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1st Pedal To Get

#4
For rock and blues? The "easy" answer would be to get an overdrive. Now, which one to get is the tricky part ;)
It depends a lot on budget and personal preference. Everyone has their favourite, and you are going to get as many different suggestions as TB members :laugh:

My suggestion would be the TC Electronic Spark (the four-knob version) if you are on a budget or the Way Huge Pork Loin if you have some more coin to spend. But this is your first pedal, and you will have time later on to dive into the bottomless rabbit-hole that is bass effects. For now, what I'd truly recommend is to buy the coolest-looking overdrive that fits in your budget, make that YOUR sound, and rock like there's no tomorrow! :bassist::bassist::bassist:
 
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#10
If you're serious about ZZ Top, what surprised me from their Rig Rundown is that Dusty uses an octaver and an HPF, pretty much always on, I assume to fill sonic space live since they're a trio.

That's not what I'd recommend for most situations, though. What's your budget? What do you want the pedal to DO? I would always say, don't buy gear just to buy gear, buy it because there's a use you have for it.

I think the first pedal I got was an MXR M-80, which I got kind of accidentally as a package deal with a bass I was interested in and wound up keeping longer than the bass. It gives you a preamp/EQ and some reasonably usable distortion, plus a DI, very affordably. The first pedal I remember going out to buy was a Boss bass chorus (CEB-3), which I still have. I bought it because I was looking to find Chris Squire's tone from songs like Starship Trooper.

If you go for a multi, to experiment with all kinds of different effects, take a look at a Zoom B3n. I also like the Tech21 bass Fly Rig - the fuzz/octave section sucks but you can get some decent grit if you play around with the sansamp and boost, and the chorus and compression are quite good.
 
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#12
I have to agree with the aforementioned Zoom multi-FX pedals as they give you a nice cross-section of OD's, modulation, delay, tuner, etc. Find that which best suits your character then start looking at some of the better dedicated components. I have a really nice pedal board but still use an MS60B at home and a SansAmp Bass Fly-Rig at our rehearsal space.

Riis
 
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#13
If we're talking multi effects and exploring what effects do, I would add the Boss GT-1B to this discussion. All the effect types in one box. Some are great, some not so much but its a good starting point with the bonus of a USB out, so you can record direct to laptop if you have Audacity or any other Digital Audio Workstation. It's taught me that I don't like overdrive but really value a good preamp. Octave is more versatile than I thought and actually, I probably would only use 4 or 5 pedals for 99.9% of the time. I guess its saved me $100s and a lot of time working out what I want.
 
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#14
No offense to anyone who may feel differently, but I would not recommend a compressor for a new bass player. I think it is more helpful to develop your technique first and learn to control your dynamics through touch rather than relying on a pedal to do it.

I guess I'd go with an overdrive given the music you are playing. Southampton Fifth Gear is an excellent choice but there are many others.

I would tend to stay away from heavier effects like distortion or fuzz because again they compress your signal. A little light overdrive to give you some girth is all you need.
 
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#18
I was looking for a pedal to buy. Not even sure what it was. Just wanted to “add a little something”. But I looked and looked and when I thought I settled on one, the next day I found something else. Then I asked why am I doing this? I bought T.I. Jazz Flatwounds and whalla-my tone. A thumping sound I love. Maybe down the road I’ll try something but maybe start basic. Play with a pick, or fingers, dynamics, amp settings, Bass tone settings, different strings, string dampener, etc. Plus, practicing instead of constantly searching for the new thing improved my playing better than any pedal! Just my opinion.
 
#19
Something like a TC electronic Spectradrive or an Fender Downtown Express. This gives you a nice basis and won't brake the bank. Or a multi effect like a zoom MS60 or very cheap and nice a Mooer Mod Factory MK II. I would not recommend a pure compressor as a first pedal sinds you would be very disappointed in what it really does... Click on some kind of overdrive and you really hear something. Click on a compressor and you'll be searching for the effect...
 
#20
that's a big, "it depends" question.

if you have an amp with no High Pass Filter or compression, I'd start there.

i like the mention of REDDI to start with so you have i quality DI out with tube warmth. i bring my Focusrite ISAone when going ampless.

the grace designs felix/alix/bix makes a great platform to build from as it has lots of eq options all in one box but a "flat palate".
 

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