Hi guys, i've been playing bass guitar for nearly 2 years now. Still a novice and i have recently acquired the sum of £300. Now i want some effects for my bass. Do i go multi effects? or just effects pedals, i was thinking Ashdown hyperdrive pedal? anyone with alot of experience willing to give some advice? Much appreciated
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Effects guide?
- Thread starter Ironderby
- Start date
Yes, read alot. Though I just posted recently how disaponted I was with a multi-fx pedal, fACT IS, IF YOU WANT TO LEARN ABOUT EFFECTS, A GOOD MULTI UNIT IS A GREAT TOOL. aFTER SPENDING SOME TIME WITH ONE, YOU'LL HAVE NARROWED DOWN WHICH SPECIFIC EFFECTS YOU MAY WANT, AND THEN START SEEKING OUT THE SINGLES. oops caps lock accident- no re-type.
+ 1
You"ll get great insight from TalkBass members, there are more than a few really competent guys around here. So read read and read. Also, You tube is a great place to search for bass demos of pedals you might be interested in. In addition: read customer reviews, Harmony Central being the only site I know, but I'm sure there are others. Reading reviews might prevent your GAS getting the better out of your CASH.
Stay away from effects as long as you can, "cause once you're in... you don't get out.
(GAS: gear acquisition syndrome... most of us around are already contaminated)
Reading about pedals here and other places is always a good idea. But be careful you dont base your entire opinion on what others say. I can tell you a certain wine smells very sweet and has a full, taste with a grapy lingering aftertaste, but no matter how many words i use to describe it, you will not know what the experience is like until you actually try it. Also i suck at describing wine. Heh.
That's why the multieffect suggestion is a good one, you'll get a feel for what you like and what not. After that you can go look for quality, because you'll know what qualities you like and which ones you don't. Another great way of doing this is buying some cheap secondhand pedals. I myself bought a lot of those cheap behringer pedals. Sure, they kinda suck (most of them), but now i know what a flanger really is, and i know im not a fan. See? Empirical method ftw.
Edit: oh and you can always sell the pedals you don't like, against a fairly reasonable loss. One man's trash is another man's treasure you know.
That's why the multieffect suggestion is a good one, you'll get a feel for what you like and what not. After that you can go look for quality, because you'll know what qualities you like and which ones you don't. Another great way of doing this is buying some cheap secondhand pedals. I myself bought a lot of those cheap behringer pedals. Sure, they kinda suck (most of them), but now i know what a flanger really is, and i know im not a fan. See? Empirical method ftw.
Edit: oh and you can always sell the pedals you don't like, against a fairly reasonable loss. One man's trash is another man's treasure you know.
>JHS Four-Wheeler Fuzz >Malekko Echo 616 >Catalinbread Super-Charged Overdrive >Franklin Effects Harmonic Percolator >Malekko Omicron Chorus
Is what I would buy if I were to be in your position. But like the others have said, read,read,read and take my suggestions with a grain of salt or some other condiment.
Is what I would buy if I were to be in your position. But like the others have said, read,read,read and take my suggestions with a grain of salt or some other condiment.
I played bass for probly 15yrs before I got seriously into FX.
I think a great way to get into them, without over-indulging, is to get a decent multi-FX, like a Zoom B2 or similar.
It teaches you what each effect is, they're all pretty good quality & you can BLEND FX, which is one of the most fun things. It also lets you in to the FX world slowly, cheaply & BASS-centric. Coz a lot of FX pedals can suck out the bottom end, & multi's like the Zoom, Boss etc are MADE for bass.
I found my old (new, then) Zoom 506(I think) very helpful in letting me know how a chorus/flanger/overdrive/synth(???) Would go on the bass.
I think a great way to get into them, without over-indulging, is to get a decent multi-FX, like a Zoom B2 or similar.
It teaches you what each effect is, they're all pretty good quality & you can BLEND FX, which is one of the most fun things. It also lets you in to the FX world slowly, cheaply & BASS-centric. Coz a lot of FX pedals can suck out the bottom end, & multi's like the Zoom, Boss etc are MADE for bass.
I found my old (new, then) Zoom 506(I think) very helpful in letting me know how a chorus/flanger/overdrive/synth(???) Would go on the bass.
Eric!
Commercial User
My pearls of wisdom (for what it'd worth)
1. The only pedal you need for every situation is a tuner.
2. Try before you buy. When trying, ask yourself if you A. like the sounds you're getting, B. can use these sounds in a band setting, and C. will use these sounds live or in a recording
3. (very IMO and YMMV) Buy higher quality pedals so you don't have to buy a better pedal down the line or, if you decide to part it, will make more of your money back
4. Buy used whenever possible. The only exception to this is EBS. TB's classifieds offer great deals and are awesome.
5. Apologize to your wallet.
1. The only pedal you need for every situation is a tuner.
2. Try before you buy. When trying, ask yourself if you A. like the sounds you're getting, B. can use these sounds in a band setting, and C. will use these sounds live or in a recording
3. (very IMO and YMMV) Buy higher quality pedals so you don't have to buy a better pedal down the line or, if you decide to part it, will make more of your money back
4. Buy used whenever possible. The only exception to this is EBS. TB's classifieds offer great deals and are awesome.
5. Apologize to your wallet.
yea i usually spend a month or two reading up on one pedal. by the time i know what i want, the original pedal wasnt the best at, cost more, and about a million other things.
youtube reviews, talkbass advice, and your own intuition are what will get you a good pedal.
although personally......bass vt....
youtube reviews, talkbass advice, and your own intuition are what will get you a good pedal.
although personally......bass vt....
If saving money means something to you then LISTEN TO THE TB ADVISERS. Also, listen to your favorite bassist(s). What is their sound? How do they get there? If you don't know, ask these guys.
In a more related sense, tuner is the correct 1st buy. Everything else should be tried at your local guitar store. Why? Same as cars. Test drive before buying.
In a more related sense, tuner is the correct 1st buy. Everything else should be tried at your local guitar store. Why? Same as cars. Test drive before buying.
Trying a multi is a good idea...decent used ones can be had for the price of a good single pedal, and you get to mess with a BUNCH of sounds relatively cheaply.
Been waiting for that one.
And that.
