Trying to decide on a synth for bass

[GuitarBilly]

We've been using the Boss Sy1 on bass to create a synth layer to fill up the mix and it's been great but we want to expand the sound and get a full fledged guitar synthesizer with a 13 pin pickup etc.

We're looking at the Boss and Roland options GR55, SY1000, the new model that just came out etc.

Budget is definitely a concern and we don't need anything too advanced but we want something that sounds good and has the ability to blend in the bass guitar dry sound. Preferably with an analog dry through output for the bass

I'm pretty sure all the options mentioned above would work for us, but the differences between models can be confusing. Which one has the best price/performance ratio for what we want?

Also, how about older models? Any good ones out there?

thanks

[maggotspawn]

I liked the Boss SY-300 when I had it. It's a pretty deep synth in it's own right. Tracks well sounds killer.

[fretless]

Nothing is really easy here, most of the pedals sound like ass. The actual synth pickup systems are expensive and complicated. It would be easy to use a keyboard or perhaps moog pedals. Or all 3 bass,keys and moogs. Its a complicated mess but when done right it’s incredible. There are alternatives but may not be enough synth for you. For ex
https://reverb.com/p/ibanez-srkp4-elect ... gI3m_D_BwE

[screamingdaisy]

Not my area of expertise and maybe not directly answering your question, but when I was doing the R&B/Neo-Soul thing for awhile I was looking at a Moog Taurus.

Another option (since the Taurus is both big and discontinued) was using a midi footcontroller (like the 12 Step) to control a Moog Minitaur.

I was also looking at using a mono synth (like a Moog Subsequent 25) that can be midi controlled, so I had the option of hand or foot operation.

And these days... footcontroller into a laptop.


The only pedal "synth" pedal I ever used was a Boss OC-2, which I don't think is what you're looking for since that's kind of all in and I think you're looking for parallel (electric bass and synth bass) operation?

[screamingdaisy]

[Landshark]

Mooer E7 synth pedal? like $60 used.

i had the GE300 which had synth effects, but didn't mess with it too much. i did make a pipe organ sound and played the intro to Diary Of A Madman once, though

[GuitarBilly]

Yeah I saw the Mooer the other. We already have the Boss SY-1, which is a better unit as far as a simple pedal goes. And honestly it's been fine for our main purpose, which is just add a layer under the bass.

But I was looking at maybe get something more advanced to have more controls over the sounds etc.

I'm looking at the GR55 at the moment, it's not crazy expensive and it seems like it would be a cool unit. It does require the 13 pin pickup but that seems easy to add.

[kissmyace]

EH Synth 9 is probably like the Boss. It does have a lot of different sounds, but would have to be changed manually

[GuitarBilly]

EH Synth 9 is probably like the Boss. It does have a lot of different sounds, but would have to be changed manually

The Synth 9 only tracks to a bass open A string. The bass low E won't track.
It's a great sounding pedal but it's for guitar only.

[GuitarBilly]

I have to read up on the Moog bass pedals. I think you have play them with your feet? That won't work for us.

[thermionic geek]

It's a weird time to go 13 pin. The newer system seems cool if you want to go that deep. but it is mostly a PCM synth. The SY1000 is great for me. Because it works pretty well without the pickup too. Then there are even more options with the pickup. The older 13 pin stuff is cheap now too. You can get the older GR series synths for around 2-300 bucks. Any one of those has all sorts of PCM sounds. Honestly though for bass stuff the SY-300 is really good. What I find it is lacking is the harder edges of saw and square wave oscillators like a Yamaha CS or Juno. Think of the Blade Runner opening. you aren't getting there on an SY-300. The SY-1000 can do all that with the GK pickup though.

[GuitarBilly]

It's a weird time to go 13 pin. The newer system seems cool if you want to go that deep. but it is mostly a PCM synth. The SY1000 is great for me. Because it works pretty well without the pickup too. Then there are even more options with the pickup. The older 13 pin stuff is cheap now too. You can get the older GR series synths for around 2-300 bucks. Any one of those has all sorts of PCM sounds. Honestly though for bass stuff the SY-300 is really good. What I find it is lacking is the harder edges of saw and square wave oscillators like a Yamaha CS or Juno. Think of the Blade Runner opening. you aren't getting there on an SY-300. The SY-1000 can do all that with the GK pickup though.

