4 to 5 must have effects pedals?

PunchLine17 · #1 08-07-2009, 11:37 AM

Well I recently purchased an EHX Bass Big Muff PI and I absolutely love it! I also picked up a Danelectro Fab Chorus....for $20 (in Canada of course) it is very cheap, and I have to say it sounds amazing. A real smooth lush sound. Now I'm looking to pick up 2 or 3 other pedals, but I'm not sure what I should get or what I need. I play in a 3 piece indie band and I'm looking to cut through the mix while retaining a clean and clear tone. Any recommendations? Is an Octave pedal worth looking at? Recommendations please! :P

Cheers,

jetofuj · #2 08-07-2009, 11:43 AM

If you don't know what you need, then you don't need it

Octave pedals are my favourite

totallybacan · #3 08-07-2009, 11:48 AM

For octave, i'd recommend the EH micro Pog. or any of their octaves

EricF · #4 08-07-2009, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jetofuj

If you don't know what you need, then you don't need it

+1

ALL that matters is what serves the music best - it could be a giant array of pedals, or it could be just a cord from your bass to your amp.

Personally, I've used fuzz, overdrive, synth, octave, chorus, and compressor effects at one time or another for the bands I was in. I've also done gigs with exactly zero of the above.

Let the music be your guide.

That said, if you just want to experiment and see what kind of cool tones you can make with your bass, then there is NO limit. Maybe you'll find something that works with your band's music, or inspires something totally new.

nicfargo · #5 08-07-2009, 11:59 AM

Octave pedals are cool...but for me I'm very picky about them. There are a lot out there that just sound like garbage and don't track well at all. The POG is decent...but still sounds a little too fake to me. Maybe the POG 2 is better? I like a real authentic octave sound.

Right now my favorite pedal combo is syth and fuzz. Sounds killer!

nad · #6 08-07-2009, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PunchLine17

I play in a 3 piece indie band and I'm looking to cut through the mix while retaining a clean and clear tone. Any recommendations?

Utilize the mids on your amp/bass and don't use any pedals.

jucas · #7 08-07-2009, 12:17 PM

^That sounds about right. Except I'd probly throw in a clean boost or EQ if my guitarists' volume changed much. I'm lazy and hate playing with the bass' volume knob.

cnltb · #8 08-07-2009, 12:20 PM

You need it when you'll incur negative consequences for not having it, no?

I personally don't need any.
No such thing as "must have" pedals.
If you don't even know what to get...relax, save some money and buy when you see something you want.

Floridabwoy · #9 08-07-2009, 12:22 PM

Vibrato - Muff - Envelope - VT BASS

I have 9 pedals... but if i had to choose 4. This is what I would pick.

winston · #10 08-07-2009, 12:32 PM

I like to have octave, synth, envelope filter, distortion, and modulation. The most compact way for me is Digitech Bass Synth Wah (covers octave/synth/filter), Boss BF-2 Flanger, MXR Phase 90 EVH, and SansAmp Para Driver DI.

I have a bunch of pedals I can add to these but it often just complicates things and adds noise. IME these FX sound great together and don't suck tone. I keep wanting to get a pedal tuner or delay but haven't yet.

Higgins666 · #11 08-07-2009, 12:48 PM

For me it'd be: Tuner, EQ, Overdrive, Fuzz, Chorus, Wah. I think you could use all of those in Indie music, you could always sub out the Wah for a Filter/Synth or something if you like

groooooove · #12 08-07-2009, 02:48 PM

for my main band, the "must haves" are wah, digitech whammy, and messdrive. i use them all together for a +2 octave guitar sim. for solos.

i doubt thats a must have for anyone else on TB.

the other pedals i bring to gigs are always changing, but 90% of the time my brown dog and DOD FX25 are there.

Gashaponcito · #13 08-07-2009, 04:31 PM

if you are in a 3 piece band an amount of clean signal blended with your wet signal could be useful maybe a Boss LS-2 or a true bypass looper with blend I'm assuming you play in a band with drums 1 guitar 1 bass and vocals?

RickenBoogie · #14 08-07-2009, 05:24 PM

I agree with the "if you don't know what you need, you don't need it" sentiment.

Subscript · #15 08-07-2009, 05:42 PM

My suggestion is to buy a multi effects pedal with a bunch of options on it so you can experiment with different sounds and figure out what you want, then go out and get the individual pedals that are specifically designed for the effects you like.

jufros · #16 08-07-2009, 07:44 PM

Must have? Depends on the genre of course. For rock I'd probably say a compressor but I'd also definitely go with a rack mounted one over a pedal.

sonic assassin · #17 08-07-2009, 07:59 PM

i got by for years with EQ, dirt and chorus.

Gasman · #18 08-07-2009, 08:05 PM

OD, chorus, delay, flange. Done.

Oric · #19 08-07-2009, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PunchLine17

I also picked up a Danelectro Fab Chorus....for $20 (in Canada of course) it is very cheap, and I have to say it sounds amazing. A real smooth lush sound.
Cheers,

I was wondering how the Dano chorus sounded on bass- does it sound nice and deep?

AleemRadunzel · #20 08-08-2009, 02:02 AM

I think this is a really nice thread and everyone saying somethin different is a true testiment to us bassists being more individual than we are expected!

=D

But id say at an absoulte minimum i need overdrive fuzz trem and a manual wah or id go nuts.

but thats coming from a band with a "background" guitarist.. so ,you know everyones different.. theres every single genre reprezented on talkbass, =D

you will DEFINATLY know it in your bones when somethings missing!

Oh and the Dano chorus's are mint! i tried my mates in his shop the cool cat you know the big old skool one, (why cant they NOT reuse names!) and the lil milkshake one. both can get real deep i mean 80's soul chorus bass!