What is a good “first pedal” for a bass player?

[jdduffield]

I’m wondering what a good “first pedal” or “desert island pedal” for a bass player pedal would be. I’m building a pedal for a friend who plays bass and doesn’t have any pedals yet.

I know bass players love the MXR Phase 90. I also know they love fuzz, and overdrive (like maybe a Kliche with the bass mods)… help me decide what to build please.

If I were playing bass, which I’m not, I’m more of a guitar guy, … but I imagine I’d like reverbs and delays too. Very hard to settle on the best option. So, please advise with the mind set of “desert island pedal” or “a good first pedal”.

 

[jwin615]

Compressor, fuzz, chorus/ slower flanger/phaser
It's kinda genre dependant but I think compressor, as unsexy as it is, is pretty universal.
Any idea of what genres they gravitate towards?
Another unsexy rec, EQ. Maybe the drebbel?

 

[jdduffield]

Compressor, fuzz, chorus/ slower flanger/phaser
It's kinda genre dependant but I think compressor, as unsexy as it is, is pretty universal.
Any idea of what genres they gravitate towards?
Another unsexy rec, EQ. Maybe the drebbel?

I know he likes indie rock.

 

[jwin615]

Also, I'm a card carrying member of the Brassmaster Fanboi Club.
It's a lot of fun.

I know he likes indie rock.

Preamp and/or compressor maybe. Where's @Feral Feline ?

 

[jimilee]

Very first? Tuner. Second, a compressor..

 

[jdduffield]

Very first? Tuner. Second, a compressor..

Haha! Agreed! Tuner is most important. I think he has a tuner though, so technically “second”.

I like the compressor idea. I hadn’t thought of that but come to think of it compressor is a must have for bass. I use them all the time on bass in mixing. And come to think of it I have an always-on compressor for my guitar rig on my pedalboard.

 

[jdduffield]

Preamp and/or compressor maybe.

Great idea. I hadn’t thought of a compressor. I like the preamp idea too.

 

[Feral Feline]

#1 for me is utility :: HPF

Frequency Interchange Filter - PedalPCB.com

Compare to Broughton Audio Low + High Pass Filter

www.pedalpcb.com

A lot of people think this would be a boring choice but to me HPF is a totally exciting sexy as **** choice.

MOAR UTILITY ::

Equilux Mini Equalizer - PedalPCB.com

Compare to Spaceman Effects Equinox

www.pedalpcb.com

COMP all-round ::

General Tso's Compressor - PedalPCB.com

Compare to ThorpyFX Fat General

www.pedalpcb.com

COMP for Fun ::

https://www.pedalpcb.com/product/pcb301/

CREAMERY (MILK BOX)

INDIE-A-GOGO ::

Byzantium Flanger - PedalPCB.com

Compare to Boss BF-2

www.pedalpcb.com

If your friend is into

FUNK ::

Poison Apple Auto-Wah - PedalPCB.com

Compare to Mad Professor Snow White AutoWah

www.pedalpcb.com

PUNK ::

Nein Fuzz - PedalPCB.com

Compare to Fairfield Circuitry ~900 Fuzz

www.pedalpcb.com

BLUES ::

Drebbel Bass Preamp/EQ - PedalPCB.com

Compare to Southampton Pedals Ictineo Preamp/EQ

www.pedalpcb.com

DUB/REGGAE ::

Ocelot Octave - PedalPCB.com

Compare to Boss OC-2

www.pedalpcb.com

ROCK ::

Kewpie Fuzz - PedalPCB.com

Compare to Umbrella Company Mayonaise Fuzz

www.pedalpcb.com

METAL ::

https://www.pedalpcb.com/product/obsidius/

(Darkglass BK3)

GOTH ::

Arkaim Fuzz - PedalPCB.com

Compare to Mountainking Megalith

www.pedalpcb.com

C&W ::

