Anyone use a guitar with a sub-octave instead of a bass?

[TheOneFatGuy]

Hey everyone,

I've had a couple of gigs come up with a local band in need of a bass player. I don't have a bass and I'm currently not in a financial position to pick one up, but I do have a sub-octave effect on my amp (a Boss Katana). Has anyone ever used a guitar with a sub-octave to replace a bass? How did it go? Or should I just pass up the gigs?

 

[G60syncro]

I have a thread going on in the amp section because my friend blew his cone on his MusicMan... We played a couple gigs in duo format because our bass player was out of the country for work. He used an octaver and split his effects chain and guitar sound to his Fender DeVille and the bass channel went to the MusicMan. It actually sounded pretty good when the songs weren't too "chordy". He also found a way to route his signal so he could kill either amp or play clean guitar through either one or blend either one on distortion and the other on clean... So the setup stayed ever since! Obviously it was too much bass for the poor speaker...

I say try it, see how it sounds! We had to switch around a couple of arrangements and pare down some of fuller sounding ones so it would work and we pulled it off. Now at least there's no reason for us missing out on gigs!

Karl Schmitz

 

[brbadg]

Hey everyone,

I've had a couple of gigs come up with a local band in need of a bass player. I don't have a bass and I'm currently not in a financial position to pick one up, but I do have a sub-octave effect on my amp (a Boss Katana). Has anyone ever used a guitar with a sub-octave to replace a bass? How did it go? Or should I just pass up the gigs?

Just for looping.Pass up the gigs.Unless someone else has done it and it went great.

 

[G60syncro]

I meant to edit my 1st post...

 

[soulman969]

How well that octaver effect tracks would be my greatest concern. That and the fact that it will never have the thump and punch of a bass through a bass amp.

 

[RLee77]

Most octave effects tend to sound very synthy to me, but I haven't used one for years. I suppose a new high-end type might sound more real-bassy. But I'm sure in some situations it would work.

 

[rainbowbear998]

Depends if your main role is to play bass or guitar. If it's to play bass, I'm not sure it'd be the best thing.

However, I have a friend who used to play electric guitar in a small horn group, and when the bass part got too fast for the tuba, he'd play it through the octave effect on his micro-cube. So if it's just for a few songs where you need something remotely bass sounding, your octave effect should work fine.

 

[ZenGuitarist]

I think a better option would be to borrow or rent a bass for the gigs.

 

[LowCaster]

You have an octave effect, try it! But don't buy another one, pedal or whatever...

Effects seem to be a good idea to expand the tones of an instrument, but the real instrument is much better in any Way.

Any cheap used beginners bass should be better than an effect. You could get a used bass for 100$, short scale Squiers, Ibanez, Yamaha, are good enough, I bought myself a Peavey Foundation 5 made in USA for 120€. Even whith a slightly bowed neck, it is still easier than to get the propper tracking from the octaver, and learning bass is fun.

 

[El Marin]

I used a MicroPog sometimes and split the signal.

The problem is it tracks it so perfect that is too perfect... You get tired of it

 

[LowCaster]

That's the other possibility. My ELectroHarmonix octaver don't...

I think they can be useful to add something to your guitar, but trying to replace the bass is so wrong...

I'd better hear a band playing whithout a bassist, than trying to fake it.

 

[Nasty]

Haven't tried the Katana's yet, But as with all things Roland/Boss they tend to do these things pretty well, So the only real way to find out if it works for you is to try it. I use a Roland GR-55 and would assume Boss may have borrowed a bit from it and the GT-100 for the Katana. In which case I don't see tracking to be much of an issue, They pretty much have that dialed in these days, As it appears you have the Katana head your choice of cab and speakers could have a lot to do with it provided the sub octave effect works for you, Perhaps piggybacking a decent 15" monitor or two into the mix could be an option, In the case of the GR I generally stereo out to a bass amp, Although for gigging purposes I try and use the house PA if possible, Freaking old 80's Peavey, Beast probably weighs 95 lbs. Not something I enjoy moving around if I don't have to. Other than that bass isn't a problem, In fact I get all sorts of strange looks, Uh dude that sound is not suppose to be coming from a guitar, I can sub for the Keyboard player in most cases

 

[mitchfinck]

I've never used it as a bass.
One of my bands is a 3 piece - 2 guitars and a drummer. I use an EHX Octave Multiplexer to split to a bass amp and a guitar amp. Sounds really wicked for the heavy, sludge, punk stuff that we write.
I don't think I'd use it in place of a bass. You lose a lot and have more just bass notes than the sound of a bass guitar.

 

[BigDaddyLH]

My Sub'n'up tracks perfectly ... and the sound, while not exactly like a bass guitar (I'd give it 8/10), is useable. A bass amp would probably bump it to 9/10.

 

[Gunerius]

I play in a trio where I play guitar and bass by sending my E A D strings through an octaver (boss oc3 or DOD meatbox) and it brings the low end. Recording I do often play bass and synths and stuff but live it is always the split thing. I'd say go for it!

 

[ebb soul]

Any sub modeler I've tried doesn't sound like bass.
It's garbled, maybe not tracking right, but there is some sort of regeneration going on.
Can't get a clean bass tone, only a 'sound effect', or gimmick.

 

[jonrpick]

The only thing I've heard do a prosper "octave down" is a dbx Subharmonic Synthesizer.

It's a rack unit. DJs use them to add thump to the sound system in a dance club.

My bassist bought one at my suggestion. I always wanted to try one on a bass. He had the cabinet to handle it (a Basson 8x10). We tune down to D. And it tracked ALL the way down. Flawlessly. With the octave up full, high notes sounded like an 8-string bass. Low notes were too much. We were worried about the police showing up. I'm not even kidding.

I've always wanted to tune a short scale bass up an octave (guitar tuning) and run it through the dbx. It would have to be magical.

 

[middy]

As a bass player myself, in my opinion the problem isn't the octave effect, it's the amp. The Katana octave tracks well, and while it doesn't really sound like a bass, it will do the job.
However, the typical guitar speaker starts rolling off lows at 80hz (guitar's low E), and unless your drummer plays fairly quietly, 100 watts through a single 12" guitar speaker is not going to keep up well, especially in an open back cabinet. You may even crease the cone of the guitar speaker after a while!
There's a reason your typical bass player uses at least 300 watts through a 2x12 or 4x10 sealed or ported bass cab with special bass speakers and cab tuned down to 40-65 hz. You think we spend all that money and haul that stuff around for fun?

 

[String Tree]

I have two Baritones. Not quite Bass, but still very versatile in those situations.
Amp selection is key.