I don't use fancy effects, but I d use stuff that enhances my tone - especially eq. If you're perfectly happy with the tone that comes out of your bass with absolutely no modification, then you don't need effects, but most of us want and/or could use some enhancement of things. And maybe a bit of chorus. Or pa haseshifter. Or an octaver. Perhaps a bit of overdrive.
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Do I need effects pedals?
- Thread starter IamGroot
- Start date
Nah, never used one, we buy a particular bass for its sound, why change it?
I laugh when someone buys a $4000 bass for its tone, then play it thru a $100 pedal!
I laugh when someone buys a $4000 bass for its tone, then play it thru a $100 pedal!
I’ll bite… I use effects for the songs that need them and play clean on the songs that don’t. I play in two bands… one is rather experimental, so I tend to use effects a lot, but only really use filters, octaves, distortions, modulation and delay. The other band is a cover band and I mostly play clean or slightly overdriven. These are my two boards.
This logic run out to its end precludes the use of a great many toneshaping devices that pretty much everyone uses.
If you got a good amp sound you don't need any external effects.
Actually, good point. You don't NEED an amp. Pedals are perfectly awesome with a DI line into a decent PA. No heavy lifting, easy setup.
I've never used a single effects pedal in a gig environment. I played in a couple heavier bands too. One time, a guitarist suggested I get a distortion pedal. I said for what? He couldn't really explain to me why it was necessary so I never bought one. To each his own though. 
This whole thread seems designed to get around the rule against "no effects" trolling in the Effects forum. Even if that wasn't the OP's genuine intent, it sure seems to be the unintended result.
One of my gig setups (no pedals):
A different gig setup:
Depends on what the music calls for.
Once it makes it to the home page all bets are off.
So far this thread has a lot of good information in it so let's keep it on the rails and focused.
See this: Effects Forum - No Trolling - MUST READ
See this: Effects Forum - No Trolling - MUST READ
The one pedal I can't live without is the MXR M87 Bass Compressor. I'd used compression many times — built in to amps or in other pedals, and it was always a "meh" experience. They do their job, but nothing to really get excited about. But there's something different about the M87 — holy sh*t, bass sounds amazing through it.
I use guitar amps on occasion at very low volumes for recording and small clubs. Works well with fretless bass.
I think thats my situation. I almost always basses with active electronics (ZON, Warwick, Peavey Cirrus). I don t feel the need to use effects except when playing a passive bass.
WHy would I want a compressor? I can control my volume extremely well and I do not slap.
Thank you. OP here. I got a lot of good answers here. No intent to troll, Was surprised at some of the early on responses.
I use compressors to extend sustain. Usually I don't like comps for leveling purposes because I can't dig in to make me louder the way I've grown accustomed to, but for my purposes they work really well to prevent a held note from dying out too quickly.
