Must-Have Pedals for Bass Players

[@VertexEffectsInc]

Did we miss any crucial bass pedals? Tell us in the comments below! FOLLOW JANEK GWIZDALA KZbin - kzbin.info Instagram - instagram.com/janekgwizdala Website - janekgwizdala.com Table of Contents: 00:00 Introduction 00:39 Our Goal 01:05 Preamp Pedals 04:03 Compressor Pedals 06:10 Fuzz Pedals 09:22 Octave Pedals 12:06 Honorable Mentions 14:41 Multi-Effects Pedals 16:31 Thanks for Watching!

[@nobleamps]

Super honored to be included in this. Great video, Mason! Thank you!

[@artisanmetalcraft]

Isn’t a tuner is more critical than the rest of those combined?

[@6minus3minus2]

Chorus is a mainstay for me. Not just for 80s sounds - New Order, The Cure, Cocteau Twins, etc - but it can help a bass stand out more for melodic lines. Also works great with octave and fuzz for synth sounds. I use the Aguilar chorus, which sounds great and has a huge range of sounds.

[@sergiogrande1078]

@@artisanmetalcraft Clip tunner mydude,they are precise and save you one slot for another pedal

[@esposoman]

For funk stuff a good envelope filter is a must have. And for general purposes maybe some kind of HPF to get rid of the subharmonic content.

[@nobleamps]

It's true, Janek has serial #9! He along with Tim Lefebvre was one of the early voices who convinced me to quit my day job and go full time building vacuum tube preamps in my garage. Still doing it, still loving it, still grateful to guys like him, Sean, etc.

[@VertexEffectsInc]

Hey Jack!! Thats amazing, you make a great preamp. Glad you enjoyed the video!

[@madhatter7862]

I am going to switch from my 18 year old Sansamp for tube emulation to a tube preamp. Can you tell me what is different about the Noble than other tube bass preamps to help make an informed decision? The fact that you build them in the garage is awesome! And by hand.

[@EricRunquistBass]

@@madhatter7862 Hi Dennis, I own Noble #32 and it has been a very important part of my rig for years now. Whats different: well, there really are only a couple companies making bass specific tube preamps. The others being “studio” tube preamp DIs. I wouldnt trust them on a pedalboard because they are a little more fragile. Just the fact that you can easily bring a studio quality tube pre/DI with you on your board or in a case at every gig/studio is a huge win. The tone is really warm! Imo I couldnt even compare it against a sansamp. This is very subjective. Even though it gets my bass tone to where i like it, may not be for everyone. It does “warm” things up though. Other bonuses are the HPF switch. This is really handy for boomy rooms. Pedal power! You can use it to power up to 6 pedals. If you ask Jack he will make you voltage doubler cables too. I know its pricey, but so are all the other tube pres that you cant keep on a pedalboard. + its a write-off at tax time :) Will never sell mine! Unless Jack makes something better I suppose. Hope this info helps

[@kevmac1230]

I love bass preamp pedals and would definitely have a Noble if my gigging days were beginning rather than sadly ending.I have a few good ones though.

[@natrick]

My Noble is absolutely incredible, I feel lucky to have one!

[@n_phaneuf]

I know it’s dumb but I have to say: all gigging bass players should have a tuner on the floor.

[@dakotawagner]

This

[@VertexEffectsInc]

Tuners are very important!!

[@Jonquall.]

Clip-ons are also good

[@JaapTedros]

I'd say something like the Zoom B1X Four multi-fx is the single must-have pedal for beginner bass players. Extremely affordable, has EQ, a looper, tuner, drum machine, aux input (for backing track), and many, many, many options for amp/cabinet simulation and pedal chains. It runs on batteries if needed, and is even usable enough for first gigs.

