Whatever you need to express yourself while serving the song best. No more, no less.
Well, maybe add a few more than needed...
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Whatever you need to express yourself while serving the song best. No more, no less.
Well, maybe add a few more than needed...
Tuner such as a Pitchblack.
High Pass such as a Thumpinator or FDeck.
Overdrive/Tube Emulator such as a Barbershop or Darkglass.
Parametric EQ such as an Empress.
Anything else depends on your musical requirements.
High Pass such as a Thumpinator or FDeck.
Overdrive/Tube Emulator such as a Barbershop or Darkglass.
Parametric EQ such as an Empress.
Anything else depends on your musical requirements.
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My tonal requirements would change if I were playing different music, but for me a great place to start for a big, round bass tone, is a preamp with tube emulation into a compressor and chorus.
An autowah/envelope filter is a fantastic addition if used tastefully; I use it for the bridge on one song, and it completely changes the feel for those 8 bars, moving it to a really unexpected, but cool place.
An autowah/envelope filter is a fantastic addition if used tastefully; I use it for the bridge on one song, and it completely changes the feel for those 8 bars, moving it to a really unexpected, but cool place.
Tuner.
Tuner.
Tuner.
Tuner.
Tuner.
If you buy nothing else, get a good quality stage tuner. (Most also double as a handy mute switch.)
Once you're dead-on in tune, everything else becomes the frosting on the cake.
Tuner.
Tuner.
Tuner.
Tuner.
If you buy nothing else, get a good quality stage tuner. (Most also double as a handy mute switch.)
Once you're dead-on in tune, everything else becomes the frosting on the cake.
Tuner - a newer Turbo Tuner with the relay switching. It's a couple buck more than other tuners, but extremely worth it. Just trust me.
Compressor - Like others have said, don't go cheap. I currently have a Boss BC-1X on my board and I really like it for smoothing out levels.
Depending on where you play, I'd get a DI. I have a Noble Preamp on my board and it is killer. It's also not cheap. For a more affordable DI, just grab a used SansAmp.
I think those are all anyone "needs" on their pedalboard and after that it depends on what you play. I would recommend adding a Line 6 M5 if you're new to effects because you can play with a lot of different effects economically with a multi. And the effects in the M5 are pretty good. You'll probably want a dedicated dirt of some sort and the M5 has 10-ish that will give you a feel for their character.
Compressor - Like others have said, don't go cheap. I currently have a Boss BC-1X on my board and I really like it for smoothing out levels.
Depending on where you play, I'd get a DI. I have a Noble Preamp on my board and it is killer. It's also not cheap. For a more affordable DI, just grab a used SansAmp.
I think those are all anyone "needs" on their pedalboard and after that it depends on what you play. I would recommend adding a Line 6 M5 if you're new to effects because you can play with a lot of different effects economically with a multi. And the effects in the M5 are pretty good. You'll probably want a dedicated dirt of some sort and the M5 has 10-ish that will give you a feel for their character.
I play a wide range of styles in gigs ranging from pit band to jazz to rock to original eclectic material. I have a bunch of pedals, but I'd consider the following to be enough for most situations:
Tuner
Octaver
Envelope Filter
Overdrive
Fuzz (or distortion)
Flanger
Next ones I'd add would be delay and reverb, then maybe a chorus, though I tend to like the sound of modulated delay/reverb over pure chorus.
Tuner
Octaver
Envelope Filter
Overdrive
Fuzz (or distortion)
Flanger
Next ones I'd add would be delay and reverb, then maybe a chorus, though I tend to like the sound of modulated delay/reverb over pure chorus.
Bassist4Eris
Frat-Pack Sympathizer
I will always suggest some multi effect as a starting place, today you are fortunate as they have come a long way and in some cases may be all many bass players will ever need. IMO a Zoom B3 or MS60B or B1on will get you a long way into useful and freaky effects plus the utility and digital side will serve most of your needs as you advance.
My personal bare bones rig is a Sweeper envelope follower into and overdrive into a B2.1u, covers my rock, corporate and country gigs.
My personal bare bones rig is a Sweeper envelope follower into and overdrive into a B2.1u, covers my rock, corporate and country gigs.
I play modern hard rock which often is borderline metal
My Essentials .....
Tuner (shure glxd)
Compressor (boss Cs-2)
Pre amp/Overdrive/DI (sans amp RBI)
My fun pedals....
Digitech polara (reverb and modulation)
Jamman stereo with its own radial DI (I use this combo as a foot controlled sampler )
Had a lot of other types of pedals. Because of the styles I play I prefer to use the sampler for most things. Like I'd rather use my korg module or virtual instruments for synth sounds and make samples I can double on bass or play over top of with bass. No pedal I've tried does an 808 or bass drop type of effect better than sampling the real thing. Also works nicely for sampling additional guitar parts for choruses of songs where our guitar player did some simple layering in the studio but doesnt justify adding an additional band member who would double the main guitar more than half the time. Great for adding realistic strings (cello, violin ect) and piano by sampling virtual instruments.
Delay pedals are cool on bass.
Octaves are pretty popular although live they can Piss off the sound guy.
