• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

(Pedals) where to start?

#42
spanndrew said:
Title says it all. Making a few extra bucks these days and thinking of starting a board. Aside from a tuner, where is a good starting place?
Click to expand...
EQ pedal!
Whether or not your amp has EQ ability (most only have some sort of hi, mid, low Tone controls), I'm a firm believer that you can never have enough EQ control. You can get away without a lot of stuff if you really want to K.I.S.S. but in my opinion, EQ is a must have...even more so than compression or dirt.

You'll need a dirt pedal if you're into styles that call for that (e.g. Metal, etc.) but regardless of genre or style, you need EQ. I'm actually a bit surprised at how many of the first several posts immediately jumped right on the dirt pedal bandwagon and so quickly forgot about EQ. Without proper EQing, your "dirt" will sound more like...manure, if you know what I mean.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: rfm767 and spanndrew
#45
I use EQ in my Trace Elliot 715 combo, if necessarily. For the price of this if I put 250 bucks more I would purchase Mobius or Pitchfactor. Ok, I can buy a new Bass Whammy. But I still can not understand why need to buy EQ as single stomp-box if got a lot equalization in my OD's and B7K?
 
#46
You can try a multi effect, but they tend not to sound as good as the real deal.

Otherwise, you can get some quite versatile pedals out there...
My personal advice, a Big bass muff pi deluxe :
A nice fuzz with envelope filter. Oh yeah. So many possibilities, great sound, very decent price. Definitely nice place to start with.
 
#47
totallyfrozen said:
Wow!
Right out of the gate, for his first pedal to start his pedalboard, you suggest a $250 unit!
Now THAT'S commitment!
Click to expand...
Yeah, it was tongue-in-cheek. Should've included a ";)".

My original suggestion (earlier in the thread) still works though, in reverse:
Pedal 1 MFX (includes EQ)
Pedal 2 OD/DIS/Fuzz

Get the MFX first and the Distortion later. Most any MFX has an EQ included, and upgrade the MFX's od/dist/fuzz when time/money/need warrant it.
;)

I'm a firm believer in MFX as a first pedal to those inexperienced with FX – gives us a broad idea of what-how each effect affects our signal. As long as you keep an open mind and, for example, realise a MFX with a flanger that kills your tone doesn't mean ALL flangers will kill your tone, you still get to hear what a flanger can do. Not to mention the only way a MFX od/dist/fuzz sounds bad is once you gain experience by comparing it to something better. No experience/comparison? Yeah, that MFX fuzz sounds just fine, does the job.

EASE OF USE
Something else to consider, my Korg MFX is used only for its stock settings, 'cause it's a pain to programme. By making it with very few buttons and a minimalist display, Korg made it simple and 'easy' to operate. However, because of the minimalist buttons/display – it's a pain diving in and out of each parameter to set it up the way you want.
My Line 6 M5 has a great user interface with knobs to twirl and a display that shows you what you've just twirled the setting to. Very easy to use and customise settings.

To be fair, the Korg is an older model and has the best of display/interface available at that price-point at the time. The M5 is newer and benefits from continuing improving technology available at increasing economies of scale resulting with a lower price for a better product. I'm happy with both, in that I got what I paid for. The Korg got my toe wet, and enabled me to decide to plunge my foot all the way in with a Boss chorus, Korg Echo/DL and the M5, and now I'm slowly wading my way to the deep end of the pool with a Diamond comp and vibrato, Dr Scientist Elements and a few other choice goodies.

The well is deep, but my thirst only increases for an even cooler drink...
 
#48
totallyfrozen said:
EQ pedal!
Whether or not your amp has EQ ability (most only have some sort of hi, mid, low Tone controls), I'm a firm believer that you can never have enough EQ control. You can get away without a lot of stuff if you really want to K.I.S.S. but in my opinion, EQ is a must have...even more so than compression or dirt.

You'll need a dirt pedal if you're into styles that call for that (e.g. Metal, etc.) but regardless of genre or style, you need EQ. I'm actually a bit surprised at how many of the first several posts immediately jumped right on the dirt pedal bandwagon and so quickly forgot about EQ. Without proper EQing, your "dirt" will sound more like...manure, if you know what I mean.
Click to expand...

Good advice! One question, where do you like your Eq in a pedal chain?
 
#50
rfm767 said:
Good advice! One question, where do you like your Eq in a pedal chain?
Click to expand...
While I have a duffle bag full of pedals, I actually only use 3 pedals in my bass gig rig right now. I most often put my EQ after my tuner and before my compressor. Most often my chain goes: Bass > TU-3 (tuner) > GEB-7 (EQ) > LMB-3 (compressor) > DI (GrooveTubes "The Brick") > FOH (digital board). Sometimes I don't even use the compressor at all since the main board has computerized digital compress on-board which is far superior to my little stomp box. It depends who's on the board. The main soundguy is a professional recording engineer (professional as in full-time, 40+ hrs/week job) and if he's on the board, I really don't need my stomp boxes at all. If a sub is on the board, then I use my pedals.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: rfm767
#51
gregmon79 said:
I use the source audio programmable EQ. I put it second in my chain after my tuner. So I can shape the frequencies in the beginning.


Killing gods
Click to expand...

totallyfrozen said:
While I have a duffle bag full of pedals, I actually only use 3 pedals in my bass gig rig right now. I most often put my EQ after my tuner and before my compressor. Most often my chain goes: Bass > TU-3 (tuner) > GEB-7 (EQ) > LMB-3 (compressor) > DI (GrooveTubes "The Brick") > FOH (digital board). Sometimes I don't even use the compressor at all since the main board has computerized digital compress on-board which is far superior to my little stomp box. It depends who's on the board. The main soundguy is a professional recording engineer (professional as in full-time, 40+ hrs/week job) and if he's on the board, I really don't need my stomp boxes at all. If a sub is on the board, then I use my pedals.
Click to expand...

Thanks!
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back