Basic Effect Chain?

Zack AKA Moose · #1 05-30-2010, 04:10 PM

What is a good, basic bass effect chain? Brand, item name, what effect it is? I play metal, 60's-70's rock, nirvana-type rock, and some funk. Please help, as I want to get a good chain started soon.

Please list: brand, item name, what effect it is, and where to get it

Thanks!

Kromwarp · #2 05-30-2010, 04:21 PM

Korg Pitchblack (tuner) your local music store should have them
Tech 21 VT Bass (Overdrive/Distortion) the internet has them everywhere
MXR M-80 (Preamp/Distortion) internet or music store
Boss CE-5 Chorus Ensemble (Chorus) internet or music store
Morely PBA-2 Dual Bass Wah (Wah/Filter) internet or music store

Your best bet would be to just go down to your local music store and check some other pedals in these categories out to see what you like. But these would be good to get started

newbold · #3 05-30-2010, 04:35 PM

octave down
Compressor
Overdrive/Distortion
envelope filter
Chorus
Limiter
DI

Robertron · #4 05-30-2010, 07:20 PM

There's no point buying effects because other people tell you to.

Look around and listen to and test out different pedals to see which you like yourself.
See what kinds of effects you even want at all. What would you actually use in your playing?
For each genre you listed you could use multiple effects or no effects at all, it's all up to you and your imagination.

basspraiser · #5 05-30-2010, 07:21 PM

BASS
GUITAR CABLE
AMP/DI BOX

(sorry - could not resist!) Seriously though...never seem to find a need for effects...tried a few but never kept them..

takfar · #6 05-30-2010, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zack AKA Moose

What is a good, basic bass effect chain? Brand, item name, what effect it is? I play metal, 60's-70's rock, nirvana-type rock, and some funk. Please help, as I want to get a good chain started soon.

Please list: brand, item name, what effect it is, and where to get it

Thanks!

For metal and rock, you probably want an overdrive, and maybe a distortion or fuzz pedal. The Tech 21 VT Bass is a good fit to start things off in the dirt section. You'll have to dig deeper to find the right distortion/fuzz for your sound if you want one of those, tho (bassfuzz.com is a good place to start).

If you're going to funk, you might want an envelope filter, and there's a lot of them to choose from. Might want to try out the 3Leaf Groove Regulator or the EHX Enigma.

Also, you'll want a tuner pedal, and either the Korg Pitchblack or the Sonic Research Turbo Tuner will work perfectly.

Some people like to use compressors. I don't use em, personally. But have a look at ovnilab.com in order to know more about them.

And that's it for the basics.

RickenBoogie · #7 05-30-2010, 08:10 PM

There is no one correct answer. It's up to the individual player to assemble a board full of whater you like.

newbold · #8 05-30-2010, 09:26 PM

The question was "What is a good, basic bass effect chain?"

all you 'it's really up to you' nicey nice answers are just distractions from the question at hand.

BassInUrFace · #9 05-30-2010, 09:30 PM

like everyone else has said it is each to their own. there isnt just a standard board.
how ever to give you an idea i will note what i beilve to be the standard bass pedal board from what i have learnt from this site.

tuner
octave
envelope filter
distortion/fuzz/overdrive
chorus
delay
EQ
compressor
DI

most people wont have all of these pedals but it is a basic idea of the average effects used. some people might not find the need for a drive pedal so they wont have one and some people will find that they don't a filter but they need a reverb. other people will find that they need (and some times want) multiple pedals of the same type or alot more than i have listed.

i only have:
MXR bass octave dx (octave)
3leaf Groove Regulator (envelope filter)
EHX Bass Big Muff (fuzz)
VT bass (EQ)
I also plan to get a Korg Pitchblack as my next pedal.

i have a few more in my draw but i dont need them.

that my 2 cents.

cheapbasslovin · #10 05-30-2010, 10:15 PM

Distortion/ overdrive for rock and metal:

The most versatile to me is the SansAmp TriAC. I don't own one now because I've found what works more specifically for me, but for simple versatility and quality sounds I liked it best. I liked the sounds from it better than the SansAmp Bass Driver and found it to be more versatile. It seems that I am in the minority on this board, however. SansAmp VTBass is also excellent but doesn't have the programmability to change between sounds quickly and easily.

Filter for funk:

OMG too many to choose from. On the cheap an EHX Micro QTron or EHX Bassballs aren't bad, but they are limited in their capabilities. The EHX Qtron, EHX Enigma, MXR Bass envelope filter, 3Leaf Groove Regulator are all more capable, but they are more expensive and have a greater learning curve. For me, the best one I've tried is the Enigma, but there's much to love about all of them.

Octave down for funk:

Boss OC-2 can be had used, Boss OC-3 isn't bad, but has some critics. Both are pretty inexpensive. EHX POG2 and MicroPOG both do octave down, and track terrifically, but don't sound as beefy. They are also much more expensive.

The OC-2 can be found used, either locally or online. The rest have many dealers nationwide and can be found at many online retailers. Buy used if you can, you save a ton and IME effects rarely break on their own past the warranty period.

