Pedals or no pedals

[pepj]

Every once in a while I might look at a specific pedal for a specific sound.
I play around with it..get bored, decide I can achieve much of what I'm after..or enough to actually retire the pedal idea.

The best reason to have them though is so you claim your stage space.

 

[HelpImaRock]

On guitar forums there are occasionally threads where players almost defiantly boast they go guitar, cord, amp. They don’t need or desire no stinking pedals.

Do you use pedal(s) playing bass?

I would guess the percentage of guitarist who use pedals is in the high 90’s.

What percentage of bass players would you guess use them?

I’d guess it would be lower. Maybe 70% or less?

What do you think?

If pedals are a big part of your sound does that make the amp you use a little less significant?

TGP hates pedals and headstock tuners just as much as TalkBass does. No, using pedals doesn't make any part of your rig "less". That's just silly. Even sillier are the great lengths TalkBass forumites go to say they don't use pedals when in fact, they do use pedals.

 

[GrowlerBox]

Imho, polls like this provide no meaningful data as long as there are some pedals which are not regarded as “pedals” by (some) respondents…

I’m sorry, you wanted what now from a TB poll?

 

[toastw]

I have a compressor and overdrive on the floor, but that's it.

 

[mikeswals]

On guitar forums there are occasionally threads where players almost defiantly boast they go guitar, cord, amp. They don’t need or desire no stinking pedals.

You're asking two differnt questions for different scenarios: one is guitar, and one is bass.

1st for Guitar.
When my long time original band started recording our 1st album, we hired a former Intersope records engineer. My guitarist was using only one channel of his amp, and merely used pedals to go from clean to distortion. The Interscope guy hated it and showed him how to drive his Marshall into proper distortion and make use of its channels. We were rewarded with beautiful rich guitar tone.
His effect after that were delay, wah, chorus. So yeah -to me- amp distortion is the best sounding one on guitar.

2nd for Bass: I do not use pedals to create my 'natural' tone. I find amps that have a bright and gritty type of sound on their own. If an amp doesn’t have it then I dont buy it. I love effects, but I only use them as effects; wah, chorus, synth, and the few times I need overdrive.

 

[darwin-bass]

I used to be anti-pedal. But now I have a pedal board that is used on every gig with pedals in this order.

1. OD (used occasionally)
2. Compressor (always on)
3. Octave (used occasionally)
4. HPF/LPF (always on)
5. Tuner / Mute switch

I've been experimenting with a new-to-me one-pedal solution using an OD pedal always on that provides compression and HPF/LPF.

 

[Joe Basso]

On guitar forums there are occasionally threads where players almost defiantly boast they go guitar, cord, amp. They don’t need or desire no stinking pedals.

Do you use pedal(s) playing bass?

I would guess the percentage of guitarist who use pedals is in the high 90’s.

What percentage of bass players would you guess use them?

I’d guess it would be lower. Maybe 70% or less?

What do you think?

If pedals are a big part of your sound does that make the amp you use a little less significant?

No pedals!!!

 

[MovingPitchers]

Great, now I already know what I'm getting for lunch

I agree with this example though. Stale bun and cruddy, bland meat is probably going to ruin everything. Condiments and veggies might help mask it some, but the core has to be good. After that, the extras (and some nice, crispy fries) just enrich something that's already good. One of the reasons I like GK RB heads so much is how well they take effects.

Running a preamp into the front end of an amp isn't something I typically do....if I want that kind of coloration, I'll put it into the effects return of the amp or straight to the mixing board. I mention this only because that's specifically stated by the OP.

Happy to help with lunch choices

 

[klokker]

Pedals, but I doubt anyone would be able to hear much difference if any from just plugging into my amp. Don't leave home without them though.

 

[sears]

What percentage of bass players would you guess use them?

I’d guess it would be lower. Maybe 70% or less?

pretty good guess!

 

[namboy]

I've only recently started using pedals but they will go to every gig from now on

Tuner
Compressor (always on)
Octave (used sometimes)
Bdi21 (used sometimes for a bit of drive)

The pedals help fill out some sonic space when guitarists solo. Play mostly in 3 piece bands so need something to help fill things out.

Have also used the bdi21 as a di straight to the desk on 1 gig where the venues bass amp didn't work

 

[Kerem Koseoglu]

I use pedals only when the setlist absolutely calls for them, which is a small percentage of my gigs. The benefits of pedals must be worth the cost of extra weight, setup / teardown time, soundcheck duration and risks (noise, adapter failure, etc.).