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Your first pedal
- Thread starter Danilixo
- Start date
My first pedal was a phase shifter intended for a guitar. That was in the early to mid 70's. That was a time when very few bass players used any sort of pedal.
I only used it in very specific songs and, hopefully, no one thought that I overused it.
I only used it in very specific songs and, hopefully, no one thought that I overused it.
My first was a DOD FX-25 Envelope Filter. Still on my board today. I hear they're actually worth a buck or two these days. I guess people will shell out for anything old.
Mutron III - heavily modified for 'stereo' use (bridge pup effected, neck not) Very cool, sounded awesome. Mounted on a mic stand for hand control, which worked perfectly for me.
First pedal I bought was an MXR Phase 45. Second was a Boss Octaver.
These days the only thing I use regularly is a volume pedal. If I want to get wacky with the effects, I use my V-bass.
These days the only thing I use regularly is a volume pedal. If I want to get wacky with the effects, I use my V-bass.
First was a TC Mini Spark. I was in a light rock band at the time, and they had one song which was pretty much all slap. I got the booster thinking I could kick it on at the quieter bits. I was completely underestimating my bass stingray though, sound was so cutting I never needed it. It's still sat on my board but I should probably get rid.
The next time I bought pedals it was a polytune, a diamond bass comp and a pike amplification (spencer) Vulcan xl. Big improvement!
The next time I bought pedals it was a polytune, a diamond bass comp and a pike amplification (spencer) Vulcan xl. Big improvement!
On the verge of buying my first pedal - considering the EHX SoulPOG so I get octave down, octave up, both reportedly with decent tracking, and a reportedly transparent overdrive, which may help lend character to what otherwise is a digital pedal. Looking for a tool to help broaden my range in soloing with a Pan-American folk/rock band…and do not want to go the whole pedalboard route…otherwise always keep a small tuner off of the tuner output on my amp.
My first pedal was a Vox Stomplab 2g which does some things good and others bad, I liked many of the FX but the drive and amp modeling is pretty terrible, I don't like modeling much though. After using it for awhile I started slowly replacing the parts I used the most, I forget the order but an Akai Variwah and joyo crunch/ comp came early.
If I could go back in time I would have just started with a VHT V Drive, would have saved me a ton of $ trying out various drive pedals all of which it creams aside from tubes. The V Drive is so diverse and rich sounding it could almost replace tubes honestly but I like having both available and mixing them. It is an amazing boost/ OD/ distortion box.
I got mine for 50$ used and I think I prefer it to my Bogner Ecstasy Red which was 150$ used, the latter is more high gain but the V Drive can get plenty hot for my tastes.
In fact you can get some fuzz like tones with the V drive by cranking the gain/tone/texture and using the right clipping like geranium/ silicon which I am pretty sure it has in it.
EHX Small Stone phase shifter. Paid $15 cash, brand new at Apex Music in El Cajon, CA in 1977. And no, they really didn't make tuner pedals back then (I carried a tuning fork in my case for years). Had a Boss TU12 eventually, but could never see it well.
Contrast to what all of you have been saying about a tuning pedal being everyone's first pedal, my generation (late millennials) all used chromatic tuners. I used a tuner that would clip to the top of my bass, but nowadays it's much easier to use the one built onto my phone. If I want it to be a bit more accurate I may even plug in my bass to my phone and tune it through there. Technology has really moved quite a way, from tuning forks to phones that'll hear your bass and tell you if you're in tune.
2nd set of pedals
Oh man - I gotta get a fake applause pedal - that would be GREAT - one with three buttons - applause, boos/cat-calls and one that just does chicks going "woo hoo"!!!
I have a boss DS2 distortion pedal that I got from my cousin who doesn't play much guitar anymore. It's the only one I have and honestly it's very bad even for guitar nevermind for bass. No matter how much I play with it, it seems like it''s either too bright or down right muddy, barely heard or obnoxiously loud. But since it's free, I won't complain.
My first was the Ibanez Sountank BC-5. Not bad at all. A shame nobody (me included) cared for bass choruses after the early '90s.
I don't remember, to be honest. I got a multi to fool around with but didn't really use it and wouldn't count it. It was either a Boss CEB-3 chorus, aiming to get a Chris Squire sound, or an MXR M-80 DI/EQ/Distortion pedal. I eventually sold it but if I was recommending an affordable first pedal to a new bassist, it would be the M-80. $135 and you get the fundamentals.
Mine was a boss odb 3, didn't know how overdrive's worked at first and couldn't get a good sound, the only time I tried one I managed to get a better sound after knowing how they work
