So what should go on a basic / minimalist BASS pedalboard?

[yallerhon]

Hey guys,

Having some semi-serious thoughts about setting up a simple 3-4 pedal setup for my bass-playing girlfriend.

What do you all consider the "essentials" to a simple, versatile bass board?

I'm thinking (she prefers the 'color' black so that's probably a slight influence on the choices);
Tuner (Korg Pitchblack - It's black, cheap, reliable, apparently does bass well).
Compressor (Reading some great things about the Empress and also the Diamond Bass Comp, the latter I would re-finish).
Dirt/Fuzz (Perhaps the black Elements, or maybe bug SS/BS for a custom-finish TAFM).
Chorus (No idea, I'm liking my Sea Machine but I haven't tried it on bass yet).

As much as I'd like to load her up with all the toys, I think realistically I'd like to stick to the basics. She enjoys playing bass to the likes of the Cure, Death Cab, Bon Iver, Sigur Ros, the Smiths, and so on. I can't really imagine she'd have a whole lot of use for a flanger / phaser / delay.

But yeah any suggestions, ideas and comments would be greatly appreciated!

[Muse FTW]

I'd say fuzz is a must.

[coldbrightsunlight]

Tuner
Fuzz
Chorus
Filter

I'm not a fan of compressors.

I agree with your choices though, pitchblack is good, TAFM is amazing, and the Sea Machine is really nice on bass. Filters; Iron Ether Xerograph is insane, incredible and synthy as shit, or the 3 leaf audio proton is a reeeaaaaally sweet sounding simple filter (mutron clone afaik).

[Chankgeez]

Yeah, tuner, fuzz, filter & flanger. (I hate chorus and most flangers can get chorusy sounds anyway.)

[multi_s]

i like going with

fuzz
filter/eq
delay

[Haki]

Skip the compressor so you can go with the Elements and the TAFM. That will cover just about all your dirt needs.

Delay makes everything better. People who don't like it just haven't played with a good one. Dances with Monkey's suggestion of a filter is not a bad one. Maybe have your girl listen to some different modulation pedals and pick out what she likes? Actually, go with an M5 or M9 and she'll have passable to good (but not great) versions of most modulation stuff out there.

[yallerhon]

Great suggestions guys, thank you! Please keep them up.

Telling me that delay makes everything better is like telling the Pope that tall hats and praying are cool.

P.S. Not religious, just the Pope is always good for an analogy.

[elevenstrings]

I gave this to my wife for Christmas. Covers all her needs. The flanger was just a bonus, but she has found out that it's a great way to piss off her guitarist when he gets annoying.



The pink oxide has a purple led!

[coldbrightsunlight]

That pink oxide is haaaawwwwwwwwwwwwwwt!

[Seedy]

...the Pope is always good for an analogy.

So true. So true.

Anyway, tuner, fuzz, filter. I get the modulation from my Q-tron, a great envelope filter. The Line 6 M5 suggestion is a good one though, so she can figure out what she really likes. I have an M9 and find many interesting things for my bass in the reverbs and filters.

For fuzz, I am so turned on by the Fuzzhugger Bass Bloom. Want want want.

[aen]

I would go tuner-overdrive-fuzz-delay. Or swap out a trem for the od. And put it after the fuzz.

[DarkAxel]

Tuner
Booster
Fuck OD
Delay



but yeah, you might want to insert reverb instead of delay

[wsas3]

If she likes sigur ros then reverb is a must. i suggest an iron ether nimbus.

[sylnau]

OD, Low Gain Fuzz, High Gain Fuzz, Filter, Bit Crusher, Cosmichorus, Delay.

[devnulljp]

The Markbass compressor is both awesome and black (and yellow). I think compressor is pretty much a requirement for bass though ...

Also the Bass Driver/Paradriver are black and having the DI there on the board makes like easy.