Boss FX Pedals

[nicfargo]

Hey Guys,

Pretty new around here. Been playing for a while now and I'm looking into effects pedals because I want some different sounds. Anyway, I'm looking at getting;

Boss ODB-3, GEB-7, BF-3, TU-2, LMB-3, CEB-3 and a volume/expression pedal. I'm undecided between the Boss FV-500L and the FV-50L...any suggestions would be nice.

Anyway, on to the real question. I'm going to order a bunch of 6'' HOSA connectors to connect them and the power cable that chains them all together along with the power adapter to put on the TU-2 (from what I understand you can power the others through the TU-2 when using the power adapter). What order would I want to put these pedals in to get the best from all of them? Do I have too many where I'll run into trouble? Are some better in front of or behind others? Do I need two Volume/expression pedals or can they be used as both at the same time...which doesn't make sense to me how that would work so I'm thinking I'd need 2 of them? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[OptimusPrime]

Don't waste your money on the ODB-3.

[nicfargo]

Why's that Optimus? Please tell why or give suggestions to other pedals that would be better and would still work with my setup (and also be similarly priced).

[rustynuts]

First, a question: Is there any particular reason you're limiting yourself to Boss pedals?

And second, seven or eight pedals is definitely not too many if you're going to use them. My board has 19 right now....And I love it.

[Jimbob Jones]

boss pedals are very subjective.

some people hate them, see them as "sub standard" I think they actually are a great industry standard. maybe I'm just biased, as i own 8

The ODB-3 is a very versatile pedal, I love mine but i actually use it as a treble booster, not as an overdrive. i would say if you have the chance to try one out, do. Although I agree that there are better overdrive pedals out there.

the GEB-7 is a great EQ pedal, a safe buy.

The BF-3 is, again, subjective, Personally I would say the old BF-2 is better (and usually cheaper)

the TU-2 is a great tuner pedal, definately go for it.

I'm not so sure about the LMB-3, i would say it would be better to go for a different compressor, maybe the EBS multicomp?

the CEB-3 is another pedal with mixed reviews, some people love it, others hate it! Definately another try before you buy!

as for the vol/exp the number refers to the rating of the pot intside. the 500 is for passive basses, and the 50 for active.

the main advice I'd give you would be to try before you buy, and dont be afraid to stray from the boss nest, there are lots of awesome pedal manufacturers out there, just waiting to be tried out, I would look at line 6, EBS, digitech and EHX before you spend any serious money.

you only need one volume pedal.

as for the order, try lots of combination, and see which sounds best to you, but as a pointer: EQ last, Drive first, modulation (flanger chorus etc) in the middle.

most of all, have fun!

welcome to the wonderful world of effects!

[Swimming Bird]

Hmm... getting all one company just looks lazy. It seems like you haven't actually tried anything out and are just getting pedals that you like the general idea of.

If this is the case you need to stop and actually try out a whole bunch of competing effects. If you have and just happen to like only Boss... well, there's no accounting for taste.

As for order, experiment. I mean, tuner should go first, but nothing else needs to be early in the chain or interferes with the workings of anything else.

[nicfargo]

Jimbo,
Thanks for the helpful reply. Do other brands of pedals work with Boss just fine. I probably won't be able to use the same power adapter, or is this a universal standard? I'll need the FV-50L volumn pedal because I have an Ibanez SR905 which has active bartolini preamp correct? Thanks again!

[nicfargo]

Swimming,
I really havn't tried much because I've always just thought of Boss as a standard and the music shop in my area (smaller local place) for bass only carries Boss and some other brand that didn't sound nearly as good. We just recently got a Guitar Center...but I feel dirty every time I walk in there.

[Jimbob Jones]

boss pedals work fine with all other brands of pedal.

most pedals are powered by 9V Barrel- style, centre negative power supplies, and you can run all of those off a single power supply with a daisy chain.

and yes, if you have an active bass, use the FV-50L.

oh, and by the way dont feel dirty for walking into GC, it's not your fault

[nad]

Boss is like Ampeg, it may be the industry standard but there is a lot of other stuff out there. I have no problem with Boss. The pedals aren't the greatest, but they aren't exorbitantly expensive, and they can take a pounding. I can't stand Ampeg, but that's a different story.

As everyone should do when they first arrive here, read through the Post Yer Pedalboard Part 69 and see the great variety of brands/styles/colours/sexualpreferences lots of people use.

[6jase5]

Take YOUR bass to any store you can and try everything. I've had 9 different distortion pedals from $25 up to $289 and I went back to my boss. It's about finding the sound you hear in your head. Many high end bassists use what others would consider low end effects.

(I'll admit, splitting my signal and routing it through a zvex box of rock into my jcm800 just for just the nasty channel was heaven with the svt singing the untouched tone, but not feasible night after night)

[sikamikanico]

First of all, buy two pedals at once, not more... you can always get more later, but you need time to learn about what different pedals can do! I find this important when adding new effects as it is then easier to find the perfect setting(s) and place in the signal chain for the new effect...

Second of all, buy used pedals, but test them first if you can. If you don't like a pedal, you can resell it and you won't loose much money, if any (or even make a profit). If you're buying Boss pedals or better, don't worry about the warranty, they should last for ages...

