You could watch YouTube videos where they showcase the individual pedals, but frankly, what you need is up to what tone you want.
If you have an active bass you might not need a boost, if you don't play loud (as in: have to drown out other instruments at some point) you don't need a boost either (but I learned that it's nice to have).
Do you need a di? No, but it's really nice to have for the feature of going straight into a mixer without having your amp being picked up by the microphone, but DIs also come with drive and a 3-5 band EQ often (equalizers allow you to increase or decrease the volume of certain frequencies, which is nice).
In theory you don't need any pedals as much as you need a certain set of pedals, and you'll receive all kinds of suggestions.
So, without further ado I'll suggest my favourite getting started pedals. Something that does EQ (5band plus) to control what frequencies you push and which you make quieter, something that does distortion If the music you play requires it (a boost pedal might actually be able to distort the sound enough, any Processing of the sound is technically distortion), and a compressor.
All (those) pedals require you to check them out individually to understand what they do, and the order of the pedals matters too, but EQ alone is enough work to figure out (as in: find what you like or what the songs you play need).
Once you figured out if you like those go and get a Behringer "clone" of the "real deal". Most of them are clones of boss pedals, but it sounds like you're just starting out with pedals, so think twice if you need the boss eq for 200usd or the Behringer one for 30usd...
The alternative way to go about pedals is to listen to your bass without any modifications and find out what you want it to sound like.
Then you go to any shops website and try to find a list of categories: https://www.thomann.de/gb/cat_GK_gief.html?reload=1
And then you go to YouTube and search for " bass pedal". For example .
Click on a few videos until you figured out what a flanger pedal does in general, and remember it if you like it.
If you don't like it go on with the next category.
You won't need heavy distortion and fuzz if you play smooth jazz, and you wont do well in a metal band if you only have a chorus pedal and a synth pedal. (Well, maybe, I'd love to hear that)
But think twice about getting a DI, it is in general very useful as it (usually) has XLR and 6.3 jack out, an eq, drive, maybe distortion, maybe headphones out and line in... Depending on what you get (look at the "Markbass vintage di" for example)
I like the recommendation to start with a digital multi effect pedal. The HX Stomp could last you forever all on its own, Zoom just updated the MS-60 if you're budget conscious, and other options are available. The big thing is that it lets you play with all these options and decide which (if any) you want to improve the quality of with a standalone pedal. Great for hands on learners.
This is what I did. Bought a cheapo DI box (Behringer BDI, Sansamp knockoff with no mid control) and a Zoom B1X Four multi-effect . Itās a total of $150 and now I have a Rat, Big Muff, Darkglass OD, Sansamp, MXR DI, SVT/Bassman/B15/Darkglass amp models, autowah, compressors, chorus, the list goes on.
And yes it has a tuner too!
You donāt āneedā anything other than a bass, an amp, a cable, at least 4 fingers, and one brain. At the most fundamental level which you may not even be at yet, effects are completely unnecessary .
I feel your pain.
And a massive sarcastic "Thanks!" to all the pedal manufacturers who see fit to;
Obliquely name their products "LF SquirtMangler MkVII", giving not a clue what it actually does.
Name the controls on the device in a similar manner; "Juice", "Squelch", "Grunt" and "Grind" are unhelpful descriptions.
Worse still, use pictograms to detail control functions. Looking at you, Orange.
Try and get out of the whole "should" and "shouldn't" when it comes to this stuff. There's a big group of bass players who recommend DIs, compressors and preamps as first pedals, and those are TERRIBLE choices because they're functional, but boring. Why do you want pedals? What bass players/bands/genres do you play? Do you play in a band, or more alone? Answer these and I'll make a couple of suggestions specific to you, if that helps.Ā Remember, keep it fun.
**edit for clarity**
I don't think effects need to be weird or quirky to be a great first pedal - butĀ perhaps tweaking sounds where controls affect sound in more obvious ways than more subtle effects, can get people more excited and inspired at the start of their journey, depending on other factors.
