Show me your compact pedalboard setup

[Feral Feline]

...

Thing is, why did he even take the time to copy and paste all of that? I have read the manual. I’ve seen this sentence.

...

Maybe it was simply an attempt to help you further narrow down your board, make things even easier and less cluttered, less gear to haul.

No context was given, though, in that post quoting the SansAmp manual.


Of course, three pedals isn't cluttered at all, and as you said you prefer having the comp.


Anyway, I loved your cutting-board. Reminded me of my last gig-board: a bamboo cutting-board. Whittled things down to just an HPF-Pre and a Tuner, occasionally a limiter as well. Could tuck the cutting board into the pocket of my DB's case. At home, however... well, I love effects of all types!

 

[Btbp]

The BDDI was my first Pre/DI, that was about 8 years ago. I had a comp and other pedals decades before that, then they all started multiplying. Like wabbits. The thing I think (I've lost count) I have the most of is Preamps.

It's a good entry level pre/di. I remember agonizing over that, the ParaDI, the VT, etc. and ended up with the vanilla option. In hindsight I probably should have got the Q-strip back then.

It sounds better with my Keeley Bass Comp, which also hasn't been on my boards for years, but I really like that Keeley.

A few years and a few comps later, I still have the BDDI.

It hasn't been on my board for years. I break it out once or twice a year when I don't want to bring a pedalboard to a rehearsal.

 

[Blunder]

 

[Matt Lynn]

Still tweaking the order and the delay may be replaced with reverb/chorus

 

[TaySte_2000]

Home practice and in a pinch a gig

 

[mapleglo]

I just swapped out the bass chorus deluxe for the compressor. I started playing bass in 1969 and in all those years, never used a compressor, but it seems many players use them, so I thought I'd give one a try. It occurs to me that I have no idea how this crazy thing works, or even what it does. If anyone has any advise or suggestions on settings, or a place to go for a bit of reading, I'd be greatly thankful.

And of course, I had to get one with black knob labels on a black background so I can't see a darn thing, especially on a dark stage...

 

[Rev_Slinky]

View attachment 7341937

I just swapped out the bass chorus deluxe for the compressor. I started playing bass in 1969 and in all those years, never used a compressor, but it seems many players use them, so I thought I'd give one a try. It occurs to me that I have no idea how this crazy thing works, or even what it does. If anyone has any advise or suggestions on settings, or a place to go for a bit of reading, I'd be greatly thankful.

And of course, I had to get one with black knob labels on a black background so I can't see a darn thing, especially on a dark stage...

This is a heck of a rabbit hole, but there's a ton of information on this thread, and on the compressor reviews linked in it: Testing Compressors: Cali, Smoothie, Empress, Diamond, Keeley, FEA, Darkglass, Doc Lloyd, Lusithand & more

I'm no expert on compressors. I've tried a half-dozen and liked some of them. My favorites tend to be a tone-sweetener, imparting some extra warmth and presence, without impeding dynamics too much. The best place to start is probably just playing around with it, moving each dial through its range, and listening for what that gives you. Have fun with that!

By the way, I've got a PTEQ coming and I'm very excited to try it out! How do you like yours?

 

[Matt Lynn]

View attachment 7341937

I just swapped out the bass chorus deluxe for the compressor. I started playing bass in 1969 and in all those years, never used a compressor, but it seems many players use them, so I thought I'd give one a try. It occurs to me that I have no idea how this crazy thing works, or even what it does. If anyone has any advise or suggestions on settings, or a place to go for a bit of reading, I'd be greatly thankful.

And of course, I had to get one with black knob labels on a black background so I can't see a darn thing, especially on a dark stage...

I just switched from the MXR comp to empress but I generally had the top two knobs at 12 and adjust to match regular volume. Have the middle ratio set to the far left. And then for the attack as release have them at 9 and 3

 

[sloppy_phil]

View attachment 7341937

I just swapped out the bass chorus deluxe for the compressor. I started playing bass in 1969 and in all those years, never used a compressor, but it seems many players use them, so I thought I'd give one a try. It occurs to me that I have no idea how this crazy thing works, or even what it does. If anyone has any advise or suggestions on settings, or a place to go for a bit of reading, I'd be greatly thankful.

