Bassists frequently add pedals to their rig in order to add variety and depth to their tone. From adding compression pedals for increased control, or fuzz pedals that expand their playing with new vibes and riffs.
Typically, any pedal designed for guitar will work just as effectively on bass; however, certain models work particularly well when used with this instrument.
Envelope Filters
Envelope filters are an increasingly popular type of bass guitar pedal used to emulate vocal-like tones, often seen on vocalists’ recordings. Triggered by each note you play, envelope filters give your playing some real personality and vibrancy. They work similarly to wah-wah pedals; instead of allowing peak frequencies through like they would for wah-wah pedals though they only open and close upon chord or string of notes being hit, before returning back into closed position after an set period of time has elapsed – such as Justin Chancellor from progressive metal band Tool who regularly uses envelope filters during his recordings!
Andertons Music Co has an extensive selection of envelope filter pedals from top industry-leading manufacturers like Electro Harmonix and Earthquaker Devices, ranging from basic three control pedals such as the Micro Q-Tron to more complex units with sample and hold functions or pitch shifting circuitry.
An envelope filter features several controls that adjust its response to playing dynamics: “sensitivity”, which regulates how sensitively its effect responds, and “sweep”, which determines how quickly its cutoff returns back to its initial state upon stopping playing. These allows you to find an effect that fits seamlessly with your sound; and avoids harsh, icepick-like frequencies which can be challenging to work with.
Many of the best envelope filter pedals feature two Velocity knobs for controlling intensity of “up” and “down” wah sounds, providing plenty of scope for experimentation. Another important control, Threshold, works similarly to sensitivity by setting how low or high the pedal responds to your playing; this allows you to find an optimal setting that feels right for you.
Reverbs & Delays
Reverbs and delays are time-based effects that can add depth to a bass guitar tone, providing color without too much fuss. They make great pedals to have on hand for adding some atmosphere – ideal for use when jamming solos! Reverbs were originally achieved through microphone placement in ambient spaces or echo chambers, before becoming studio equipment before eventually finding their way onto amplifiers and eventually stompboxes. Over the years many classic models such as spring reverbs from yesteryear as well as hall/plate reverbs along with myriad digital options have come about over time – providing the user with just what they need for bass playing solos!
Reverb and delay pedals are used by various musicians and bands for an array of purposes. From helping a guitarist sound bigger when performing to accentuating essential elements in songs such as vocals or keys, these effects should be used carefully and experimentally with settings as both can easily become overused or sound muddy if used without care.
When using reverb or delay effects, setting the “time” control to a rhythm will allow users to match the rhythm of the delayed signal with that of backing tracks or band members – for instance dotted 8th delay gives an enchanting bouncing rhythmic effect perfect for funk and dance music.
Nile Rodgers made famous the use of delays to achieve the iconic “slapback sound”, made famous on David Bowie’s Lets Dance album by using an analogue or digital delay pedal with short delay time and low repeat levels to produce this effect.
As with envelope filters, reverb and delay pedals can also serve to enhance other pedals in a bass rig. A spring reverb placed before a distortion pedal may add warmth while tremolo pedals produce choppy effects that contrast nicely against an otherwise clean bass signal. Some pedals offer mix knobs so the user can combine his or her desired effect with dry bass tone for hybrid results.
Distortion
Distortion pedals have long been used by bass players looking for that added bit of dirt in their tone, giving their sound more depth and aggression. There are various varieties available – you may need some experimentation in finding the one best suited to you! Distortion can transform a standard clean bass tone into something much dirtier adding some much-needed depth and punch to their sound; metal bass players often use distortion to give their tone even more edge!
Bass specific distortion pedals like the B7K Ultra provide an array of tonal options ranging from subtle overdrive to full fuzz for your bass guitar tone, adding definition and punch. Equipped with Drive control to set amount of distortion, Volume controls for volume adjustment, and Blend mixing capabilities to add different tonal options to the dry signal signal, this pedal makes an easy addition to any bassists pedalboard.
BOSS MT-2 Metal Zone distortion pedal is widely popular with bass players due to its wide array of tones ranging from mild boost to over-the-top distortion. It has also proven popular among artists such as Revenge, Cannibal Corpse and others who use it to augment their metal tone.
Overdrive and distortion pedals are typically considered tone-producing effects and should usually come after other effect types like reverb or delay, although bassists sometimes opt to place modulation effects like chorus, phaser or flanger before tone-producing effects like distortion and overdrive due to how these types of effects alter signal rather than alter it in ways that would be affected by tone-producing ones.
Compression pedals have long been a mainstay on bassists’ pedalboards. When playing live performances, compression can be particularly helpful in evening out any loud and soft notes that might otherwise clash during live shows. But too much reverb or compression could be detrimental, which is why it’s wise to experiment to find out what best works with your individual sound.
Gain
Bass guitar pedals offer some interesting, special effects to enhance and add variety and creativity to your tone. Many popular guitar effects like distortion and overdrive pedals can also be used on basses by making adjustments suitable for their frequency range; this requires experimentation until finding what suits best for your sound.
Octave pitch shifters are another powerful effect found on bass pedals that provide a fatter sound – ideal for hip hop, R&B and trap genres as well as rock, pop and funk music styles that require fatter sounds such as rock. These pedals split your signal in two and shift one by an octave higher for an impressive fattening effect.
Aguilar Chorusaurus, with its cartoonish name and clever analog bucket brigade technology, is an extremely efficient bass chorus pedal that uses bucket brigade technology to recreate that familiar chorus sound heard on many songs. Easily operated, its low frequency characteristics don’t become muffled when playing bass guitars using it.
Distortion pedals are another versatile bass guitar pedal that can add some bite and aggression to your sound. However, finding the ideal distortion for bass is often an exercise in trial-and-error as not all distortion pedals offer equal results; some tend to cut low-end frequencies where bass thrives most optimally.
Numerous guitar pedals can also be used on bass guitars with minor adjustments for their frequency range; experimentation will help determine which ones work best. Some pedals may even work together to produce sounds you may never have thought possible before! When shopping, always test out as many pedals as possible so that your tone stands out. A traditional order would typically be Bass-Pedals-Amp; however it all depends on what works for you personally!