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what Effects can you not live without?
- Thread starter gierolf_hvitrserkr
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About the only effect that's a must-have for me is overdrive. And if I had to narrow it down to one pedal, the MXR Bass Distortion because it's an awesome Rat-based pedal that's butt-simple to use and very versatile. Fortunately, I don't have to narrow down to one, so I get to keep the Animato as well 
If I'm keeping just one pedal it's the Big Muff Pi. I rarely if ever need effects for gigs. But they are so much fun to play with when noodling around. Seriously, were am I going to get away with a 15 minute; echo- flanger- distortion bass solo. The basement, maybe. Yehaw! Unleash your inner child/ spoiled rock star. 
Just a good preamp and I'm good. Preferably it will be a tube preamp, but an excellent or better solid state preamp can work, too.
Though I own many pedal format signal processors now, and I like them very much, there are none I can't do without when playing bass guitar.
Though I own many pedal format signal processors now, and I like them very much, there are none I can't do without when playing bass guitar.
doesnt matter what pedal at all. just as long as there is at least one pedal (of any kind whatsoever) between bass and amp, i'm good
Preamp/DI. Just as a tone shaper+security blanket for that inevitable time when the amp decides to stop working at a gig.
MXR Bass Compressor
MXR Phase 90
Tech21 Bass Boost Chorus
MXR M80 Bass DI+
not an effect, but my Polytune 2 pedal
MXR Phase 90
Tech21 Bass Boost Chorus
MXR M80 Bass DI+
not an effect, but my Polytune 2 pedal
In a fist fight the Wampler Ego wins barely over the Sansamp and I had to go downstairs to A/B this decision.
I could live without any pedal except for the tuner - but why would I want to? 
Some effects get used for maybe just one song but I personally find that fun and worth the effort, and as they sit hooked up and ready to go on the pedalboard there is no extra effort to bring them along.
More used than others would be compressor, overdrive, phaser or chorus, parametric eq, di.
Some effects get used for maybe just one song but I personally find that fun and worth the effort, and as they sit hooked up and ready to go on the pedalboard there is no extra effort to bring them along.
More used than others would be compressor, overdrive, phaser or chorus, parametric eq, di.
My RAT, it's been there for 30 years. Even if I'm not gonna use it I put it in line, looks wrong without it.
Is it really necessary to have a compressor if you have pa support? Won't the soundman use compression too?
Depends on how and why you use a compressor ... the compressor in the PA is applied last in your sound chain, so if you for instance use a compressor early in the chain on an effects pedalboard to modify how some effects after the compressor react to your playing then the compressor in the PA won't help you.
If I had a tube amp and was able to crank it at all times, anything but a tuner would be just for fun and some rare songs. As I don´t, a mild touch sensitive OD. The Barbershop to be specific. And some mild compression to tighten and fatten things up a little bit. Very happy with my EBS MultiComp. Diamond would probably be even better. But, very happy for now.
Really I can live without effects.
But in some musical generes I realized that a soft/mild overdrive it helps a lot for getting a warmer tone pushing your bass in the mix if you aren´t using a valve head amp). As the same way, a chorus can help to your fretless too for sounding fuller and seewt, for emphasizing the harmonic content.
But in some musical generes I realized that a soft/mild overdrive it helps a lot for getting a warmer tone pushing your bass in the mix if you aren´t using a valve head amp). As the same way, a chorus can help to your fretless too for sounding fuller and seewt, for emphasizing the harmonic content.
Overdrive. If I wanted to argue with soundmen about DI/mic I'd use a tube amp. As it is, I use a blower box and a fifth gear to boost into it.
The Bass Driver DI patch on my B3, always on.
I seriously think I need an always on compressor at the start of the chain too.
I seriously think I need an always on compressor at the start of the chain too.
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