Cheap, versatile pedalboard?

[ClaytonMUSE]

Theres probably a few posts describing one of these but the search got too many results for my undeveloped brain to cope with

I just need a set-up that will do alot of things and won't cost an immense load. I don't know much about pedals and as a last resort I'll make the trip to my local PMT or Dawsons but the guys in there are always really intimidating and belittling

I want to have a decent set up to play a wide variety of music with my band, like Fuzz/Distortion, Wah maybe, idk whatever else I may need for live shows and Muse rip-off riffs

Could anyone detail a few possibilities and maybe some must have pedals? Thanks.

[bassman1185]

Ok, you say that you're looking for three different things: A pedalboard, a rack, and a selection of pedals. Please be more specific on what you're looking for.

[ClaytonMUSE]

Originally Posted by bassman1185

Ok, you say that you're looking for three different things: A pedalboard, a rack, and a selection of pedals. Please be more specific on what you're looking for.

I edited it now, I'm looking for a few pedals, things like octaver, fuzz/distortion (What's the difference?) maybe Wah, and a couple of others that you might think I'd need, I'm not well educated on pedals and I don't know what I'd need. That is probably just as un-clear but it's the best I can do ahaha.

[bassbrad]

The path of effects can be a long one, I think multi effects are a great place to start for a broad sampling to find out what effects you like or not. Most are also decent tuners, headphone amps and some even have drum machines or jam along features that are fun & excellent practice tools. Once you find the effects you like then you can start shopping for the best od/fuzz/distortion, chorus...... pedals for you.
There are lots of multi efx out there, none are perfect. Boss, Line 6, Digitech, Korg, Rocktron,Yamaha, Zoom and I am sure there are others. Personally I am a Zoom fan using a B2.1u and I also have a Digitech BP-8.

[fivestringgecko]

I get asked similar questions quite often since I'm a self-admitted gear wh*re and I always come back with the same advice...

If you don't know much (or anything) about effects, I'm a big proponent of starting with a multi-effects pedal. There are some pretty good units out there for about the same price as one single-effect pedal. Starting with a multi will let you get a good taste of a wide variety of effects, so you'll get a feel for what you like/need/use for effects. THEN you can jump into the world of single effects if you so desire, but be careful... it can QUICKLY become an addiction. lol

If you choose to start with the single effects route, in my opinion the #1 most important pedal you could get is a good tuner. Aside from that, it really depends on what you want to play. If you're going to play traditional jazz stuff for example, you probably won't need to worry about overdrive/fuzz/distortion so much, but if you're leaning towards ska/punk/metal, those are probably where you'd want to start. Funk? Get an envelope filter (and I can CERTAINLY point you in the direction there... I've owned/played 16-17 filters I think ). 80's Rock? You'll need a good chorus pedal. hehehe

If you can fill us in on what styles you'll be playing and what budget you have, it'll really help us give you the right advice.

5sg.

[ClaytonMUSE]

Originally Posted by bassbrad

The path of effects can be a long one, I think multi effects are a great place to start for a broad sampling to find out what effects you like or not. Most are also decent tuners, headphone amps and some even have drum machines or jam along features that are fun & excellent practice tools. Once you find the effects you like then you can start shopping for the best od/fuzz/distortion, chorus...... pedals for you.
There are lots of multi efx out there, none are perfect. Boss, Line 6, Digitech, Korg, Rocktron,Yamaha, Zoom and I am sure there are others. Personally I am a Zoom fan using a B2.1u and I also have a Digitech BP-8.

Thanks, I'll look into a few of those.
The music we play + write usually sounds like OOS Muse (Just not as epic) Queens of the stone age, things like that, those are our main influences anyway and we like to think our stuff sounds like them
But we also play things like Incubus-ish stuff. Wow we sound so big headed.

[fivestringgecko]

JUST beat me to the post, Bass! lol

I have an old Digitech BP-8 sitting around that I just can't bear to part with... and it's also my loaner if someone wants to get started in effects. I've also eyed the Zoom B2.1u, Boss GT-10B and ME-50B before I really got sucked into the single effect world. lol

5sg.