Take whatever struggles you've had choosing basses and amp, and multiply 4fold for effects. There are just so many options and types that it can be a while before you figure out what you like and don't. Right now my chain is a Line6 M13 into an EHX English Muff'n. The Line6 is a multi-effects pedal that has some pretty good sounds, but requires that you put in a really low signal to get the most out of it. I am boosting the signal back to unity with the Muff'n and adding some tube warmth with it. It is hard to recommend the Line6 to someone who is looking to make it work straight out of the box because there are SO MANY sounds inside that it is hard to choose unless you have some experience with effects ahead of time.

I like the Line6 effects enough that I haven't been dragged back into the single effects dream/ nightmare. Yet.

I would run the order Octave > Filter > Distortion or Octave > Distortion > Filter. Good luck.

kreider204 · #11 05-30-2010, 10:19 PM

Boss ME-20B. $200 from www.musiciansfriend.com

It'll give you all the basics you need, and give you a chance to play around with the effects until you decide on more specific effects and pedals you might want to try.

TheWoodShed · #12 05-30-2010, 10:26 PM

Okay bud, you are approaching this completely wrong.

No one in this thread can authoritatively tell you what pedals to get. No really. There are a ton of factors to consider. Your bass...your pick ups...your rig...do your play with a pick or fingers...covers or originals? There are so many factors to consider. Hard to even recommend a tuner, because you don't even know if a rack tuner would be better for you.

It takes experience, research and time. Asking questions is good though.But recommending an entire chain just isn't practical.

For now, I play everything from Zeppelin to Tool. If I had to recommend a starting point, depending on budget get yourself a tuner like a Korg Pitch Black and a Bass Big Muff. These are inexpenive ways to get your feet wet and they are of high enough quality that if you like them they will serve you well in the future. If you don't then you can turn them over pretty easily. From there, you just have to figure it out. Take cues off of bands you like.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zack AKA Moose

What is a good, basic bass effect chain? Brand, item name, what effect it is? I play metal, 60's-70's rock, nirvana-type rock, and some funk. Please help, as I want to get a good chain started soon.

Please list: brand, item name, what effect it is, and where to get it

Thanks!

Mike19 · #13 05-31-2010, 02:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheWoodShed

Korg Pitch Black and a Bass Big Muff. These are inexpenive ways to get your feet wet and they are of high enough quality that if you like them they will serve you well in the future.

+1

If your bass is passive, you might want to add a SansAmp BDDI.

fdeeptone · #14 06-01-2010, 10:49 AM

im wondering if the question is more geared towards the order of the chain as some effects do better with purer signals like the octavator. Di first or last in the chain ect..
I wouldnt be much help in this as I really only use 1 pedal and thats the mxr M-80.
I have other pedals but never use them. well somtimes my sansamp di.
I amy be wrong but it seems to me this was the direction the question was expected to go? if not it would be an intersting thread

RickenBoogie · #15 06-01-2010, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by newbold

The question was "What is a good, basic bass effect chain?"

all you 'it's really up to you' nicey nice answers are just distractions from the question at hand.

Really?

dakpluto · #16 06-01-2010, 05:50 PM

As others have said, all we can do is tell you were to start on the sounds you might like.

But if you don't like the sound of say, a chorus, then there is no reason at all for you to need a chorus.

Honestly, the only reason I have any effects at all is because I do a lot of Musical work, and I have to go with the sound requested by the show, not what I want. I may not like a Fuzz in a song, but if the book calls for, I have to be able to do it.

Basically, listen to sound clips, play around with the pedals in your local stores. If you like what you hear, then go for it. Then, as you realize the type of sounds you want, you can start experimenting with different companies and types to get the exact sound you want.

And don't fall into the trap that a $300 Botique Fuzz that was touched by 10 virgins is gonna give a better sound than some cheap $40 pedal at the local shop. If you like the $40 sound better, then it's the better pedal for you.

IPS · #17 06-01-2010, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dakpluto

As others have said, all we can do is tell you were to start on the sounds you might like.

But if you don't like the sound of say, a chorus, then there is no reason at all for you to need a chorus.

Exactly. There is no basic pedal board for bass players, even within genres. I also play a good amount of metal but probably have a much bigger board than a lot of others who play within the same broad genre.

As far as some pedals to start with, I can not speak highly enough of the Geminidrive for distortion/OD. It cuts through great in a mix.
What kind of sounds are you looking for exactly?

Deluge Of Sound · #18 06-01-2010, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dakpluto

And don't fall into the trap that a $300 Botique Fuzz that was touched by 10 virgins is gonna give a better sound than some cheap $40 pedal at the local shop.

Heresy!

GlennPagano · #19 06-01-2010, 08:13 PM

Well it depends. I have a very simple effect chain:
Big Bass Muff Pi
FZ-2 Hyper Fuzz
Boss DD-7 Delay

IPS · #20 06-01-2010, 09:04 PM

to Illustrate the point that there is no basic effects chain, I run
sansamp programable BDDI >digitech whammy >korg pitchblack >Gemini drive>BBE comp (want a different one)> mxr BOD >tentancle love superfuzz > deviever bass fuzz> messdrive hybrid plus > MXR bass envelope filter > Boss ceb3 (also not a huge fan) > MXR flangerr > DD-3 > ibanez weeping demon wah

So clearly we all need and want different things, it really is all about trying or hearing something that sparks your interest or searching for something that fits a sound your looking for. I probably have too many dirt pedals...but I still want more, some people are that way with filters.