Best Effect Pedal to Buy

linden · #1 07-03-2009, 03:15 PM

I've never used an effects pedal before but I'm interested in getting one and experimenting. If I was to get only one pedal and didn't want to spend a fortune (<$150) does anyone have recommendations?

I've got a Fender Jazz bass with a Gallien Kruger head/ Aguilar cab. I play everything from blues to classic rock and groove based jams (this is where some wah could be awesome) in my band.

I'm not real tech savvy so something simple to operate would be great.

Thanks

DanRJBrasil · #2 07-03-2009, 04:49 PM

i just got myself a sansamp vt(135 shipped ground in theperfectbass with the discount code for tbers), to get that grit and fullness, usually the effects in a bass player sleeve is a fuzz/dist, and a compressor, others fav are a envelope filter, chorus, synth etc..

electracoyote · #3 07-03-2009, 04:51 PM

My first pedal was a limiter/enhancer. Wow, what a difference. It made every bass in my collection sound better. I used to be a strict no-pedals guy, but I'm spoiled now.

dannybuoy · #4 07-03-2009, 05:06 PM

Simple? The Linden EQ - it's got your name on it!

But if you don't even know what effects you want/need, get yourself a multi fx so you can figure that out. The Zoom B2 has a lot under the hood, is dirt cheap and sounds great.

ShavedHippie · #5 07-03-2009, 05:19 PM

sansamp bddi or clone. very versatile imho.

Hector_G · #6 07-03-2009, 05:26 PM

For 99 bucks you can get the Zoom B2.
It's got everything so you can get experience with all sorts of effects. Kind of weird to operate the first few days, but once you get the hang of it.... it really fun and easy.

It's got delay, wah, auto-wah, flanger, phaser, tremolo, vibrato, fuzz, distortion, synths, amp modeling, octave and a couple of other weird ones.

For the cash, ya can't beat it.

waynobass · #7 07-03-2009, 05:30 PM

None. Bassists don't need, and shouldn't use, effects.

J. Crawford · #8 07-03-2009, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by waynobass

None. Bassists don't need, and shouldn't use, effects.

Why, I oughta!

I say get an EQ, or a compressor. My compressor made my bass come to life for the first time in ages.

FreaqyFrequency · #9 07-03-2009, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by waynobass

None. Bassists don't need, and shouldn't use, effects.

I'll one up you.

Bass players don't need to exist. The keyboard player can just play all our lines with his left hand.

Booyah.

J. Crawford · #10 07-03-2009, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FreaqyFrequency

I'll one up you.

Bass players don't need to exist. The keyboard player can just play all our lines with his left hand.

Booyah.

This is the way JPJ lived later in his career..

**DosiYanarchy** · #11 07-03-2009, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dannybuoy

Simple? The Linden EQ - it's got your name on it!

exactly what i was gonna say. coincidentally, mine turned up today....loving it

FreaqyFrequency · #12 07-03-2009, 05:37 PM

JPJ didn't march into a bar and say that no one should drink.

J. Crawford · #13 07-03-2009, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FreaqyFrequency

JPJ didn't march into a bar and say that no one should drink.

Even though it took me a second to process it, I get it. And I agree.

Led Zeppelin walks into a bar, and suddenly JPJ...

FreaqyFrequency · #14 07-03-2009, 05:40 PM

J. Crawford · #15 07-03-2009, 05:42 PM

I just watched the Matrix last night, BTW.

But back on track, dont get a multi effect.. get one good pedal. IMO.

FreaqyFrequency · #16 07-03-2009, 05:46 PM

Actually, that could be played both ways, Jordan.

I started with a multi-effect, and it's not a bad way to start with effects. The quality won't be the same as with the analog/individual counterparts necessarily, but it will introduce you to signal chains, tweaking, and just seeing if you like playing with effects in general.

However, if you were with a band looking for a very, very targeted sound, the one pedal is a good avenue. IMO, and IME.

J. Crawford · #17 07-03-2009, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FreaqyFrequency

Actually, that could be played both ways, Jordan.

I started with a multi-effect, and it's not a bad way to start with effects. The quality won't be the same as with the analog/individual counterparts necessarily, but it will introduce you to signal chains, tweaking, and just seeing if you like playing with effects in general.

However, if you were with a band looking for a very, very targeted sound, the one pedal is a good avenue. IMO, and IME.

Touché.

This post ^, is the word. Go by it.

Ric5 · #18 07-03-2009, 05:56 PM

My 2 favorite pedals are Line6 bass pod and the VT bass.

cheapbasslovin · #19 07-03-2009, 07:02 PM

The beauty of the B2 is that it has pretty good sounds, and it is small enough to build around it if you decide you want to start adding singles. I had an ME-50B (which I used quite effectively for 3 years) but when I started to add to the arsenal and playing more funky stuff the Boss was just to big to keep around while adding all my other stuff. Now I have a G2.1u to fill in my non-HOG/BMS/Muff'n needs and it works a treat.

I endorse cheap multis as a first effect unless you KNOW what you want. Fortunately cheap multis are passable now where they were pretty bad when I got my Zoom 607 in the stone age.

Bassman203 · #20 07-03-2009, 10:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jordasch

But back on track, dont get a multi effect.. get one good pedal. IMO.

Agreed, some people who get multi effects processors become convinced that it's the best pedal in the world because it has all the different effects they can think of in it, and they never get anything else (if you know you won't do this I guess it couldn't hurt I guess but in my experience once people get individual pedals they stop using their multi-effects processor). The difference in quality and versatility though between a few good pedals and a multi-effects processor is vast in my opinion.

If I were you, I would start out with

...something really fun to mess around with (octavers and filters are the most fun in my opinion. I don't know of many octavers in your price range, but maybe the new mxr one, I tried it out once and it was pretty cool. Filter wise, a wah like the dunlop 105q, around $110, or the bassballs, around $80, fit your price range and are awesome)

...or something that you will be extremely useful in your style of music (maybe compression or eq, since those are useful for almost all styles. For me it would be a fuzz or filter though for sure).