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A casual bassist's first three pedals?

#63
KenSmithFan said:
I'll help save you thousands of dollars. Instead of asking, "What cool pedals are out there?" and then trying to figure out what to do with them, ask YOURSELF, "What am I trying to accomplish?" and then buy the pedals that help you accomplish that.

You're welcome.
Click to expand...

Yep... this... again and again I have to ask myself.
 
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#64
Having not read thru the thread, I’ll offer this, knowing full well someone else may have beat me to it. Get an affordable but decent multi. I’d suggest the Zoom MS-60b. At the very least, it can serve as a tuner later. In the meantime, you’ve got at least one version of every type of effect available. Learn what you like, then get better quality versions of those if you find the Zoom lacking.
 
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#67
My first three solid purchases were a Sansamp BDDI, Boss Hyperfuzz, and TCE Chorus/Flanger. However, I always used a rack compressor, so maybe you want one of those. Same with tuner: In the rack. After that came envelope filters. Then delay and pitch shifting and on and on. But: Preamp/distortion/modulation/compression are pretty meat and potatoes, and you can get pre/OD pedals if you wanna cover both in one.
 
#70
Other than a DI box or a pre-amp that does that to, I really nothing else needed especially for those genres. If you really want the only thing from what you were thinking is the Tech 21, but even then I kind of think you wouldn't need that... Maybe really just compression but the active can help you a lot. Reggae is like the genre I rarely see bass pedals being used, mostly just amp EQ or whatever you can do for that, really that is technique and just pure playing.
 
#73
I enjoy playing more with just a touch of mild distortion/dirt, even with Country and acoustic rock. Does anyone else notice the difference other than me - very doubtful. I just started using a HPF and it really helps over at my buddies house in his dead, dead room. Do I really need it, of course not.
 
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#74
Parzival said:
Lots of great points in your post. I know no one “needs” pedals/effects, but me personally, I think they’re important because they can play such a huge part in a player’s creative development.
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For sure. Totally agree. I think "not needing" pedals opens you up to be more creative with your selection. I wasn't saying "you don't need them so don't bother getting them." I more meant, "You don't need them so there's no real 'best three pedals to get first.' The best pedals to get are whatever you think sounds coolest, or whatever inspires you to play creatively."

It's more a counterpoint to things like, "if you're a bassist you absolutely need X, Y, and Z pedals. They're the most important. They should be your first." IMHO, different players are all different, and the pedals they'll get the most benefit from are also going to be different. So don't get a pedal because other people say you need it. You don't need it. If everyone says you need an overdrive pedal, but you never use distortion and would rather be vibing out to psychedelic chorus and delay, get those, not what people say you need.

Just get the pedals that work and sound best for you and you'll be way happier with your purchases. ;):thumbsup:
 
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#77
I've seen suggestions for things like the Zoom B1, but I'm a bit cold on it. I've only been playing bass for a short time and it is cool for some things (easy tuner/drums/metronome). However I find it just too many steps to get in and tweak a pedal in a patch. Also turning on and off a pedal in a patch is not as easy as it could be. It's a cool device and has its spot, but it is not as easy as it should be.
 
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#80
Play at church with my tuner into my Shiftline Olympic MKIIIs straight to the soundboard. Run the eq flat with my home built 51 precision copy. Sounds dreamy and tons of adjustment if I want it. 2 onboard amp sims that I have yet to use. I won’t trade it for anything…..low tech bass, little tubey goodness and that’s enough for me. Oh yeah, a good sound guy at the board helps too! Unfortunately he can’t tweak out the wrong notes I play…..
 
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