Suggestions for an FX newb

DudeistMonk · #1 10-09-2008, 08:14 AM

I'm a complete FX newb... I never really had the time or intense desire, but the other day my amp started coming loose from the wall socket and producing this muted distortion while I was noodling (sounded like it was an underwater guitar)...It was actually really inspiring and a lot of fun until the amp completely died and I had to plug it back in. So now I'm thinking its time to explore FX a little bit.

So you guys have any recommendations for a good pedal that will give me a tasteful distortion? I don't play metal or anything, more like funky rock. Any other suggestions for essential bass FX?

Sorry if this is the 20,000th post on this subject I don't hang out in the FX forum a lot (obviously).

Thanks,
Chris

Noosh · #2 10-09-2008, 08:32 AM

I would suggest looking into the Ibanez PD7, it was my first pedal about 3 years and i still have it, and still love it. it has a lot of tonal options and its relatively cheap [50 bucks on Musicians Friend]. It has Gain, Bass, Treble, and volume knobs, and also two 3 position switches one for clean/OD/Distortion, and one for Attack.

Another distortion/OD pedal I have and use quite frequently is the Digitech Bass Driver. It also has a wide range of sounds, but it also has a blend knob which you can use to mix you dry and wet [affected and unnaffected] signals to get some different degrees of grit going on. As far as EQ it only has a tone knob where the Ibanez has 2 separate knobs for bass and treble, but this knob does essentially the same thing. also has a morph knob, with 3 different voicings that you can use independently or mixed together, its almost like a gain knob but not quite. and then of course a level knob. no switches to play with on this one though. and its a tad more expensive @ 80 bucks new on Musicians Friend.

just remember though, as always try before you buy, if entirely possible to find out if they are right for you. and there is nothing wrong with going used, we have some great classifieds here on TB and there are usually great deals to be had.

Happy Hunting and good luck!

-Noosh

slyjoe · #3 10-09-2008, 08:37 AM

You may want to find a used multi-effect pedal to try out different effects. See what you want before you go all in on a bunch of pedals.

DudeistMonk · #4 10-09-2008, 09:25 AM

Quote:

You may want to find a used multi-effect pedal to try out different effects. See what you want before you go all in on a bunch of pedals.

Thanks for the suggestion, I used to have a multi (but it sat around for years with the batteries still inside) and when I had it I was too much of a bass newb to get anything out of it (just a kid who thought effects where a shortcut to playing better).

Anyway, I'm trying to avoid getting another because I can't see it working in a jam/live situation, too many things to set up and that can get messed up/ programmed in wrong.

Quote:

I would suggest looking into the Ibanez PD7, it was my first pedal about 3 years and i still have it, and still love it. it has a lot of tonal options and its relatively cheap [50 bucks on Musicians Friend]. It has Gain, Bass, Treble, and volume knobs, and also two 3 position switches one for clean/OD/Distortion, and one for Attack.

Another distortion/OD pedal I have and use quite frequently is the Digitech Bass Driver. It also has a wide range of sounds, but it also has a blend knob which you can use to mix you dry and wet [affected and unnaffected] signals to get some different degrees of grit going on. As far as EQ it only has a tone knob where the Ibanez has 2 separate knobs for bass and treble, but this knob does essentially the same thing. also has a morph knob, with 3 different voicings that you can use independently or mixed together, its almost like a gain knob but not quite. and then of course a level knob. no switches to play with on this one though. and its a tad more expensive @ 80 bucks new on Musicians Friend.

just remember though, as always try before you buy, if entirely possible to find out if they are right for you. and there is nothing wrong with going used, we have some great classifieds here on TB and there are usually great deals to be had.

Happy Hunting and good luck!

-Noosh

Thanks, I'll check those out in Sam Ash on my way to practice tonight.

slyjoe · #5 10-09-2008, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DudeistMonk

...

Anyway, I'm trying to avoid getting another because I can't see it working in a jam/live situation, too many things to set up and that can get messed up/ programmed in wrong.

...

I hear what you are saying - that's why when I was experimenting I went with the ME-50B. You don't have to program anything, but can if you want. Just use the knobs and you can basically get 3/4 simultaneous effects.

DudeistMonk · #6 10-09-2008, 10:05 AM

Quote:

I hear what you are saying - that's why when I was experimenting I went with the ME-50B. You don't have to program anything, but can if you want. Just use the knobs and you can basically get 3/4 simultaneous effects.

Oh wow...I just looked that up. I was using a zoom pedal that was impossible to program (and I'm a web developer). I would spend more time scrolling through effects than actually playing with them. This looks really simple and easy, knobs instead of menus, none of that guessing at what abbreviations where which effects crap. How is the wah/volume pedal?...on the zoom it was so short there was basically full down or full off no in-between (like the pedal of a go cart not a car) and it was essentially useless.

