beginner compressor and preamp

[kokoshmusun]

Hi,
I just acquired an Epiphone EB-0 short scale bass. We play rock/experimental, and I'm not obsessively trying to get a certain tone, since I don't have a clear idea of what I should sound like. I figure I will find my tone by trial and error.
But for starters, I would like to get some pedals. Previously I owned the Sansamp for bass and a Fender P bass. I heard the sansamp has its own compression. Now this is what I think I'm gonna get:

-MXR M80 for preamp (in case we play venues without an amp) and distortion
-Some compressor --undecided
-MXR M88 or M288 bass octave for some fun
-Korg Pitchblack or TC electronics polytone tuner

That's it, I wanna keep it simple. I don't play slap/pop and I usually play with a pick. What I want the compressor for is mostly sustain. I've been searching and have gotten confused about what's a better compressor for sustain.
So, generally, what do you think about my planned rig, which order should I use the pedals, what compressor (if any) would you recommend?
Thanks!

[bongomania]

IMO good sustain comes from a good bass with new strings and a professional setup. When I have a bass dialed in, it sustains on and on with no need for pedals.

That said, the Pigtronix Philosopher is a good sustain-increasing pedal; I prefer and recommend the germanium version over the "regular" one.

The compression in the Sansamp is subtle, related more to the drive effect than to clean sustain. Clipping (OD, distortion) is a type of compression, but that doesn't make it the same as "a compressor".

[kokoshmusun]

That makes sense, thanks. If I get a decent amount of sustain without pedals, do I need the compressor for anything else? I don't slap/pop so there aren't gonna be any loud sounds to limit. And I don't generally enjoy the squashed sounds from a compressor. So can I comfortably ditch the compressor from my simple rig above?

[kokoshmusun]

Alrigh, I actually found your website and read the "Is a compressor necessary" section. My conclusion is I don't need one right now, but I can acquire one in the future and learn to use it well. I used to have CS-3 but apart from the limiting, I don't think I used it knowingly, and probably it's not the best for bass anyway.

[unit397]

I'd like to get a nicer bass tone. I should know better, but admit that I don't. I've recently made the switch from guitar to bass & am trying to understand the concept of using a COMP pedal for live situations. I play a fender bass six through a fender tv bassman 15. I've been told that the tubes in my amp already offer some compression. I play garage, bluesy, classic style rock in a three piece. I guess my question is....do I need a COMP pedal, or is it more for jazz/funk, slapping? because that is not what I'm playing? Also, I know that fuzz/dist. already offer some COMP, & I thoroughly use a big muff on choruses, but a lot of clean bass tones on verses & so forth. This is my first post,& apologize if it's a little redundant.

[GrowlerBox]

Originally Posted by unit397

I'd like to get a nicer bass tone. I should know better, but admit that I don't. I've recently made the switch from guitar to bass & am trying to understand the concept of using a COMP pedal for live situations. I play a fender bass six through a fender tv bassman 15. I've been told that the tubes in my amp already offer some compression. I play garage, bluesy, classic style rock in a three piece. I guess my question is....do I need a COMP pedal, or is it more for jazz/funk, slapping? because that is not what I'm playing? Also, I know that fuzz/dist. already offer some COMP, & I thoroughly use a big muff on choruses, but a lot of clean bass tones on verses & so forth. This is my first post,& apologize if it's a little redundant.

Not redundant, but quite a big topic. Check out the links in Bongomania's signature, there's a great deal of information to be found there.