What are some must-have utility pedals?

[Planespotter]

Tuner and an overdrive/preamp do 90% of what I need in my current band. Of course I have many, many other pedals in reserve!

 

[Skullheadrac]

just a tuner

 

[dkelley]

LS-2 line selector, or similar (there isn't anything exactly like it though)
some kind of amp-in-a-box xlr-out pedal, I just like the cheap behringer bdi-21
a compressor
a noise reducer of some kind

Or I just keep a helix with me, but that's not exactly a utility pedal. It does all of that though, of course.

However I still keep a bdi-21 around just in case of emergencies. Instant tone to the mains if everything else dies.

 

[Todd Hamby]

Line 6 HX Stomp is my jam.

 

[Agent P]

Radial DI and a tuner = "utility must haves".

 

[Kael]

Tuner, DI. That's it.

 

[jdh3000]

When I think of utility pedals, I think eq, semi parametric eq, hpf, compressor, noise gate, preamp, boost. Things an amp should have.

 

[Hundred proof]

Although I do use a touch of dirt now and then, my must have is a clean pre amp pedal that I use to get even signal from 4 different basses

 

[arepa_funk]

Essential utility pedals for me: tuner (Korg Pitchblack), preamp/boost (RC Bass Booster), compressor (Keeley Bassist.)

Essentials that aren't utility probably octave and overdrive/fuzz, tho I love filters and phasers too.

they have multiple 1/4" outs

I'm probably going to get the VT bass di soon, and was wondering about the 1/4 outs. Is Parallel Out the dry non-eqed signal, and Out is post (aka what's called Thru in other DIs)? Seems like they're on the opposite sides of the pedal I'd expect, maybe just me.

 

[Al Kraft]

As purely utility, I would say tuner, variable HPF (fdeck HPF Pre Series 3 is my favorite), and something like a BDDI or THDI as a gig saver in case your amp and/or cab dies - plus the BDDI V2 or Tone Hammer can do double duty as a clean preamp/EQ if you need it to drive a bad backline rig.

 

[cusar5]

Apart from a good tuner, I'd say High Pass Filter is a must-have, either fixed below 30hz, or variable above 30hz (both would be nice!). IME, a good HPF cleans up the rest of your signal chain and makes everything else sound better, whether it's a pedalboard or just straight into an amp.

 

[winterburn69]

Tuner
Compressor
Octave
Overdrive
Chorus

For me, that’s:
Boss TU-2
Cali 76 CB
3Leaf Octabvre Mini
SGFX Beta
MXR Bass Chorus Deluxe

 

[Moody Tuner]

Empress Buffer +

Everyone with a pedalboard should try one:

Junction box
Boost
Input pad
Input loading
Tuner out / mute
Noise filter

All in one small pedal!

 

[bitzie]

A blender of some sort. I love my OBNE Signal Blender. The already mentioned LS-2 is another great choice.

 

[mark286]

Essential utility pedals for me: tuner (Korg Pitchblack), preamp/boost (RC Bass Booster), compressor (Keeley Bassist.)

Essentials that aren't utility probably octave and overdrive/fuzz, tho I love filters and phasers too.

I'm probably going to get the VT bass di soon, and was wondering about the 1/4 outs. Is Parallel Out the dry non-eqed signal, and Out is post (aka what's called Thru in other DIs)? Seems like they're on the opposite sides of the pedal I'd expect, maybe just me.

Yep, the parallel 1/4 inch out is non-effected, meaning that it is a duplicate of the input and is not effected by the pedal settings when the pedal is active (i.e., not bypassed). But that can be a helpful feature by being able to split the input.

Sometimes I use the parallel output to connect to my onstage amp. That way I can use the Sansamp to control just the signal that gets sent to the PA through the XLR output without affecting my amp. Why? I might like the way the Sansamp sounds through the PA, but I want to EQ my stage rig differently, for example when the PA has a lot of subs.

 

[4Mal]

I require a 2 into 1 solution that offers gain balancing as I change basses frequently. Bassbone, Big Shot I/O, sFX MicroMix have served me well. The sfx does not gain balance. ran two external preamps and merged them with it. Had hopes for the EQ2 but I think i'm throwing in the towel.

The HX Stomp has everything else I could want except for synth Not sure qualifies as 'utility' though. It is sooo much more...

 

[arepa_funk]

Yep, the parallel 1/4 inch out is non-effected, meaning that it is a duplicate of the input and is not effected by the pedal settings when the pedal is active (i.e., not bypassed). But that can be a helpful feature by being able to split the input.

Sometimes I use the parallel output to connect to my onstage amp. That way I can use the Sansamp to control just the signal that gets sent to the PA through the XLR output without affecting my amp. Why? I might like the way the Sansamp sounds through the PA, but I want to EQ my stage rig differently, for example when the PA has a lot of subs.

Got it, thanks that's really helpful! I've been recording into the interface without going thru a DI or ampsim and have found the takes to be kind of dry, no matter how much outboard EQ/boosting I do.

For playing live, sending the parallel to amp makes sense. Will have to test it out once gigs come back, and once I can put the VT thru its paces.