How many Bassists use no pedals?

[Zbysek]

The latest addition to the board is the After Shock pedal. I've got the EQ2 taking the mono signal in, splitting it with the left still just doing high and low pass filtering, while the right has the high pass filter moved up so that lower notes aren't being passed. Then I route both to the After Shock and set the left to emulate a tube drive with little or no breakup, while the right adds tube overdrive to the higher frequencies, then merge back to a mono signal before going into the compressor. I'm still working on getting the sound the way I want, but have been pleased so far with the effect of using a mostly clean signal on the root note frequencies down low.

I like what you are trying to do. I am doing something similar with my pedalboard: I am overdriving only higher frequencies (mostly mids) and leaving lows and highs clean. The only difference is that I leave the blending of the two signals up to the sound tech-as I am sending both signals separately to FOH.

 

[LKTraz]

That is where we differ and that is completely ok.
I would never do that, as the speakers are a component generating the tone you paid all that money for.
The most I accept is a mike against a speaker but never a direct from the head. Been there and had my sound butchered too many times.

Since it's my PA setup and I do the initial mix/setup then have a competent "mixer babysitter" on it, I don't have that issue.

I've only had a system that wasn't under my complete control a handful of times and in those instances I have mic'd my cab.

 

[vindibona1]

Technically I had to answer the poll question with "yes", but in terms of the intent of the question, generally no, I don't use pedals. Usually I'll use a tuning pedal that doubles as a mute. Occasionally I'll use a Fishman Platinum Pro DI/EQ box or maybe once in awhile a compressor pedal when I want some compression or want to make a passive bass active.

 

[KevinDBassist]

I only use a Peterson strobostomp tuner .

 

[Bobo]

I only use a Peterson strobostomp tuner .

As a rule, I don’t use pedals when I play. I use a couple if Zoom bass pedals when I record at home, but none in other studios. I used to use a Sho-Bud volume pedal with my fretless on one particular song in a band a long time ago. 99% of the time I’m pedal-less.

 

[Manny Fritsch]

I use a Zoom A3 pedal as a tuner and a preamp set for upright bass for my Kala Ubass or my NS Design EUB which I play through a PJB Double Four for old-time fiddle music (similar to Bluegrass).

 

[Phlipper]

Why in God's name would I put anything in-line to the electronic and aural perfection that is Mesa D-350?

(I'm really digging the Mesa cult thing. I feel fully indoctrinated already )

 

[Avalon5]

The only thing between my bass and amp is a instrument cable. I find the Aguilar TH 500, Mesa WD 800 to be excellent.

On the other hand I own preamps and petals. I just play around with them like toys when I practice at home.

 

[Verb the Noun]

I've been a no frills, no grit, no pedals bassist for 37+ years, but am seriously eyeballing the darkglass vintage microtubes pedal. Not for the grit that pedal can get, more as an always on vintage tube/compressor effect. IF I do that, would add a tuning pedal (obnoxious trying to read the LED display of my plug in tuner on a dark stage). Two pedals would mean "needing" a small pedal board. Once I've got a pedal board, a killer chorus would be nice to spice up a couple pretty bass chord sections.

I definitely want to try that darkglass pedal, it's knowing the inevitable GAS door I will open if I go there holding me back I think.

P.S. The hell is wrong with people? Checking prices on that pedal, its $219 new and available yet I spotted multiple used postings asking $250+. Maybe its usually on back order and I picked a great time to want one?

 

[30point87hz]

I use a few "utility" pedals:
A/B
Tuner
High/Low Pass
Compressor
Ampeg SCR-DI

And for no particular reason I'd like to play around with a Digitech bass whammy, but haven't gotten around to picking one up yet.

 

[Kaa]

Doesn't need it.

View attachment 4814766

Ah, haven't seen a SpockTone pickup in ages.

 

[Kaa]

I'm originally voted no pedals, but I may be in the yes camp. I use a SABDDI as the preamp for my combo, but not necessarily as an effect. Or is it?

 

[HelpImaRock]

Here's my latest iteration. BC-1x and BDDI are always on.

 

[Wfrance3]

No interest “effects” but huge fan of pedals that bring features to simpler amps that would otherwise be on the amp.
My board is pretty simple. I may have just broken the effect/no effects deal right there by saying “board”.

I play with this chain; tuner - HPF - LPF - COMPRESSOR - AMP.

So, technically, if I had bought the right amp, all that would have been built in and I could have said “no effects”.

As for the rest of the phasers, dirt, envelope, delay, etc, it’s fun, but nothing I would use irl. I do have a couple zoom pedals that have all that, and have added effects to my little home studio recordings, but barely ever.

I mostly get my tonal variations through varied hand position, amp eq knob tweaking, rolling back my tone knob, maybe favoring a front or back pickup on a two pickup bass. Sometimes picking a different bass altogether. Don’t even get me started on string choice…

 

[Jay-Double-You]

I have the Zoom B6 multieffect but is mostly used on Flip Tone setting and use tuner and looper. I have one pedal aside, the Freeze of Electro Harmonix.

 

[Deleted member 389437]

I love pedals, especially Taurus pedals. Not because they make me sound better but they are such a great tool to have handy, and they can bring inspiration. The Taurus pedals make up most of my board! mainly the MK2 and Silver Line models. Im definitely a pedal user but im also definitely not someone who goes straight into the amp. I use about 9 pedals, 10 if including my A/B - Output box. signal chain is as follows:

Bass > Tuner > Wah > Compressor > Octave > Drive > Multi-chorus > Delay > Reverb > Preamp/DI > line selector > amp

 

[rockscott]

the only effects i use are chorus and reverb

 

[Phlipper]

I guess I should have mentioned that I do occasionally use a DD7 when trying to get my fretless Damian Cocchio on, or a Digitech Bad Monkey when doing the odd jam session with my old classic rock band who I used to play lead guitar with.

But generally ... I would not hinder the aural perfection that is Mesa D350 with anything in line. I'm pretty sure I'd burn in hell for that. Or at least be severed from the Mesa Collective.

 

[Clark Westfield]

I just use a tuning pedal and a Donar chorus, distortion, and compression combo pedal.

Only use the chorus for a few songs during the gig.

For $60 it’s works pretty well.

 

[dougjwray]

I go for years or decades without using a pedal, then find myself playing a song or two which require a pedal for octave doubling or chorusing or flanging or some mild distortion. So, I'm almost always in the "no" group.