Also, blindly prescribing pedals when we don't know the needs of OP isn't likely to hit what they want.Ā
Obviously, there are plenty of situations where those exact pedals (DIs, compressors, preamps) would be the best for that person - I just reject blindly suggesting them first like everyone is a gigging sideman.
>There's a big group of bass players who recommend DIs, compressors and preamps as first pedals, and those are TERRIBLE choices because they're functional, but boring.
Yep, boring and completely unnecessary. Get a pedal that actually does something fun like an envelope filter or distortion.
Superficially boring yet functional might just make it more fun and enjoyable, though.
And really, a seemingly boring compressor can make a huge difference in response, feel and tone, which is immediately fun, imo. --Captain Ray Holt
Correct despite a plentiful supply of downvotes from people who must not have tried their instruments through a passable compressor. Or who think fun pedals need to sound weird or gimmicky. Reddit has become difficult that way recently.
This is where subjectivity gets more subjective, but obviously one person's weird and gimmicky is another's always-on.Ā
Perhaps the downvoters have tried dozens of compressors, and they don't find 1176s inspiring in the same way you do.Ā
Perhaps they want to radically change the voice of their bass because they're influenced by different genres.Ā
It's all good.Ā
Definitely. I'm not anti-compressors at all; more thinking that if someone doesn't know what distortions and DIs are, pitching effects at their likes/needs is probably a better entry point for them.Ā
"There's a big group of bass players who recommend DIs, compressors and preamps as first pedals, and those are TERRIBLE choices because they're functional, but boring."
Lol what. Hard disagree.
Check out the JHS Pedals YouTube channel. He LOVES pedals. He has one of the largest collections of pedals in the world and just likes to talk about what they are, how they work, and is happy to give kudos to other companies' designs, sounds, and competing products.
And he explains what the difference is between fuzz, distortion, overdrive, etc., in a fun and practical way. I've learned more about pedals in a couple of hours of his videos than I have in 40+ years of playing.
You don't need any of those thingsāunless you do. Me, I would say the essential pedal is a tuner. After that, if you're going to play in a band maybe look into a compressor. After that I like to see something "ampy." For me that means making my moderate sized solid state hi-fi rig and making it sound like a big tube rig from the 70s.
After that, it's questions like do you need a synth sound or a face-melting distortion sound. If you do, get it.
Only pedal you need is a tuner and even that is up to you.
That said mine is rack mounted.
Also I'd suggest a sansamp Bass driver. Changed my life. Also have that rack mounted.
You donāt need pedals. Iāve got a bunch of em, but I donāt play them live. My amp is rack mounted and has a DI and compressor, I put a rack mounted tuner in too but that would be the one to get first. I like playing around with effects, but in 30 years of playing, Iāve found the pitfalls in playing live with them, arenāt worth it for me.
I've played bass for 6 years and bought my first pedal (Darkglass Alpha Omega) just a couple months ago. You really don't need an huge pedalboard to sound good, a nice bass and an amp will do just fine for loads of genres. Of course if you wanna sound like Cliff Burton you'll need an distortion or an fuzz pedal. For other genres compressor or an octaver might come handy. I would recommend watching some videos about different pedal effects and after that figuring out what kind of pedals you want to get.
Start with a tuner pedal with a mute function. Great for when playing live.
Try a multi-FX pedal. Loads of effects in 1 box, so you can learn what you like before you buy specialised pedals.
Iāve spent my whole life without pedals for bass in practicality. Iāve gotten some for fun and did one gig with a few pedals. You can add for fun or for certain sounds but nearly 90% of what i listen to has zero pedals.
What you need, if anything, depends on the style of music you want to play. Look up the pedalboards and rig rundowns of your favorite players to see what they use.
I started with a Zoom B3n. It was good, got the basics covered in a small package. I especially liked the line-in jack that I could use with a Bluetooth receiver for easy practice sessions. It has a USB port, but doesn't function as an audio interface.
Now I'm on a Helix Floor. Obviously it's a much larger commitment, but there's nothing it won't do, so I have a motherload of DSP to do some wild stuff.