Chop Shop Overdrive - PedalPCB.com

Compare to Fairfield Circuitry Barbershop

www.pedalpcb.com

PSYCHEDELIC ::

Low Tide Mini - PedalPCB.com

Compare to Fairfield Circuitry Shallow Water

www.pedalpcb.com

POP ::

https://www.pedalpcb.com/product/emberboost/

(TC Electronic Spark)

NEW WAVE ::

Caesar Chorus - PedalPCB.com

Compare to Walrus Audio Julia

www.pedalpcb.com

ELECTRONICA/TECHNO ::

Curds and Whey Distortion - PedalPCB.com

Compare to Crowther Prunes and Custard

www.pedalpcb.com

R&B/SOUL ::

https://www.pedalpcb.com/product/lambchop/

(Way Huge Pork Loin)

HARDCORE ::

Fornicus Overdrive - PedalPCB.com

Compare to smallsound/bigsound fuck overdrive

www.pedalpcb.com

JAZZ ::

Skeptical Buffer - PedalPCB.com

Compare to 29 Pedals EUNA

www.pedalpcb.com

How about building an MFX, the Arachnid:

Arachnid MultiFX Platform - PedalPCB.com

FV-1 Digital MultiFX

www.pedalpcb.com

and make it personal — hand-pick the 8 algorithms for your buddy!

EEPROM Builder - PedalPCB.com

Custom Programmed EEPROM

www.pedalpcb.com

 

[jdduffield]

#1 for me is utility :: HPF https://www.pedalpcb.com/product/pcb553/
A lot of people think this would be a boring choice but to me HPF is a totally exciting sexy as **** choice.

MOAR UTILITY :: https://www.pedalpcb.com/product/pcb356/

COMP all-round :: https://www.pedalpcb.com/product/generaltso/
COMP for Fun :: https://www.pedalpcb.com/product/pcb301/

INDIE-A-GOGO :: https://www.pedalpcb.com/product/pcb447/



If your friend is into

FUNK :: https://www.pedalpcb.com/product/pcb597/

PUNK :: https://www.pedalpcb.com/product/pcb706/

BLUES :: https://www.pedalpcb.com/product/pcb658/

DUB/REGGAE :: https://www.pedalpcb.com/product/pcb362/

ROCK :: https://www.pedalpcb.com/product/pcb649/

METAL :: https://www.pedalpcb.com/product/obsidius/

GOTH :: https://www.pedalpcb.com/product/arkaimfuzz/

C&W :: https://www.pedalpcb.com/product/pcb051/

PSYCHEDELIC :: https://www.pedalpcb.com/product/pcb467/

POP :: https://www.pedalpcb.com/product/emberboost/

NEW WAVE :: https://www.pedalpcb.com/product/pcb359/

ELECTRONICA/TECHNO :: https://www.pedalpcb.com/product/pcb564/

R&B/SOUL :: https://www.pedalpcb.com/product/lambchop/

HARDCORE :: https://www.pedalpcb.com/product/pcb629/

JAZZ :: https://www.pedalpcb.com/product/pcb568/






How about building an MFX, the Arachnid:

Arachnid MultiFX Platform - PedalPCB.com

FV-1 Digital MultiFX

www.pedalpcb.com

and make it personal — hand-pick the 8 algorithms for your buddy!

EEPROM Builder - PedalPCB.com

Custom Programmed EEPROM

www.pedalpcb.com

Thank you for the reply. Very nice to have all the links to the boards. I’ll be going through and checking these out! Thank you.

 

[Erik S]

#1 for me is utility :: HPF https://www.pedalpcb.com/product/pcb553/
A lot of people think this would be a boring choice but to me HPF is a totally exciting sexy as **** choice.

