Pedals that change the shape of your tone fall into several categories. Some are distortion pedals that enhance certain frequencies but cut others. Others are time-based effects such as reverbs and delay pedals.
Some of these suck the low-end out of the signal, which bass does not need, while some will have a frequency sweep that is higher than what a bass player likes.
Octave Pedal
If you’re looking for a way to make your bass sound bigger and fuller, an octave pedal is a great option. These pedals take your original notes and pitch them up or down an octave, creating a new tone. You can use a simple octave pedal to add more harmonics to your guitar’s sound, or you can create some funky sounds by combining an octave pedal with a distortion pedal.
When choosing an octave pedal, it’s important to consider the quality of the pedal’s tracking. This refers to how well the pedal tracks your original signal and converts it into the pitched note. Poor tracking can cause problems like a delay or notes that disappear from the pitch of the song. You should also look for a pedal with different settings, including polyphonic octaves and drive modes.
The Digitech Whammy is one of the best octave pedals on the market. It’s been used by a variety of famous musicians, including Rage Against the Machine and Buckethead. You can get a lot of different sounds from this pedal, and it’s easy to control. The pedal has a few different features, such as a wah-style octave up/down switch and a pitch-shifter. The octave up/down feature can be very useful when playing bass, as it can help you create power chords that sound much thicker.
Another good octave pedal is the TC Electronic Sub ‘N’ Up. This pedal is easy to use, and it offers several different octave options. It can do octaves up to two times higher, as well as octaves down to half the pitch of your original note. This pedal also has a setting that allows you to download presets using the TonePrint app.
Lastly, you can try out the Behringer OC-3 Super Octave pedal. This is a monophonic octave pedal that can track a single note at a time. It’s easy to use and has many settings, including an octave up/down and a drive mode that adds distortion to the octave effect.
Whether you’re an experienced bass player or just starting out, an octave pedal can make your bass sound fuller and more rich. It can also be used in conjunction with a loop pedal to create an octave bass loop, which is perfect for adding more bass to a song.
Chorus Pedal
One of the most popular effects pedals for bass is a chorus, which splits your signal, replicates it and then messes with it in various ways to create a modulation effect. Chorus pedals can be used to add a wash or a swirling effect to your tone and they’re also great for creating psychedelic or dreamy sounds. They’re an essential part of any pedalboard and you can find a lot of different types to choose from.
The simplest chorus pedals offer a very simple control scheme. They often only have a rate and depth knob, but some offer other controls as well. You can also find a mix knob, which determines the ratio between the original signal and the chorused one. The more you increase this knob, the more intense the effect will be. Another common control is the mode/shape knob, which lets you adjust the type of effect you’re getting. You can choose from several modes, including classic, vintage, and modern.
For those who want more advanced features, there are a number of different pedals that come with more advanced controls. The BOSS CE-1 is a classic example of this, and it’s still regarded as one of the best chorus pedals available. It’s also incredibly versatile and can be used for any style of music.
Chorus pedals are also great for creating thicker tones. For instance, a high rate and deep setting can be used to recreate the swirling, detuned wash of Nirvana’s “Come As You Are.” This effect is perfect for bass as it helps to thicken the overall sound without overpowering your base note.
Another good option is the Electro-Harmonix Small Clone pedal, which was manufactured from 1979 to 1983 and is highly prized for its simplicity. This pedal offers just two parameters, a rate and a depth knob, as well as a 2-way mode switch that allows you to select between different stereo chorus effects. The right side of the pedal hosts a quarter-inch TS Input socket and the left side hosts 2 quarter-inch TS Output sockets (Output A and Output B). There’s also a power socket at the rear, which allows you to plug in a 9V battery or adapter.
Wah Pedal
A wah pedal for bass can give your music a unique sound and add a lot of personality to your songs. This pedal is great for adding some extra spice to your guitar tone, and it can also be used to create different effects by using it with your other pedals. However, you should be careful when using this pedal to avoid over-coloring your bass sound. Generally, it’s best to use this effect only after the distortion pedal.
There are a number of wah pedals on the market, and some of them are more versatile than others. For example, the Hotone Soul Press can double as a volume pedal, while the Morley Bad Horsie and CAE wahs have additional features. The Hotone Soul Press is made with a durable polymer, while most other models are metal, making it more resistant to dents and bumps. The Hotone Soul Press has a variety of control options, including an adjustable bottom value, true bypass circuitry, and a convenient footswitch for bypassing the effect.
The Morley Bad Horsie Wah uses a slightly different manufacturing process than other pedals, which may make it more durable for long-term use. The pedal is based on a vintage design, but it’s been upgraded with modern electronic components to improve performance. It also has an optical circuit that doesn’t wear down like a potentiometer, so it should last longer than other wahs. This pedal is also very easy to operate and has a classic, sturdy feel.
Another good option for a bass wah is the Hotone Soul Press 3-in-1 Mini Volume/Wah/Expression Pedal. This pedal is compact and can fit neatly on any pedalboard. Its sleek design makes it look like a workhorse that quietly does its job without stealing the spotlight. It has a wide range of control settings and is powered by a 9-volt battery. It also has a sturdy build and a compact design that makes it easy to transport.
The Bad Horsie Wah from Morley is a popular wah pedal that is designed to deliver different tones than other traditional units. It can be used to emulate various effects, from a sharp, cutting tone to a more subtle sweep. It also has a variety of control knobs, including one that controls the ‘Q’ factor. This control can adjust the width of the peak from a narrow, cutting shape to a broader, more subtle sweep.
Distortion Pedal
A distortion pedal can add a lot of bite to bass guitar tones, and there are many styles of distortion that you can use. Some can be a little heavy and overbearing, so it’s important to experiment with different pedals to find one that fits your style of music.
Some of the most popular distortion pedals include the Big Muff Pedal, which is used by many rock musicians including Jimi Hendrix. This pedal provides a great range of tones from subtle overdrive to thick garage-sounding distortion. It also has a separate rhythm and lead channel, which makes it great for those who play a 3-channel amp (which is fairly common these days).
Another good option is the Dark Matter Distortion Pedal, which is used by several metal guitarists. This pedal can provide a wide range of sounds from light overdrive to a heavy distortion with some fuzz overtones. It also has a mid boost function, which helps to bring out the low-end of your bass guitar.
It’s also worth mentioning that you can get some great tones from a high-gain amp alone. The key is to make sure that you have the right pickups for your amp, and that it’s set up well. A high-quality amplifier can sound much more organic than a cheap pedal, and it’s a good idea to try several overdrive, distortion, and fuzz pedals before you decide which one is right for you.
When choosing a distortion pedal, it’s important to consider the quality of build and components. You’ll want to look for a pedal that uses high-quality components, is made by a reputable company, and has a warranty in case it breaks. You should also remember that pedals from smaller brands tend to cost less, but may not be of the same quality as those from bigger names. Generally, it’s best to stick with the bigger brands when it comes to distortion pedals, as they will usually have higher quality components and will be more likely to stand the test of time. This will also help to keep the resale value of the pedal higher in the future.