I use effects only occasionally. When I use them, I run the bass into a Radial Tonebone Switchbone which has two effects loops that can be switched totally out of the chain. One loop is for an Electro Harmonix BassBalls dual filter. The other loop goes to a Yamaha Nathan East parametric EQ thingee, which gives many variations on the mid-scoop sound. In the line are also a Boss Bass Parametric EQ pedal and a SansAmp Bass Driver (for overdrive and DI).

Hey folks, I have been tossing around the idea of getting that radial bassbone.  
would anyone recommend this? I am in a tribute band to the music of the Who and think I need an overdrive/distortation pedal and possibly a chorus pedal. I believe this is what i'm hearing on some of the live performances of John's. Is this correct? Can anyone offer some suggestions. I currently use a Epic 4, Trace Elliot SMX GP12 head, partnered with a SWR Triad cab.

Chris, there are several Entwistle experts on the board.  Most folks don't read all the messages everyday; but I expect at some point someone while chime in on what was used on which song.

Chris..there are plenty of bass OD/Fuzz units made by Boss etc.
I would take your bass AND amp to your local store to test them, the reason I say take you own gear is because
a) They may not have your specific gear
b) Your bass will be set up for you
c) testing effects through gear you don't know may not give the results you want thru' your own bass & amp.
If your gear is too big to get to the store then at least take your own bass and use an amp with all the tone settings set at neutral
best of luck with the hunt.

It seems that Ox was always a rig freak:
 
http://www.thewho.net/whotabs/equipment/bass/equip-entwistlegear.html

I just got a Boss SYB5 Bass Synth pedal. Prior to the playing session I was trying to find a usable starting point on the pedal, and I gave everybody in the room a headache (including me) within 10 minutes (it wasn't even that loud - just obno). It seems the effect settings are very extreme, and in order to find a usable sound I had to set the effect volume very low in relation to the un-effected volume.
I want a sound that still sounds like a bass, only gnarlier.
Anybody got any suggestions?

I recently picked up an EHX micro POG, polyphonic octave generator. Three knobs, source level, sub octave level, and octave above level, you can blend them as you please. I really like the thickness it provides, and it tracks extremely well. With a little distortion before, and a little chorus, envelope, or flange after, it can get, what I would call, gnarly. Still in a very bass-centric, musical fashion. I was especially pleased with the way it integrated in a jam setting. So often we can fiddle around with effects on our own, only to find they don't play well with others. The Micro POG is my favorite new sound.

I've just bought a Bass Big Muff pi and I'm very impressed with it. I've been able to get a pretty accurate 'chris wolstenholme - hysteria' style distortion. I've over the moon about this as up till now I've been trying to achieve distortion using an EBS multidrive but that just didn't give the right kind of buzz. I also have a mini Q tron and an EBS chorus in the effects chain - can't think of anything else I'd need.
 
Graeme

Graeme - other distortion units that I particularly like are the Demeter Fuzzulator and Fulltone Bass Drive.

I split my treble signal with a Chorus and compress the bass signal into a dual input amp.
Series one preamp and power supply played on a fretless.

I would like to throw in some kudos to the Yamaha NE-1 tone-shaping device, sometimes known as the Nathan East Magic Box. This thing is a highly adjustable mid-scoop circuit, which seems to work even better than the aural enhancer found on such amps as SWR and Eden, offering additional clarity to the sound. Plus it is all shiny chrome with chicken-head knobs....

I stand by the Q-Tron.  I use some other stuff, but that is my favourite..
 
Rick

Here's my board as it stands just now. The big black box is the Eden navigator footswitch and I'm not using the board's inbuilt power supply (after a blue flash one gig).
 

 
This all sits in the navigator's side chain so I can control how much effect gets blended into the dry signal. I also have an Aphex Bass Xciter between the bass and the amp. I absolutely hate the eden enhance sound so never have it switched on.
 
Graeme

Graeme
Did I run through all of that at the Scottish Reunion??
 
Must confess though.............I LOVE the Eden Enhance Sound!!
 
Horses for courses!
 
G

Just the 2 EBS pedals george - Chorus and Overdrive. I didn't have the Qtron or big muff that long ago. Once we get the next reunion on the go you'll be able to click away to your heart's content.
 
Graeme