Yeah I am leery about going to 13 pin. It's clearly a system that's being phased out. and Kimmi has 5 basses and she play them all live so it would suck to get GK pickups for all of them or having to keep transferring the pickup from one bass to the other.


Can you elaborate on the limitations of the SY-1000 with/without the 13 pin? What would I be losing if I just use the 1/4"?

[ibenhad]

Get the Fishman (https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/TriplePlayPU--fishman-tripleplay-wireless-midi-pickup) and plug into any midi devices you like from your guitar. I have the roland GR 33 and installed the 13 pin pickup on a strat I have. Very cool but much older Technology for today. Tracks pretty well and great for what it is.

[screamingdaisy]

I have to read up on the Moog bass pedals. I think you have play them with your feet? That won't work for us.

Figured as much. Mostly offered it as an option in case it hadn't been considered.

[GuitarBilly]

Get the Fishman (https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/TriplePlayPU--fishman-tripleplay-wireless-midi-pickup) and plug into any midi devices you like from your guitar. I have the roland GR 33 and installed the 13 pin pickup on a strat I have. Very cool but much older Technology for today. Tracks pretty well and great for what it is.

Interesting about the Triple Play. That could definitely be a solution. I do have a Roldan FA-06. It seems like I also need the foot controller to have an actual MIDI out port? With the pickup alone would I be limited to using USB and the software? I don't want to have to bring a laptop to gigs, but if I can just run a midi cable into a Synth that's definitely a great option. I need to watch some demos on this. It's a very interesting solution.

[thermionic geek]

The SY-1000 works similarly to the SY-300. There is what is called "dynamic synth" this works without the pickup. Its just like the SY-300 and has the same waveforms and sounds. Its very useful. With the pickup there is also OSC synth which is an analog synth sim which can be mono or polyphonic. GR-300 and several other hex effects for hex fuzz and violin like sounds. Both the 300 and the 1000 track well without the pickup. The only thing its not great at without the pickup is the Carpenter Brut style skronky waveforms. It will get close but not quite. With the pickup and the Osc synth it will get all of that.

[valtyr]

Running bass guitar through a chorus pedal and an envelope filter pedal gets a synth like sound where the sweep intensity can be controlled by pick attack. It requires no 13 pin connection and has no tracking issues.

Chris Squire used this sort of sound. It might work for what you are doing. Check out the Yes song On The Silent Wings of Freedom.

https://youtu.be/4chP-hFZqew

[GuitarBilly]

The SY-1000 works similarly to the SY-300. There is what is called "dynamic synth" this works without the pickup. Its just like the SY-300 and has the same waveforms and sounds. Its very useful. With the pickup there is also OSC synth which is an analog synth sim which can be mono or polyphonic. GR-300 and several other hex effects for hex fuzz and violin like sounds. Both the 300 and the 1000 track well without the pickup. The only thing its not great at without the pickup is the Carpenter Brut style skronky waveforms. It will get close but not quite. With the pickup and the Osc synth it will get all of that.

Ok so it seems that without the GK pickup there are not a lot of advantages over the SY-300, while adding the pickup opens up a lot more possibilities. So I think I am again down to whetehr or not I want to go 13 pin.

Running bass guitar through a chorus pedal and an envelope filter pedal gets a synth like sound where the sweep intensity can be controlled by pick attack. It requires no 13 pin connection and has no tracking issues.

Chris Squire used this sort of sound. It might work for what you are doing. Check out the Yes song On The Silent Wings of Freedom.

https://youtu.be/4chP-hFZqew

That's true, and I would definitely consider that route if we were starting from scratch to we already have the Boss SY-1, that does quite a bit of the basic synth sounds really well.

And it must be said that Chris Squire was a flat out stud on bass. One of my top 5 favorite bass players. Even top 3 maybe.

[screamingdaisy]

One of my top 55 favorite bass players. Even top 3 maybe.

I'm a bass player, and I don't know if I have 55 favourite bass players.

[GuitarBilly]

hahahaha


fixed it