How many Bassists use no pedals?

[Ender_rpm]

depends on the band/gig, but if we're counting a tuner, then I always have at least one pedal, most ive had on a bass rig was 5-6 and they all got used in a standard 45 minutes alt country/americana set. tuner, compressor (always on), Octave, OD, fuzz, flanger. last project didnt get out of rehearsal, but that was all dry tube head and big cab for slightly crunchy goodness.

 

[Oatis]

no pedals for bass , gtr sometimes. I have seen many pedal users who can't turn the knobs on their guitar or bass to get several different tones. Even a one pickup bass can get different tones.

 

[ThisBass]

In the past when I was a young guy I felt the need to have effects to get the right tone.
The more I did practice of playing the bass guitar all over the years, the less I did feel need to have ones.

At now I have got only a Boss CH1 Super Chorus that I modified a little bit, just to make it useable for bass guitar.
I use it rather rarely at one song, or may be the other one, or just for a couple of bars in a song.

 

[logdrum]

You don't have to be young to start using pedals.

I always had a bass wah and a chorus though since the 90's (Currently I favor an envelope filter over the wah). I have more now but only 1 dirt pedal but it is very versatile. In the experimental. art gallery gigs that I do - read little or no pay, I play with pedals. But I found out that for phase correction when I add a mic to my upright a very short delay with zero feedback works better than a phase inversion. EQ pedal and Compressor are useful as well.

 

[msb]

Picked up a Darkglass Exponent today , there’s five preset channels , and you can download the Darkglass Suite and load various pedals and cab sims into the presets and adjust them through a phone or iPad.
Amazing stuff , mind bogglin actually! And the amp starting point is clean transparent power! I’m loving this thing and I’m just starting to get into it.

 

[Aussie Player]

I recall a Fender pedal 15 maybe 20 years ago that emulated the original Fender bass amp sound but haven't seen any mention of it in the responses? Just curious, as the Fender sound was often the goal of subsequent amp makers.

 

[msb]

There were quite a few preamps that used Ampeg’s original flip top as tone inspiration.

 

[Gregc57]

How many? I'd have to say thousands, more likely millions, don't use pedals!

 

[blowinblue]

I own just two pedals. A late seventies 'made in Japan' Boss BF-2 flanger and a Fulltone Bass-Drive. The Boss has never been on a gig and the Fulltone maybe 5 gigs at the most since it was purchased new in 2004. Many of you are addicted to the sound of pedals. I'm addicted to the sound of just the tone that comes out of whatever amp/cabinet combination I happen to be playing through. This pic of my pedals says a lot about the importance I place on them. Couldn't be bothered to take them out of their boxes.

M. M.

 

[matante]

I own just two pedals. A late seventies 'made in Japan' Boss BF-2 flanger and a Fulltone Bass-Drive. The Boss has never been on a gig and the Fulltone maybe 5 gigs at the most since it was purchased new in 2004. Many of you are addicted to the sound of pedals. I'm addicted to the sound of just the tone that comes out of whatever amp/cabinet combination I happen to be playing through. This pic of my pedals says a lot about the importance I place on them. Couldn't be bothered to take them out of their boxes.

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M. M.

There's something very egotistical about the attitude that your bass should sound one way or another based on your personal taste as a bassist. The role of the bass is to serve the song, not our egos. If you choose to play clean, or with overdrive, or with chorus, it should be because that's what serves the song. If you can't imagine any song being better served with an effect on the bass, you're likely playing some kind of pre-1980s music, and that's fine, but why insult the rest of us?

 

[blowinblue]

There's something very egotistical about the attitude that your bass should sound one way or another based on your personal taste as a bassist. The role of the bass is to serve the song, not our egos. If you choose to play clean, or with overdrive, or with chorus, it should be because that's what serves the song. If you can't imagine any song being better served with an effect on the bass, you're likely playing some kind of pre-1980s music, and that's fine, but why insult the rest of us?

The thread title was a question. I answered in my own way about my own experience and preferences. Where in my post did I disparage my fellow TBer's who use and enjoy pedals? So sorry to hurt your feelings.

M. M.

 

[prndltech]

Many of you are addicted to the sound of pedals. I'm addicted to the sound of just the tone that comes out of whatever amp/cabinet combination I happen to be playing through. This pic of my pedals says a lot about the importance I place on them.

M. M.

Like everything, there’s a time and a place.

when running directly into the PA/FOH and no amps are allowed on stage… at the very least, a pre amp pedal becomes important. It helps in IEM’s. I ran through nothing but a DI for a little bit and the difference is night and day. I haven’t been able to play through an amp and cabinet in years! I should probably sell mine

 

[Rolling Thunder]

I've never used a pedal. . . . except for my Pitchblack tuner.

I really have no need for any of the things that pedals do.

That's so sad. Pedals are AWESOME.

 

[icefly]

As bedroom player, at least equalizer as a preamp; compressor sometimes, also drive.
Others pedals, as chorus, seldom.

 

[Hot Rats]

At gigs, generally no.
At home, yes.

 

[squish]

Depends on amp/band. I either plug straight into my SVT or run Future Impact/compressor into my non-tube amp.

 

[Aussie Player]

I love free speech and enjoy people telling it like it is for them, because that makes them honest.
I am disappointed in the interpreters who try and make someone's contribution personal or an insinuation that only they can see.
That's the internet I guess.

 

[Hambone70]

26813878[/URL], member: 191369"]
I am disappointed in the interpreters who try and make someone's contribution personal or an insinuation that only they can see.
That's the internet I guess.

The internet just makes it easy for those with issues to display their insecurity.

 

[Hurricane Jimmie]

So Anyway, I'll sometimes use my Sansamp as a DI to send a signal to the mains if it's a big gig. But other than that, no pedals.
Nothing against pedals...I'm just lazy and don't want another thing that can go wrong or need attention.
But mostly I'm lazy.

 

[edervjo]

Like many others on this thread, it started with a tuner pedal.....
But why I went with pedals now is that rack equipment is freaking heavy, it's weight is cumulative! Combine that with the quality of sound from today's pedals v some older stuff, it lightened my load. In the 80'sand 90's I ran a giant rack, with thew cool tuner, the compressor, the pre, the crossover and biamps. And I had roadies to haul that poopie. Not any more!
I still run a (way to heavy) rack with my BBE383 pre > an EV 2x15eq > a Crest CA9, and yes I can get a great tone straight in. But it's heavy! Wonderful, beautifully huge sound and tone. But friiggn heavy....
I now run a Boss Tuner > Keely Compressor > Ditto Looper > Sansamp Bass Driver(3chn) > whatever.....
*edit- never got into phase/chorus/octave effects, but considering an envelope filter...
I only use the Bign' for certain gigs, and I often have to practice through a variety of amps in a variety of locations anyway, so having the ability to carry all that tone in a bag and plug in to any backline or mixer and still get my sound is very advantageous.