Effects Newbie

[Buckeyeman93]

Ok, so I'm looking into getting some effects, but I don't know how to decide what to get I know I want an overdrive pedal and the 3 front runners right now are Boss, DigiTech, & EHX. Is any 1 of those better than the others. Another thing I've looked at is just getting a multi-effects pedal to begin with and then go on from there. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Hutzbordello]

multi effects pedals are really only good if they are the more expensive ones. quantity of effects over the quality of them

also I had the Boss odb-3 and it is a super great pedal. The Big Muff is also an amazing pedal and just wacth fomr youtube videos of them or go try them out and whichever sounds better is the one you should get. Either way they are both amazing.

digitech tends to be not as great as the two aforementioned pedals but thats just my opinion.

check the classifieds for them they can go pretty cheap here

best of luck

[Jimbob Jones]

IMO buying a Zoom B1 (or similar) multifx is a great way to get an intro to effects; it will teach you what each effect does and where you can use it, has a lot of useable sounds and will get you used to tweaking.

Once you've found out what effects you will use and what you won't, then it's a good time to start investing in single pedals or a more expensive multi. IMO this is a lot better than wasting money on pedals that you think you'll use, but find that in practice you just don't.

If you definitely want an overdrive, the ODB-3 gets a lot of hate around here, but it's great for over the top fuzzy distortion. I just got a Tech21 XXL Bass and I'm enjoying it so far. More people will chime in with better overdrive recommendations though!

[Buckeyeman93]

How would the DigiTech BP90 compare to the Zoom B1 or even the Zoom B1x

[Swift713]

Try searching for "overdrive" and you'll get a lot more perspective. Likewise for "multi effects," etc.

[fivestringgecko]

Originally Posted by Jimbob Jones

IMO buying a Zoom B1 (or similar) multifx is a great way to get an intro to effects; it will teach you what each effect does and where you can use it, has a lot of useable sounds and will get you used to tweaking.

Once you've found out what effects you will use and what you won't, then it's a good time to start investing in single pedals or a more expensive multi. IMO this is a lot better than wasting money on pedals that you think you'll use, but find that in practice you just don't.

If you definitely want an overdrive, the ODB-3 gets a lot of hate around here, but it's great for over the top fuzzy distortion. I just got a Tech21 XXL Bass and I'm enjoying it so far. More people will chime in with better overdrive recommendations though!

+1 for the multi-effects to start. It's a great way to get started down the slippery slope of pedal G.A.S. lol

Also +1, there's a lot of threads on overdrive, plenty of info to look at. But since I'm currently an overdrive addict, here are a few great ones to get you started:

Catalinbread SFT / Tubeworks Blue Tube (tied for my 1st place preference)
Sansamp VT Bass (just got this one, it's already gaining ground on 1st place)
OLC Flipster (close to neck and neck with the VT)
Way Huge Pork Loin
Sansamp Bass Driver
Voodoo Labs Sparkle Drive (got mine modded by Robert Keeley, makes a great pedal awesome)
Hartke Bass Attack (way underrated around TB, IMO)

The only one on that list I got rid of was the Pork Loin because my Keeley sounds a lot like it. I have a couple others that I didn't mention (Mojo Hand Cream Pie) because they're tough to come by, so I stuck with those that are pretty available and reasonably priced. Don't take that the wrong way though, they all sound awesome! I'd be happy to elaborate on any of them if you're interested!

5sg.

[Chrisk-K]

+1 for the multi-effects to start. It's a great way to get started down the slippery slope of pedal G.A.S. lol

+100

Buy an affordable multi-effect pedal as an education tool. The Digitech BP-80 sells for under $50 on eBay and it sounds fine. Once you get to know the effect of each effect, buy dedicated effect pedals. Soon, you'll be looking out for a new effect pedal like a hungry wolf!

[Tmoney865]

Boss OD 20

Lots of Tone Control and a Low Octaver to make up for Tone loss which most Distortions do to the Bass.

COSM Technology to emulate so many previously established Pedals and 5 Memory Setting plus the manual. I also run through another switchable EQ after the Distortion to resupport the Lowend.

Made my Bass sound like a NASCAR Engine when doing 'Locomotive Breath' by Jethro Tull. (that was a shocker, and generated Recording Excitment from the Band Bosses).

I am sure there are more experienced guys here and more expensive pedals. But since I had familiarity and trust with Boss, that is what I decided to do. I wanted a Library to star with and stayed with what I have.

[NortyFiner]

Originally Posted by Buckeyeman93

Ok, so I'm looking into getting some effects, but I don't know how to decide what to get I know I want an overdrive pedal and the 3 front runners right now are Boss, DigiTech, & EHX. Is any 1 of those better than the others. Another thing I've looked at is just getting a multi-effects pedal to begin with and then go on from there. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

+1 to a multi-effects unit. A good MEU will give you a lot of stuff to muck about with for a relatively small investment, and let you figure out what you REALLY want from effects. Then later on, once you know what you REALLY want, you can invest in individual pedals to suit your tastes.

As for the OD pedals, you pretty much can't go wrong with the Boss ODB-3 as your first overdrive, as long as an over-the-top heavy sound is what you're after. It doesn't do "subtle" very well. For SUBTLE OD, you will want something more along the lines of the Danelectro Cool Cat Transparent OD.

Hope that helps.

[Kromwarp]

Hartke Bass Attack, it has become my only overdrive my board now, great valve overdrive, plus 3 band EQ, Hartke Shape Contour and Blend control, all for $90