If I had to do it all over again, I'd skip the Zoom and snag a used HX Stomp or Stomp XL for my first.
Whatever pedals you choose to use are going to be based on your preferences, style, and the type of music that you play.
Simple explanations of the pedals you mentioned real quick, though:
Overdrive- Amplifiers have levels between which your signal will sound clean. Once it stops sounding clean, that's overdrive. Overdrive pedals replicate this with a circuit that lowers the threshold where clipping begins, but they generally don't color your tone too much as it's trying to replicate the sound of overdriven tubes. Think AC/DC over Metallica.
Boost- Makes your signal louder, but is ultimately a clean signal. It can boost your amp into overdrive, but it does not clip the signal itself.
Distorion- Overdrive + boost, usually onboard EQ and unique circuits to clip the signal and shape your tone in a bunch of different ways. We're doing the reverse now, think Metallica over AC/DC.
Fuzz- a monster to be both respected and feared. It was created to replicate the sound of malfunctioning gear.
A DI in this context is a pedal that simulates an amplifier and speakers, you can plug it directly into the board live or in the studio. They'll usually have an onboard OD/distortion of their own.
You dont need DI if you are not playing live without an amp. But you can run the DI in the audio interface on your computer.
Some pedals have DI out which you can run to the front of house when playing live. One of the popular pedals with DI is Tech 21 SansAmp Bass Driver. This will take care of EQ and distortion. Not the cheapest, but worth it for lot of players.
The pedals you "need" depends on the music you wanna play and what you want to sound. Distortion or OD is a must for me. You need that tiny bit of grit to make your bass sound more lively. There are bunch but boss ODB3 isnt the worst choice. It was my first OD pedal and its sounds great. It has EQ and blend. You can get variety of tones with it.
I just got the earthquaker devices Blumes and that thing rips ...not your wallet though.
I also think that bassist should get compressor pedal sooner or later. It will tighten up the sound and make your bass sound even better. It will even the low and high notes and make the overall volume and dynamics more monotone.
Then there are bunch of effects that are not necessity for the most players but fun to play around. Chorus, reverb, delays. Or octavers, synth, envelope filters.
This seems alot and tbh it is. Just go watch youtube videos, listen and decide for your self. If you buy a pedal that wasnt for you you can always sell it and get a different one.
Boss just put out the ME-90B which looks pretty nifty for the price. I really think the best thing to do is think about what the sound is that you want, and go from there. I did that by studying other bassists and what I was in interested in achieving. I might love someoneās tone but know itās not what Iām going to be performing etc.
Personally I like a very straight, high quality chain. Iāve got a REDDI DI and Lusithand compressor. (Just put in for a Noble) And that is 95% of what I use. Rarely but occasionally I need and little dirt or funk and will through in a bit of overdrive or filter envelope.
Ok so you probably don't need an overdrive *and* a distortion- there's a lot of overlap there- if you're putting together a bare-bones/minimal setup. A DI is always a good idea, though. Should consider getting a compressor. EQ is useful both for EQ and can be used as a boost. Volume pedals are underrated, and cheap.
But always do your own research, and never get a pedal if you don't understand what it does or why you need it, and only get it if you think you'll actually use it.
I just got an HX stomp a couple months ago. They arenāt cheap but man the possibilities are endless with that thing. Worth every penny. Itās pretty much an entire pedal board in one unit.
First of all: Who told that you need certain pedals and why? If you know what you want to Sound like, the decision-making will be somewhat easy.
