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Smoothie compressor, Broughton HPF/LPF. And my overdrive pedal of choice. That one changes regularly.
Must have pedals that fit on a Pedaltrain Nano -
1) Quality tuner - I recommend the Turbotuner
2) DI - take your sound with you and go direct if your amp dies, maybe Sansamp VTDI
3) Compressor - Smoothie. It just works well and sounds great. This is the result of Bongomania reviewing hundreds of compressors and starting with a clean slate. He did well.
4) OD - Lots of choices, try the Boss BB-1X, yes I'm recommending a Boss over boutique choices
1) Quality tuner - I recommend the Turbotuner
2) DI - take your sound with you and go direct if your amp dies, maybe Sansamp VTDI
3) Compressor - Smoothie. It just works well and sounds great. This is the result of Bongomania reviewing hundreds of compressors and starting with a clean slate. He did well.
4) OD - Lots of choices, try the Boss BB-1X, yes I'm recommending a Boss over boutique choices
In today's musical climate with mp3's and earbuds being all the rage, along with live shows and saving my back, I put my love for individual pedals on the back burner. At home I record bass tracks with the line6 pod farm on the computer, and for live I use the x3 live.
Compressor, overdrive, delay and chorus are my favorites. Daisy chaining a natural bass tone for lows with a separate overdrive for high end works out real well run in parallel.
I play mostly metal/rock/blues fwiw
Compressor, overdrive, delay and chorus are my favorites. Daisy chaining a natural bass tone for lows with a separate overdrive for high end works out real well run in parallel.
I play mostly metal/rock/blues fwiw
Looks like I'm just piggybacking on what everyone else says, but compression and OD are what I would think everyone would have in some way.
As for fun effects, I like subtle use of chorus or envelope filter. Using an octaver with the envelope filter can be a real hoot. Flanger is fun too, especially when it brings funny looks from the guitarist.
My tuner and preamp are rackmount, so I don't know if they qualify as pedals. My comp, chorus and filter are pedals though.
As for fun effects, I like subtle use of chorus or envelope filter. Using an octaver with the envelope filter can be a real hoot. Flanger is fun too, especially when it brings funny looks from the guitarist.
My tuner and preamp are rackmount, so I don't know if they qualify as pedals. My comp, chorus and filter are pedals though.
I think it really depends on the genre. Playing rock, I'll want a tube screamer type overdrive, and that's the only thing that I consider essential. Playing jazz / r&b / funk, nothing is essential other than a fat tone. But octave pedals and synth type fuzz pedals can be useful, and you may need an envelope filter for funk.
I'd always like to have a compressor, but you can always get along without one, it's just an improvement.
And you probably want a tuner, but it's not an effect so I don't think it's relevant.
I'd always like to have a compressor, but you can always get along without one, it's just an improvement.
And you probably want a tuner, but it's not an effect so I don't think it's relevant.
All I need are some tasty waves, a cool buzz bass fuzz, and I'm fine.
I remember when that was on P&E for a fuzz shootout. I dug it, but even though having controls helps shape the tone, I liked the charm of the earlier model that just had a gain switch. Still, cool pedal.
Also: Boss LS-2
Awesome utility pedal for you tone tweakers that will enable you to blend, route, switch in a variety of ways you may not have even considered, or that maybe you did think about yet were frustrated in trying to accomplish. Whether it's on the board full time or not, it is one to have in the arsenal.
I used to carry around an EHX Bass Mirco-Synth. I think I still have it in the basement. It's the awesomeist synth pedal for a bass, to my ears makes it sound a lot like a Minimoog. I even used it for a couple Jamiroquai covers we did.
The issue with those is that they have a million little sliders, and there's no way you're going to reach down and successfully adjust them in between songs on a gig. You have to set it on one sound, leave it there, and pray not to kick it.
The issue with those is that they have a million little sliders, and there's no way you're going to reach down and successfully adjust them in between songs on a gig. You have to set it on one sound, leave it there, and pray not to kick it.
For me, a preamp, an OD, fuzz and a delay. I want, almost need, all those things to get by in any given situation. The preamp is a def. The OD is a def. The delay I can probably do without most times, but its an effect I know Id use in any given situation at times.
Other than that, doesnt really matter. You really want to open your horizons and start messing with more effects, get into some fuzz/dirt. Talk about a rabbit hole. Ive been very set on more than half my board for almost 2 years, but my dirt pedals are like musical chairs. Im always changing and swapping most them out. Fun stuff
Other than that, doesnt really matter. You really want to open your horizons and start messing with more effects, get into some fuzz/dirt. Talk about a rabbit hole. Ive been very set on more than half my board for almost 2 years, but my dirt pedals are like musical chairs. Im always changing and swapping most them out. Fun stuff
I "must have" a bit of overdrive, and it should be sensitive enough that it can go from cleanish to heavyish based only on how I play.
I'm sure I could get this effect from the right amp instead of a pedal, but pedals are cheaper, easier to transport, and the sound man doesn't need to mike my amp.
For versatility, I like a dirtyish boost into the above mentioned overdrive, and for fun, some octavers. I can't get time based effects like phasers to work for me, but they sure are cool when a lot of other people use them.
I'm sure I could get this effect from the right amp instead of a pedal, but pedals are cheaper, easier to transport, and the sound man doesn't need to mike my amp.
For versatility, I like a dirtyish boost into the above mentioned overdrive, and for fun, some octavers. I can't get time based effects like phasers to work for me, but they sure are cool when a lot of other people use them.
For me, my essential effects pedals are OD, Fuzz and Envelop Filter... currently: Wampler Eurphoria, VFE Woodchipper/SGFX Imperial and 3leaf GR2.
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I don't know... I guess it really depends on the type of music you play. I'd say a tuner pedal is a real nice-to-have. But maybe people have tuners built in to their amps. And for me, some light OD is real nice... though maybe not critical... but it is part of my tone package.
