A "Getting Started" Pedal Ensemble

[Daede]

So,

Tax season is coming up, and I'm going to have some cash to help flesh-out my current setup (which is admittedly not spectacular.. Currently I only have a Line-6 LD15). Here's what I'm thinking of getting:

1) Electro Harmonix Bass Big Muff for OD
2) BOSS GEB7 7-Band EQ
3) Digitech BP90 Multi-effects processor

I don't have a lot of money, and all this falls just under $300, so it fits my budget well.

What I'm looking for is input on these models individually, how [well] they interact with one another, and any issues I can expect to rise from a setup like this.

Thanks in advance for your input

[Robertron]

That sounds like my old, old setup.

EHX black Russian Big Muff Pi > Boss GEB-7 > Digitech BP200

I can't speak for the EHX Bass Big Muff, but if the BP90 is anything similar to the BP200 it should be a good place to start and play and learn more about effects. The Boss GEB-7 is okay too. It isn't as simple to set an EQ setting you'll like with a graphic equalizer as it is with a parametric EQ but I felt like I had more control when I used the GEB-7 to EQ my fuzz tone.

[Bassforyourface]

I'm not a huge pedal guy, but I do have a Big Muff and I LOVE IT. I know there are better overdrive/fuzz boxes in the world (like a zvex woolly mammoth) but for the price the Big Muff is a great value.

As for the digitech, I am NOT A FAN. All the sounds on those things sound VERY VERY digital and IMO kind of lame. I don't mean to yuck your yum but I would play one for a while before buying it. you might come to realise that even though there are "hundreds of voices" none of them are very good.

My friend and I used to joke how a lot of guitar players with digitechs will say "oh it makes my $100 ibanez into my 15 watt crate amp sound like a 1967 fender strat into a marshall tube amp" but really it just sounds like a $100 ibanez being played through a mediocre digital effects pedal through a 15 watt practice amp.

as i said, sorry to go in on digitechs but i think they're sub-par.

[doctorpunch]

I'm not big on Muffs really, They always seem to suck tone and volume and just add sizzle. The only fuzz I thought was decent was Pig's Disnortion, but they're like $300.

Yeah, I contributed nothing.

[Stinger5]

Originally Posted by doctorpunch

I'm not big on Muffs really,

That what she said lol

[Bassforyourface]

zinggggggggggggg

[newbold]

the pigtronix disnortion should be found for under $200 used or closeout on ebay from time to time (I think mine was closer to $100 before shipping last christmas)

that being said, I recommend getting low cost used single stompboxes one at a time instead of a multi.

start with a boss chorus and save the extra cash for more pedals or replacements and for extra spending money.

you won't be disappointed.

[Daede]

Okay, going on the recommendations here, this is my updated list:

1) Electro-Harmonix XO Bass Big Muff
2) Boss GEB-7 Bass Equalizer
3) Boss CEB-3 Bass Chorus
4) Electro-Harmonix Nano Bassballs Bass Envelope Filter
5) Boss TU-3 Chromatic Pedal Tuner

I'm up to about $500 (Edit: with patch cables and multi-unit power supply), and that's the ceiling...

Opinions?

[speedbump]

Originally Posted by Daede

Okay, going on the recommendations here, this is my updated list:

1) Electro-Harmonix XO Bass Big Muff
2) Boss GEB-7 Bass Equalizer
3) Boss CEB-3 Bass Chorus
4) Electro-Harmonix Nano Bassballs Bass Envelope Filter
5) Boss TU-3 Chromatic Pedal Tuner

I'm up to about $500 (Edit: with patch cables and multi-unit power supply), and that's the ceiling...

Opinions?

Looks good but instead of the Boss TU -3 I would go with a Korg Pitchblack.Also,some/most amps have enough EQ that the Boss equalizer may not be necessary.Definitely keep the CEB-3 on the list. Good Luck . I forgot to mention that the Korg has a 9 volt output Jack for powering other pedals.Very handy.

