The TB "Essential" Pedalboard?

[GrapeBass]

I had come from the 'no need for pedals camp,' playing many years with nothing but my bass and an amp/cab. However, whilst on a quest to help with my direct recording tone, I had discovered that a LPF/HPF really helps with 'focus' and has become my 'essential' always on pedal.

Now, these are 'my' preferred pedals if I use pedals... That was what the OP asked. "The TB "Essential" Pedalboard." I have a new pedal board (Nano+) that includes a D'Addario Tuner pedal and space for one spacial effect such as reverb (which is NOT essential).

 

[gregmon79]

Let's decide what goes on the "essential" pedalboard ala TalkBass edition.

1) Tuner - we'll agree that this is almost an essential for the board. I'll even go so far as to say that the TurboTuner ST-300 (mini or regular) is the king of this pedal. Faster tuning and more stable tuning probably cuts 1-2 seconds off tuning each string and the newer relay switch on the 300 series makes it silent. But - do you put it early in the chain or right before the next pedal - a DI.

2) A DI? A lot are using IEM and not showing up with an amp, or maybe there's a supplied backline. A DI of your choice probably qualifies as an "essential". Contenders might be Tech 21 BDDI, Noble DI on the high end, Mesa Subway, etc.

3) Next up, I see a compressor on most boards. And this is going to be a case where taste comes into play. From easy one knob Spectracomp to FEA or Cali76 Compact multi knob / more control, and a ton in between.

4) A HPF(optional LPF) - I think this is not a fad, but recognition that a HPF is useful enough of the time to call it essential. In a pedal format, it's probably going to be a Broughton. Are there others in a pedal format?


I think those categories, maybe not the specific pedals will be acceptable to the super majority for the basis of an "essential" pedalboard. What else would you add to an "essential" setup?

This is totally up to the type of music your band plays. But having said even that, I believe these are essential no matter what:

Tuner
OD
Preamp (preferably with a DI)
Chorus or Flanger
Fuzz or dist (muff or rat)
delay or reverb

To me, the first 3 are totally essential without question. The rest if optional but strongly recommended in my eyes. But not matter the band for me, no matter the style, an OD, pre and tuner are a must. If I had to add just 1 more "must" fir me, I'd probably add a good multi for mod/delay/verb. But I could easily get away with something like a rusty box, HX Stomp and a good DI like the RNDI as my whole board and be perfectly happy.

 

[The Ryantist]

The OP has listed my top row of always-on pedals (tuner, comp, HPF, DI). They're in the top row because I don't need to step on them during songs. My bottom row is effects - octave, fuzz, and 2 overdrives.

 

[Bassman Spiff]

Tuner (Boss TU3)
Chorus (MXR)
"Texture" (Southhampton 5th Gear)

I like HPF, but I worked hard to eliminate HF noise from my chain, so it's not critical. If the signal is too bright, I can knock off some highs with the onboard preamp.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

Tuner (Boss TU3)
Chorus (MXR)
"Texture" (Southhampton 5th Gear)

I like HPF, but I worked hard to eliminate HF noise from my chain, so it's not critical. If the signal is too bright, I can knock off some highs with the onboard preamp.

I think you’re talking about a LPF. HPF is used to tame the rumble.

 

[GrapeBass]

I like HPF, but I worked hard to eliminate HF noise from my chain, so it's not critical. If the signal is too bright, I can knock off some highs with the onboard preamp.

HPF affects the LF
LPF affects the HF

 

[Smooth_bass88]

Wouldn’t your pedal choices have more to do with the music you’re playing, the gigs you’re doing and tones that are necessary more than anything else?

I’ve been playing 150+ gigs a year with a half a dozen different groups for a couple decades now and I rarely need more than a tuner (for tuning silently) and my DI/preamp (Tech22 VT Bass).

That being said, at various times I’ve used an octaver, a distortion pedal, and auto-wah, and maybe a chorus.

 

[Lovep]

I’ve only been playing for ~10 years and only had pedals for 3 of those years.

I’m finding a tuner and preamp/di are essential. Other pedals like a compressor and octave seem like a close 2nd-3rd, respectively.