MOAR UTILITY :: https://www.pedalpcb.com/product/pcb356/

COMP all-round :: https://www.pedalpcb.com/product/generaltso/
COMP for Fun :: https://www.pedalpcb.com/product/pcb301/

INDIE-A-GOGO :: https://www.pedalpcb.com/product/pcb447/



If your friend is into

FUNK :: https://www.pedalpcb.com/product/pcb597/

PUNK :: https://www.pedalpcb.com/product/pcb706/

BLUES :: https://www.pedalpcb.com/product/pcb658/

DUB/REGGAE :: https://www.pedalpcb.com/product/pcb362/

ROCK :: https://www.pedalpcb.com/product/pcb649/

METAL :: https://www.pedalpcb.com/product/obsidius/

GOTH :: https://www.pedalpcb.com/product/arkaimfuzz/

C&W :: https://www.pedalpcb.com/product/pcb051/

PSYCHEDELIC :: https://www.pedalpcb.com/product/pcb467/

POP :: https://www.pedalpcb.com/product/emberboost/

NEW WAVE :: https://www.pedalpcb.com/product/pcb359/

ELECTRONICA/TECHNO :: https://www.pedalpcb.com/product/pcb564/

R&B/SOUL :: https://www.pedalpcb.com/product/lambchop/

HARDCORE :: https://www.pedalpcb.com/product/pcb629/

JAZZ :: https://www.pedalpcb.com/product/pcb568/






How about building an MFX, the Arachnid:

Arachnid MultiFX Platform - PedalPCB.com

FV-1 Digital MultiFX

www.pedalpcb.com

and make it personal — hand-pick the 8 algorithms for your buddy!

EEPROM Builder - PedalPCB.com

Custom Programmed EEPROM

www.pedalpcb.com

That's an incredible list.

I need to add a couple of those to my wishlist.

 

[CheapSuitG]

I really like the bass mod Klon for a little edge and drive. The clean blend really helps help the core tone as well as adding a little hair to the tone.

 

[Feral Feline]

I'm not sure what happened to the list.

The only links that worked properly were the last two for the Arachnid and EEPROM builder, if y'all are seeing what I'm seeing.

ALL the links should've been like that, ie showing what the PCB was. For instance, the "FUN" comp, what the heck is the link "PCB301"?

If that link had shown up as intended you'd see it's for the CREAMERY (DOD Milk Box).

*sigh* I'll go back and edit the post. [Okay, most of the links are fixed now... save a few]



I didn't mention the Bass-modded Klon 'cause it was already mentioned by others, but ... I think that would be a fantastic option for your friend.

 

[mybud]

You could also try this: EQ, Anyone?

Based on the Yamaha NE-1, Nathan East's parametric bass EQ. Simple build and very nice for bass guitar.

 

[Feral Feline]

ANYONE is particularly great if your friend plays slap-bass — set it for songs/sections that slap.

 

[JohnnyCreepy]

GOTH ::

Arkaim Fuzz - PedalPCB.com

Compare to Mountainking Megalith

www.pedalpcb.com

Im both offended and amused at same time about the realization sludge/doom/stoner is the goth.

 

[Feral Feline]

I threw in a few wild-cards, and of course anything goes, really.
For C&W I could've maybe should've gone all Marty Robins on it...

C&W BASS ::

Fuzz Stain - PedalPCB.com

Compare to Sam Ash Fuzz-Stainer

www.pedalpcb.com

You're right, though, JohnnyCreepy, I am remiss in not including sludge-stoner-DOOM...

How am I gonna SLEEP at night?

Nobody's mentioned my choice for Jazz, yet...

 

[jimilee]

Great idea. I hadn’t thought of a compressor. I like the preamp idea too.

Mine is an always pedal. I use the soul preacher.

 

[Dumpster D]

A 'Compression sustainer' would be my choice.

I don't know if these are available as project builds in some form?

 

[Feral Feline]

A 'Compression sustainer' would be my choice.

I don't know if these are available as project builds in some form?

Why do you want/need that on bass? (just curious)

Philosopher's Tone is available through THCustom and now through AionFX as well — it's pretty good at compressing for sustain, and better on bass than the DyanaRoss nonsense that kills bass freqs.