Metal pedal chain

[Donald Wormuth]

What pedals and in which order should I get for playing heavy metal? Style such as Slipknot, Mudvayne, Slayer, Static-x. I am on a budget but feel the need to add to the tone/sound. I currently have a Vox Stomplab B1 Multi-effect and a
Boss OverDrive ODB-3. I've googled it and there is scattered advice. I just want the simplest way to go. I don't need 100 pedals just 4 or 5 to get me started.

 

[knumbskull]

What kind of sounds do you want to make?

.... is the first question!

For metal bass you could happily use the ODB-3 and leave it at that.

 

[Donald Wormuth]

What kind of sounds do you want to make?

.... is the first question!

For metal bass you could happily use the ODB-3 and leave it at that.

I'm a beginner Ive only been playing for 6 months . I'm not sure how to explain the sound. Listen to any Slipknot bassline that's pretty much it or any Slayer song . I've played with every knob on my guitars and amp to try and get the tone and not getting it. I've found countless videos online no clear definite answer.

 

[lokikallas]

No pedals needed for metal. An always on compressor is nice though. If you want dirt maybe a sansamp or dark glass.

 

[Donald Wormuth]

What kind of sounds do you want to make?

.... is the first question!

For metal bass you could happily use the ODB-3 and leave it at that.

I've been told Eq, Comp, OD, Dist, or Fuzz, Oct(that can have an up and lower}, Chours in that order.

 

[Donald Wormuth]

No pedals needed for metal. An always on compressor is nice though. If you want dirt maybe a sansamp or dark glass.

I don't get the distortion or punch i need with out them. I'm playing through an Ampeg BA 115 HP and have tried everything with the basic eq on it and tone knob on all 3 of my basses.

 

[lokikallas]

I don't get the distortion or punch i need with out them. I'm playing through an Ampeg BA 115 HP and have tried everything with the basic eq on it and tone knob on all 3 of my basses.

Sounds like you need a better amp.

 

[knumbskull]

I've been told Eq, Comp, OD, Dist, or Fuzz, Oct(that can have an up and lower}, Chours in that order.

ok, great

Assuming the ODB-3 isn’t giving you sounds you like, i would look at an overdrive and/or dirty preamp (basically combined amp-like EQ and dirt).

I’ve not tried Darkglass preamps, but the B3K or B7K are popular among metal players. Basically a nice top end, crunchy mids, and decent lows.

(i would look at octave and chorus last, as these aren’t really your “normal” metal sounds. Not to say you shouldn’t use them.)

 

[René_Julien]

• turn down the bass knob on your amp
• turn up the low mids on your amp
• add compression (from a nice pedal)
• push up the gain from your amp for a bit of overdrive
• not satisfied with the drive from your amp? add an overdive pedal; anything tubescreamer based or in my personal opinion something harsher like Darkglass would fit those styles of metal nicely

The ODB-3 is actually a fuzz pedal. Are you satisfied with the drive it gives you? Maybe it's not for you and find a nice overdrive pedal. That's a rabbithole you're going to fall into.

Chorus... not needed. Unless you really want it and can make use of it go for it.

Octave... no, I don't really see the use for that... unless you can make use of it. (With octave effect you also need to adjust or relearn some playing techniques.)

Fuzz? Another rabbithole to fall into. I don't see it in the genre of music you listed. Unless you want to do some distorted lead stuff.

Me personally I like to add some delay in the more slower mellower parts in those genres of music. But that's just part of my personal journey in this genre of music.

 

[Donald Wormuth]

Sounds like you need a better amp.

I agree especially with style I'm heading toward. Being a beginner and not researching before i bought it. I thought a larger speaker was what I needed. I bought it from a friend who was in financial issues and got it brand new. Only was used 3x i got it for half of what she paid. I'm leaning toward either a 2x10 2x8 112x18 or something similar. I need at least 200 watts in a combo due to space and don't want to be lugging a head and cabinet to practice and home. I might trade the ampeg in or keep it. So i don't have to constantly be moving it.

 

[knumbskull]

By the way, the ODB3 gets a bad rep but it’s not bad IMO - if you turn the treble down to tame the fizz, and keep the dirt level very low for just a bit of breakup, it can make some great sounds.

