Effects or no Effects?

[David Powell]

Originally Posted by Desmund Nichols

When playing your Smith, do you prefer effects or not. I actually bought a nice MIDI effect system, in which i would have to install another pickup on my bass, but I dont want to alter my bass in anyway. And besides, the sound of the bass is too good all in itself.

Pretty much sums up my approach. Best effect is a great bass, clean amp, and good right hand technique. If you get bored with your sound, try a new right hand method, like tapping on the FB, or anything that you haven't done yet. You'll be amazed at how many people hear you and think you are running a pedal. I do a mean phase shifter just by varying where I pluck up and down the string. Do it in a constant motion pattern over an ostenato and it sounds just like a phase shifter. And I can get a good "delay" with my fingers and muting between the hits also, just back off on the attack sequentially and shorten the interval. It's great to practice this stuff and a Smith bass responds really well to nuanced right hand work.