what Effects can you not live without?

[moody]

Volume pedal and always on overdrive would be my bare minimum. I would prefer a distortion as well but I could get away with just those two.

I really like having a chorus and an envelope filter for songs that need special effects - but they are not a deal breaker.

 

[dgrizzly]

There are no effects that I can not live without, but if I could only choose one effect to have on my board for the rest of time, it would be an envelope filter or octave.

 

[BartmanPDX]

I have run for years with few or no effects. Every so often, I get a wild hair and buy some pedals - then I sell them. Just not my thing. I'd rather be heard cleanly.

About 90% of the effects I use are very subtle -- a touch of compression from the Cali76, a little clean boost from my Meatsmoke for some more 'sparkle' and 'punch', some bass mid boost to cut through the mix on certain parts, etc.

I think most people, hearing my sound, would think I was running completely clean most of the time, but they'd be wrong.

I'm not generally into the more noticeable effects for gigging though I do use some OD/fuzz on two or three songs that had it in the original.

 

[bass12]

A must have for bass? For most gigs, none. I've been asked to use effects by two different band leaders: one time it was fuzz and the other time it was an envelope filter.

 

[silvertone]

Soundblox® Pro Bass Envelope Filter - Source Audio

EBS DynaVerb High Dynamics Stereo Reverb Pedal

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These I consider essential.

 

[Syxz_ML]

Crazy how times changed. Few years ago the anwser would have been totally different but now if i must chose 1 must have, compression without a doubt. Everything else to me is just added flavor but compression is a must. Im also the leave it on at all times type as well. Just part of my sound at this point.

 

[T2k5]

[sfx] 3-band crossover/looper, FEA DB-CL, Iron Ether Polytope, Strymon TimeLine & Mobius. Everything else gets switched around depending on what I need, but these have never left my boards.

 

[stigbeve]

Overdrive

 

[blindrabbit]

Compression
Light overdrive
Boost
Fuzz
Some sort of modulation
Tuner

No way could I play without these. I have more, but these are the basics.

 

[circuitspore]

EHX Hog and DOD 250 are my must-haves. I also have a Blower Box, Boss EQ, Freeze and DL4, but I can live without those if necessary.

 

[DwaynieAD]

I just like bass. Any bass out of any rig and I'm down to play. I do love the tone my Gk rig imparts. Wish I could get me one of them Gk pedals so id always have that growl

 

[SlugThrower]

Probably my Darkglass B7K. Some kinda dirt pedal, always.

 

[vlsndgrdn]

Dirt pedals, octavers and pitch shifters drooldrooldrool

 

[Session1969]

There's 3 songs out of 45 I use effects on. An envelope, a fuzz, an octaver, and a compressor.

 

[winegamd]

An octave, some sort of envelope filter, and a fuzz/distortion. Absolutely necessary.

 

[mc900ftj]

I prefer a compressor (enjoying the MXR Bass Comp right now)... Overdrive is also great, but I have a tube amp for that.

+1 to all of this!

 

[tubedude]

Sound Source Multiwave Distortion Pro.
And an original Yamaha UD Stomp delay unit.

 

[BigBassBob]

It really depends on the gig but in general it's compression and overdrive for me.

 

[fenderbassman40]

Hartke bass attack
MXR 10 band eq
MXR Microamp

I will never do another gig without those 3

 

[Buzz E]

Chorus. Almost always on but just barely noticeable...especially with the active bass. Closely followed by compression and OD.