[ClaytonMUSE]

Originally Posted by fivestringgecko

I get asked similar questions quite often since I'm a self-admitted gear wh*re and I always come back with the same advice...

If you don't know much (or anything) about effects, I'm a big proponent of starting with a multi-effects pedal. There are some pretty good units out there for about the same price as one single-effect pedal. Starting with a multi will let you get a good taste of a wide variety of effects, so you'll get a feel for what you like/need/use for effects. THEN you can jump into the world of single effects if you so desire, but be careful... it can QUICKLY become an addiction. lol

If you choose to start with the single effects route, in my opinion the #1 most important pedal you could get is a good tuner. Aside from that, it really depends on what you want to play. If you're going to play traditional jazz stuff for example, you probably won't need to worry about overdrive/fuzz/distortion so much, but if you're leaning towards ska/punk/metal, those are probably where you'd want to start. Funk? Get an envelope filter (and I can CERTAINLY point you in the direction there... I've owned/played 16-17 filters I think ). 80's Rock? You'll need a good chorus pedal. hehehe

If you can fill us in on what styles you'll be playing and what budget you have, it'll really help us give you the right advice.

5sg.

So yeah it looks like I'll look into getting a Multi Fx pedal And yeah like I said above we play things like Origin of Symmetry muse, Queens of the Stone age, but we've all suddenly started listening to alot of funk rock

[ClaytonMUSE]

Originally Posted by fivestringgecko

JUST beat me to the post, Bass! lol

I have an old Digitech BP-8 sitting around that I just can't bear to part with... and it's also my loaner if someone wants to get started in effects. I've also eyed the Zoom B2.1u, Boss GT-10B and ME-50B before I really got sucked into the single effect world. lol

5sg.

Hahaha. I've been recommended the Boss GT-6B, apparently it's a little pricey but if it's that good I'm sure it's worth it, because I've seen single FX for pretty much the same price

[BillyIVbass]

A tuner is always good. If you like Muse and QOTSA I suggest a distortion: EH Big Muff for "weird stuff" the Digitech Synth Wah pedal is about $70ish? and will supply you with some cool octave, envelope filter and synth effects.

Start reading up on pedals.

Multi-effects yes is cool for practice and just getting into pedals to hear what each effect does, but you'll eventually want to upgrade to stand alone pedals. An older Line 6 POD could be handy or the Zoom stuff is OK.

[TheRockinRoadie]

I think when first starting out, the pedals that helped me most were what i would call the 'essentials'. Have a look at Tuners, EQ pedals, dirt pedals, and maybe a DI.

As mentioned, a multi effect is great to start with, but you'll soon grow tired of it and what separate pedals.

A tuner is something you will always need throughout your career so look at something good like the polytune, Korg Pitchblack or a Boss TU2/3.

A DI would be great because well, its a DI, they have EQs, most have some form of overdrive/distortion and they are handy for amp backup at gigs. I personally looking back would have benefitted from a DI first, so maybe you should take a look at the MXR Bass DI+ or a Sansamp?

[ClaytonMUSE]

Originally Posted by BillyIVbass

A tuner is always good. If you like Muse and QOTSA I suggest a distortion: EH Big Muff for "weird stuff" the Digitech Synth Wah pedal is about $70ish? and will supply you with some cool octave, envelope filter and synth effects.

Start reading up on pedals.

Multi-effects yes is cool for practice and just getting into pedals to hear what each effect does, but you'll eventually want to upgrade to stand alone pedals. An older Line 6 POD could be handy or the Zoom stuff is OK.

Yeah with me being more of a muse devote rather than a fan a good place to start would be looking at some of the stuff Chris from Muse uses, but his selection of pedals is...gargantuan. I'll probably get a cheap Multi FX to start with to see what kinds of stuff I'm into then look into some pedals like the Digitech Synth Wah!