 

[neptoon]

Ryan Martinie only used a dbx compressor with Mudvayne, as far as I know, and Tom Araya is the same; bass, compressor, amp.. Tom also used a dbx compressor

 

[lokikallas]

I agree especially with style I'm heading toward. Being a beginner and not researching before i bought it. I thought a larger speaker was what I needed. I bought it from a friend who was in financial issues and got it brand new. Only was used 3x i got it for half of what she paid. I'm leaning toward either a 2x10 2x8 112x18 or something similar. I need at least 200 watts in a combo due to space and don't want to be lugging a head and cabinet to practice and home. I might trade the ampeg in or keep it. So i don't have to constantly be moving it.

IME you need at least 300w and either a 4x10 or 2x12 to have a chance playing with metal drummers.

 

[René_Julien]

I agree especially with style I'm heading toward. Being a beginner and not researching before i bought it. I thought a larger speaker was what I needed. I bought it from a friend who was in financial issues and got it brand new. Only was used 3x i got it for half of what she paid. I'm leaning toward either a 2x10 2x8 112x18 or something similar. I need at least 200 watts in a combo due to space and don't want to be lugging a head and cabinet to practice and home. I might trade the ampeg in or keep it. So i don't have to constantly be moving it.

Nothing wrong with the amp you have, those Ampeg BA series combos are good enough for home practice and band practice.

Speaker size doesn't matter, forget about all those preconceptions you have about that.

The Scrambler overdrive might not be to your liking. Find something tubescreamer based... lots of overdrive pedals in that category from dirt cheap to expensive.

Maybe an EQ pedal for extra control. I have no suggestion on that since I am currently looking myself for a simple EQ pedal for a bit more fine-tuning of my sound.

 

[Donald Wormuth]

Sounds like you need a better amp.

I've looked at everyone of my favorite bassists rig run downs. Everyone uses some sort of pedal chain Burton, Ellefson, Gray, Araya.

 

[Lammchop93]

You don’t need much. Most of those bands barely even use effects. I would get a keeley bassist compressor and a Darkglass b3k or X and that’s all you need. None of those bands you listed use chorus, fuzz, or anything like that.

 

[levis76]

If you want to be heard, it’s all about them mids.

A lot of beginners fall in love with a solo bedroom tone that is scooped, meaning boosted lows and highs with little to no midrange. Best to find out what the flat eq settings are for your amp (it’s not always what you might think it is) and bass, and start adjustments from there.

Darkglass, MXR, and many others make great pedals that all do different things. Don’t be shy about asking to try some out at your local dealer, if you have one.

Good luck on your quest, I hope your able to find the tone you’re looking for.

 

[Donald Wormuth]

By the way, the ODB3 gets a bad rep but it’s not bad IMO - if you turn the treble down to tame the fizz, and keep the dirt level very low for just a bit of breakup, it can make some great sounds.

I like it I was researching this question. I thought OD and dist was one in the same till a few hours ago, That's why, I was thinking about adding dist but, I also seen googling that if i adjusted the od I can get effect i am looking for.

 

[René_Julien]

You don’t need much. Most of those bands barely even use effects. I would get a keeley bassist compressor and a Darkglass b3k or X and that’s all you need. None of those bands you listed use chorus, fuzz, or anything like that.

I agree with you.

Those bassists are pros... they gear they use is more utulitarian since they need it for best control of their sound live and in the studio.

You're a "weekend warrior". It's fun to obsess about what the professionals use, I do this a lot too, but try to understand better what particular pieces of gear does and how to operate it, and find the best solution for yourself.

 

[Donald Wormuth]

If you want to be heard, it’s all about them mids.

A lot of beginners fall in love with a solo bedroom tone that is scooped, meaning boosted lows and highs with little to no midrange. Best to find out what the flat eq settings are for your amp (it’s not always what you might think it is) and bass, and start adjustments from there.

Darkglass, MXR, and many others make great pedals that all do different things. Don’t be shy about asking to try some out at your local dealer, if you have one.

Good luck on your quest, I hope your able to find the tone you’re looking for.

We have a GC and a few custom places and the GC really blows. I went there to buy my first brand new bass, They had "0" basses there absolutely nothing except used ones. Nothing new at all I had to drive 150 miles to another one to get a bass. It wasn't the one I wanted but was my second choice and I wanted to buy then. Before money went some where else. And they had no strings no pedals for bass it was like they'd been robbed. I was that way scooped but my teacher has me playing and practicing flat.