As for really dirty distortions and fuzz pedals. There's a couple nice ones. I really liked the mxr bass distortion but I found in the studio I prefered the dirt I got reamping through the studios Mesa triple rectifier paired with my ampeg cab and because i often am stepping on the sampler when I would need to turn on or off additional dirt I've decided to stick with a smaller pedalboard and not to use them in my live setup.
My Essentials .....
Tuner (shure glxd)
Compressor (boss Cs-2)
Pre amp/Overdrive/DI (sans amp RBI)
My fun pedals....
Digitech polara (reverb and modulation)
Jamman stereo with its own radial DI (I use this combo as a foot controlled sampler )
Had a lot of other types of pedals. Because of the styles I play I prefer to use the sampler for most things. Like I'd rather use my korg module or virtual instruments for synth sounds and make samples I can double on bass or play over top of with bass. No pedal I've tried does an 808 or bass drop type of effect better than sampling the real thing. Also works nicely for sampling additional guitar parts for choruses of songs where our guitar player did some simple layering in the studio but doesnt justify adding an additional band member who would double the main guitar more than half the time. Great for adding realistic strings (cello, violin ect) and piano by sampling virtual instruments.
Delay pedals are cool on bass.
Octaves are pretty popular although live they can Piss off the sound guy.
As for really dirty distortions and fuzz pedals. There's a couple nice ones. I really liked the mxr bass distortion but I found in the studio I prefered the dirt I got reamping through the studios Mesa triple rectifier paired with my ampeg cab and because i often am stepping on the sampler when I would need to turn on or off additional dirt I've decided to stick with a smaller pedalboard and not to use them in my live setup.
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What you're trying to achieve tone-wise would certainly help, but here's my basic advice for any situation.
Another vote for a tuner for its utility purposes. After that, I'd say overdrive, if you don't like your amp's variety. I feel overdrive can work (in a pinch) in the same songs that use fuzz or distortion. From pedal 3 on, get what you like. I always love envelope filters, and have recently realized I like mild compression (though that's a whole other thread).
In short - tuner and overdrive.
Another vote for a tuner for its utility purposes. After that, I'd say overdrive, if you don't like your amp's variety. I feel overdrive can work (in a pinch) in the same songs that use fuzz or distortion. From pedal 3 on, get what you like. I always love envelope filters, and have recently realized I like mild compression (though that's a whole other thread).
In short - tuner and overdrive.
I don't consider a tuner in the same vein as an effects pedal.
I count playing in tune as essential as having strings on my bass.
I count playing in tune as essential as having strings on my bass.
Definitely some kind of overdrive for when a little aggression is necessary, and a chorus for when things need to be pretty. Those are the only two bass effects I've ever felt are necessary.
As others have said - there's probably nothing you may "need," per se, but there are tools that will make your life easier.
I use a lot of house backline where I play (NYC) with amps of varying quality and very little changeover time. So, I use:
1) A TC Polytune Mini Tuner
2) EHX Bass Preacher Compressor
3) Tech 21 VT Bass pedal
All three of these help me adapt to pretty much any situation.
I use a lot of house backline where I play (NYC) with amps of varying quality and very little changeover time. So, I use:
1) A TC Polytune Mini Tuner
2) EHX Bass Preacher Compressor
3) Tech 21 VT Bass pedal
All three of these help me adapt to pretty much any situation.
My amp has a studio quality DI built in and I don't own any pedals. My sound is very clean and I don't use distortion. I wouldn't suggest buying any pedals until you find you have a need for a particular one. Like buying a whole slew of shoes just in case you need to wear something different sometime. If your sound needs a particular pedal...then get it.
In case no one has said it yet: ALL OF THEM! 
Or none.
Or something in between. Totally depends on what kind of music you play, what you want to achieve with your tone, your budget, etc.
Me, I'm just a home hobbyist with a good income, so I maintain a pretty versatile board just to play whatever strikes my mood.
Tuner - Korg Pitchblack
Octaver - EHX Micro POG
Dirt - Idiotbox Blower Box (or one of the many other dirt pedals I own)
Phaser - MXR Script Phase 90
Delay - OBNE Black Fountain
Compressor - DOD Milkbox
I also have a Ditto looper that I use for practice, a tiny Mooer Micro DI that I slip onto the end of my board when I need it, and a bunch of other stuff. I'm a pedal hoarder. It's a bad habit. RUN! SAVE YOURSELF! IT'S TOO LATE FOR ME!
Or none.
Or something in between. Totally depends on what kind of music you play, what you want to achieve with your tone, your budget, etc.
Me, I'm just a home hobbyist with a good income, so I maintain a pretty versatile board just to play whatever strikes my mood.
Tuner - Korg Pitchblack
Octaver - EHX Micro POG
Dirt - Idiotbox Blower Box (or one of the many other dirt pedals I own)
Phaser - MXR Script Phase 90
Delay - OBNE Black Fountain
Compressor - DOD Milkbox
I also have a Ditto looper that I use for practice, a tiny Mooer Micro DI that I slip onto the end of my board when I need it, and a bunch of other stuff. I'm a pedal hoarder. It's a bad habit. RUN! SAVE YOURSELF! IT'S TOO LATE FOR ME!
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