Noosh · #7 10-09-2008, 10:13 AM

yea, if your going to go with a multi effects unit go with one of the ones that are kind of based on stompboxes instead of patches. for instance it has a footswitch for each different effects. one for distortion/overdrive, one for modulation, etc etc. 2 brands that come to mind are boss [ME-50B, GT6b] and Line 6 [Bass Pod XT live].

they will help you find out what effects you like and/or would actually use. and then from there you can go on to figuring out what specific brands pedals you like for each effect.

slyjoe · #8 10-09-2008, 10:15 AM

The pedal is fine in my mind. YMMV. You can download the manual to explore further at:

http://www.bosscorp.co.jp/products/e...&dsp=1&iStcd=4

DudeistMonk · #9 10-09-2008, 10:27 AM

Thanks a lot guys! Posting on TB before shopping always makes me aware of more options. I'm gonna go to the store and give these two multi effects a try.

kaputsport · #10 10-09-2008, 11:32 AM

There is a new $500 pedal made by Digitech I think, which is all stomp box based, and holds tons of tonal possibilities. The resale value if you don't like it is still high, and you will get great distortion, delay, and other modulation effects for one price.

Just one other Idea.

DudeistMonk · #11 10-09-2008, 01:00 PM

Quote:

There is a new $500 pedal made by Digitech I think, which is all stomp box based, and holds tons of tonal possibilities. The resale value if you don't like it is still high, and you will get great distortion, delay, and other modulation effects for one price.

Just one other Idea.

I'll look into this one as well, although going from waking up this morning and saying to myself "I got a raise, I think I'll buy an FX pedal." Now its 3 O'clock and I'm saying "I'm buying an FX pedal I think I'm going to need a loan."

cheapbasslovin · #12 10-09-2008, 02:26 PM

Going with a multi on the cheap, I'd say Zoom B2. Still need to program it, but it's not as bad to program as the 607 set was, and it sounds pretty good.

The one Kaputsport was talking about is probably the Line 6 M13. It's pretty cool and really easy to use, but costs a lot. Unreal flexibility, though.

You think you're in bad shape from this morning to now, wait for another year and then see what you've got yourself into.

kevteop · #13 10-09-2008, 02:45 PM

I'm going to go against the grain here and say screw multis. They'll probably just turn you off all the effects that they do badly, and make you jones for effects they do well that you might not want or need.

Start tagging stuff on eBay, do your research on the stuff you find, getting opinions here, looking for sound clips in the FX Wiki, reading Harmony Central reviews, buy a bunch of used stomp boxes that you like the look of, sell on the ones you decide you don't want (after trying the lot in various pedal orders and combinations) for very little loss, possibly a small profit, within 6 months and a turnover of maybe 20 or so pedals (if you're really going for non-standard bass sounds, maybe less if you're just after a couple of different sounds, fuzz and O/D or whatever) you'll know what you want and have a pretty good idea of exactly which boxes will do it.

Then a couple of months later you'll change your mind. But that's what effects do to you. You'll decide you don't need that, but you'd quite like this, and you'll come here and ask for opinions and get recommended some crazy boutique box that some madman in Omaha will build for you (no offence Mario, I'm still very happy with my pedals!) and the whole cycle repeats.

But that's the fun of it.

DudeistMonk · #14 10-09-2008, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Going with a multi on the cheap, I'd say Zoom B2. Still need to program it, but it's not as bad to program as the 607 set was, and it sounds pretty good.

Yeah that is what I had, the 607.

DudeistMonk · #15 10-10-2008, 08:16 AM

Quote:

yea, if your going to go with a multi effects unit go with one of the ones that are kind of based on stompboxes instead of patches. for instance it has a footswitch for each different effects. one for distortion/overdrive, one for modulation, etc etc. 2 brands that come to mind are boss [ME-50B, GT6b] and Line 6 [Bass Pod XT live].

Hey I figured I'd let you guys know I went with the Line6 BassPOD live. I was up till 3 last night figuring out how to use it and playing around. The manual is the a grand tour of bass amps and effects from the past 50 years.

I started here yesterday morning thinking I need effects, in reality I think I needed a warmer, more interesting tone more than anything, this is giving it to me in spades. I also was going to invest in a better way to record stuff (instead of using my computers system mic) this gave that to me as well.

I couldn't be happier, thanks a lot guys for turning me on to whole aspect of bassmanship that I totally overlooked for way too long.

::Saint:: · #16 10-10-2008, 10:21 AM

Glad you found what you were looking for.. I started with a Zoom B2.1u and ended up buying a bunch of separate pedals that did more what I was looking for than the multi ever did. Unfortunately it seems that multis don't always co-exist well with other pedals (mine was just throwing all sorts of wacky gain into the mix and made all of my distortion pedals unuseable).. so I trashed it. It was really handy for EQing on the fly, but not much else once I had a Blowtorch, PD-7, SB-7, and now my Bass Big Muff..

I hear the POD is awesome though, so rock on!