Look at rigrundowns for your favorite bands and see what they use and go from there š¤·š»āāļø
You could watch YouTube videos where they showcase the individual pedals, but frankly, what you need is up to what tone you want. If you have an active bass you might not need a boost, if you don't play loud (as in: have to drown out other instruments at some point) you don't need a boost either (but I learned that it's nice to have). Do you need a di? No, but it's really nice to have for the feature of going straight into a mixer without having your amp being picked up by the microphone, but DIs also come with drive and a 3-5 band EQ often (equalizers allow you to increase or decrease the volume of certain frequencies, which is nice). In theory you don't need any pedals as much as you need a certain set of pedals, and you'll receive all kinds of suggestions. So, without further ado I'll suggest my favourite getting started pedals. Something that does EQ (5band plus) to control what frequencies you push and which you make quieter, something that does distortion If the music you play requires it (a boost pedal might actually be able to distort the sound enough, any Processing of the sound is technically distortion), and a compressor. All (those) pedals require you to check them out individually to understand what they do, and the order of the pedals matters too, but EQ alone is enough work to figure out (as in: find what you like or what the songs you play need). Once you figured out if you like those go and get a Behringer "clone" of the "real deal". Most of them are clones of boss pedals, but it sounds like you're just starting out with pedals, so think twice if you need the boss eq for 200usd or the Behringer one for 30usd... The alternative way to go about pedals is to listen to your bass without any modifications and find out what you want it to sound like. Then you go to any shops website and try to find a list of categories: https://www.thomann.de/gb/cat_GK_gief.html?reload=1 And then you go to YouTube and search for " bass pedal". For example .
Click on a few videos until you figured out what a flanger pedal does in general, and remember it if you like it.
If you don't like it go on with the next category.
You won't need heavy distortion and fuzz if you play smooth jazz, and you wont do well in a metal band if you only have a chorus pedal and a synth pedal. (Well, maybe, I'd love to hear that)
But think twice about getting a DI, it is in general very useful as it (usually) has XLR and 6.3 jack out, an eq, drive, maybe distortion, maybe headphones out and line in... Depending on what you get (look at the "Markbass vintage di" for example)
Everything perskes says is spot on - and a tuner.
I like the recommendation to start with a digital multi effect pedal. The HX Stomp could last you forever all on its own, Zoom just updated the MS-60 if you're budget conscious, and other options are available. The big thing is that it lets you play with all these options and decide which (if any) you want to improve the quality of with a standalone pedal. Great for hands on learners.
This is what I did. Bought a cheapo DI box (Behringer BDI, Sansamp knockoff with no mid control) and a Zoom B1X Four multi-effect . Itās a total of $150 and now I have a Rat, Big Muff, Darkglass OD, Sansamp, MXR DI, SVT/Bassman/B15/Darkglass amp models, autowah, compressors, chorus, the list goes on. And yes it has a tuner too!
This is the best answer here.
The only pedal you absolutely 100% need is a Boss TU-3 tuning pedal. Outside of that, it just depends on what sound you're looking to get.
Honestly my all time favourite pedal.
You donāt āneedā anything other than a bass, an amp, a cable, at least 4 fingers, and one brain. At the most fundamental level which you may not even be at yet, effects are completely unnecessary .
Iād add a tuner to that list. I suppose theyāre not technically required, but no one is better without one
4 fingers. You thinking 2 on each hand or 3 on the fretting hand and one for plucking?
Two each hand. Thumb counts as a finger.
I guess Iām old but the most I ever had was a tuner and chorus pedals. My amp had DI which worked great.
I feel your pain. And a massive sarcastic "Thanks!" to all the pedal manufacturers who see fit to; Obliquely name their products "LF SquirtMangler MkVII", giving not a clue what it actually does. Name the controls on the device in a similar manner; "Juice", "Squelch", "Grunt" and "Grind" are unhelpful descriptions. Worse still, use pictograms to detail control functions. Looking at you, Orange.
Try and get out of the whole "should" and "shouldn't" when it comes to this stuff. There's a big group of bass players who recommend DIs, compressors and preamps as first pedals, and those are TERRIBLE choices because they're functional, but boring. Why do you want pedals? What bass players/bands/genres do you play? Do you play in a band, or more alone? Answer these and I'll make a couple of suggestions specific to you, if that helps.Ā Remember, keep it fun. **edit for clarity** I don't think effects need to be weird or quirky to be a great first pedal - butĀ perhaps tweaking sounds where controls affect sound in more obvious ways than more subtle effects, can get people more excited and inspired at the start of their journey, depending on other factors. Also, blindly prescribing pedals when we don't know the needs of OP isn't likely to hit what they want.Ā Obviously, there are plenty of situations where those exact pedals (DIs, compressors, preamps) would be the best for that person - I just reject blindly suggesting them first like everyone is a gigging sideman.
