Bass pedals can seem intimidating with all of their brands, models, colors and technical components. But they can also make your bass sound more interesting and add to your creativity.
Filter stompboxes curve your EQ like a wah, boosting or cutting frequencies and making them stand out in the mix. A good example is the MXR Thump.
Overdrive/Distortion
If you’re starting out as a bassist, there are more ways to alter and cull your sound than meets the eye. Some bassists prefer a stripped back rig which is easier to take on tour or gigs, but there are also plenty of pedals out there which can offer you new tones that can open up the possibilities of your bass guitar.
Overdrive/Distortion pedals are a staple of any bassist’s rig and the perfect way to add some extra grit and edge to your sound. The overdrive pedal can be used to provide a mild boost to your signal, but the distortion pedal can really open up the possibilities by adding some heavier compression.
Some overdrive pedals can blur the line between overdrive and distortion, but some are more transparent and focus on retaining the overall tone of your amplifier and guitar. The legendary pedals like the Klon Centaur or Ibanez Tube Screamer are renowned for their quality and many of the overdrive pedals available today use similar circuitry.
You’ll usually find controls on the overdrive/distortion pedals which let you adjust the mid-range for a crisp bite and internal tone control to tame high frequencies – perfect for giving your amp a brighter sound or enhancing single coil pickups. Beginners should avoid over-driving their signals, however, as if the gain is too high the distortion can become unmanageable and lose its integrity.
Distortion pedals can be found on their own, or stacked with overdrive, or even EQ and delay/reverb pedals. They’re a great way to give your bass some extra oomph, but it’s always advisable to experiment with different pedal combinations and settings to make sure they work for you.
Fuzz pedals can be a little more complicated as they differ from overdrive and distortion, both in sound and circuitry. Fuzz pedals generally sound fatter, engulfing and on some occasions fizzier.
You can stack them with other pedals such as a chorus or flanger, but it’s recommended to place modulation effects towards the end of your effects chain, as they can drown out more subtle pedals.
Compressor
A compressor pedal is one of the most important bass guitar pedals to have, especially when you are playing live. It helps to keep your bass from sounding too “boomy” and overshadowing the other members of the band (especially in a small venue with a poor PA system). A compressor also helps to make sure your notes have enough punch and sustain to compete with other instruments like drums and keys.
The best compressor pedals for beginners are user-friendly and have straightforward functionality that allow you to focus more on your musical expression rather than struggling with complex equipment. Brands such as Boss and Electro-Harmonix are known for producing affordable and easy-to-use bass compression pedals.
One of our favorite pedals for beginners is the Dunlop MXR M87 Bass Compressor Pedal. This pedal provides a wide range of compression effects that will help to add more dynamics and consistency to your bass tone. This pedal has a variety of features including an “attack” control that allows you to set how fast the compression kicks in and a “release” control that lets you adjust how long it takes for the compression to disengage. Additionally, this pedal has a “threshold” control that allows you to set the minimum volume level above which the compression will activate.
Another great option for beginner bass players is the TC Electronics Spectra Compressor pedal. This pedal is very simple to use and has an excellent compressor that can compete with more expensive studio-grade rackmount units. This pedal has a very clear meter and has three knobs for controlling the amount of compression: “slope” controls the ratio, “threshold” sets at what point the compression starts and “level” controls how much the compression affects your signal.
The Boss LMB-3 is another fantastic option for a bass compressor that is very simple to use and has an excellent sound. This pedal has a very clean sounding compressor that introduces minimal noise and does what a compressor should do. It does lack a ‘attack’ control and’release’ control but it’s hard to find a better performing compressor for this price.
Distortion/Fuzz
While overdrive pedals simply drive your amp to emulate that coveted “cranked” sound, distortion pedals take things even further by cramming a whole load of grit and saturation into your tone. This is done by clipping the high amplitude waves in your signal and saturating them so they’re square-like, giving you a much more aggressive sound that’s perfect for hard rock and metal. If you want to bring some Hendrix to your music, a good choice is the Boss DS-1 Distortion pedal or the Electro-Harmonix Bass Big Muff Pi.
If you’re not quite ready for distortion but still want some gritty tone, a compression pedal is a great option. This effect keeps your peaks at a reasonable level so whether you’re chugging or tapping, you won’t overpower your amplifier. The Dunlop MXR M87 Bass Compressor pedal is a great choice for beginners as it has a range of controls that give you the flexibility to find your ideal settings.
Other pedals that are useful for beginners include tremolo and delay effects. While these don’t offer as much versatility as an overdrive or distortion pedal, they can help you add some subtle depth to your bass tone and give your grooves some extra energy. You can also use them to create some cool noise effects like the ring modulator or pitch shifter to get some interesting sounds.
The Strymon El Capistan dTape Echo is a very versatile pedal that offers multiple different kinds of delay effects, including a spring reverb. It’s easy to set up and can be used in any genre of music. Another popular delay effect is the octave pedal, which can be used to add layers of pitch above or below your original note.
Overall, it’s important for beginners to start with user-friendly effects pedals that are affordable and feature simple controls. This will allow them to focus on developing their playing skills and musical creativity, rather than worrying about navigating complex gear setups. Having an affordable, versatile effects pedal will also give beginners the freedom to experiment with a variety of different sounds and styles, helping them develop their unique musical voice.
Reverb/Delay
Delay and reverb pedals are great for adding depth, simulating physical space, and creating rhythm with repeated sounds. However, they can also muddy the mix if not used carefully. That’s why it’s important to fine-tune your reverb and delay settings to suit the instrument or voice in question.
A reverb pedal creates a wash of sound that can range from subtle to dramatic. It works by multiplying your signal with a specific amount of repetitions (frequency) and decay time. The longer the repeats, the more pronounced the effect. A reverb pedal can also have a variety of controls such as time, sync, and feedback. The latter control defines the number of reflections that are generated after each initial signal and can be set from 0% to 100%.
While not as common as distortion, reverb is a very useful bass guitar pedal that can make your instrument sound big and full or sharp and spooky, depending on the setting you choose for it. Some reverb pedals include a mix knob, which allows you to balance your original tone with the effects for a more balanced sound.
Like reverb, a delay pedal can be very versatile with its controls. It can have a variety of lengths and can even have a high-pass or low-pass filter to control the frequency of the repeats. Another control is the sync, which lets you synchronize your delay’s repetition to the song’s tempo.
If you want to go beyond the basics, try out a multi-mode digital delay pedal that offers a wide selection of delay types and can also include modulation effects such as chorus and tremolo. It may be more expensive than the simple analog delay pedals, but it will provide a more varied experience.
Regardless of which pedals you decide to get, it’s best to experiment with them before using them live. That way, you’ll have a better idea of which pedals will suit your style and help you craft the perfect sound. Remember, too, that not all pedals are suitable for bass guitar, so choose wisely!