Only two, you choose...

[smogg]

I fall into the minimalist camp when it comes to effects. OD into a chorus is all I really need as both my amps have on board compressors. (which I don't really use much anyway)

 

[NathOBX]

Fuzz and envelope filter.

 

[Sub-hoo-fer]

My DI has two different flavors of dirt, a decent EQ, and the best single-knob compressor on the market (imo), so...looks like I'm coming in two pedals under your two pedal limit.

Intriguing. What DI do you use?

 

[Snaxster]

Many here seem to have a love of multiple effects pedals and that's great, but personally I'm in the camp of minimalism and simplicity.

What two bass guitar effects would you choose if you were limited to only two? Explain why and how you would use them.

Personally, I see very little use for most of effects, especially 'spacial' effects. They seem to get lost in the aural excitement of the sound of the whole 'band.' Overdrive or distortion can help cut through but effects like reverb 'seem' fruitless unless you're the only one playing.

EDIT
DIs and tuners don't count! I'm talking about specific effects. I'm on the fence to say whether PreAmps count.

Hello. Probably you will find a few answers here:

=1&c[node]=36+225"]Search Results for Query: have only | TalkBass.com

 

[GrapeBass]

Hello. Probably you will find a few answers here:

=1&c[node]=36+225']Search Results for Query: have only | TalkBass.com

Interesting, thanks! I know this question has been hashed about but I thought it was a good topic to ask again, especially when the other threads asked about a single pedal, three or four.

With two pedals it seems most people like a bit of dirt (OD or Distilled) and a filter of some kind...

 

[BaltBass5]

2 OD’s

1 for Tubey grit / hair
1 for harder drive

That’s all I use

 

[mattbass6945]

2 OD’s

1 for Tubey grit / hair
1 for harder drive

That’s all I use

Which specific models do you use?

 

[39-Bassist]

I personally don't care for effects, but when I do I prefer a Chorus and Compressor/Gate

 

[St_G]

Same as @BasementWarrior, who replied right after me, as it happens: LR Baggs Stadium.

Intriguing. What DI do you use?

 

[Fuzzbass]

Many here seem to have a love of multiple effects pedals and that's great, but personally I'm in the camp of minimalism and simplicity.

What two bass guitar effects would you choose if you were limited to only two? Explain why and how you would use them.

Personally, I see very little use for most of effects, especially 'spacial' effects. They seem to get lost in the aural excitement of the sound of the whole 'band.' Overdrive or distortion can help cut through but effects like reverb 'seem' fruitless unless you're the only one playing.

My favorite two effects are distortion and overdrive. 95% of my gigs, I use 2 to 3 dirt pedals, sometimes stacking them for heavier tones.

If the question requires two different families, then I would go with distortion/overdrive and compression. Distortion provides some compression (the heavier the distortion the greater the compression), but every so often I set up a compressor to use with my cleaner tones.

I'm with you: my gig philosophy is K.I.S.S., so I don't use anything besides dirt (and occasionally compression).

 

[lfmn16]

Then again, I gigged for over 30 years without any effects, there were no issues whatsoever and I never felt compromised or limited. Granted the music was mostly classic rock, jazz and blues.

In no way do I imply that you MUST use a pedal(s). What I'm saying is that to arbitrarily limit the number to two doesn't make sense.

I thought the goal was to get the sound we want. If someone wants to make that harder to do for themselves, I'm not going to argue. Not my circus, not my monkey.

 

[BaltBass5]

Which specific models do you use?

Eden glow plug and Way Huge Pork Loin at the moment but I own about 15.

 

[FilterFunk]

Envelope filter (EHX Q-Balls is my weapon of choice) and EQ (Boss EQ-20)

 

[lfmn16]

I could see where it might have an educational value. Because you’ll see a lot of people constantly adding to their rigs but never really learning how to use what they already have.

When my sister was getting her fine arts degree, her painting classes forced them to use a deliberately limited pallet of colors to teach them how to get everything possible out of what the my were allowed to use. Then, after they got a handle on a minimialist pallet, the instructors would gradually add a color at a time. But even so, many professional painters will still only use a relatively small number of colors in any given painting. Usually it’s between five and eight.

I’ve heard kids with a half dozen cheap effects produce cool sounds that some folks rocking a rack of Strymon and Eventide gear wouldn’t be ashamed to call their own.

Sometimes being forced to work with less gets you more. Not always. But anybody that knows how to push what they’ve got as far as it can go will have an advantage over someone who bought expensive gear but then uses it for nothing beyond than the factory supplied presets.

As an intellectual exercise I would agree that it has merit. After 45 years of playing though, I've payed my dues (many times over) and I want to make things easier, not harder.

 

[40Hz]

As an intellectual exercise I would agree that it has merit. After 45 years of playing though, I've payed my dues (many times over) and I want to make things easier, not harder.

Yeah. Me as well! I’m tired of struggling with gear. I figure I’ve paid my dues too. And at my age you get a little more discerning about where and how to spend what remaining time you have.

 

[MYLOWFREQ]

As an intellectual exercise I would agree that it has merit. After 45 years of playing though, I've payed my dues (many times over) and I want to make things easier, not harder.

totally agree with that. effects are tools just as instruments. you pick up the right one(s) to get the job done. of course you can hammer with a screwdriver but why do that?

playing the bass itself only and exploring its limitations is essential for a beginner imo. but is more learning how to play than making music.

 

[oysteivi]

Overdrive and analog octave down would get me what I need.

 

[BioDriver]

Octave and fuzz.

 

[ugly_bassplayer]

VT bass DI and oc2.
Tuner doesn't count. with those two you get 99% of gigs done. I'd add an beta overdrive also

 

[bassbrad]

Nope, still not playing your cruel cruel

game, please just make it go away. Git Git Git