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Can i use guitar pedal?
- Thread starter ifender
- Start date
Yes it's entirely okay to use guitar pedals with a bass, it will just sound thin. Guitar pedals are voiced for guitars and cut some of the low end out. You're better off using bass pedals, which won't cut any lows, but you can't harm a guitar pedal by using it with a bass.
First, try it and see if you like it. Thin doesn't always mean bad. If it really bothers you and you want to fix a thin sound from a guitar pedal there's a few ways:
1. Use a effect loop pedal to split your signal - one part goes into the pedal, the other part is just clean. These get combined in parallel and then you have both the clean full bassy sound with the effect pedal sound on top.
2. If you know how to solder and read schematics, you can change the input and output caps - that will allow more bass into and out of the pedal.
3. Just buy the bass version of the pedal instead - no fuss no muss.
There is a behringer bass overdrive which is pretty much a copy of the Boss ODB3, but no distortion as far as I am aware.
Long before there were any "bass" pedals, there were just pedals (almost always meant for guitars). Bassists have been using all kind of guitar pedals for MANY years. It is true that many guitar pedals are 'voiced' for guitar and some sound 'thin', though some sound HUGE, and you better believe that a lot of "bass" pedals sound thin, too. You're much better off going by recommendations from other bassists here on TB and checking out YouTube demos, etc...than going by a 'bass' label on a pedal...
In fact I would say that MOST (probably almost ALL) bass players who use effects use at least 1 'guitar' pedal, many probably use ONLY guitar pedals. For example, I have 9 pedals on my board, only 4 are actually "bass" pedals.
It's entirely up to you if you like the sound of a pedal, don't worry about the label...
-JV
In fact I would say that MOST (probably almost ALL) bass players who use effects use at least 1 'guitar' pedal, many probably use ONLY guitar pedals. For example, I have 9 pedals on my board, only 4 are actually "bass" pedals.
It's entirely up to you if you like the sound of a pedal, don't worry about the label...
-JV
Yeah sure...you can use some guitar effects on bass without destroying them. it just depends on what type of effects you want to use. if it's distortion, you might wanna test it out and see if the distortion pedal has plenty of lows. some guitar distortion pedals obliterate low-ends. if that ever happens, a blender pedal would be a good solution to fix that trouble. if it's modulation effects like a chorus, it's really okay to use. in fact, they sound awesome. I own a danelectro fab chorus pedal and it sounds pretty cool on bass. I definitely recommend that pedal for those who want a good chorus at a super affordable price.
In short- you can use whatever pedal you want however you want and it is "ok". So be ok with it and go experiment. Have fun.
Okay. you can use all guitar effects on bass. the only reason why I said some guitar effects is because some guitar effects like distortion pedals obliterate low-ends. however that problem can be fixed by a blender pedal.
I completely agree, I just thought the clarification that bass will in no way damage a guitar pedal was important.
I'd also like to point out that you can do the opposite with no harm either:
You can use "bass" effects on guitar. I have been doing that for a while. I use a SansAmp PBDDI with guitar and it sounds great.
Also, I use a Zoom B1 multieffects box (made for bass) with a keyboard. In fact, it sounds better with the keys than it ever sounded with bass.
Experiment. Its YOUR sound. If it sounds good, it is good.
You can use "bass" effects on guitar. I have been doing that for a while. I use a SansAmp PBDDI with guitar and it sounds great.
Also, I use a Zoom B1 multieffects box (made for bass) with a keyboard. In fact, it sounds better with the keys than it ever sounded with bass.
Experiment. Its YOUR sound. If it sounds good, it is good.
I would avoid behringer pedals in general. I heard a story on here about someone who bought a behringer pedal. Messed with it dialed in the tone he wanted. It cut out and stopped working after that.
Yeah...point taken. all guitar pedal won't be damaged when being used on bass.
The pedal wont be damaged but I blew the speaker out of one of my amps with a Steve Vai bad horsie and a MXR Carbon Copy used together.
Wrong again. Only SOME distortion pedals 'obliterate low-ends'! You need to review everything on a case by case basis. It's a mistake to say that all guitar distortion pedals kill the low end, or that a blender will fix it. I've tried several guitar distortion pedals that sounded great on bass, and I personally really don't like the sound that blending tends to give (often a 'layered' sound).
I don't mean to be so 'picky' about it, but since we're obviously dealing with new folks in this area it's important to be very careful about the advice we give...
-JV
