Pedals For New bassist

[Thom7]

I'm with wunslooth and some others.
First decide what you want, don't make us make your mind up. go to the store and try some pedals out, ask friends how they get that tone if you like what you hear, youtube is your friend. all in all, research.

To come back on wunslooth, I recently got the Boss RC-2.
It loops and has a built-in metronome but is switchable to (somewhere around) 50 different drum beats. It helps with everything, and, like wunslooth said, hearing yourself is good. It can be quite... confronting.

 

[Hutzbordello]

seriously

distortion is a must for me, it really brings out so many characteristics from your bass and playing. I use a Fuzz Factory ($189) which is amazing.

Reverb adds a lot of depth and even with just reverb and fuzz going its a pretty great sound, it adds ambience as well for clean tone. I use the Reverb Hardwire series Reverb for $120 on ebay.

Bass VT is also great, beefs up tone and also can be used as an amazing overdrive pedal. usually $120

also yes i agree with Thom, listening to yourself really helps with ego and trying to get your music to come through more honest channels

 

[BassMonstrum]

"Tuner, 'cause you gotta stay in tune." - Derek Frank.

 

[casio]

If I was starting out and had the knowledge I have now (after switching though 35 or so pedals) I would say DONT GET ANY!
GAS is bad enough with basses, amps and other stuff as is!

 

[TomA1234]

If I was starting out and had the knowledge I have now (after switching though 35 or so pedals) I would say DONT GET ANY!
GAS is bad enough with basses, amps and other stuff as is!

+1

I never felt the need for any effects.

Then I made the mistake of buying a chorus.

Then an overdrive.

Then built a fuzz.

Now I want an octaver, tremolo, phaser, flanger, delay, envelope filter and wah.
And that's only the start.

Effects pedals are highly addictive. Don't start.
(they are too fun to resist though)

For the genres you are playing I would suggest an overdrive and chorus.

The overdrive will let you make a big and suitable change to your sound and the chorus will really help thicken your sound.

 

[Slackerprince]

I second the drum machine suggestion.
Crucial for practicing and keeping time.
Makes it way more interesting, too.
For fun, can't go wrong with an envelope filter.
Good luck.

S

 

[cchorney]

Buy a USED bass multi-effects pedal. Some of the effects won't be as high a quality as a good stand alone pedal, but this is really about you getting a sense of what effects you want in your sound. I'm not sure about all of them, but I know the Zoom B2 and B2-1 both come with onboard tuners, AND they will let you save several effects together in a memory space, so you can try out various combinations of effects (or various settings on one effect) with just a toe tap.

Eventually you will want individual pedals but hopefully by then you will have it narrowed down to just a couple effects, and you will (again, hopefully) have developed an ear for which brands and models best fit "your sound". At that point you can sell your multi-effects pedal for close to what you paid to the next new bassist who is in the shoes you once wore!