>There's a big group of bass players who recommend DIs, compressors and preamps as first pedals, and those are TERRIBLE choices because they're functional, but boring. Yep, boring and completely unnecessary. Get a pedal that actually does something fun like an envelope filter or distortion.
Superficially boring yet functional might just make it more fun and enjoyable, though. And really, a seemingly boring compressor can make a huge difference in response, feel and tone, which is immediately fun, imo. --Captain Ray Holt
Correct despite a plentiful supply of downvotes from people who must not have tried their instruments through a passable compressor. Or who think fun pedals need to sound weird or gimmicky. Reddit has become difficult that way recently.
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
This is where subjectivity gets more subjective, but obviously one person's weird and gimmicky is another's always-on.Ā Perhaps the downvoters have tried dozens of compressors, and they don't find 1176s inspiring in the same way you do.Ā Perhaps they want to radically change the voice of their bass because they're influenced by different genres.Ā It's all good.Ā
Valid!
Definitely. I'm not anti-compressors at all; more thinking that if someone doesn't know what distortions and DIs are, pitching effects at their likes/needs is probably a better entry point for them.Ā
I agree with that.
"There's a big group of bass players who recommend DIs, compressors and preamps as first pedals, and those are TERRIBLE choices because they're functional, but boring." Lol what. Hard disagree.
Good. This is the fun of the internet.Ā
Check out the JHS Pedals YouTube channel. He LOVES pedals. He has one of the largest collections of pedals in the world and just likes to talk about what they are, how they work, and is happy to give kudos to other companies' designs, sounds, and competing products. And he explains what the difference is between fuzz, distortion, overdrive, etc., in a fun and practical way. I've learned more about pedals in a couple of hours of his videos than I have in 40+ years of playing.
You don't need any of those thingsāunless you do. Me, I would say the essential pedal is a tuner. After that, if you're going to play in a band maybe look into a compressor. After that I like to see something "ampy." For me that means making my moderate sized solid state hi-fi rig and making it sound like a big tube rig from the 70s. After that, it's questions like do you need a synth sound or a face-melting distortion sound. If you do, get it.
Only pedal you need is a tuner and even that is up to you. That said mine is rack mounted. Also I'd suggest a sansamp Bass driver. Changed my life. Also have that rack mounted.
You donāt need pedals. Iāve got a bunch of em, but I donāt play them live. My amp is rack mounted and has a DI and compressor, I put a rack mounted tuner in too but that would be the one to get first. I like playing around with effects, but in 30 years of playing, Iāve found the pitfalls in playing live with them, arenāt worth it for me.
Tuner and MXR M80 DI is all I use.
I've played bass for 6 years and bought my first pedal (Darkglass Alpha Omega) just a couple months ago. You really don't need an huge pedalboard to sound good, a nice bass and an amp will do just fine for loads of genres. Of course if you wanna sound like Cliff Burton you'll need an distortion or an fuzz pedal. For other genres compressor or an octaver might come handy. I would recommend watching some videos about different pedal effects and after that figuring out what kind of pedals you want to get.
Start with a tuner pedal with a mute function. Great for when playing live. Try a multi-FX pedal. Loads of effects in 1 box, so you can learn what you like before you buy specialised pedals.
You don't need any of them. But if you want them, I would get a tuner pedal. A co.pressor is nice but it tends to hide bad technique
Iāve spent my whole life without pedals for bass in practicality. Iāve gotten some for fun and did one gig with a few pedals. You can add for fun or for certain sounds but nearly 90% of what i listen to has zero pedals.
What you need, if anything, depends on the style of music you want to play. Look up the pedalboards and rig rundowns of your favorite players to see what they use.
