• 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

#61
I'd go to a music store and try out different kinds of pedals. Then if I was still confused about what to get, I would come back and ask a more specific question. Something like "what is your favourite dirt pedal under $300 for bass?" is a lot easier to answer than "what is the single pedal I should get?"

What particular sound do you want that your rig can't do by itself?

I personally prefer single or dual effects pedals to multi-effect units, as I feel like a single well regarded effect is going to do that one effect better than a multi unit will do all of the effects. I'm also old and crabby and often prefer analog effects to digital ones (but the differences become less and less each year).

Here are some pedals I would look for to try out at my local or big box music store, in no particular order. Way Huge Pork and Pickle (bass od/fuzz). Way Huge Purple Platypus (octave up fuzz). DOD boneshaker (od/distortion pedal with a built in semi-parametric eq). Crowther Prunes and Custard (lovely madness). Morley dual boost distortion pedal (od/distortion + boost). EarthQuaker Devices Plumes (basically it's a bass friendly TubeScreamer type od pedal). Xotic ep booster is a fantastic sweetener without changing your tone and great as a solo volume bump (use the 2 internal dip switches and your ears to find the right levels for you). Darkglass Alpha-Omega ultimate (too rich for my blood). JHS Pandamonium (svt pre-amp and fuzz in one pedal).

Finally, search the used market in your area and the classified section here on TB. Best of luck to you in your tone quest!
 
  • Like
Reactions: chiphaleonbass
#62
tpaul said:
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.
Click to expand...

OP never said he was a new player, and he joined Talkbass in 2012.
 
#63
Eddie LeBlanc said:
Tuner .... absolutely the 1st thing
View attachment 3658380
And then a good Compressor
(this is the one I have, great tube compressor - but discontinued by Markbass after years of production, maybe a used one is out there)
View attachment 3658381
Click to expand...

Talkbass's idea that compressors are essential is way off the mark. How many years did bassists perform live before pedal compressors even existed? I rarely see pro touring bassists using them live on their pedalboards. I'm not saying compression is useless, at all, but they are in no way fundamental or essential to performing in a live band situation.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Standalone
#65
matante said:
Talkbass's idea that compressors are essential is way off the mark. How many years did bassists perform live before pedal compressors even existed? I rarely see pro touring bassists using them live on their pedalboards. I'm not saying compression is useless, at all, but they are in no way fundamental or essential to performing in a live band situation.
Click to expand...
I agree. I only step on the compressor when I use overdrive and distortion pedals.
 
#66
1 single pedal is a box you cannot keep closed. For most southern rock I tend to use a tuner>compressor>overdrive>overdrive

1 drive is set to light tube style break up such as a pork loin, and then another with some boost and a lot more dirt like the MDB-1. If I had to choose one it would be my pork loin.

you could probably pair it down to a pork loin and a zoom ms-60b and be fully covered.
 
  • Like
Reactions: kosmicwizard
#68
Tuner's a given.

If you're game to figure it out (or get the idea already), get a compressor. As mentioned above though, it's not going to give you a whole lot of 'wow' factor. Pretty sublime satisfaction when it finally clicks though.

If you're not into that, and/or just want something fun, I'd get an octaver. More useful than it may appear at first, especially in a 3-piece, and with ZZ Top on the docket. I have a TC Sub'n'Up, does a pretty cool pseudo-B3 organ thing that really fills out some 3-piece gigs. I'm sure there are better, but it's reasonable and programmable, so hey.
 
  • Like
Reactions: SoCal80s
#69
Was I gonna buy you yer first pedal as a prezzie, would be the EHX Green Russian.

And I would gi' the suggestion you start to use it with the sustain all the way off.

You'll figger it out faster that way (I seldom go past 9:00).

If I wasn't so cheap, I might getcha the Pigtronix Bass Compressor (what also has distortion).
 
  • Like
Reactions: chiphaleonbass
#70
matante said:
Talkbass's idea that compressors are essential is way off the mark. How many years did bassists perform live before pedal compressors even existed? I rarely see pro touring bassists using them live on their pedalboards. I'm not saying compression is useless, at all, but they are in no way fundamental or essential to performing in a live band situation.
Click to expand...

Who is "Talkbass"? I see just as many people around here saying they have no use for compressors as I do people singing paeans to various boutique offerings. A standalone compressor isn't needed for every sound and every rig but personally, for my sound and my rig, it is absolutely essential. It ties our live sound together. Does the OP need one? Well, who knows...
 
  • Like
Reactions: foolforthecity
#71
For the music you described first pedal should definitely be a drive/fuzz pedal.

Can't recommend the Amptweaker Bass TightFuzz highly enough. Magic inside this pedal for real. They just released the Tim Lefebvre signature version as well. This'll easily get you in that ZZ Top range as well as be able to give you that nice warm slightly overdriven/compressed tube amp vibe. Extremely versatile. I went through a bunch of drive pedals and was unhappy/unsatisfied with each of them. Never would have thought a fuzz pedal was what I was after but this pedal is a LOT more than that. Biggest key is you don't lose any of your low end with this pedal and in fact it fattens it up with the Dry Low Knob.

Bass TightFuzz | Amptweaker

They also make a JR version if size and cost are a factor.

Bass TightFuzz | Amptweaker
 
#72
The way I do(did) it.
For a long time I was completely without pedals.
I then got requests that I was unable to satisfy and lost a couple of gigs because I did not have those sounds available.
Pedals I needed to do the gigs were the pedals I got.
I did ask however, who does what I need in a way I like.
Now I have most I need and buy to fill gaps, mostly.
 
#73
matante said:
Talkbass's idea that compressors are essential is way off the mark. How many years did bassists perform live before pedal compressors even existed?
Click to expand...

Maybe not as a pedal, but compressors have been around since the 1930's. I would bet 99% of professional recording and live sound engineers are adding compression to the bass. So you have been hearing compression in professional performances all along. The only time you might not hear it is when the band runs it's own sound without a professional engineer, then it's up to us to make ourselves sound as good as we can.
 
#75
Hi overall for a good first pedal, especially if your new to effects and don't know what effects you like and will use is a Multi-effects pedal.
Vox Stomplab 2B: it has lots of effects, delay, reverb, chorus, modulation, digital effects, midi effects etc. (When you have gotten used to effects and what you like/dislike and what will be useful in your playing then you can start to look for separate effects pedals.

A preamp Di pedal is good to add extra amp tone shaping
Behringer BDI21 Bass Preamp Di at $30usd. This is a copy of the Tech21 Bass Driver at $300.

Also the Sonicake Boom Ave is 4 pedals in one
Compressor/ Boost -> Fuzz -> Preamp --> Effects loop (to add other pedals) -> Octave.
It also has a built in Di (they call it XLR out).

These are just some of the cheaper options for effects pedals that you may find useful as you begin your exproration into effects into Bass.
 
Last edited:

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back