has anyone tried using a signal splitter + octave pedal to emulate a bass?

[gwEm]

i had this idea the other day, and in fact looking at the manual for the Boss Super Octave pedal it seems this is something some people do.

anyone one tried it though, does it work effectively?

basically you split the signal, one branch goes through your usual guitar chain, and the other branch goes through an octave pedal (set to wet signal only) into bass big, or direct to the PA I guess.

the Boss Super Octave has separate wet/dry output to avoid using the splitter.

I guess it all depends on the sensitivity and tracking of the octave pedal. Apparently, you can set the Boss to track the lowest notes only, meaning you can play chords. Perhaps there are better octave pedals available though for this?

[bucketshred]

My house mate has an Ashdown bass combo which has a sub octave (1 down) knob on it. It isn't particularly loud and doesn't dominate but using a fuzz pedal and splitting the signal into that and my JCM800 makes it sound the TITS!!

Dont EHX tout their Micro POG as a good bass emulator?

Paddy

[gwEm]

interesting stuff there..

i'll check out the Micro POG.

i used an octave pedal just once before. playing chords into it seemed to confuse it. what would be good is if you play a chord into it, the pedal just picks the lowest note to do the octave effect.

[gwEm]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ikk0JFLv6WU

looks like just what i was thinking of..

[gwEm]

(they don't actually play any chords though)

[bucketshred]

Boss OC-3 does that I think. http://www.bossus.com/gear/productdetails.php?ProductId=608

I need to get me a proper octave pedal...

[gwEm]

yes, the Boss looks interesting too.

really, I should try both in a store or something.

[gwEm]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhC0uOkR4Fc

at 3m51s they play some chords. it sounds like its working well, but hard to say for sure

[Plenum n Heather]

I am assuming this is for live work. Why not kick it old school and play bass synth w your feet? :)

I use a Roland FC200 going MIDI out to a Dave Smith MOPHO. Killer low bass that gets the job done without interfering w the guitar work. Roland has a rather expensive bass pedal like the old Taurus bass pedals. You will still need an external sound module, though.

Alternatively, add a Roland GK pickup to your guitar or a MIDI pickup and use an external sound module set for a bass sound going into its own amp.

Penultimately, you can hunt down a real Taurus ...

And ultimately ... Find a bass player :)

[bucketshred]

I am assuming this is for live work. Why not kick it old school and play bass synth w your feet? :)

I use a Roland FC200 going MIDI out to a Dave Smith MOPHO. Killer low bass that gets the job done without interfering w the guitar work. Roland has a rather expensive bass pedal like the old Taurus bass pedals. You will still need an external sound module, though.

Alternatively, add a Roland GK pickup to your guitar or a MIDI pickup and use an external sound module set for a bass sound going into its own amp.

Penultimately, you can hunt down a real Taurus ...

And ultimately ... Find a bass player :)

They all sound like the boring ways! Synths?! MIDI?! Rocking two amps and an octave pedal is the way forward! YOWZA!!

Paddy

[gwEm]

I am assuming this is for live work. Why not kick it old school and play bass synth w your feet? :)

I use a Roland FC200 going MIDI out to a Dave Smith MOPHO. Killer low bass that gets the job done without interfering w the guitar work. Roland has a rather expensive bass pedal like the old Taurus bass pedals. You will still need an external sound module, though.

Alternatively, add a Roland GK pickup to your guitar or a MIDI pickup and use an external sound module set for a bass sound going into its own amp.

Penultimately, you can hunt down a real Taurus ...

And ultimately ... Find a bass player :)

Hey Ben,

Yeah, you are quite right, its for live work. I /was/ also thinking about using some MIDI bass pedals like Rush.

You probably know Moog do something called a Minitaur which is a desktop sound module with the Taurus synth inside. It's relatively affordable and could be used with some MIDI bass pedals. Also, not spending any money at all, I have already a few synths that could be used, or perhaps a little sampler.

I saw the expensive Roland full-business bass pedals. As you say, they are.. expensive, and actually quite bulky.

Had no idea though that the FC200 allows you to transmit note data. This is a great bit of information. Ought to be cheaper and more transportable.

I must say this forum remains a great source of knowledge, already two excellent tips.

[gwEm]

They all sound like the boring ways! Synths?! MIDI?! Rocking two amps and an octave pedal is the way forward! YOWZA!!

Paddy

 :lol:

Or maybe doing both the MIDI synth and the octave pedal..

I like the octave pedal idea because I am concerned about my level of skill to operate the MIDI and guitar at once. If the octaver works well, I don't need to think about it :)

[Brow]

The 1 octave down setting on the Morpheus Drop Tune is the best sounding '1 octave down type' pedal I've used myself.

[gwEm]

The 1 octave down setting on the Morpheus Drop Tune is the best sounding '1 octave down type' pedal I've used myself.

How does it work if you play chords into it? Do you get all the notes octaved, or root note only?

[blue]

I've used the POG, and a Digitech Whammy DT.  They both drop everything you play, full chords.  They do it very well indeed, but not just the root note, as you want.  For that, I think Ben's suggestion of a guitar synth is the only real option.  You can set it to put a bass instrument only on selected strings.  You can also have the other strings be flutes, or banjos or alien choirs if you want :)