[@morphman86]

I feel like this vid went a bit further up the ladder than they claimed (several times). Intro said this was for "beginners", several mentions of "budget options" and "for all price ranges", then the cheaper of the pedals lie in the $150-250 range. What beginner is going to splurge $600-1000 on effect pedals? And there was a lot of talk about the pedals, but no demo to see why you should spend the "10x up from 'this' model" on a pre-amp. No explanation of how each pedal would change the sound, or how the sound would change with different interactions between them. At best, this is a display of pedals you guys happen to own, not exactly a beginner-friendly guide to the essential pedals. And to those out there that are true beginners, ALL the pedal types talked about here are available from lesser-known brands for like $40/50... Or you could get a multi-effect box with all 4 and more for about $200 (the average cost of one of the pedals they talked about as "budget option"). Won't give you the best sound, probably shouldn't bring it up on stage, but excellent for playing around with at home if you're new to the art and don't want to commit a full month's pay into it just yet.

[@mk098a]

Yeah I'm just starting to get back into bass and look at what pedals and gear I'd need, this video is really confusing tbh

[@catfishrob1]

@@mk098a yeah, not the best video for you right now. I mean, you don't "need" any pedals. Between your bass (tone, pickup volumes, bass boost), amp (EQ, gain for distortion, and usually some other options), strings, and playing technique, you already have a lot of control over your tone. Anything beyond that depends on what you are going for, so I think the whole premise of "must have pedals" is stupid. Even if that were a valid concept, I don't like this video for that because they mention a lot of things that are expensive or harder to get. I'd go OC5 for octave, bass big muff for fuzz, and MXR bass chorus deluxe because flange is awesome 😁 you can get all 3 for like $350 and get a big variety of sounds. The only other ones to consider IMO would be delay and loopers. Just find some videos with side by side demos (like kzbin.info/www/bejne/hJC1oYuibs2KhZI ) and get the one that sounds good to you!

[@jimweird]

Yup click bait title. This is deep past beginning levels in content and presentation. It's for deep gear heads with huge budgets. No talk about how xyz pedals affect clean vanilla sound. Full of insider lingo and shorthand.

[@jm879]

I've been searching for a video like this for a long time. Great video!

[@VertexEffectsInc]

Glad it was helpful!

[@seankent1807]

More bass player love! Woot woot! Thanks Mason, great video!!!

[@VertexEffectsInc]

More to come!

[@jamesnell7224]

I'd say an equaliser is very much underrated. Especially crucial for us guys playing in our bedrooms through a combo with just a bass, middle and treble knob. You can get a lot more from your distortion and other effects pedals by pairing them with a 7 band equalizer & just been able to shape your clean tone more precisely than a typical home practice amp & your bases active circuitry is worth it.

[@VertexEffectsInc]

amen to that James!!

[@jamesnell7224]

@@VertexEffectsInc Good for getting distorted highs with clean lows too.

[@DefenderB0SS]

My bass pedalboard. (Basic classic vintage precision bass tone) 1. MXR M87 bass compressor 2. Boss tu3 tuner 3. Boss bass equaliser geb7 4. Ameg scr-di pre-amp Why is the tuner second? I like the compressor first because it has a graphic sound visualiser to see sound signal even when muted from tuner which comes after. Why the pre-amp pedal last and not first? Well it sounds better, saturation after compression. And the ampeg pre-amp has XLR-out so it Is the final output of the pedalboard. The ampeg scr-di pre-amp pedal also has a scrambler circuit which is a bass overdrive. I had a bass fuzz pedal but I sold it cause I didn't use it at all ever. These four pedals fit very nicely on a small pedalboard easy for gigs and studio sessions

[@KristofferGildenlow]

Wow... the knowledge. Great talk!

[@VertexEffectsInc]

Glad you liked it!

[@samhaynes]

THANK YOU for making a BASS video!!! You make amazing informative content -- but very little is about bass guitars. Please do more bass videos!!!

[@VertexEffectsInc]

Will do!

[@liozeon643]

Thanks guys. I always enjoy hearing Bass pedal reviews.

[@VertexEffectsInc]

More to come!

