I currently only use a Zoom B3n. I use the tuner, phaser for 1 song and hardcomp setting for a couple others. That's it.
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How many pedals on your board?
- Thread starter bobbybass85
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- live bass pedalboard pedals
I don't mean this to sound insulting in any way, but I'm trying to learn.
I use "0" pedals and it amazes me how many some of you use for bass.
It also makes me wonder if the people with this many pedals are the same that think the type of wood the bass is made out of makes no difference in the tone of the bass.
I use "0" pedals and it amazes me how many some of you use for bass.
It also makes me wonder if the people with this many pedals are the same that think the type of wood the bass is made out of makes no difference in the tone of the bass.
I started playing bass couple years ago. Before that I've played guitar for 30+ years. I have a bunch of guitar pedals. So far in my bass experience, I've found most songs don't use effects on bass. At least the classic rock stuff I play. It's just a guess, but I suspect bass effects may come more into play when you get into the 70's and pop era type songs. Again, I'm still new to the bass world but the Zoom B3n does everything I need. In fact I deleted a lot of the effects off it because I don't use them and don't like scrolling through them.
I've seen many discussions on here about the role of different woods on tone. Some people think it makes a difference and some don't. I happen to think it makes a difference. My thought behind my post is, are the people that don't think wood makes a difference the same that have their tone processed to the max with all the pedals?
What does the number of basses I own have to do with anything?
While I have 7 pedals on my board, I only use the utility pedals like the preamp, compressor, high pass filter for blues, country etc. gigs. I play with some bands that do require pedals. One band I played with had their songs recorded with synthesizers and you have to use such FX like octave, fuzz, and modulation. My previous band was a three piece that required using FX, because the FX was part of the songs. So it all depends.
You guys are missing my point. I couldn't care less how many you use. I 100% get actually needing them for certain situations. If my amps didn't already have built-in compression and a HP filter, I'd have them added. In the past I've used a little distortion and even an octaver.
My point is, if you are playing through all those pedals, can you really tell if a fret-board is made out of maple or rosewood and are you then telling other people that the wood doesn't matter? Trying to gain a little perspective on how people hear tone.
My point is, if you are playing through all those pedals, can you really tell if a fret-board is made out of maple or rosewood and are you then telling other people that the wood doesn't matter? Trying to gain a little perspective on how people hear tone.
How many pedals on your board?
Depends on the situation, but as a rule; as few as possible.
Depends on the situation, but as a rule; as few as possible.
I definitely agree that effects are a function of what music you play.
When I'm playing things more in the "classic rock" flavor (e.g., Pink Floyd, Jimi Hendrix), I usually don't use any. (Maybe mild OD just to give it a more tube-y sound, but often not even that.) Even through the 80s lots of stuff I play uses no effects (e.g., Talking Heads, the Police). Just because I have a bunch of pedals doesn't mean they're always on.
Several of the pedals I have are there because I want them for a specific artist (e.g., chorus for New Order) or even a specific song (the phaser is there pretty much just for the O'Jays "For the Love of Money"). You can't properly play The Clash without a good high-gain distortion. For "Sledgehammer" you need a compressor dialed up to 11 and an octave pedal. And so on.
Yes, this is kind of excessive and I could probably get away with a compressor and one good multi-effects pedal. I just like gear, I guess. I don't think I'm the only one on TB with this particular affliction.
I readily admit that I don't in any way, shape or form need multiple fuzzes, much less 4 of them. (Plus I can think of two more off the top of my head that I really want to try out and have almost bought multiple times.) I don't play many songs that even use a fuzz. For some reason I love noodling with fuzz pedals. I confess I may have a problem there.
i voted "#5"
two effects: reverb, EH bass mono synth.
three 'administrative'/utility: ampeg preamp, HPF, A/B loop.
the loop pedal turns the whole mess on/off. i mostly play with the board bypassed, and turn it on for certain effects in certain tunes or for some solos.
i like not using the board!
two effects: reverb, EH bass mono synth.
three 'administrative'/utility: ampeg preamp, HPF, A/B loop.
the loop pedal turns the whole mess on/off. i mostly play with the board bypassed, and turn it on for certain effects in certain tunes or for some solos.
i like not using the board!
If you want to include utility pedals, 8:
TC Polytune 3 -> MXR BOD -> Walrus Deep Six Comp -> Damnation MBD-1 -> Boss BF-3 -> Boss DD-7 -> Mesa Boogie Subway+ Preamp/DI -> Rolls PM-351
All powered by a OneSpot. I really SHOULD get a dedicated power brick, but I haven't been playing as much lately, so meh.
TC Polytune 3 -> MXR BOD -> Walrus Deep Six Comp -> Damnation MBD-1 -> Boss BF-3 -> Boss DD-7 -> Mesa Boogie Subway+ Preamp/DI -> Rolls PM-351
All powered by a OneSpot. I really SHOULD get a dedicated power brick, but I haven't been playing as much lately, so meh.
On the question of how many I actually use while playing w/ others ~90% of the time it's just the tuner, compressor, preamp, OD, & EQ.
I really like phaser > fuzz for noodling but it winds up getting used fairly infrequently in a band setting. Same w/ envelope filters/synth/etc. except w/ even less chance I'll use them outside of my house.
Oh, I'm fairly convinced the instrument, strings, & fingers play a significant role in the sounds coming from the amp, not just the pickup(s) too.
I really like phaser > fuzz for noodling but it winds up getting used fairly infrequently in a band setting. Same w/ envelope filters/synth/etc. except w/ even less chance I'll use them outside of my house.
Oh, I'm fairly convinced the instrument, strings, & fingers play a significant role in the sounds coming from the amp, not just the pickup(s) too.
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2 to 3.. A Tuner and an overdrive. Maybe a Digitech Synthwah.
But I also play with an old Peavey BAM modeling head that has multiple effects and a 4 selector foot switch so I mainly use just a Tuner and a setting with a very subtle Octaver that's built into the modeling head.
14. For covers gigs I only use my Fender fretless P and tuner -> comp -> Alpha Omega. For originals band I use my Alembic fretless 5-string and all of the pedals. Yes, I waited 20 years before delving into pedals and effects - before that it was just (Fender) bass -> (tube) amp. It was great to have years of experience with un-colored bass, which I'd recommend to any new player. But a few years ago I desperately needed to shake it up to maintain interest, and luckily found a band that encourages my use of effects.
Polytune -> Keeley Bassist -> Iron Ether Dubterranea -> 3Leaf Octavbre III -> Darkglass Alpha Omega -> Damnation MBD-2 -> 3Leaf Doom 2 -> Broughton Bass Box -> Iron Ether Frantabit -> 3Leaf Chromatron -> Iron Ether Xerograph Deluxe -> Iron Ether Polytope -> Iron Ether Arching Prisms -> BOSS DD-8
Currently wiring up and building the board, so they're kind of scattered at the moment:
Polytune -> Keeley Bassist -> Iron Ether Dubterranea -> 3Leaf Octavbre III -> Darkglass Alpha Omega -> Damnation MBD-2 -> 3Leaf Doom 2 -> Broughton Bass Box -> Iron Ether Frantabit -> 3Leaf Chromatron -> Iron Ether Xerograph Deluxe -> Iron Ether Polytope -> Iron Ether Arching Prisms -> BOSS DD-8
Currently wiring up and building the board, so they're kind of scattered at the moment:
