New to bass - need pedal advice please.

tbof · #1 05-02-2011, 11:50 AM

Hi guys,

Well, as the title indicates, I'm new to bass and I'd like to get some advice please.

I already own a few guitar pedals (Boss BF-2 Flanger, MXR Phase 90, Danelectro Tremolo and Dan-Echo - although I think that last one is broken). I also have a VOX Tonelab LE effects processor. I was wondering if some guitar pedals are any good to use with bass and if so which ones? or is it better to buy made for bass pedals only?

My rig is a Fender Jazz bass and a new Ampeg PF-350 Watts Portaflex head with a 1x15 cab. The amp has an effects loop. Our band is into classic rock, prog rock, blues rock and we like to experiment with sounds.

I guess my question is, if you had to chose to have only 1 or 2 pedals for your bass, which one(s) would you chose?

Thanks.

insomniac2295 · #2 05-02-2011, 11:59 AM

Fuzz (i.e. Fuzzrocious, Sanford and Sonny, Wren and Cuff, etc.)
Delay (i.e. Line 6, TC Electronics, Boss, etc.)

Marginal Tom · #3 05-02-2011, 12:11 PM

Most effects pedals will play better if they're between your bass and your amp, rather than in your effects loop. Refer to the Effects forum regarding this topic and the best order for your pedals. When in doubt, experiment!

fourstringdrums · #4 05-02-2011, 12:12 PM

I'd have a compression to go with the amp and bass for even more of a vintage tone that I like. But if I had to go with an "effect", it'd be an MXR M-82 Envelope Filter.

tbof · #5 05-02-2011, 12:38 PM

Thanks guys.

Just had a listen to the MXR M-82 Env Filter pedal and it sure brings a lot of funk to the sauce!

Nice pedal.

The MXR El Grande bass fuzz sounds pretty good too.

Colonel129 · #6 05-02-2011, 12:47 PM

Fuzz, Filter, Octaver, and Tuner... that's as "minimal" as I get. LOL

arthur31686 · #7 05-02-2011, 12:55 PM

I couldn't live without a tuner pedal when playing live. Nothing is more embarrassing then realizing you and the band are not in tune mid song. No way to fix it until the song is done.

Yes that boss tuner pedal is worth 100 dollars new.

BruceBass3901 · #8 05-02-2011, 12:58 PM

A tuner is a must have in my opinion (assuming you don't have a rack tuner or something with a built in tuner), but other than that, I would say some kind of dirt (overdrive, fuzz, distortion, etc.) and either a filter of modulation (chorus, flanger or phaser)

My 'go to' pedals at the moment are my Fuzzrocious Grey Stache + fuzz (when it arrives, but I know I will love it

) and my Boss BF-2 flanger

Colonel129 · #9 05-02-2011, 01:01 PM

Any pedal can find a use on bass. However, the primary complaint from bassists regarding the use of "non-bass" guitar pedals is the low-end "suck". This comes from a pedal made for electric guitar that has its tonal range focused for its intended frequency range. Again, a higher range then bass, so the lower frequencies produced by the bass get... well, not included into the final audio product. There are a multitude of pedals in the world that will sound exactly the way you want them to with your bass, and there will be even more that you will HATE!!!

Your best bet is to do your research... read reviews, find out what your favorite band's bassist uses, watch youtube clips, go to guitar shops and plug into every box they got (excluding the shop wench, of course)... Just remember everybody has a different combination of tastes when it comes to sound, and the only person who will be able to tell you what kinda pedals sound good with your style, is you.

CHILDISHGAMBINO · #10 05-02-2011, 04:17 PM

All of the pedals you have will work on bass. I don't know about your multi but all the individual pedals will work just fine. If you're playing mostly rockish stuff and you only want 2 pedals then a your Phase 90 or Bf2 and a fuzz or distortion would be what I'd use but I wouldn't just use 2 pedals. I'd use everything you already have minus the multi and add fuzz. I'd replace or repair your echo pedal as well. Some guitar pedals sound great on bass some bass specific pedals sound great on bass. Works the other way around too. You just have to start experimenting and find out what you like.

RickenBoogie · #11 05-02-2011, 05:25 PM

+1 to all that, especially the part about NOT using stomp boxes in an amps fx loop. That's for line level gear mostly, just run with what you have, in front of the amp.

tbof · #12 05-02-2011, 06:40 PM

All right, thanks guys. I tried the multi effects processor with my rig and there are a few effects that sound very good. The Octafuzz (Tycobrahe Octavia), Fuzz (EH Big Muff), Octave (MXR Blue Box?), Classic Flanger (MXR M-117 Flanger) work best. Sounds good with a little Spring or Bounce Reverb too.

tbof · #13 05-03-2011, 11:39 AM

Is it possible to use stomp boxes in conjunction with a multiple effects unit? Would that be safe or ill advised?