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07-25-2010, 02:33 PM
| | | | Effects suitable for bass
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How can you tell if an effect pedal is suitable for bass? Some pedals are labeled specifically for bass, others have separate inputs for bass, while others don't mention bass at all. Is it a buy-it-and-try-it kind of thing, is there a rule of thumb to go by (e.g. delays and compressors are always suitable for bass whereas distortions and modulators are not unless labeled as such), or should you just not buy a pedal that does not say it is suitable for bass?
Thanks!
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07-25-2010, 02:38 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: WI, USA | | | It really does vary. If it's not specifically labeled for bass, the best thing to do is find reviews and see if any bass players mention using them and liking the results.
In general, I think digital delays are ok for just about anything. After that, it's a crap shoot ... |
07-25-2010, 02:40 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Wakefield, UK | | Quote:
Originally Posted by over_the_moon  Is it a buy-it-and-try-it kind of thing | Yes. This is pretty much it. Also, read around on this forum. There's a lot of information about which effects are suited for bass.
OD/Distortion/Fuzz pedals are renowned for being the worst offenders when it comes to low-end loss so you should definitely try those before you buy. There are various effects types that are usually bass friendly (delay for example), but there can still be exceptions.
In conclusion:
1) Read up on the subject. A lot.
2) Try before you buy whenever you can. 
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07-25-2010, 02:41 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: from dublin live århus.denmark | | | i use only 3 boss effects chorus octave and Compressor Sustainer all 3 as far as i know are for guitar,,,the chorus is better sounding than the "bass" chorus..just works for me...(all for the fretless)
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07-25-2010, 02:42 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: America's High-Five | | A much friendlier responce than I would've given 
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07-25-2010, 02:42 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: WI, USA | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Eric! A much friendlier responce than I would've given | That's only because you're a terrible person.
KIDDING!!!!  |
07-25-2010, 02:45 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: America's High-Five | | | I'm just extremely impatient!
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07-25-2010, 02:47 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: WI, USA | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Eric! I'm just extremely impatient! | 
I still ask my fair share of VERY simple questions about some subjects, so I try to pay the patience forward. |
07-25-2010, 02:48 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: America's High-Five | | | might not be a bad idea..
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07-25-2010, 03:11 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Brisbane, QLD, Australia | | | Phasers also seem to work well for either bass or guitar.
With the previous post mentioning fuzz and loss of bottom end, it's because these pedals tend to boost/cut certain frequencies as well as applying the effect. There are an enourmous range of different effects and times each effect by about 100 for the actual brands and models you can get and it's really hard to give a definitive answer.
Best thing to do is try them yourself AND read some reviews on the desired effect. Chances are if a typical effect isn't suitable for bass and guitar there'll be a bass version for it (like the Big Muff for example). But there are always exceptions and people will use things that typical won't "work" to get new and interesting sounds out of them.
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07-25-2010, 03:15 PM
| | | | Just use anything that you like the way it sounds. If it gets lost pick up a LS-2 or other blender and blend some clean back in.
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07-25-2010, 03:17 PM
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Accessories Sales Associate, Guitar Center Rancho Cucamonga, CA | | Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Upland, California | | | One way to see if the pedal in question is bass-frinendly would be to look for reviews on this forum. There is usually at least one (if not more than one) person who has given reviews on any given pedal in the past with regards to bass.
Other than that, it would have to be a "try it for yourself" type of thing. Generally speaking, most pedals that were designed with bass in mind will work with a bass guitar, and most pedals that were designed for guitar can work for bass, but may not work the best for bass (may cut some low end out). |
07-25-2010, 03:32 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: A small town in Iowa | | | does the Ibanez CS9 Streo/Chorus pedal work for bass?
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07-25-2010, 03:33 PM
| | Seer of all that is done there
Accessories Sales Associate, Guitar Center Rancho Cucamonga, CA | | Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Upland, California | | | Sure does. I own (and am selling off) the Maxon version of this. Works great for bass, but is a little more subtle than other choruses (chori?). This, of course, is not necessarily a bad thing. |
07-25-2010, 03:37 PM
|  | Superfast 2.0 | | Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: San Antonio, TX | | | Most pedals will work. Distortion/OD/fuzz needs to be bass-tailored and will usually have the word "bass" in their name. |
07-25-2010, 04:21 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Virginia Beach, VA | | Quote:
Originally Posted by SoonerMatt Most pedals will work. Distortion/OD/fuzz needs to be bass-tailored and will usually have the word "bass" in their name. | Erm...
Electro-Harmonix Big Muff
Maestro Brassmaster
Sola Sound Tone Bender
Ibanez Tube Screamer
Boss DS-1
Lovetone Big Cheese
Vox Superfuzz
These, and many more, I have seen used on bass. What matters is not whether it's a "bass" pedal or not, but if it retains or can be set up to retain an acceptable amount of low end, i.e. using a blending looper.
Don't read the labels, go with what your ears tell you. |
07-25-2010, 04:59 PM
| | Seer of all that is done there
Accessories Sales Associate, Guitar Center Rancho Cucamonga, CA | | Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Upland, California | | Quote:
Originally Posted by FreaqyFrequency Erm...
Electro-Harmonix Big Muff
Maestro Brassmaster
Sola Sound Tone Bender
Ibanez Tube Screamer
Boss DS-1
Lovetone Big Cheese
Vox Superfuzz
These, and many more, I have seen used on bass. What matters is not whether it's a "bass" pedal or not, but if it retains or can be set up to retain an acceptable amount of low end, i.e. using a blending looper.
Don't read the labels, go with what your ears tell you. | To be fair, the Big Muff is specifically one of the Russian models as they have different circuitry from most others.
The Brassmaster was also made for bass (its full name is the Maestro Bass Brassmaster) and comes with a built-in blend (bass and fuzz volume controlls). However, this one sounds awesome with bass or guitar.
However, I will agree that there are many different pedals out there that are not intended for bass, but are still used to awesome effect. |
07-25-2010, 05:15 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: PL | | Quote:
Originally Posted by FreaqyFrequency Vox Superfuzz | It's Univox and this pedal is useless on bass without a blend. |
07-25-2010, 06:27 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Virginia Beach, VA | | Quote:
Originally Posted by jetofuj It's Univox and this pedal is useless on bass without a blend. | Quite right, sorry for the mistake, and...I had confused this one with the Shin Ei Companion Fuzz anyway. I'm not the most avid Colin Greenwood fan, admittedly, but mistaking this surely confirms that. |
07-25-2010, 07:24 PM
|  | I'd kill for a Nobel Peace Prize! | | Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Ottawa, Canada | | Quote:
Originally Posted by FreaqyFrequency Erm...
Boss DS-1
These, and many more, I have seen used on bass. What matters is not whether it's a "bass" pedal or not, but if it retains or can be set up to retain an acceptable amount of low end, i.e. using a blending looper.
Don't read the labels, go with what your ears tell you. | The Boss DS-1 generally needs mods to work well with bass. | | Thread Tools | Search this Thread | | | | 
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