Playing live and pedal function

[USAJO]

It just dawned on me that I really don’t need a pedalboard on the floor by my microphone.

I have an SGTDI, GEB 7, POG, Sentry noise gate and a tuner.

Other than the tuner which also I rarely would need during a set I set all of my pedals during sound check and don’t touch them again.

Has anyone else operated like this? I’m thinking of a little case that would be back by my amp that held all of the pedals except the tuner.

My pedalboard is small and it no longer fits what I have but I’m thinking why buy a pedal board ( I don’t use pedals like guitarists or other bass players I guess)

Am I not thinking this through or does it make sense?

 

[ItsmeSantiago]

Sounds like an extra step with having the tuner off the board which may defeat the purpose of being lean and mean. I have a small board because I play some cramped spots and it works for its purpose but I never feel the need to keep the floor that clean

 

[USAJO]

Sounds like an extra step with having the tuner off the board which may defeat the purpose of being lean and mean. I have a small board because I play some cramped spots and it works for its purpose but I never feel the need to keep the floor that clean

True maybe just keep the tuner with everything else in a case by the amp too.

If I had a larger pedalboard I probably would just continue using it but since it’s too small now maybe it’s time to rethink it for me.

 

[tshapiro]

I’d say I run with my board at the foot of my amp about 50% of the time. I do leave the tuner on the board and wouldn’t have it as a separate setup:
- If I’m getting distortion from the amp or running clean all night then the board sits by the amp. The amp switcher is up front. (Simpler setup)
- If I’m planning to get my distortion from my board than the board is up front - no amp switcher.

 

[Wasnex]

The only pedal I used was a tuner. Push to mute and tune...NOICE !!!!

IMHO: Use you pedals in whatever way you find beneficial. What you describe sound totally fine as long as it allows you to meet the needs of the music you perform.

 

[Fuzzbass]

I set all of my pedals during sound check and don’t touch them again.

Has anyone else operated like this?

I do. Sort of.

I have a small board and a medium sized board (I only use one at a time). Same as you I never need to tweak any knobs after sound check. I occasionally toggle a pedal on or off during the gig, but never mid-song. So, I place whichever board I'm using right in front of my amp rig. I like this because they are mostly out of harm's way (my main concern is clumsy bandmates).

P. S. My favorite distortion pedal has a built-in tuner, but if I'm not using that then I use clip-ons. They work great and batteries last a long time. Note: I'm never concerned about the appearance, but don't often leave them attached to the bass all gig long.

 

[BassChap]

If your pedals are always on, and you don't need to tweak during the gig, they can be placed wherever you want.

 

[bassfran]

I built a very small board that lives on top of my amp for just this purpose. Most of the pedals are 'always on' types, (i.e.; high pass filter, tuner, etc.). Old pic as it's evolved from this but you get the idea.

 

[dbflats]

I've got a big pedalboard that is now only about one third full. Was a dual use for bass and guitar, had a loop switcher, big multifx for guitar, blues driver for guitar, etc.

Not doing that anymore so it's down to just Boss tuner, DOD env filter that is used as an always on tone filter, an MXR phase 90, the only actual effect I use on bass live, a Broughton Always On, and my first gen Retrospec Squeezebox compressor.

I suppose with all the left over real estate I can add a wireless or something in the future. Or do the sensible thing and get a smaller board

I too leave this back by my amp, no switcheroos within songs.

 

[2saddleslab]

My board, which sits under my preamp/ amp, which all sits on top of my cab is typically set & forget. I might switch between the SGT SVT [or B15] vs the Spark, depending on a particular tune.

 

[klyph]

I’ve been using a pedal compressor alone, and my tuner is fed by a tuner out on my amp. I take a small piece of tape and faster then to the top of the amp so they don’t wander.

 

[lomo]

I use 4 pedals in a small plastic case that sits on top of my amp. A tuner, comp, small tube pre and Broughton HPF run off a 1-Spot. It's about 7x10".

 

[lomo]

^^^^^Note the use of the Broughton "always on" HPF allows a straight 1/4" jack for the "topmount" input.

 

[KidAmnesia]

Same. I'm using three pedals (preamp, tuner, hpf/lpf) and a power supply mounted on a piece of plywood. It goes either on top or right in front of my amp. I don't see the need for a case for it or a proper pedalboard.