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Pedals or No pedals!?
- Thread starter brian579
- Start date
I go both ways. Right now I’m into trying different sounds so I have a large board. When I gig it’s mostly been straight into the tuner then straight into the amp.
My favorite pedal has been an empress compressor. Second favorite would have to be a source audio pro envelope filter because it’s intuitive and offers a lot at a discontinued reverb price.
My favorite pedal has been an empress compressor. Second favorite would have to be a source audio pro envelope filter because it’s intuitive and offers a lot at a discontinued reverb price.
I have this mini-board sitting next to my practice amp at home, and have another half dozen pedals around, but they almost never go out with me. I play in a classic rock/ country variety band. Hardly ever feel the need for them. (I do miss the volume pedal sometimes, when the guitar steps on his "loud" switch) 
I used a Tech 21 VT deluxe as my "amp" - meaning that I rely on the pedal (and my playing) to provide the gain and EQ for my tone. I send this signal to the board and/or an amp that I use as a power amp only. Not sure if this makes me a one pedal user or a no pedal user.
Go a Trace Elliott twin compressor from last century. Hardly ever use it. Used to have a Boss Auto-Wah. Don't remember selling it. Maybe the druggies got it. Or Maybe its hiding in a drawer with the swapped out pickups and harmonicas. Obviously not in the gig bag and hasn't been for ages.
For playing live I just turn the volume up and EQ myself out the way if the complaining starts. For recording, I used to be happier with the quiet, pro FX that come with studios. If I need to record again, it's not like I lack for plug-ins. But TBH I'm usually happier with something rustled up on FM8. DX 7 was all that back when. And a DX 7 with a routing grid and resonant filter is even better.
Guess a MIDI bass would be nice. Laptop as pedal-board.
For playing live I just turn the volume up and EQ myself out the way if the complaining starts. For recording, I used to be happier with the quiet, pro FX that come with studios. If I need to record again, it's not like I lack for plug-ins. But TBH I'm usually happier with something rustled up on FM8. DX 7 was all that back when. And a DX 7 with a routing grid and resonant filter is even better.
Guess a MIDI bass would be nice. Laptop as pedal-board.
+This. I have one big pedal called a Helix ;-) I always have a compressor and some modelling turned on for FOH. I use effects and patches in my pop cover band, but I don't use anything in my acoustic rock band (except a little dirt when we play Ace of Spades).
I used to be a member of the big pedal board group but I had to revoke my membership when I determined that all I really needed was a DI. I do use a small board that consists of a tuner, compressor, light overdrive and maybe some chorus but that’s about it.
...but there’s always the possibility my tone could be better!
...but there’s always the possibility my tone could be better!
For 20 years or so I’ve used at least 2 dirt pedals and wouldn’t consider doing a gig without them!
I gig with only three pedals, all Boss - BB-1X Bass Driver, BC-1X Bass Comp, and a TU-2 tuner. My sound is pretty straightforward, just the classic P-Bass sound with a smidgen of overdrive and some compression. It gives the band I play in a solid foundation, so everyone can do what they need to do.
I love and use pedals. But some gigs don’t need much, or any pedals at all. Pedals became less optional for me after buying a Cali 76 CB last summer, which has become my first always on pedal after 20 years of pretty consistent pedal use.
Still, quieter smaller gigs I can and will play without pedals, but that’s less frequent now with the Cali on the scene.
Still, quieter smaller gigs I can and will play without pedals, but that’s less frequent now with the Cali on the scene.
Can happily play without effects. For 20+ years I used no pedals with bass. Even my old tuner wasn't in pedal format.
I now have a pedalboard with three pedals including an A/B switch and a tuner. The third pedal is a small preamp that I use primarily for its HPF and LPF, sometimes for EQ - so about as much of a non-"effect" effect as one could use.
I'm considering adding an octave pedal but haven't made up my mind.
I do like the sound of a good envelope filter on bass for some tunes, but that doesn't really suit the music I play so I don't have one.
recently i started using IEM's, no amp. I am running my small pedal board with fuzz, comp, boost, octave, drive, tuner, HPF/LPF into my line 6 POD HD500X, which serves as my "amp" and delay/modulation. i use all different amp modelers on the pod, and have dual signal path patches that I am utilizing with my Bass VI. I like pedals, they are fun. And I'm really enjoying going direct with IEM's as well, since I can't roll a 4x12" cab with 500+ watts.
I dont use any in my cover band, but use a phaser compressor and a couple of overdrives all the time in the metal band, sometimes gig with them.
