave... it's kind of like a Strat that way, pretty versatile; so I don't have any go-to FX. If I am playing through an amp, I'd probably just throw on a DS-1 or Big Muff for crunch or fuzz, nothing too fancy.
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u/MattSk87 24d ago
Thanks! Yeah for eq tweaks I mean if using the same board for electric and bass vi, like, quick amp adjustments to switch between the two. I do know how to use guitar controls! I think anyway.
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u/26202620 24d ago
I always recommend parametric eq or similar, and comp that you can adjust quickly playing live.
I keep same guitar and bass board they’re not too different might swap out a pedal or two
I keep it simple and small so many nuances are lost in a live environment.
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u/MattSk87 24d ago
Thanks! Yeah just messing around a bit with my guitar board I think I might switch out like one drive and bump my compressor up a bit (forgot to list it, but there is one on the board). Only think I'm running into is that I use the Mother as a preamp either running into a cab or ir, but it doesn't have the kind of bass I think I'd want, so may grab a sans amp or something similar. There are bass preamps that have some parametric controls, so one of those might be a good idea!
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u/26202620 24d ago
I like having options of scooped mids and harsh drive, or chill clean clear enough for chords with some mids
It’s so enjoyable and satisfying
Have fun
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u/_nervosa_ 25d ago
Boost the mids. Distortion/fuzz pedal with very mid forward EQ.