The TB "Essential" Pedalboard?

[Mosfed]

For me, these days I won’t show up to anything without a compressor, overdrive, tube boost/warming pedal, envelope filter or synth pedal and a preamp (with a HPF/LPF and a DI).

My ideal minimalist board would be a Cali CB -> Broughton Solarian -> BugCaster -> Broughton Locust star -> Mutron Microtron-> Broughton Messenger

 

[rick3390]

I use a wireless on mine with compressor, tuner, bass auto wah, my iem receiver lives on pedal DI to foh .

 

[Bassman1775]

I play on a Mesa Subway WD-800 and it has built-in hpf/lpf with a parametric EQ. I use an Ernie Ball volume pedal with the T1M tone sucking mod. I run a TC Electronic PolyTune on the tuner output of the volume pedal so it’s not in my signal chain and allows me to tune with the volume off or on.

Correct me if I’m wrong but with the hpf/lpf on the Mesa I shouldn’t need hpf/lpf pedals right? I’m thinking maybe a compressor of some sorts as my next investment.

 

[Lovep]

I play on a Mesa Subway WD-800 and it has built-in hpf/lpf with a parametric EQ. I use an Ernie Ball volume pedal with the T1M tone sucking mod. I run a TC Electronic PolyTune on the tuner output of the volume pedal so it’s not in my signal chain and allows me to tune with the volume off or on.

Correct me if I’m wrong but with the hpf/lpf on the Mesa I shouldn’t need hpf/lpf pedals right? I’m thinking maybe a compressor of some sorts as my next investment.

There is no LPF on the WD800. You would need a pedal for that.

 

[Bassman1775]

There is no LPF on the WD800. You would need a pedal for that.

Gotcha. It’s a new amp for me (last month) and I’m still learning it’s features.

 

[pcwhitley]

I probably use the tuner for a mute pedal as much as a tuner.

Same! AKA "Panic Mute"

The basics of a "clean" signal: Tuner -> HPF -> Compression -> EQ -> LPF -> DI

That's all the pieces you need for a "my fingers are the tone" clean signal that is good enough for any live or recorded situation.

My solution to all of that is a HX Stomp.

I came to the same conclusion!

Long post, but hear me out. Sometimes a thread comes along and pulls me out of my lurking status. (I promise to stay on the topic of the OP.)
I went for years with just a Sansamp Programmable BDDI. We went ampless and I needed a DI--might as well get some coloration too, and the phantom power and 3 preset switches won me over. (I guess you could say it was my gateway pedal.)

Fast forward and I wade into the world of pedals. I started to build a hypothetical pedal board for bass. I'm a bassist, but I like to noodle on guitar at the house--bonus points for pedals that can be used for both bass & guitar, i.e. Rat, Phase 90, Carbon Copy, and of course a tuner and Ditto looper.

What I noticed with bass pedals is that the "essentials" are mostly "utility pedals"--Tuner, HPF/LPF, EQ, Compressor, DI. That seems to be the case of the responses in this thread, too.
So, sparing no expense (because it's still a hypothetical board):
Radial JDI $200
Boss TU3 $100
Source Audio Programmable EQ $150
FEA Labs Opti-FET Compressor $275
Broughton HPF LPF $150

We're looking at $875 already, and we haven't even thought about a pedalboard or power supply. Not to mention preamps, cabsim (I'm going direct), dirt, boost. And there's still no modulation & time effects. ("How many pedals do you need, dude?" "I don't know, this is a hypothetical board being assembled for the sake of argument.") But you get my point. Several hundred bucks for "utility pedals"? No thanks. I'll stick with my Sansamp for bass and a simple OD & delay for guitar.

Then I discovered the Helix. I read up on the the "authenticity" of digital modeling in the Helix (y'all can argue on that elsewhere, it's close enough for me [and the people that I play to])--but utility stuff should be good right? I mean it's not equipped with a Jensen transformer, but it does have a decent DI, an EQ is an EQ, a HPF is a HPF. People get particular about compressors and tuners, but that's ok. Throw in two things that I wasn't seeking out but have come to really enjoy--a foot pedal and a looper. (The foot pedal isn't only for volume, but can be assigned to almost any parameter, eg amp gain or LPF.) So there's $1,000 in utility pedals and I don't have to mess with a power supply, velcro, and a Pedaltrain. Check.

Given that you can get a near-mint Helix for $1,200 if you're patient, the price differential is $200. In other words, I get all the amp models, cab models, dirt, phasers, filters, reverbs, delays, IR loading, presets, snapshots, and parallel processing for $200 more than I could have spent on some nice utility pedals. Check.

Finally the Helix is 4 years old now, and it's pretty "proven." I was leery of obsolescence of digital tech, but this thing seems to hold its value--try finding an excellent quality used one. The community of people around Helix/HX can be overwhelming, but at the end of the day it's nice to see a product with so many people sharing their experiences and offering insight. And the cherry on top: Line 6 continues to add features to the Helix, and doesn't show any sign of slowing down. (*insert joke about 2.8 firmware*) Check.