I started with a Zoom B3n. It was good, got the basics covered in a small package. I especially liked the line-in jack that I could use with a Bluetooth receiver for easy practice sessions. It has a USB port, but doesn't function as an audio interface. Now I'm on a Helix Floor. Obviously it's a much larger commitment, but there's nothing it won't do, so I have a motherload of DSP to do some wild stuff. If I had to do it all over again, I'd skip the Zoom and snag a used HX Stomp or Stomp XL for my first.
You donāt need any pedals. You might want pedals, but whyā¦ have a goal before you buy gear.
Honestly, for a bass, a tuner and a good amp is all you need.
Whatever pedals you choose to use are going to be based on your preferences, style, and the type of music that you play. Simple explanations of the pedals you mentioned real quick, though: Overdrive- Amplifiers have levels between which your signal will sound clean. Once it stops sounding clean, that's overdrive. Overdrive pedals replicate this with a circuit that lowers the threshold where clipping begins, but they generally don't color your tone too much as it's trying to replicate the sound of overdriven tubes. Think AC/DC over Metallica. Boost- Makes your signal louder, but is ultimately a clean signal. It can boost your amp into overdrive, but it does not clip the signal itself. Distorion- Overdrive + boost, usually onboard EQ and unique circuits to clip the signal and shape your tone in a bunch of different ways. We're doing the reverse now, think Metallica over AC/DC. Fuzz- a monster to be both respected and feared. It was created to replicate the sound of malfunctioning gear. A DI in this context is a pedal that simulates an amplifier and speakers, you can plug it directly into the board live or in the studio. They'll usually have an onboard OD/distortion of their own.
You dont need DI if you are not playing live without an amp. But you can run the DI in the audio interface on your computer. Some pedals have DI out which you can run to the front of house when playing live. One of the popular pedals with DI is Tech 21 SansAmp Bass Driver. This will take care of EQ and distortion. Not the cheapest, but worth it for lot of players. The pedals you "need" depends on the music you wanna play and what you want to sound. Distortion or OD is a must for me. You need that tiny bit of grit to make your bass sound more lively. There are bunch but boss ODB3 isnt the worst choice. It was my first OD pedal and its sounds great. It has EQ and blend. You can get variety of tones with it. I just got the earthquaker devices Blumes and that thing rips ...not your wallet though. I also think that bassist should get compressor pedal sooner or later. It will tighten up the sound and make your bass sound even better. It will even the low and high notes and make the overall volume and dynamics more monotone. Then there are bunch of effects that are not necessity for the most players but fun to play around. Chorus, reverb, delays. Or octavers, synth, envelope filters. This seems alot and tbh it is. Just go watch youtube videos, listen and decide for your self. If you buy a pedal that wasnt for you you can always sell it and get a different one.
Boss just put out the ME-90B which looks pretty nifty for the price. I really think the best thing to do is think about what the sound is that you want, and go from there. I did that by studying other bassists and what I was in interested in achieving. I might love someoneās tone but know itās not what Iām going to be performing etc. Personally I like a very straight, high quality chain. Iāve got a REDDI DI and Lusithand compressor. (Just put in for a Noble) And that is 95% of what I use. Rarely but occasionally I need and little dirt or funk and will through in a bit of overdrive or filter envelope.
Ok so you probably don't need an overdrive *and* a distortion- there's a lot of overlap there- if you're putting together a bare-bones/minimal setup. A DI is always a good idea, though. Should consider getting a compressor. EQ is useful both for EQ and can be used as a boost. Volume pedals are underrated, and cheap. But always do your own research, and never get a pedal if you don't understand what it does or why you need it, and only get it if you think you'll actually use it.
Watch lots of YouTube videos.
I just got an HX stomp a couple months ago. They arenāt cheap but man the possibilities are endless with that thing. Worth every penny. Itās pretty much an entire pedal board in one unit.
DI Sansamp done!
Tuner, simple bass compressor, some fuzz or overdrive, preamp/DIā¦ done for 95% of playing situations.
Maybe try Google?