getting started

[xltallguy1]

what is one must have pedal for getting started? or do i really not need anything and just run off my amp for the first bit? i will mostly be playing with my church. but i also want to be playing with some guys who are big into metal and rock. any help would be great. i have played guitar for a good amount of time so i have some guitar pedals i COULD use i just dk if that is a good idea or not.

[JonnyAngle]

what do you have?

[bassman1185]

There are few situations where you NEED effects. However, they can be useful to spice things up a bit. Here's what I think most (not all) bassists could use:

Dirt (overdrive is most useful, fuzz is most fun)
Chorus
Sub-octave

Personally, I have three dirt pedals, a synth, a delay that will do chorus sounds, an octave, a tuner, a compressor, and a noise suppressor. It all just depends on your situation.

Also, most guitar pedals will work fine with bass. Some will filter out your low end, but you won't hurt anything by trying them out.

[xltallguy1]

Originally Posted by JonnyAngle

what do you have?

right now i have nothing bass wise not even a bass. i am looking to get one in teh next month though. the only pedal i think i will use from my guitar is a line 6 delay. i might try metal pedal but i dont think that will sound great

[PJMiDi]

Sansamp BDDI, considering you dont have any bass equipment, imo it will prove the most useful.

[JonnyAngle]

Delay is good. The metal might just work well on Bass. You have to try it.

[René_Julien]

Originally Posted by xltallguy1

right now i have nothing bass wise not even a bass. i am looking to get one in teh next month though. the only pedal i think i will use from my guitar is a line 6 delay. i might try metal pedal but i dont think that will sound great

Delay will always be fine on bass. (I have a bunch of delay pedals.)

What do you mean with "metal pedal"?
I gigged a lot with a BOSS Metalzone MT-2. Worked very well.
Although I phased it out for something better, more bass friendly... a fuzz pedal.


You can use your guitar pedals. There is not really pedal that is "guitar-specific".
There are some pedals that are designed especially for bass. Mostly bass versions of a regular pedal... mostly with blend control to keep the lowend.
Just because a pedal doesn't say "bass" on it doesn't mean it can not be used.

Most obvious effects to start of with as a bassist:

overdrive (lots and lots to choose from... the Sansamp VT Bass is the popular kid now... although more of an amp simulator)

chorus (I recommend the BOSS CE-5 chorus, the "guitar" version) or other type of modulation for mellower sound when you play slower passages, like tremelo, rotary or vibrato.

fuzz (lots to choose from) ... heavy


That should get you going.
Or basicly try anything you want. If something sounds great to you go for it.

My opinion is that compressor is very usefull for almost every bassist (except maybe when you have a great tube amp). Not really an effect, can bu used as an effect though.
But compression is a controversial topic around here.
If you are interested in compressors you need to study up on how they work and why you may be need one.

[Floyd Eye]

I would start with either a SansAmp BDDI, RBI or a VT pedal.

[Yerf Dog]

Originally Posted by xltallguy1

i have played guitar for a good amount of time so i have some guitar pedals i COULD use i just dk if that is a good idea or not.

Try 'em. I've been using my GNX4 with some success... and some plain ol' suck.

[cheapbasslovin]

To the OP, you don't need effects to get through any song. I would learn the music and get a feel for it before adding in effects. Once you have a comfort level with the songs, add what you have in slowly and see what works and what doesn't.

[grygrx]

Troll dinged, responses removed. Don't feed the trolls.

[pedroims]

How you run the bass at your church? direct to the board or you are using an amp?

If you running your bass direct I would recomend the sansamp BDDI so you can use it as direct box, if you are using an amp I would recomend the sansamp VT bass.