The moral of the story: Only on TB can a thread about "essential" bass gear turn into someone praising a $1,500 computer. I'm definitely not saying it's right for everyone, but the Helix turned out to be for me. IMO, YMMV, etc.

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

I debated over parallel processing too--and ended up with the Helix.

Tuney, dirty, swirly, squishy.

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

I'd like to see a remake of the 7 Dwarves, but with these names/characteristics

Yes, I’m still waiting to see an HPF on a pedal board in the wild. To be fair, I have one as part of a Mesa Subway Plus Bass-DI.

How's the Mesa Subway Plus Bass-DI? I can't seem to find many reviews/videos. It's an impressive feature set that checks a lot of boxes! I've thought about using it as a backup in case the Helix crashes (it's still a computer).

 

[bigtone23]

My 2 pedalboards have a tuner, compressor or limiter, chorus, EQ and drive. The bigger board adds an octaver, the smaller board sometimes subs in a flanger for the chorus.
The bass Fly Rig has all of that in it, as does my TC BG250H set with a chorus on one toneprint and spectracomp/drive on the other.

 

[Colum]

Radial JDI $200
Boss TU3 $100
Source Audio Programmable EQ $150
FEA Labs Opti-FET Compressor $275
Broughton HPF LPF $150

It's a lot of money for pedals that don't change the tone too radically alright.

I use pedals more to alter the sound of the bass so I use an overdrive and fuzz or two, an octave pedal and an envelope filter if I'm using effects. There would generally be a DI box at the venue though and I play through an amp.

As far as HPF's/LPF's go it could be a case of what I never had/I never missed. I worked as a live sound man in the past and always found a DI box to do the job fine.

Would one send a feed to the front of house before the pedalboard with a setup like that?

 

[pcwhitley]

It's a lot of money for pedals that don't change the tone too radically alright.

That's the argument that I had with myself. Granted my examples were probably overkill...

Would one send a feed to the front of house before the pedalboard with a setup like that?

If you're asking me, I can't say because I never went that route. IMO it depends on the venue, the sound man, if you have an amp on stage, and the monitoring situation altogether. To be clear, the pedals I mentioned above are in no particular order as far as signal chain. The sound guy I interact with most puts a HPF and LPF on me at the board anyways, as well as a touch of compression. In my experience, having a good relationship with the sound guy is worth $1,000s in gear--keep 'em happy!

 

[Byron K]

Not sure what pedal/s is/are "essential". Most bass players I watch live just plug direct into the amp.

 

[Colum]

If you're asking me

It was more a question to those that use those pedals.

The sound guy I interact with most puts a HPF and LPF on me at the board

That would be my thinking. That the sound man would want an unfiltered signal. Mixing for a room is completely different to a stage. Also the subs would come into play.

 

[AFRO]

I have recently starting my GAS pretty hardcore, however my wallet cant keep up with my GAS atm .

I have an expensive wish list! which is really only 3 pedals, maybe a 4th.. but those are apparently top of the line items and have a hefty tag each for my modest GAS budget.

So what I have now is a ZOOM GFX 707 (multi FX. its a guitar pedal, but it gets me my tone and I have had it for YEARS and its essentially the start of my signal/pedal board. it is a do all with amp sims and editable knobs drum tracks and the lot. really great deal for my needs) a Boss Tuner and just recently got the ZOOM B1Xon; this is the GFX’s more modern Bass specific cousin for all intents and purposes. Its been great so far, got it about a month back.

This is my current set up.
Bass -> GFX ->Boss -> B1Xon ->Amp. (-> Headphones for couch concertos)

The Boss Tuner is not really necessary as a tuner itself, since the GFX has the “mute tune” and a bypass feature! However the Boss has the bypass out, so I can send my ‘clean’ tone to one of the amp inputs, AND send the other signal to my B1Xon (Or I will go Bass-> Boss -> 1 Bypass) out to Amp for true clean tone. 2 FX chain) -> GFX-> B1Xon -> Amp running that through the other input. This in effect is how i do my HP/LP. HP - GBX, and LP is the B1Xon. This allows me some blend options to color my clean, or really filth it up.

I use my GFX to get my Clean, custom-patch Dirt and ODs. there are many more way less practical tones and effects I have not scratched the surface of live, but don't really need to. Well, i should say it like “I have not needed more than Clean, Dirt, OD” in my years of bands and recent jamming circles. Tone knobs what!

B1Xon acts as my Blend, And FX Volume. But it too can be a stand alone unit, that has some other FX ill dive into as time goes on. I somewhat cloned the ‘GFX-clean’ on my B1Xon with a little compression and a little level, so it punches up my GFX tone to make it a smidge more beef-y and bass-y (not that my stand alone GFX tone isnt, good and Bass-y) with out changing it too dynamically...a boost of sorts.

And i made a MuffyFuzz tone that is a little different an my Dirt and OD in a good way. Also made an Octaver patch that sounds good and contradicts previous comments a bit, lol. But i think we all can agree that tone seeking is pretty addicting in practice. And if all we needed was Clean, Dirt and OD then music would certainly be a lot less dynamic.

now for my wishlist. Ill keep this short since this post is already a mile long.

