Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
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.
How many Bassists use no pedals?
- Thread starter Aussie Player
- Start date
I use a compressor (always on to keep my highs and lows to a minimum) and chorus (for when we play Cure songs).
- Jul 7, 2010
- 3,383
- 2,311
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist for: Duncan Pickups; Line6, Hipshot, GHS Strings, Somnium Guitars
I voted no because after years of on and off usage, I found that 90 % of the songs I played really didn't need them.
But I also realize that there are certain types of music that usually do.
So for me NO.
But I also realize that there are certain types of music that usually do.
So for me NO.
I've been playing without any pedal for more than 30 years. During the pandemic I started experimenting and ended up with a Nano-Board with Tuner, Booster, Overdrive, Compressor and Preamp which I use occasionally.
But I also made this "Pico-Board" (plexiglass, rubber feet, velcro) which I always use now:
So "yes" for me.
But I also made this "Pico-Board" (plexiglass, rubber feet, velcro) which I always use now:
So "yes" for me.
The first pedal I ever saw was in 1968. Our lead guitar player got what we called at the time a "fuzz box." The model was called a Maestro and it was made by Gibson. He also got a "wah wah" shortly after getting the fuzz box. I don't remember anything back then specific to bass.
I have a few pedals, but rarely use anything more than a compressor. That being said, I did get a chorus pedal the other day for a couple of specific songs. Still not sure I will use it live though.
I have a few pedals, but rarely use anything more than a compressor. That being said, I did get a chorus pedal the other day for a couple of specific songs. Still not sure I will use it live though.
Last edited:
Had a compressor in my amp (acoustic 360) and i always used that. After that , no pedals. The last jam i played at was a headphones only - no amps. After the jam both guitarists asked what pedals i used be cause the bass (not necessarily the playing) sounded amazing. No pedals - just my medium scale fender jazz bass. I am old and maybe thats part of my aversion to bass pedals.
I DO like pedals for guitars or if not pedals, a good sounding effects processor.
I DO like pedals for guitars or if not pedals, a good sounding effects processor.
I wish there was an "it depends" or "occasionally" option. In my first band I never used pedals, in my second I used a chorus pedal to make a little soloet thing really pop and an overdrive pedal to really highlight a heavier song. I played a church gig for a decade before I decided to use a ME50B there for the compressor and some light tonal shaping, but these days I've been playing without it again when I do play. I can go either way so I voted yes but it really is about 50:50 for me.
For most of my life I had not used any pedals but now I do. They're focused on tone rather than effects.
Playing since the late 70s, early 90s and really wanted to use effects like the EH Bass Balls but never found it useful (although I had used it for special F/X when playing in the pit orchestra at a high school musical). I also tried many od/distortion pedals to no avail... fast forward to just around 2020, I was making a concerted effort to create a way to record directly w/o an amp (for personal projects) and had been thinking about compressors that might help. I also decided to get a small preamp pedal for tone shaping, I decided on the Ampeg Classic Pre. Then I discovered Broughton Audio (https://www.broughtonaudio.com/) and picked up a Terraformer Overdrive pedal, fell in love with the added tone options (although I rarely use OD) and off I went until I exploded. I added a Broughton LPH/HPF pedal, then a Silver Deluxe and I was very happy. It didn't end there and I realized after playing with a Jazz/Blues/Classic Rock semi-acoustic trio that I loved playing with it live. Since then I went through a journey and finally created 2+ pedal boards, one geared for rock and the other for smallish semi-acoustic playing.
Bottom line is that I enjoy the subtle tone shaping for live, direct to board (live) and recording.
Rock Board (Fully Broughton except for the tuner)
Omnicomp > Terraformer > SV-Pre > Silver Deluxe > Messenger
Jazz/Blues/Acoustic
Fender The Bends Compressor > Fishman Platinum Stage Pre
(If I want, I can add a Ampeg Classic Pre > Broughton LPF/HPF > Joyo Ironman Mini Reverb to the mix).
Some people think effects means noticeable and crazy. It might sometimes but not others.
I use:
Mostly invisible effects like compression, hpf, eq, clean boosts
Occasionally phaser or chorus set to subtle
Rarely outright fuzz, distortions
BTW, anyone use active instruments with on board eq, or the amps built in features? Because that's a simular principle, only different method of execution. Also the genre range you play and inherent versatility of the bass affects this question i feel. Generally bass doesn't need as many effects as guitar. I do agree to that.
I use:
Mostly invisible effects like compression, hpf, eq, clean boosts
Occasionally phaser or chorus set to subtle
Rarely outright fuzz, distortions
BTW, anyone use active instruments with on board eq, or the amps built in features? Because that's a simular principle, only different method of execution. Also the genre range you play and inherent versatility of the bass affects this question i feel. Generally bass doesn't need as many effects as guitar. I do agree to that.