Thirdly, I'd not buy a compressor too early, I did that mistake and eventually sold it... I'm not ready for them yet And, if you already have a tuner, you don't need a pedal tuner as well... And EQ is not an effect imo, so if you're not sure you need one, don't just buy it because it is available The same goes for a volume pedal...

And last but not least, if you're not sure, buy a multi-effects unit, I'd search the eBay for an old Boss ME-8B or something (that's what I'd get)... or something similar, read some reviews! and test if you can!

[nicfargo]

Everyone,
Thanks for the replies. I planned on going the ebay route, that way if I didn't like something, I could sell it and not lose money and possibly make some money if I get decent enough deals. It will be an ongoing process trying to find the right prices on ebay, so I won't be getting it all at once. I've tried the same make and model of my bass at the guitar store and I really like the sound I get from the ODB-3 and the BF-3 (although I'm now a little curious about the BF-2). The CEB-3 was also pretty decent. Not sure exactly what I want to do with the compressor...but I've heard good things and I figure if I can get one for around 30-40 bucks off ebay no big loss there...I've wasted money on worse things. Another thought...digital delay on bass? I've seen friends do some sweet things on guitar, but what about bass? Any of you guys use em. I think I could do some really awesome things. What digital delay do you use if you use them?
Thanks again everyone for all your help...I really like this forum.

[TrevorOfDoom]

boss isn't bad, but it's not the greatest either. but the best guide will be your ears, and the sound in your head. go with that.
for suggestions, look (and ask questions) here.

[nicfargo]

Ok, here's how noob I am to all this. It's ok to use regular electric guitar pedals for bass guitar? I see some people use a super shifter (which could be cool) or the supper distortion pedals. Do you get good results with these pedals on a bass? Thanks!

[RickenBoogie]

Whatever the OP decides, if you do go with all Boss, I would suggest the matching pedal board. It's got all the power and patch cords you need, and stores 'em up all neat & tidy. BCB-60, I think.

[nicfargo]

Also, I see a lot of people have some sort of white volume/expression pedal. What is it? Is it better then what boss has to offer?

[MODNY]

i have all boss pedals, and a boss 3 space pedalboard

for the amount of time that i use effects i find that they are very reliable, and produce just the sound i need. i would highly recomend them.

i use the odb 3, the ceb 3 and the rv-3 pedals. the rv3 is a delay reverb, 11 different types and its great for fretless depth when soloing.

together, in the 3 space boss pedal case daisy chained is a very compact durable and simple set up.

it works great

[kevteop]

Originally Posted by Jimbob Jones

I'm not so sure about the LMB-3, i would say it would be better to go for a different compressor, maybe the EBS multicomp?

I've got an LMB-3 and it's actually pretty good. I don't use it much (actually it's off my board at the moment) but that's not because it isn't good, more because I don't feel I need it very often.

Originally Posted by Jimbob Jones

the CEB-3 is another pedal with mixed reviews, some people love it, others hate it! Definately another try before you buy!

It's a very '80s-sounding chorus IMHO. But chorus is supposed to sound cheesy and '80s so it fits the bill for me. Again, another pedal I don't always have on my board but definitely useful. It can also turn a cranked MXR Blowtorch into a cheap-sounding synth strings pad!

Originally Posted by nicfargo

Everyone,
Thanks for the replies. I planned on going the ebay route, that way if I didn't like something, I could sell it and not lose money

Very wise. Pedal users are always chopping and changing, so there's usually lots of variety on eBay. I'd be surprised if most of my pedals didn't have half a dozen previous owners.

Originally Posted by nicfargo

Also, I see a lot of people have some sort of white volume/expression pedal. What is it? Is it better then what boss has to offer?

That's probably the Jim Dunlop Bass Wah (105Q).

[Happynoj]

Originally Posted by nicfargo

I've tried the same make and model of my bass at the guitar store and I really like the sound I get from the ODB-3 and the BF-3 (although I'm now a little curious about the BF-2).

If you like the sound of them, then buy them. If I were you though, I would try out as much different stuff as I could - you may like the sound of the ODB-3, but then you might like something else better. As far as BF-2 versus BF-3 goes, I'm not sure that there is really enough of a difference to notice. Make sure to try the bass and guitar inputs on the BF-3 though.

Originally Posted by nicfargo

The CEB-3 was also pretty decent.

I never really liked the CEB-3. Check out the CE-5 if you can. Don't limit yourself to 'Bass' effects. All effects are fine for bass, although some sound better than others. I currently have 11 pedals in my setup. 3 of them are 'Bass' pedals. I guess the rest are 'guitar' pedals, although most of them are used equally by guitarists and bassists.

Originally Posted by nicfargo

Not sure exactly what I want to do with the compressor...but I've heard good things and I figure if I can get one for around 30-40 bucks off ebay no big loss there...I've wasted money on worse things.

To be honest, if you don't know what you are doing with a compressor, or even whether you need one, I wouldn't get one. If you hang around here long enough, you will know whether or not you need one.

Originally Posted by nicfargo

Another thought...digital delay on bass? I've seen friends do some sweet things on guitar, but what about bass? Any of you guys use em. I think I could do some really awesome things. What digital delay do you use if you use them?
Thanks again everyone for all your help...I really like this forum.

Delay is cool on bass. The boss ones are popular round here. I use the Electro Harmonix Stereo Memory Man with Hazarai.