• 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.

"Essential" Bass Pedals?

#81
None are essential.

But...my top two:
  • Having a DI pedal (w/ some eq and maybe even overdrive options) may save your butt sometime: like when an amp crapped out on me at an event and I was able to run the bass through the DJ's set-up (DJ followed the band); in NYC I do not cart a back-up amp, but throwing my Tech 21 SABDDI in the gig bag has proved useful.
  • Overdrive or fuzz, as others have said
I've accumulated some pedals I like over time, when opportunity and funds have allowed. They're just different flavors, and they don't see a lot of gig time, but I appreciate them when they're right for a given gig. In no particular order, I've got the aforementioned SansAmp Bass Driver DI, as well as a fuzz/overdrive, compressor, envelope filter, octave, and chorus. I once had a delay, a long time ago, and really didn't use it ever. I have not wanted for anything else.
 
#86
Although I can agree that there isn't necessarily an essential pedal that every bass player needs I can say my whole board is essential for me.

I use every single pedal on my board in my band and at every show. Without them things would not sound the same. Could I play a show without my board? Yeah but I sure as hell wouldn't!
 
#94
Ok, I know this is sacrilege to some, I'm a pedal breeder/hoarder, but the only essential pedal you "need" is a tuner being your amp has an xlr.....

but I will say that having pedals can give you that magic spice your sound and playing can benefit from...

for me having a preamp/DI (Darkglass B7K is essential, esp. since I now use IEM, and with the variety of styles I play, I attempt to get similar tones as the recordings...

being a metal player as you are, I think overdrive is a very good idea and I use a v3 OCD to get that clanky/grind for harder songs, I also use the full tone bassdrive (also amazing IMO)....

I think for metal, overdrive, maybe a distortion and/or fuzz would be great, a good chorus(I use an old Ibanez, but the tech21 boost chorus sounds awesome), possibly a compressor(I prefer a dual band), and of course a tuner!!

That being said,I love my B7K and I know it was made for modern bass tones and is very versatile, I actually prefer it to most amps....

one of my biggest influences was Trevor Dunn of Mr. Bungle, he had many great tones, so with the variety of styles I play I aim for many similar tones.... But if I played in a thrash band again, I would probably minimize my pedalboard a little, or make an alternate
 
  • Like
Reactions: nshuman and dgrizzly
#98
godblender said:
Yeah...god forbid everyone gets a chance to express their own opinion on what is a completely subjective issue.
Click to expand...

This has nothing to do with why I said what I did. An opinion is an opinion. I get it. And everyone has them. Thats fine. But why give it if its not asked for when someone wants constructive opinions about a certain subject. Thats like you asking me "whats the most essential/most important/best soda (these are the words I saw as he stated in his post he didn't think essential was necessarily the right word to use) out there??" and I tell you "water!!". Has nothing to do with the question being asked. Its rude and sarcastic IMO.

EDITED to make my point more clear. As if it will matter....
 
Last edited:
#99
gregmon79 said:
This has nothing to do with why I said what I did. An opinion is an opinion. I get it. And everyone has them. Thats fine. But why give it if its not asked for when someone wants constructive opinions about a certain subject. Thats like you asking me "whats the best soda out there??" and I tell you "water!!". Has nothing to do with the question being asked. Its rude and sarcastic IMO.
Click to expand...

To be fair, OP didn't ask, "Best" Bass Pedals? He asked, "Essential" Bass Pedals?

Some bass players just don't think any pedals are "essential"...

Just like some bass players don't think an amp is "essential" and go DI from their pedal board!

To each their own :)
 
#100
dgrizzly said:
To be fair, OP didn't ask, "Best" Bass Pedals? He asked, "Essential" Bass Pedals?

Some bass players just don't think any pedals are "essential"...

Just like some bass players don't think an amp is "essential" and go DI from their pedal board!

To each their own :)
Click to expand...

Yes, he did say essential, thats true. But he also said this in his initial post, "I know it sounds kinda stupid for asking essential bass pedals but I cannot think of another word" and "what pedals do you think are important for me to have?". So its is a bit open to interpretation as far as that wording is concerned IMO.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back