Effects: Don't know where to start and I'm already overwhelmed.

[MichaelSmalley]

Hello TB,

Here's the deal. I want to add a few effects to my rig. I would like a Q-tron style filter, a chorus, a bass wah, a delay with some sort of tempo- tap, some kind of fuzz/distortion (nothing crazy, I don't play metal or anything, just a littler dirt... my amp is very clean), and maybe some sort or reverb.

I have no idea where to start. So recommendations on brands or whatever would be welcome. But these things get so friggin complicated. Do I put it in front of my amp in the signal chain? Do I use the effects send? What are the advantages or either (My amp has no effects blend). Then I've heard about adding compression to recover signal loss. I think a multieffects unit might be ok, but they seem to be really complicated to get all the settings at similar volumes... *sigh*

Should I get a bass pod? I don't want amp or cab modeling... Maybe a boss multi-effects unit? I should just hire a personal shopper.

[fitz420]

honestly, i use all analog effects, but you seem like a prime candidate for the line6 m9 or m13's. they do a pretty good job of emulating the boxes they intend to emulate, although be prepared to do some tweaking. they also can do everything you mentioned needing/wanting, and could at least provide you with the ability to try a bunch of effects to see what you may or may not need/want.

if you intend to go the stompbox route, i wouldn't think too much about the fx loop. i'd put them on a board and run them between your bass and amplifier.

[Robertron]

TB is basically a personal shopper when you're looking for effects.



A boss multi-effect will get you started. Digitech makes some cheap ones. The Bp200 has a wah simulator for you to play with. Both brands manufacture pretty cheap multieffect units, so does Zoom.

If you read the manual they're very easy to program and operate.

In front of the amp is usually better than using the effects loop. The effects loop is more set for rack gear than pedals.

[TheMutt]

I'll agree with the Line M9/13 suggestion. It has all of the effects that you are looking for and more. Programming doesn't seem to be too much of a bother, while there is some learning curve to overcome to be sure.

If you were looking for individual effects, what would your effects priorities be, that is, which one(s) would you want to have right away and which one(s) would you be able to wait on?

Also, what is your budget for pedals?
This will factor in which effects people will suggest to you, as we wouldn't be suggesting something like a $500 single effect pedal when your budget for all pedals combined is $100.

[ripman3]

The reason that i would not start with a multi effects unit is that it can get pretty overwhelming, and you already seem to be having that problem. I would suggest maybe a fuzz/distortion and a auto-wah/envelope filter to start out with. Electro Harmonix, MXR, and Boss, to name a few, make good pedals for affordable prices so you can start out simple and cheap to get your feet wet.

[MichaelSmalley]

My priorities I think are Envelope/Q-tron type effect and a delay.

I'm open to a multi-effect setup, but I recently upgraded amps from a Line 6 to a great 1000 watt head. The line 6 had a few built in effects, which were cool but it seemed next to impossible to get nice even volume on all the channels. I had that amp and gigged with it for a couple years and it seemed like I couldn't quite get it right no matter how much I tweaked the settings. Later I bought a bass floor pod and had the same problems but maybe a little worse. Granted the bass floor-pod is sort of a POS... but my experiences with that amp and the floor pod sort of made me think twice about multieffect units.

As far as price is concerned, I'm willing to spend some loot, but I probably won't be rushing out to drop 500 bucks on a single pedal. If I opt for a multieffect unit... I'll figure for a few hundred dollars. Single pedals seem like they will end up being more expensive- at about 100-150 bucks each for the stuff I've seen. I just want something that's simple and intuitive.

[Robertron]

If you know which effects you desire most you can start reading reviews/impressions of different envelope filters and delay pedals and start listening to clips online.

Abuse store return policies as well to try different pedals out with your own gear until you find the right one.

[FoHBass]

Originally Posted by MichaelSmalley

As far as price is concerned, I'm willing to spend some loot, but I probably won't be rushing out to drop 500 bucks on a single pedal. If I opt for a multieffect unit... I'll figure for a few hundred dollars. Single pedals seem like they will end up being more expensive- at about 100-150 bucks each for the stuff I've seen. I just want something that's simple and intuitive.

Individual pedals are more expensive, but the sound quality is worth it. They're also more intuitive, as each pedal has its own knobs to tweak and there's little to no programming involved. Though if you went the M13 route, those are also pretty easy to operate, moreso than a Boss, Zoom, or Digitech. In fact, the M13 is the first multi-FX unit that's actually impressed me enough to want.

[Matt Dean]

Fuzz/distortion and auto-wah/envelope filters are fun... especially stacked one onto the other.

[Kwesi]

I strongly suggest buying a multi-fx unit (used) since your not exactly sure what you want. It will allow you to try out all kinds of effects to see exactly what you want, like, and what you can actually make use of in a band setting without spending oodles of cash. The Boss GT-10B, imo, is the absolute KING of bass multi-fx right now so I strongly suggest at least giving one a shot. If you find, at some point, that you think individual pedals work better for you then great but coming from a multi-fx you will already know the direction that you want to go in with your board.

[sonic assassin]

yea.. sounds like you need an m9. people are getting really good around here at working all the kinks out of those things. plenty of threads on tricks to make them work for you.