And of course, I had to get one with black knob labels on a black background so I can't see a darn thing, especially on a dark stage...

Oof, rabbit hole indeed! I read this, and found it quite helpful as a starting point. I guess the question is what you are aiming to get out of it, in terms of function and/or tone. Most bass players are using it for one of three things; thickening/tone sweetening, note/dynamic evenness, or limiting/peak reduction. What you want it to achieve will help determine where best to place your comp in the chain, or if maybe a different one altogether would be better for you.

FWIW, I use mine for limiting/peak reduction, and so have it as the very last thing in my chain. It's to help catch and tame any big volume spikes if I've got a couple effects turned on (particularly envelope filter with some fuzzy sub octave), so putting it after all the effects which could do that seems like a sensible place for it to be.

 

[Clark W]

I wouldn't call mine compact. But the person who started this thread way back in June of 2012 posted his board with 7 pedals on it.
I put this together yesterday after procrastinating over it for years.

The Boss Waza Craft DC-2W/Dimension C and MXR Phaser do an awesome job on Nugent's Stranglehold!

 

[mapleglo]

Thanks for all the suggestions and links. I guess I have my work cut out for me.

By the way, I've got a PTEQ coming and I'm very excited to try it out! How do you like yours?

I recently swapped out the MXR 10 band EQ for this Pentatone EQ and I like this one much better. First off, it's a parametric EQ, so it features adjustable frequency centers and adjustable Q, so it's much more versatile. And most importantly, it doesn't burn my eyeballs out when it's on, like the MXR did.

 

[Rev_Slinky]

Thanks for all the suggestions and links. I guess I have my work cut out for me.


I recently swapped out the MXR 10 band EQ for this Pentatone EQ and I like this one much better. First off, it's a parametric EQ, so it features adjustable frequency centers and adjustable Q, so it's much more versatile. And most importantly, it doesn't burn my eyeballs out when it's on, like the MXR did.

Thanks! I'm excited to try it out. I'm looking for something to even-out tricky rooms. This seems like a lot of options in one pedal.

For what it's worth, compressors seem to be very much about personal taste. It's great to reduce unmusical spikes, but most of this will come down to your ear and your tone goals. If you can't find what you're looking for with this one, let us know what your goals are and I guarantee there's a bunch of folks here that will be happy to help.

 

[bass_ke]

My rig on a board - Just ordered an EQ200 to replace the current EQ.

I needed something I could travel with pretty quickly and pieced this together from a couple of new bits and marketplace finds - it works a treat!

Spare space for wireless!

 

[rstephens]

I can’t seem to stick with anything for long. This is what I have been using for the last month, but now I’m going to sell it and go back to individual pedals on the small nano board.

 

[projectapollo]

Today's Mono Lite+ for worship:

 

[rcmbass]

I can’t seem to stick with anything for long. This is what I have been using for the last month, but now I’m going to sell it and go back to individual pedals on the small nano board.

View attachment 7342858

Oh man, I had such high hopes for this one. If you don’t mind me asking, what is the reason you are letting it go?

 

[rstephens]

Oh man, I had such high hopes for this one. If you don’t mind me asking, what is the reason you are letting it go?

It is a great multi effect and there is so much one can do with it - but too many options have overwhelmed me! Who knows, I’ll probably change my mind in the future - I’ve bought and sold the HX Stomp twice and three times with the Jad Freer Capo preamp!

I do the same with basses: I got that dingwall sp1 and while it is very well made and light and sounds like one would imagine, and was looking forward to trying to go all modern with dingwall and Darkglass….I might just be a Fender P Bass kind of guy still (40 years of them so far, ha!)

 

[rstephens]

Today's Mono Lite+ for worship:

View attachment 7342924

Wow! That looks super nice.

 

[IceBlueBoogaloo]

I can’t seem to stick with anything for long. This is what I have been using for the last month, but now I’m going to sell it and go back to individual pedals on the small nano board.

View attachment 7342858

How’s the SP1 treating you?

 

[rstephens]

How’s the SP1 treating you?

Ha! Was just editing my post above to add that I’ll probably sell it too.