[Iceman500]

Originally Posted by Daede

Okay, going on the recommendations here, this is my updated list:

1) Electro-Harmonix XO Bass Big Muff
2) Boss GEB-7 Bass Equalizer
3) Boss CEB-3 Bass Chorus
4) Electro-Harmonix Nano Bassballs Bass Envelope Filter
5) Boss TU-3 Chromatic Pedal Tuner

I'm up to about $500 (Edit: with patch cables and multi-unit power supply), and that's the ceiling...

Opinions?

I would get a compressor instead of the EQ.

[Headless Llama]

Korg Pitchblack for sure. I love mine!

Also, I would get a EHX Small Clone instead of the Boss unit.
I agree that you might not need the EQ as well.

Ok, now that all of the Boss units are off the list

[Daede]

200mA doesn't seem like very much.. How many of those pedals would it power? I'd probably get this anyways because it's cheaper and I've had great experiences with Korg products.

My amp already has a decent compressor built into it, and I suppose I could EQ through it, too.

Lemme fiddle with my wish list and see how it goes.
Thanks for all the great input, guys

[surfingbird1]

Korg pitchblack
Ehx bass big muff
Ehx q tron

Or

Although , there was good advice given earlier to wait and buy used in tb classifieds and eBay that is usually what I do, and if it makes me wait long enough I'll eventually lose the gas and move on, end up saving me money in the long run

[Daede]

Updated List:

1) Korg Pitchblack Tuner
2) EHx Bass Big Muff
3) EHx Bassballs Envelope Filter
4) EHx Small Clone
5) Patch Cables & 5-jack power cord

$365

Hell of a lot better, and EHx seems to get better reviews than Boss. Though, as I'm buying all of this new, I plan to spend some time trying them all, as well as a few other models of each type.

[speedbump]

If you need to know the current draw of EHX pedals,click on the link below. It's not complete but it might help

https://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?...CJXI1aEF#gid=0

[Daede]

So,

I go to Guitar Center to test drive the updated list, and guess what? Aside from the Korg tuner, they had *NOTHING* in stock. They had a total of about 8 bass pedals (mostly Boss, which I'm not super interested in, and some Mark Bass, which is a little more expensive than I'm trying to spend), and one Zoom multi-effects pedal.

So then I decided to try Sam Ash. Even smaller selection of the exact same pedals (minus the Korg tuner), and no multi-effects pedals to speak of at all.

W T F, man...

So, basically what they're telling me is that I have to go into my purchase totally blind, without trying a single one of the pedals I'm considering buying... That's wholly unacceptable.

Here's my plan: I'm going to order 3 or 4 different brands of each type of pedal I want to purchase online from Guitar Center. That's 3 different brands of OD pedal, 3 different brands of tuners, and so on. When they arrive, I'm going to take 3 days to try them all and decide which from each category I want to keep. Once I've got that sorted out, I'm going to pack the rest back into their boxes and return them to my local GC.

Maybe they'll take the hint and start stocking bass effects instead of catering solely to guitarists.. At the very least, that particular store will have a decent selection for a while.

[Headless Llama]

That can be frustrating. Guitar center needs to stock up on the pedals!

[speedbump]

I don't know where you live but here in Knoxville,TN we have 2 BestBuys,one of which has a pretty complete music store right on the premises.Good variety of amps,pedals,etc.Check around,I'm sure we're not the only ones that have this.Cool thing is,it's directly next to GC.

[blastjv]

Not telling you what to do (and I don't know what type or 'level' of music you're doing - ie bedroom, coffehouse, bar, stadium, etc), but have you considered upgrading to a more giggable amp? That sounds to me like a better investment than all the pedals you are considering, especially buying them new...

Just a thought.....


-JV

[Daede]

Originally Posted by blastjv

Not telling you what to do (and I don't know what type or 'level' of music you're doing - ie bedroom, coffehouse, bar, stadium, etc), but have you considered upgrading to a more giggable amp? That sounds to me like a better investment than all the pedals you are considering, especially buying them new...

Just a thought.....


-JV

I'm not ready to start gigging yet. When I am, I already have a good idea what direction I'm going in (Ampeg 4x10, Ampeg 1x15, Ampeg Head).

The $300- $500 I have to spend right now wouldn't even make a dent in that.