In the old days I had a Univibe, Unidrive, Mosrite fuzz, and my fave the original Clyde McCoy Vox Wah. That Vox sucked all the lows but it’s character in the mids and highs is incredible. Now I have a pedal board with curated pedals through a Raven Labs MDB-1 for it’s side chain effects mode. I only use it at home. Live I use a Boss tuner and immediately unplug after tuning up. I prefer the direct No pedal sound. Some folks eq and gain stage that back in.
Soon as I heard “Let Go” by Frou Frou I set up my pedals to enable that whole low end tremolo Univibe sound. That was fun. All this gives me practice using effects. Now when it’s plug-ins I have more experience.
A long time ago I showed up with pedals and began to play this well crafted fusion meets Indian meets Mark Isham meets etc piece.
Some one there said, “who’s going to play bass?”
While this is all dependent on the genre/form of music I personally wish to provide huge wide frequency response, the best pulse and rhythmic excitement for the music, my fellow musicians, dancers and audience. My choice.
Soon as I heard “Let Go” by Frou Frou I set up my pedals to enable that whole low end tremolo Univibe sound. That was fun. All this gives me practice using effects. Now when it’s plug-ins I have more experience.
A long time ago I showed up with pedals and began to play this well crafted fusion meets Indian meets Mark Isham meets etc piece.
Some one there said, “who’s going to play bass?”
While this is all dependent on the genre/form of music I personally wish to provide huge wide frequency response, the best pulse and rhythmic excitement for the music, my fellow musicians, dancers and audience. My choice.
buldog5151bass
Kibble, milkbones, and P Basses. And redheads.
1. One band did a few Muse tunes, so I needed distortion.
2. I was in a band that did Pink Floyd, and I had to cover some of the guitar parts, so I had a delay.
Other than something specific like that, no effects/pedals for live. I have the EQ on the amp and tone control on my bass.
In the studio, generally some compression to the taste of the engineer.
2. I was in a band that did Pink Floyd, and I had to cover some of the guitar parts, so I had a delay.
Other than something specific like that, no effects/pedals for live. I have the EQ on the amp and tone control on my bass.
In the studio, generally some compression to the taste of the engineer.
I also realised that for years I was actually relying on my amp to get me the sound I want, and sending all the stuff I *didn't* want to FOH, so I started to preference pre DI stuff for tone shaping...which meant pedals (so I didn't need to lug around rack gear) and pedals are not what they were 10 years ago.
Edit: Bass pedals for utility things like comp and eq have come so far in the last 10 years, it's mindblowing. People say things like 'rack quality compression', and IMO it's generally true, and also a redundant thing to say. I actually now prefer a few pedal compressors to my old dbx160A, and my current pedal eq kills my old klark and dbx 31 band eqs.
Last edited:
Effects for bass - never. I've check them out singly and in multi-fx format and I just don't have the need for it. Not even chorus, which some amps have built-in. When I used to play lead guitar I used effects pedals; even had a CyberTwin amp with all fx and amp models built in.
I voted yes because I finally understand how to use a compressor properly. I bought an inexpensive one because it does the job for me.
I voted yes because I finally understand how to use a compressor properly. I bought an inexpensive one because it does the job for me.
Im still a few pages behind.. but I agree with both of you? subtle nuances about what types of dirt.... My ears doesnt like distortion bass alone. does more in a full band but I've still havent hopped onto the Darkglass wagon. I do LOVE OD bass alone, ranging from super light OD to the point of a very high gain OD but still not within distortion territory. Fuzz is something i cannot live without, full band or solo. the fuzzier, wooly-er, splat bass noises are equivalent to angels singing to me
Last edited:
I have a small Nano+ pedalboard, but don't confuse what's on it with effects pedals. My chain is tuner, compressor, octave(never used...I just keep it there so I don't lose it, and it keeps my compressor company), DI. The Radial Stage Direct DI has a 3 position HPF, which is cool.
Sometimes I like to use just a Microbass 3 just because it has a much smaller footprint than the Nano+ and has a built in tuner and compressor. I never use any dirt.
Sometimes I like to use just a Microbass 3 just because it has a much smaller footprint than the Nano+ and has a built in tuner and compressor. I never use any dirt.
Rarely these days, though I hope to eventually get a pedal tuner for convenience. I occasionally use a Tone Hammer pedal when I go direct with no stage amp.
When I played in MIDI duo with an acoustic guitarist and me on bass I was pedal heavy because I played lots of "guitar" solos on a 6 string bass.
When I played in MIDI duo with an acoustic guitarist and me on bass I was pedal heavy because I played lots of "guitar" solos on a 6 string bass.