Next, depends on the music genre...like an envelope filter for funk, OD for rock and metal. Some may never need these, some can’t live without them.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

Mid thread summary:

I think we're statistically near 100% on a tuner and a DI of some sort. Probably >80% on a compressor and close to that on an OD pedal. Octaves seem popular, maybe 60-70% would want one. And HPF are about a 50/50 split. From there, things branch out based on what you play.

 

[DDXdesign]

Tuney, dirty, swirly, squishy.

Anything else, like synthy, funky, or echoey, is just bonus material.

 

[Seashore]

If I ever hear noise, I figure out which pedal is causing it and get rid of that pedal. But to each his own.

The main point of a gate for me isn't cutting out pedal noise, it's feedback suppression. On small stages where I'm typically turned up louder and standing closer to my amp than I would be at rehearsal, the whole group benefits from my pauses and mutes being as tight and clean as possible. Keeping noise and hiss away from my compression and distortion is also nice. I wouldn't think a gate would be useful to everyone, but it's surprising to read through this thread and see only one other mention.

 

[Ric5]

I encourage everyone to consider parallel processing on the pedalboard. Then you can blend and mix clean and dirty signals together.

This is how I do it.

http://www.3dentourage.com/425/effects.htm

 

[Seashore]

I encourage everyone to consider parallel processing on the pedalboard. Then you can blend and mix clean and dirty signals together.

This is how I do it.

http://www.3dentourage.com/425/effects.htm

Parallel processing FTW. I split my signal on the board with a Y box and run separate chains into each side of my head - one side is a fat "dirty clean" sound going through a compressor, the other side is an edgy distortion that goes well on top of it. When I record, I take a third signal from the dry out on one of my pedals and use that direct for consistent low end.

 

[Bassman Spiff]

HPF affects the LF
LPF affects the HF

D'oh! Mispoke. Thank you for the correction!

 

[JimmyM]

I encourage everyone to consider parallel processing on the pedalboard. Then you can blend and mix clean and dirty signals together.

This is how I do it.

http://www.3dentourage.com/425/effects.htm

Can be a great thing for some, but when I can find a pedal that doesn't require a clean blend, I am a much happier camper, especially when it comes to distortion.

 

[axwell26medison]

Tuney, dirty, swirly, squishy.

Anything else, like synthy, funky, or echoey, is just bonus material.

What's your favorite flavor of swirly?

 

[DDXdesign]

What's your favorite flavor of swirly?

Usually it's phaser, especially something like a phase99 with two parallel phase90 LFOs, but I do also like flangers and choruses and univibes, too. Just not tremolo, not on bass.

 

[Raoul_Duke]

Drive, chorus and octave seem like the ones that are most useful to have. After that you’re in the rabbit hole (or at least I am).

Disregarding usefulness I’d take an envelope filter over just about anything just because of how much fun they are.

 

[Ric5]

Parallel processing FTW. I split my signal on the board with a Y box and run separate chains into each side of my head - one side is a fat "dirty clean" sound going through a compressor, the other side is an edgy distortion that goes well on top of it. When I record, I take a third signal from the dry out on one of my pedals and use that direct for consistent low end.

I used to do a dual split like that, then I heard Geddy did three, then I eventually went with a 4 way split.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

I'm putting together two "essential" boards. One will be on a Pedaltrain Metro 24 as I'm declaring that as the largest pedal format that I should need (arbitrarily). This board will have the essentials and a few tweaks that I like. The second board will be smaller, yet bigger, and built on a Pedaltrain Nano because I also have the Mono Tick padded bag. It will have a TurboTuner, an HX Stomp and a Tech21 BDDI. Why a Sansamp when I have an HX Stomp? I don't 100% trust digital and the BDDI will give me both an XLR when engaged and disengaged and if the HX Stomp dies completely or even if the power supply dies, I can run the BDDI from a battery or phantom power and finish the gig. So, it's an XLR and a get out of jail free card. The HX Stomp lets me run anything from a simple HPF to a Royal Blood patch. I just wish I played somewhere that I could use the Royal Blood patch.