Originally Posted by TheRockinRoadie

I think when first starting out, the pedals that helped me most were what i would call the 'essentials'. Have a look at Tuners, EQ pedals, dirt pedals, and maybe a DI.

As mentioned, a multi effect is great to start with, but you'll soon grow tired of it and what separate pedals.

A tuner is something you will always need throughout your career so look at something good like the polytune, Korg Pitchblack or a Boss TU2/3.

A DI would be great because well, its a DI, they have EQs, most have some form of overdrive/distortion and they are handy for amp backup at gigs. I personally looking back would have benefitted from a DI first, so maybe you should take a look at the MXR Bass DI+ or a Sansamp?

http://www.guitarampkeyboard.com/en/10052 Is that what you were referring to? I think a guy I know owns one of them I'm not sure. I'll definitely be buying a decent tuner, but I've been looking around on the internet and theres some good looking multi Fx pedals but I'll need to research them some more, the boss stuff looks good though.

[BillyIVbass]

Chris was just in Bass Player. It had a nice layout of his rig. Maybe you can find it online.

[TheRockinRoadie]

yeah thats along the right lines. Theres also an MXR version which is great too apparently. The Boss stuff is good for the money and is very reliable, kinda of like the industry standard. You can do alot better, but you can also do alot worse!

[fivestringgecko]

Originally Posted by ClaytonMUSE

http://www.guitarampkeyboard.com/en/10052 Is that what you were referring to?

The Sansamp Bass Driver is one of those pedals that gets a LOT of love around Talkbass, and I have one. It sounds great and is SUPER handy. Awesome overdrive and full featured DI in one. Saved my life at my last recording session... a buzz randomly popped up in the studio equipment and I happened to have my pedalboard with me (despite me knowing the recording engineer mistakenly thinks his computer based effects are better than mine and just recording me direct-to-board lol)... we pulled my BDDI off, dialed in an awesome old-school, creamy, tubey-overdrivey tone and away we went.

No offense meant to you Roadie, but DI's are actually most commonly available as non-effect type boxes, if you tell a soundguy you need a DI box, he'll probably pull out something like a Whirlwind or a Radial. I've never seen a soundguy pull out a BDDI or MXR Distortion DI (around here anyway). But for us bass players, why get a vanilla DI when you can get Neopolitan?

Originally Posted by BillyIVbass

Chris was just in Bass Player. It had a nice layout of his rig. Maybe you can find it online.

I've got that issue, if you can't find it online let me know.

Speaking of, that's a GREAT way to get into effects. Check out your favorite bass players and see what gear they're using.

5sg.

[ClaytonMUSE]

Originally Posted by BillyIVbass

Chris was just in Bass Player. It had a nice layout of his rig. Maybe you can find it online.

I was planning on subscribing to that magazine soon I'll try and look for it... Is it like a double page spread? Hahaha. I can imagine people looking at it in the way that you see men look in dirty magazines on TV where they turn it on it's side and go "Oofft"

Originally Posted by TheRockinRoadie

yeah thats along the right lines. Theres also an MXR version which is great too apparently. The Boss stuff is good for the money and is very reliable, kinda of like the industry standard. You can do alot better, but you can also do alot worse!

Yeah I saw the MXR just then the Dime Distortion thing! The Zoom b2.1u looks promising aswell, I'll be looking for tones like Uprising by Muse and City of Delusion by Muse with the wah, and I really like how the bass sounds in Plug in Baby too.

[ClaytonMUSE]

There's a list of FX he's used during each album period, that is ALOT of pedals. http://www.musewiki.org/Bass
Pretty large variety of basses too.

I just searched and there is ALOT of Chris Wolstenholme related threads about his effects.

[bassbrad]

Originally Posted by ClaytonMUSE

I can imagine people looking at it in the way that you see men look in dirty magazines on TV where they turn it on it's side and go "Oofft"



.

Happens to me all the time

[ClaytonMUSE]

Originally Posted by bassbrad

Happens to me all the time

Heyyy.... Look at THAT muff! That's a russian one!

[SoonerMatt]

Tuner, Musket II, and Groove Regulator