Skilful bass players know how to add expression to their notes, playing louder or softer to vary the dynamics of their music. This is where a compressor comes in – it makes the quieter notes louder and the louder ones softer.
Octave pedals shift an incoming signal up or down in octave intervals to thicken up the sound, making them popular with bass players for their clean and analog circuitry. Chorus pedals do the same, but with a little more character.
Valeton Dapper Bass DI
The Valeton Dapper Bass is a multi-FX workhorse for bass players. It features all the essential bass effects in a single compact unit and boasts a tuner, boost/compressor, dirty Q, bass amp, octave, chorus, FX loop, thru output jack and XLR out. First up is a big, bright and fast tuner to keep you confidently in tune. The BOOST COMP module is a booster and compressor combo with no-nonsense, set-to-forget knobs. The DIRTY Q is an envelope filter with some interesting tricks. Tweak the knobs until you find a vocal tone that suits your playing style.
The BASS AMP section delivers a wide variety of tones from crystal clear cleans through to an all-analog overdrive. You can also use the EQ to give your sound more definition and clarity. The octave can be used to beef up your low end or to create synthy leads, while the lush CHORUS will take you on a trip through brave new dimensions with individual octave and dry control.
A lot of work went into this unit, and the result is a versatile piece of kit with a host of useful functions that will make it a valuable addition to your rig. You can hook up additional effects to the effects loop (which can be powered by any quality pedal board PSU) to add more flavour. The XLR output can be used to send the signal to a mixing desk or audio interface, while the Thru output can be used to feed an amplifier.
This is an excellent solution for bassists on the move who want a complete effects suite that will fit into their gig bag and be ready to go at a moment’s notice. It replaces five separate effect pedals and needs just one power connection, which is a real bonus when travelling on public transport or in a touring vehicle, where space is at a premium. It also has all the inputs and outputs you will need, including a DI out for recording and an XLR out for feeding a sound engineer’s mixer.
Boss GT-1B
The GT-1B is a do-it-all multi-effects pedal designed to give bass players all the tools they need to shape their tone. It is powered by Boss’ most advanced sound engine and features a massive library of amplifier and effects models. Plus, it has 99 user patches, so you can create your own sounds with this powerful pedal.
Its streamlined interface makes it easy to use, even for beginners and those new to multi-effects. Dedicated buttons provide instant editing access to each effect category and allow you to tweak parameters at a glance. This helps you quickly build and refine your own multi-effects patches. It also has an integrated expression pedal and a control switch for additional control. You can connect the unit to your computer via USB and access its software, download new patches, back them up, and more.
This unit has a wide range of top-quality effects, including EQs, compressors, noise suppressors, and reverbs. It also has a variety of impact effects like harmonizers, bass synths, octavers, phasers, and flangers. Plus, it has a bass simulator, which can make an active guitar sound passive, or vice versa.
The GT-1B has premium amp modeling technology that captures the nuanced tone of popular bass amplifiers. It is also equipped with an onboard graphic EQ and assignable mid-frequency control to shape your tone further. It also includes essential bass effects like a stompbox-style limiter and distortion. Other great features include a phrase looper and metronome for practice and performance, and a built-in tuner.
Unlike some other pedals that are loaded with a bunch of unnecessary features, the GT-1B is packed with everything you need for bass effects. It has a large display, so you can see the status of each function at a glance. It is also a lot smaller than its predecessor, the GT-10B, so it fits easily into the accessory compartment of most bass gig bags.
While some people may be intimidated by the sheer amount of options available, this is an excellent pedal that can help you create a whole new tonal palette. It has all the basic effects you need, and it is a great choice for those who are not ready to invest in a full-fledged pedal board.
Boss GT-100
The GT-100 is a professional-grade multi-effects processor with a slew of features designed to handle all situations. It has an XLR mic input with phantom power for use with an acoustic guitar and stereo effects loops for integration of external gear; MIDI in/out and USB for direct recording to your computer and connection to BOSS Tone Studio editor.
There are 400 patches onboard, with 200 of them being factory presets. Each patch is constructed from a chain of effect blocks that can be arranged in any order and include compressor, overdrive/distortion, preamp (amp simulation), EQ, FX1 and FX2, delay, chorus and reverb. You can also assign an external pedal as part of a patch if you want to use one during live performance.
A feature called A/B Channel Divide allows you to assign different amps and effects to each channel and then switch between them with a footswitch or automatically according to how hard or softly you are playing. You can even assign both channels to the same effect for a blended sound or separate them by frequency range.
The dual LCD screens and panel of eight knobs deliver an interface that guitarists will find familiar and intuitive to navigate. The graphical Tone Grid makes it easy to construct and shape sounds on the fly and all parameters are accessible via the knobs rather than hidden behind menus. The GT-100 also includes a tuner and an expression pedal.
Powered by next-generation COSM processors, the GT-100 delivers an expanded range of tones for any style. Its Amp Customize function re-creates the precise details of vintage amps to create new frontiers of expression. An innovative Accel pedal gives you simultaneous control of multiple time-based effects such as feedback level, S-Bend depth or twist rate for dramatic and expressive sound manipulation. A versatile rotary effect rounds out the GT-100’s impressive arsenal. Version 2.0 adds two new amp types, cutting edge MDP effects and an acoustic guitar simulator to the mix. The GT-100’s MIDI capabilities have been expanded too, making it easy to connect to a synth and input MIDI notes.
TC Electronic SpectraComp
The tiniest big thing to hit the world of bass compressors in quite some time, the ultra-compact and extremely intuitive multiband TC Electronic Spectra Comp Bass Compressor is designed to bring out all of that glorious low-end punch and presence that you love so much, while keeping the dynamics in check. With one footswitch and one knob, this pedal makes getting the perfect amount of compression for any style a breeze.
The heart of this compact compressor is the MD3 engine from TC’s studio production powerhouse System 6000. This advanced algorithm applies perfectly tweaked compression for high, mid and low frequencies. This ensures that your lower strings never overtake the higher frequencies, something which is a common problem with many typical stompboxes.
In order to keep things as simple as possible, the Spectra Comp Bass only features one knob. This controls everything from the amount of compression to the attack and release. By letting you decide which settings you want to use, this bass compressor makes it easy for anyone to get started with no matter their experience level.
Having only one control knob also makes the Spectra Comp easy to transport as you can fit this compact pedal into just about any space in your pedalboard. However, this doesn’t mean that TC Electronic has compromised on any features as the Tone Prints allow you to modify any aspect of the pedal with a few clicks of a button.
This allows you to have an ultra-compact compressor with the same studio quality you would expect from TC Electronics. You can even use this on stage as the pedal features true hardwire bypass to keep your input signal unaffected.
The Spectra Comp Bass is a powerful compression effect that comes with an array of signature Toneprints. These presets are designed by some of the best bassists in the world and help you to find the right tone for any type of music. In addition to this, you can also create your own custom compression presets using the free TonePrint Editor on your computer or iOS device.