Show me your compact pedalboard setup

[goran]

Here's the latest incarnation of my special board.
It’s built around a 3-way splitter tucked underneath. Right now, all channels share the compressor, and then the signal splits into:

1. AMP
2. DCX → DI
3. Bassrig

The goal is to send both a clean, slightly colored signal and a speaker-simulated signal to FOH so the sound engineer doesn’t need to mic my cab anymore.
I'm still debating whether to isolate the compressor from the Bassrig path. I already run a compressor early in my main pedalboard, so the Cali76 here acts more like a master compressor. I'm experimenting with parallel compression that works well for both clean tones and effects-heavy signals (like octavers and synths).

First gig with this setup is on Friday, hopefully I won't have to change paths

 

[CletusMarley]

 

[woodyng2]

Here’s my “not-so-compact” setup, including compact combo amp.

 

[javi_bassist]

Here’s my “not-so-compact” setup, including compact combo amp.

Is that a micromark? How does it work? I have been considering getting one for small gigs or acoustic gigs

 

[_Obra_]

latest development

 

[woodyng2]

Javi- yes, it’s a Micromark 8. I’ve only used it at home for practice, but it’s reasonably loud. By itself, the sound is kind of vanilla,
but as you can see, I have plenty of tube emulation/grit pedal options.
I had one of the earlier 6” models, and found it loud enough to be heard with a 6 piece vocal band (with drumkit,guitar,keys)
in low volume rehearsals. It would more than hold its own in an acoustic band.

 

[Aric Bjorn]

Here's my humble little board

Signal Chain =
Lekato Looper / Tuner -> Hotone Volume / Wah -> Strich Octpus -> Behringer Noise Reducer -> Valeton GP-5 -> JHS Punchline - > Flamma FC05

Powered by a Donner DP-Z

 

[chiphaleonbass]

Took the Nobels ODR-B out for its first show last night. Hope this counts as compact! I’ve been loving the VT Deluxe over the past few months; I’ve tried replacing it and simply can’t. Having the Empress in the FX loop is a nice touch as it tightens up my whole signal going to FOH; I also have it off on my volume boosted setting so that it’s not squeezing when I need to step out.

 

[Jakeman]

Updated - bumped the Edison for the FPT. I found myself wanting a bit more EQ control and a little grit when playing with the band. Going to give the FPT a shot, but may switch out with a different drive/character pedal.

 

[projectapollo]

Updated - bumped the Edison for the FPT. I found myself wanting a bit more EQ control and a little grit when playing with the band. Going to give the FPT a shot, but may switch out with a different drive/character pedal.

View attachment 7369479

We still need the caveman report. The JHS Colour Box is on Black Friday sale at the moment. Pondering that alternative

 

[Jakeman]

We still need the caveman report. The JHS Colour Box is on Black Friday sale at the moment. Pondering that alternative

To add to my initial impressions, I will say that the lack of EQ control on the Caveman is a bit limiting. This could be fine in many circumstances, but I’m running the board directly into a power amp, so there’s no final, amp EQ to adjust. At rehearsal, I was getting a bit too much top end, which is usually easily fixed with a slight knob adjustment, but alas, no knobs. But I really like the Caveman’s inherent sound, and running everything in its loop. The obvious solution here is to run a separate EQ or maybe a low pass filter somewhere in the loop, and I very well may go that route, but for now I’m going to see if the simplest solution is the best - using the basic 2-band EQ found on many drive pedals. I can’t speak to any comparison with the Colour Box as I’ve never touched one.

 

[Stubb]

Having some EQ flexibility with a tube preamp is part of why I love my Arkham Oracle so much.

 

[jmmyoh]

I tried out the Warwick 3 pedal riser and this is what I came up with. This board will be used for country and blues recordings. Phillips JAN 12au7 in the UA, eq off. The RFE and SVF are a really powerful combo. The radial sb2 just adds a touch of vintage to the sound.

 

[kazuhank]

View attachment 7369465
Took the Nobels ODR-B out for its first show last night. Hope this counts as compact! I’ve been loving the VT Deluxe over the past few months; I’ve tried replacing it and simply can’t. Having the Empress in the FX loop is a nice touch as it tightens up my whole signal going to FOH; I also have it off on my volume boosted setting so that it’s not squeezing when I need to step out.

What did you think of the ODR-B. Worth the hype? More importantly, did it work for YOU on your gig?