1 Alpha Omega Ultra.
2 Tyler the frequency splitter
3 MXR Compressor
4 maybe an EQ.. if i get the Ultra i wont need this..but still may get one. Damn you GAS! Hehe.

GAS on my friends! GAS on that pedal board quest.
Great thread btw!

 

[Dudley]

Pedalboard?

 

[Fat Freddy]

Pedalboard?

Allow me m'lud.....
https://www.sweetwater.com/c1106--Pedalboards

Upon which are placed these.....
https://www.sweetwater.com/shop/guitars/guitar-pedals/

Hoping that this has helped m'lud......(Doffs flat cap.....exits stage left).....

 

[dannydabiker]

Maybe they were a fad, maybe genius, but with all the discussions of t his pedal and that, I "simplified" it...twice (GAS?) and bought a Boss GT6B...does it all! Later a Line6 Bass Pod Live...pretty much the same, but I got it for a serious steal (traded a battered but fully functional SM57 and 20 foot cable and pouch for that) and use them, today. Don't use much, if any effects but have them available in one board when/if needed.

 

[PhatBottomBass1]

Well...

I have things down to basics on my pedals, but I also have two amp rigs that I run...

REEVES C225 with 4x10 Cab on the floor.

TC Electronic RH450 with two RS212 on isolation risers either side of the 4x10.

My signal goes from my custom P Bass to an original Xotic Tri-Logic Preamp, to a Mesa Stow-a-way line buffer, then to a JHS mute switch sitting directly on top of the Mesa buffer, then to an Xotic SP Compressor to the IN on a new MXR A-B Box.

From there the signal is sent THRU to the RH450, with a pedalpython loop line to an EBS MultiDrive, a 3Leaf Audio Octavbre Mini and a Keeley Dark Side and back to the amp with an EBS DynaVerb just before the loop return, because, I generally am not switching reverb on and off. I am either using it for something or it is off so no foot work needed.

Effects really sing on this system. I use the foot controller for an OD channel, an Octave channel and the last for the Fuzz/Tape Delay/Phaser/Rotary Speaker effects on the Dark Side, with a Moog expression pedal, a must have!

The effects switching is done with the effect/channel setup and then using the mute switch to engage. The 2x12 cabs, with the adjustable tweeters, make the best effect to dry blend with my tube heads dry signal. I also use the tuner function on the footswitch.

I run dry signal from the MXR A-B back to the NORMAL & BRIGHT channels and mix to taste. I can run A or B or A&B with independent switching into the tube head and sealed 4x10 cabinet.

It all fits in my TC Electronic head carry bag, a Mono Tick and the snake in the front pocket of my Mono gig bag with my collapsible stand...!!!!

That's my Essential tool box...!

Wurd,

 

[cosmicevan]

I feel like even folks in cover bands who hardly use effects have at least one weirdo pedal on their board "for in between songs so it isn't just quiet" or for that one weird bridge in that song that they hardly ever play. An essential TB board would need one weirdo pedal...and probably also an Altoids tin (I do not have an Altoids tin on my board, but it's probably the most consistent thing I've seen on boards in the wild).

As a side note about folks who never see pedal boards in the wild or weird things in the wild...what you see in the wild is going to be directly related to the type of music you go see live. If you go see classic rock bands, then yeah you probably will not see anything much more exotic than a fuzz, but if you dig music like Squarepusher or Janek Gwizdala, you'll see Bit Crushers, arpeggiators, synths, etc. Similarly if your goals are to play cover songs or original straight up rock n roll, then yeah, a PLL doesn't make sense for your board.

 

[thatbassguyrob]

 

[Fuzzbass]

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?

That'll depend. My 2¢:

Tuner: I use clip-ons. Some work better than others. The best I've found are by Korg and TC (the Unitune). Lesser clip-ons sometimes don't track low B very well, but when that's the case there's an easy solution: play the 12th fret harmonic

DI: Many pedals have this built-in, but 95% of the time I go with amp DI. My Reiner VHF700 has a Jensen DI

Compressor: I love 'em for subtle presence in the mix, but I'm a minimal pedal user and don't always bother

HPF/LPF: I understand the value, but don't often bother -- same reasons as compression. My tool of choice is the DSM Noisemaker Omni Cab Sim

Overdrive/distortion: this is the one essential for me. Even if I'm doing pop/blues/country/oldies, I dial in some subtle vintage overdrive for warmth. For heavy rock I love to stack multiple pedals: I usually leave one always on at lower gain, aggressive attack, and engage others simultaneously depending on how much dirt I need. For softer tunes I'll turn off the one with aggressive attack. Point is, I love tweaking my tone and dirt simply via combinations/permutations of 2-3 dirt pedals. Again, that's for heavier rock. For traditional gigs I usually use one overdrive pedal always on: set it and forget it

 

[Jehos]

Would one send a feed to the front of house before the pedalboard with a setup like that?

Of course. Computers have a way of breaking at the worst possible time. An ideal use of a Helix is bass -> whatever DI the sound engineer gives you -> Helix -> second FOH channel.

That gives the engineer an "oh poopy" fader if your Helix has any kind of problems. Yeah it won't be "your tone", but you won't be silent in the mix either.