Guitar FX / Bass FX

I was in the ol' guitar closet the other day and I found a "Gamma - Hades" guitar distortion pedal, I think you can get them at Target stores for $50 or less. I had forgotten this pedal from many years ago and I used it yesterday recording the track "Straight On Rocker". It sounds pretty cool, just needs a better quality guitar and guitarist using it. I'm more of a fan of analog pedals that digital effects. I like to run into the recording gear with the sound complete, rather than adjust it post recording.

So I got on this thought. What effects do you lean toward to make the sounds you record?

When I record bass, at least on Wikiloops, I started years back by buying an Ampero Multi-Effects processor to make different sounds. It was okay. Since, I've leaned into other options.

The hollowed punch metal tone I use for metal tracks a lot is a Tech21 dUg Pinnick analog pedal. It works well for both the chunky metal stuff, and the thick round bass tone I use in Jazz with FrankieJ and the clean toned jazzy guys. (awesome).

A few months back, I purchased a Tech21 Sans-Amp bass driver, I use it to get the clean tone bass but to increase the midrange tones I often lose with the recording device.

I have, but rarely use, a MicroPOG pedal, that I used in the past to grab lows on a different project that no longer exists, it was for more of those Korn style songs that go to low C and B. I also used it on a lot of rap recordings - yes, I do those too, lol.

Which brings me to the bass. Like everyone else, I have a few. Mostly custom jobs made by Warrior Instruments, they endorsed me years ago - incredible but ridiculously expensive basses and guitars, but quality is the tops!

All 4 strings. I typically play with my bass at D-A-D-G, but some bands use E-A-D-G and I have most of my basses include a drop-tuner to go from the low E to the low D in a flick of the switch. I do this live on stage too, changing tuning mid-song on a few tracks, or between songs depending on what we play. Many tracks sound better to me with the low D in place to support the guitar.

For recording, I have one strung B-E-A-D, one strung E-A-D-G but it's dropped a full step. One stays in standard tuning, but is often dropped a half step across the neck, no drop tuner on that one, but a lot of rock acts here play and record a half step down because we're all old and can't do the Sebastian Bach thing anymore, so the band tunes down a half-step.

Then, the key tool for 95% of my recordings, the ErnieBall/Music Man Sterling. It has an HS pick-up set-up, they only made a couple hundred like that with the HS, and that particular bass records extremely well. Also has a drop-tuner on it. It used to be my all around live bass, (in the picture on my avatar, etc) but in the past decade I've been doing a lot of home recordings, so all these ended up set-up differently depending on the engineer's needs.

Also, I have a new album in the works, rock and metal kind of thing, and I hope to share it with friends here soon. The engineer (also guitarist - Andy Haller) says maybe by October, but I'm dragging my tukkus on one of the tracks and the drummer is touring, so it might be longer. For what it's worth, it's recorded with the Sterling and the Sans-Amp Bass Driver pedal. Pro level engineering, minimal equipment.

So in the end, what this post was asking, now that I've bared it all, is "What are you running through when you record?"

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Picks
https://www.amazon.com/Ernie-Ball-9179-Guitar-Picks/dp/B07989SWHJ/

Strings
https://www.amazon.com/Ernie-Ball-Hybrid-Slinky-Nickel/dp/B001NIC5DI/

Basic instrument cable, nothing fancy

Audio Interface
https://www.amazon.com/Focusrite-Scarlett-Audio-Interface-Tools/dp/B07QR6Z1JB/

Recorded into Reaper with primary guitar FX from Gojira X and Guitar Rig 6

I rotate between a Harley Benton and MIM Fender Strat HSS (60th Anniversary). All typically Drop D tuning. I have another Harley Benton tuned to open A tuning, with the top E string dropped to D
https://www.fender.com/articles/setup/open-a-tuning

I used to have a drop C tuned guitar but have since changed that tuning out.

I believe that's about it :W

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I loved hearing that HB when you got it, they are really amazing, and priced right! I use the same Interface, I think mine has two inputs, I use one. I got the bigger one on sale it was less than the price of the single input at Sweetwater, they have good deals sometimes. I actually got a pair of Boss wireless plugs for $75 on a holiday special, regularly $350. Go Sweetwater!!

I'm also big on ErnieBall strings - the Pink Slinkys sound great for 3 weeks!

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