what are the essentials pedals to start on a pedal board?

[yaboiimizz]

So pretty much i wanna start building a pedal board, i currently have only a cheap multi effetcs pedal whih isnt very good cause i cant really change the effects to how i like them. So what pedals would get me started?

I was thinking stuff like overdrive, chorus, delay and wah.

But what do you guys think?

[GilGB]

Compressor.

[Jibudo]

Tuner

[jwr]

I personally started with a fuzz pedal for bass, but I think a good OD would be a great place to start. What kind of sound are you looking for? Anything in particular that you're interested in?

[yaboiimizz]

Well Justin Chancellor from Tool has really influenced me on starting a pedal board, i love what he does with his pedals and bass. I play Rock, Metal and with my school band thing my music teachers gives me random songs that he likes so i play alot of genres. But pretty much i want some pedals which i can use to get creative intresting basslines from, and that can help me get my sound tight. (:

[cheapbasslovin]

Which multi do you have? What do you like on it, what do you almost like on it, and what do you hate on it? If there is any reasons you like the sound, almost like the sound, or hate the sound that will help also. An example would be, "I really like using the phaser on my B1x, but it is just too subtle and I'm looking for a more extreme sound."

That may help us guide you. Right now we're in 'let me tell you what MY favorite pedal is' territory.

Good luck.

EDIT::: For Tool tone, look here.

[yaboiimizz]

Okay i have a korg AX3G which is a guitar pedal, but i got it for free so yea. I hate the chorus its so hard to get it how i wont it, the overdrives aren't bad i like my overdrive and i wont something better. Delay is also hard to get right. i cant get the octave to work. The only thing i like is the tuner.

As you can see i dont like many things on it, but i use it for my guitar so its not a complete waste (only for distortion tho really), and i never use it for my bass anymore, because it just doesn't help me at all.

[ninepoundjammer]

I have a couple boards. The one that comes on all gigs with me really just has tone-shaping pedals (and a tuner) -- a VT Bass (on all the time), a couple eq's, and a compressor. I used to have a clean boost and an overdrive on that board, but found that the eq's give me more control and get me closer to the sound I'm looking for. For me, those are "essential" pedals.

If I'm playing funk gigs or really any genre where I'll get more opportunity to wank it, I bring my second board -- a couple envelope filters, another overdrive, an octave, and a dual-band comp for slapping.

"Essential" really depends on what you're looking to do to your sound. Some people really like their sound straight into their amp and wouldn't want any of my "tone shaping" pedals. If I was playing funk etc, I could get away with just a filter and octave (or nothing, for that matter). If I was playing more modern rock kind of stuff, I suppose I'd be looking for more aggressive OD's, fuzz, etc, but that's not really my bag.

[Hutzbordello]

distortion/OD/FUZZ

eq

Tuner

Chorus

Delay

and something wierd

i guess that would cover most of what you want to do

[Rockmusician]

Personally, I don't like effects on bass. They tend to muddy the sound. I prefer a clean, punchy, Marcus Miller type of tone.

[CHILDISHGAMBINO]

Originally Posted by Rockmusician

Personally, I don't like effects on bass. They tend to muddy the sound. I prefer a clean, punchy, Marcus Miller type of tone.

That's nice. Pretty sure no one checking the effects section prefers a clean tone all the time. Is the tone in my fingers too? Sheesh.

[cheapbasslovin]

For delay it sounds like you want something with a tap tempo. EHX Deluxe Memory Boy and Boss DD7 are both tap capable, but there are many more tap tempo delays.

I am using a Line6 M13 and it serves A LOT of functions. It is much better than the AX3B I played with at a store for a short time. You may not want another multi for a bit and that is understandable.

I know that Chancellor has had a Sansamp GT2 on his board and a couple of fuzzes as well, but I've never been a Chancellor junkie.

You may want to check out the SansAmp Character series. The VTBass, Leeds, Orange and British have all seen some love around here (although the VT is king by a mile).

I had a SansAmp TriAC a few years ago that I liked better than my SansAmp BDDI. I currently use an EHX English Muff'n as a preamp that sounds great when an overdrive pedal is run into it.

Less expensive routes include the Digitech Bad Monkey, Boss ODB-3, and DOD has a handful of overdrives that work OK for bass. You'll need to try the DOD's on your own as they usually come used.

Again, good luck.

EDIT::: It just occured to me that a great way to get started is to get a Boss LS-2 and a bunch of old DOD pedals. You can score them for as low as $20 each (not the LS-2, but the DODs). Experiment with all kinds of different configurations, then move up to some better pedals once you have an idea what you like and how you like to use it. IMO DOD pedals are great for the money and not bad regardless of price. Their bypass sucks, but you could throw them all in a loop of the LS-2 and use the LS-2 bypass. IMO.

[Bassist30]

Originally Posted by Rockmusician

Personally, I don't like effects on bass. They tend to muddy the sound. I prefer a clean, punchy, Marcus Miller type of tone.

I agree I like a clean Punchy sound also. But as far as Marcus with effects, did you ever see his pedal board?
As far as a start with pedals I would say Chorus, Envelope Filter are first. But there is no right or wrong way. I would try some out and see what is pleasing to you ears.

[Swift713]

Originally Posted by Rockmusician

Personally, I don't like effects on bass. They tend to muddy the sound. I prefer a clean, punchy, Marcus Miller type of tone.

This is helpful huh?
Anyway, opinions are like butt holes, everyone's got one.

[yaboiimizz]

Thanks guys for your inputs, i think i have fair idea of what pedals i wont but im going go try them out.

Quick question tho, could i use guitar pedals for bass and without it sounding bad? mainly like guitar OD pedals seeing there alot cheaper than bass ones.

[cheapbasslovin]

The only issues with guitar pedals is that some of them cut some low end out of your bass. Some do this worse than others, you'll need to try them out to see how they are. The LS-2 would allow you to blend a pedal that cuts bass with your dry signal.

[etoncrow]

Originally Posted by Rockmusician

Personally, I don't like effects on bass. They tend to muddy the sound. I prefer a clean, punchy, Marcus Miller type of tone.

If this is true why are you even surfing the "Effects" forum? Trolling maybe? Around here we'd say you've gone to meddlin'.

As someone else mentioned I always use my Tech 21 VT Deluxe, a Sonic Research Turbo Tuner and an Empress Parametric. I shape my sound with these and keep the EQ on my amps flat. My primary basses also have built in Vari-Tone with six selections (capacitors) and by-pass.

[etoncrow]

Originally Posted by yaboiimizz

...Quick question tho, could i use guitar pedals for bass and without it sounding bad? mainly like guitar OD pedals seeing there alot cheaper than bass ones.

If you hang out in the effects forum and study threads like "five effects you cannot live w/o" you will discover what effects other people really like and many will mention that the guitar effect can be used and in some cases preferred to the bass effect.

[kenstee]

Originally Posted by yaboiimizz

Quick question tho, could i use guitar pedals for bass and without it sounding bad? mainly like guitar OD pedals seeing there alot cheaper than bass ones.

Varies by pedal. For example Boss BF-2 Flanger is felt to be better (by many) than it's bass equivalent (BF-2B.) Same with Boss Choruses. Many feel the bass versions are not as good sounding as the guitar ones. But, YMMV. It's your ears and your musical vision.

[dreasher54]

I actually am not a huge fan of bass pedals. The only one I have is a wah very funky fun sound with that.