Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
1st Pedal To Get
- Thread starter bogie1519
- Start date
No offense taken, but this just perpetuates the myth that compressors are all about fixing dynamics or bad technique. Not true at all. You can certainly use them do that, but what they really excel at is defining a sonic space for the bass amongst all the instruments in the mix. Recording engineers routinely compress even the best players. They’re not fixing bad technique.
No argument there. They are not sexy. Finding the right compressor for you is like buying tires for your car. It’s more fun to buy an effect with more “wow”, and they are certainly harder to learn how to use correctly, but once you understand them, they will end up being your always on pedal.
I have one pedal. Guess what it is.
+1 on this. A compressor, when set properly, allows you to use the full range of your right hand technique and play with MORE dynamic range without redlining the preamp and also brings out the subtleties of softly plucked notes in the quiet passages. It's the first pedal you need to master (after the tuner).
TurboTuner and then maybe a compressor. If you go the OD route, it can be long and expensive. Buy used so you can flip with little to no loss.
I have the exact same rig, the 2 15s and the Bassman, I love the sound I get from the amp alone, and with the use of the overdrive channel you can get two great bass sounds from the amp direct!
I'd say on stage the thing I found that made it sound over the top was a compressor, first the Diamond Compressor and now the Cali76 Compact Bass. I agree with a lot of other folks though, a pre-amp DI would make sense and/or an overdrive for the type of music you're playing. Personally love all of the Way Huge options (Pork & Pickle being my absolute favorite)
I'd say on stage the thing I found that made it sound over the top was a compressor, first the Diamond Compressor and now the Cali76 Compact Bass. I agree with a lot of other folks though, a pre-amp DI would make sense and/or an overdrive for the type of music you're playing. Personally love all of the Way Huge options (Pork & Pickle being my absolute favorite)
A co-worker's son was getting into bass and asked the same question as his guitarist friends were basically trying to unload their unused pedals on him (phaseshifter, flanger, etc.).
I bought him the Zoom B1on so he could get a taste of everything, and then decide what he wanted so he wouldn't just get suckered. At least that's what I told him.
But, really my idea was not about effects. The Zoom B1 has drum patterns and that is the most important learning/practice tool any player can use.
If you really have your heart set on a pedal and not multi-effects, my suggestions is don't spend a ton of money because you're opening up pandora's box of unlimited flavors and you don't know what you want. Get a Mooer Micro Drummer and Joyo Orange Juice or American Sound (overdrive will naturally act as compression) and do both for around $100 or less out of pocket.
Oh, yeah, and buy a $12 Snark clip-on tuner.
I bought him the Zoom B1on so he could get a taste of everything, and then decide what he wanted so he wouldn't just get suckered. At least that's what I told him.
But, really my idea was not about effects. The Zoom B1 has drum patterns and that is the most important learning/practice tool any player can use.
If you really have your heart set on a pedal and not multi-effects, my suggestions is don't spend a ton of money because you're opening up pandora's box of unlimited flavors and you don't know what you want. Get a Mooer Micro Drummer and Joyo Orange Juice or American Sound (overdrive will naturally act as compression) and do both for around $100 or less out of pocket.
Oh, yeah, and buy a $12 Snark clip-on tuner.
The good tuner pedal allows for silent tuning at the punch of a foot switch on stage. I won't go to a gig without one. No turning around to to hit mute on amp. And can be seen easily in any light conditions.
And the Polytune does some fancy stuff to push button, strum across all strings at one time silently, and it will see each string and note if one is out of tune.
Clip ons can't do that, period. Just saying.
And the Polytune does some fancy stuff to push button, strum across all strings at one time silently, and it will see each string and note if one is out of tune.
Clip ons can't do that, period. Just saying.
+1
i use an older version of the Planet Waves Tru-Strobe Pedal Tuner, because:
- great tracking, no wild swings in the display
- chromatic, not stuck in EADG
- true bypass (mute)
- visible in dark or light
As an Amazon Associate, TalkBass may receive commissions from qualifying purchases made via links on this site.
I say either a preamp with a dirt section for tone shaping and drive or just a really good drive pedal. Best place to start IMO.
I'm going to assume you already have a tuner.
For what you're playing, I would say the Tech 21 SansAmp Bass Driver DI. It's kind of been the standard for decades. I really like the Tech 21 SansAmp VT Bass DI because it gives you a few more flavors of distortion types. Nothing crazy, just some drive with a versatile blend feature.
For what you're playing, I would say the Tech 21 SansAmp Bass Driver DI. It's kind of been the standard for decades. I really like the Tech 21 SansAmp VT Bass DI because it gives you a few more flavors of distortion types. Nothing crazy, just some drive with a versatile blend feature.
You definitely have a point on the multiple strings in tune at once option. The other points, not so much. I've never encountered a bass that didn't have a volume knob for muting or a clip-on that didn't have a lit display.
A lot of times a person who isn't a pedal owner or into pedals is looking for something they can't put into words because they don't have the vocabulary yet. I jumped in feet first and bought a few at once as a first foray. The one that I used the most for the most different songs because I was able to 1) tell a difference with it on and 2) could dial it up or back to create that ( Oh wow that sounds just like "insert song here" )
For me it was fuzz.
For me it was fuzz.
I remember seeing the "rig rundown" for ZZ, and both bass and guitar use the same amps.
Not sure how or if that helps. Maybe it means it's ok to use a guitar preamp / pedal for what you're after.
Not sure how or if that helps. Maybe it means it's ok to use a guitar preamp / pedal for what you're after.
I don't like messing with the volume knob that often, as I can never really exactly set it back to the exact same spot that easily. BTW, I never dime my volume on any of my Spectors.
I play all the stuff you do. Classic Rock, Country. Tuner was my first pedal, followed by a VT Deluxe. Added a compressor later. Don't need anything else. I can get all the goo or clang or dirt that I need, if I need it. Actually my set up is just to fine tune my sound for the mix......I really woudn't need any pedals at all, except a tuner.
But if you like to play around with knobs (I don't) a mult-effects is probably the way to go.
But if you like to play around with knobs (I don't) a mult-effects is probably the way to go.