 

[rcmbass]

To add to my initial impressions, I will say that the lack of EQ control on the Caveman is a bit limiting. This could be fine in many circumstances, but I’m running the board directly into a power amp, so there’s no final, amp EQ to adjust. At rehearsal, I was getting a bit too much top end, which is usually easily fixed with a slight knob adjustment, but alas, no knobs. But I really like the Caveman’s inherent sound, and running everything in its loop. The obvious solution here is to run a separate EQ or maybe a low pass filter somewhere in the loop, and I very well may go that route, but for now I’m going to see if the simplest solution is the best - using the basic 2-band EQ found on many drive pedals. I can’t speak to any comparison with the Colour Box as I’ve never touched one.

Sounds like you need a Sushi Box Neptunium! Tube, no distortion/grit, 2 band EQ, and DI. Works great for me.

 

[chiphaleonbass]

What did you think of the ODR-B. Worth the hype? More importantly, did it work for YOU on your gig?

I’ve been a big fan of the ODR circuit since getting the 30th anniversary version last year. Since then I’ve tried a lot of them (Standard ODR-1BC, the mini, Vemuram Shanks, Truetone VS-XO, Nordland, Wampler Belle, Apollo Approved Buckarti Boo, DCW- ODR Mod, Tone Ranger ODR circuit) and I think the EQ and grit of the ODR-B does something that none of them quite did. The low control is pretty wild and only the Vemuram offered anything close. The grit can be smooth or rigid depending on how you run the high EQ, not something you can really quite do on any of the units other than the Nordland. It looks awesome and sounds great and I’m happy. But I think you could get similar results from the Vemuram, Buckarti Boo or even the Nobels mini as well as the Thrutone Modded Nordland. Before this one those 4 have been my favorites

 

[bassbrad]

Decided to play my SVMFJ fretless jazz that has been further modified (more to come) on the jazz gig but really needed a bit of tone shaping so zippy tied a Rowin Bass EQ to the top.





Not that you asked but this bass has a Seymour Duncan Jazz Stack V in the bridge, upgraded pots, wiring, jack and ornate plate. Awaiting a split coil for the front pickup from Guyker the JB11 and will replace the missing thumb stop between the pickups.

Benny is mad about the Pomegranate Syrup he sez "Ain't I sweets enough 4 U?" I say silly boy, I don't want you in my tea.

 

[Bass Ape]

We still need the caveman report. The JHS Colour Box is on Black Friday sale at the moment. Pondering that alternative

Owned the Colourbox as my first pedal pre amp and while super clean, not very useful for bass. More designed for guitar.

 

[darev]

Owned the Colourbox as my first pedal pre amp and while super clean, not very useful for bass. More designed for guitar.

I agree that the Colourbox is clean and the while HPF and gain-stages are def designed for guitar the rest of it works great on a bass. If one is into the gain, well, knock yourself out. The gain stages also seem designed for guitar to me but work on the bass if you are into that sort of thing. I don't personally care for its gain stages on any of my guitars or basses. I have another HPF and other dirt boxen that I would use anyway so there is nothing lost for me there.

The semi-para EQ section is great and along with the preamp and Lundahl transformer sound are the reasons for getting the Colourbox, in mho. There are guitar-centric features but they are simply 'geewizzy' to me and do not detract from the sound of using it for the bass if one simply does not use those features.

I originally bought the Colourbox for bass but I now use it everywhere. Especially acoustic guitars lately.

 

[chiphaleonbass]

I agree that the Colourbox is clean and the while HPF and gain-stages are def designed for guitar the rest of it works great on a bass. If one is into the gain, well, knock yourself out. The gain stages also seem designed for guitar to me but work on the bass if you are into that sort of thing. I don't personally care for its gain stages on any of my guitars or basses. I have another HPF and other dirt boxen that I would use anyway so there is nothing lost for me there.

The semi-para EQ section is great and along with the preamp and Lundahl transformer sound are the reasons for getting the Colourbox, in mho. There are guitar-centric features but they are simply 'geewizzy' to me and do not detract from the sound of using it for the bass if one simply does not use those features.

I originally bought the Colourbox for bass but I now use it everywhere. Especially acoustic guitars lately.

Yeah it's a killer preamp for bass! Here are some sound clips of my Yamaha BB435 which at the time had a Nordstrand NP5 Precision bass pickup and a Nordstrand Big Split Soapbar in the bridge. You can hear me engage and disengage the pedal with some eq that I had.