Starting bass pedals

Delay or distortion is always a good place to start. Check out some of EHX and MXR pedals and see what you like.

 

although it won't really won't open up new sounds; compression is a handy effect to have.

 

chorus, phaser, flanger

 

Compression will definitely not open up new sounds either

 

my bad edited post

 

Meh no worries although I have to argue that delay is pretty handy in making new sounds I got a Carbon Copy and it sounds amazing I can even get reverb out of it and the modulation gives me some pretty awesome sounds.

 

A good overdrive, and a good modulation (chorus, flanger, etc) Two essentials right there.

 

Fuzz/distortion

That's probably the most useful in alt/punk as you say your style is.

Stay away from Boss ODB-3 - cheap sounding.

Recommend:
EH Bass Muff
Ampeg Scrambler (if you can find one)

 

Hey, fellow Pedal-Noob! I've also been considering this for a while, but I've ultimately decided on getting the Tech21 NYC Character Series VT Bass Pedal (Long name) because I think that, rather than getting crazy effects first, I want to play with and establish some good tones. Up to you though. I would probably get a delay pedal BTW. Or maybe the multi-effect Zoom B2 or B2.1u to try out the different effects.

 

Chunk Systems Octavius Squeezer, Digitech Whammy, Earthbound Audio Super Collider, or boss dd-7{you can loop,reverse,and delay in one}.

 

Get an EHX Bass Big Muff, get a Boss OC-2.

And a Q-Tron.

Cheapest route to pants-wetting bass sounds.

 

Get: A compressor and a Boss OS-2 (overdrive distortion) Awesome pedal. I got a Pigtronix Disnortion for a deal so I went a different route, but the OS-2 has made some of the meatiest driven tones I've ever heard.

Fuzz is awesome but distortion/drive can get you a mad snarl. Depends on whether or not you want the sustainability of something like a big muff or a tone shaping unit.

Also, if you want 'effect', something like a flanger/chorus/phaser will fatten up your tone, while a Tremolo and Delay can help you get a choppy wet sound.

Tech 21 VT BASS can be used as a drive/distortion or as a preamp unit. Definitely a great tool.