[@dakotawagner]

Loving the love you’ve been showing us bass players lately! would love to see something regarding rigs for some studio legends - Janek is too, but you can’t help but see his personal style and flavor coming into his work - and he’s earned it! However, his approach is more creative and out there (jazz and electronic)- so it can be harder to draw more generic conclusions when it comes to bread and butter tone with no special flair. Thanks!

[@VertexEffectsInc]

Thanks for watching Dakota!

[@Dave_Meunier]

man thanks a lot ! Thats was exactly what i needed, I'm a bit lost in the pedal world and that gave me a simple answer on what to focus on !

[@CarlosKTCosta]

If I was to do this build I would go compressor - Octave - Fuzz - Preamp because I want the best tracking on the octave and usually the preamp is also the DI so I would like it to be at the end. Honestly the only thing I noticed missing is the EBS Microbass for preamp because it's an amazing an very versatile.

[@VertexEffectsInc]

I agree with that. I think our bass signal path video mirrors this for the most part.

[@michael_caz_nyc]

Great content guys. You mention Pino Palladino, and my ears perk-up. Pino is just Beast-mode. I also like the Becos Stella Pro-Compressor. Full-featured little box.

[@VertexEffectsInc]

Thanks for sharing! Thanks for watching Michael!

[@felipecortegana3209]

I loved at the end of honorable mentions when it gets to the juicy pedals the cash register starts popping off 😂 too accurate

[@VertexEffectsInc]

Hahahahaha!

[@timothycolbrese8023]

Super awesome that you had Janek on this video!!!!

[@VertexEffectsInc]

I know!! Thanks for watching Timothy!

[@just_kyashi]

Love this idea! I recently minimized my board and am rocking an HX Stomp now but still keep my TU-3 and my Diamond Bass Comp on there. Favourite compressor for me!

[@VertexEffectsInc]

Sounds great!

[@willcolemanmusic]

Loved this video. Thanks!

[@VertexEffectsInc]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@EllieReagan]

“If you’re a beginning bass player…..let me introduce you to Noble and Origin.” Great vid, guys! Thanks

[@VertexEffectsInc]

You can start at the top or work your way up with some of the other recommendations as well :)

[@darrenwales1092]

They're gonna keep their value. Mark King says the same about bass guitars . Buy the most expensive you can afford and if you do give it up , you should get your money back , or more .

[@jimdukeproject]

I loved Bass Balls. I had a 70s/80s model and had it repaired never got it back. I’m looking for another. May have to resort to the new nano version.

[@tommyblierbass]

Hey Mason, I'd recommend that you include MXR's Poly Blue Octave Pedal in your Octave pedal recommendations. Not only is it capable of producing two sub-octave voices, but it allows for two octaves above the signal as well. In addition to that, it has fuzz built in and monophonic and polyphonic pitch-shifting modes. I just picked one up recently and was pleasantly surprised by how complete it is in this category.

[@IPv6Freely]

The Walrus Audio Julia, and the Darkglass Vintage Microtubes are both MUST HAVES for bass.

[@VertexEffectsInc]

All great pedals!

[@stoutlager6325]

Good selection. For Canadians, or bassists who happen to be shopping in Canada for whatever reason: I strongly recommend the Diamond Bass Comp. It's as good as any of the high end US offerings for pedal compression.

[@VertexEffectsInc]

Thanks for sharing!

[@amoliski]

Would have been nice to hear the pedals. You can't put a $1k pedal on the screen, tell us it's worth that, and then not show us what $1,000 sounds like.

[@teresaravenshaw5477]

My signal path is compressor - octaver - chorus - delay - preamp. The delay isn't an always on effect.

[@VertexEffectsInc]

Thats great order!

[@teresaravenshaw5477]

@@VertexEffectsInc Thanks. Any thoughts on the Wampler Ego/ Mini Ego comp?

[@STRATMAN1969]

@@teresaravenshaw5477 If you don't mind another opinion I have the mini ego on a guitar board and it's great never tried it on bass though .I have the MXR mini bass dyna comp on my bass board and it's great .The big difference is the MXR's tone is a knob ,and the Wampler's is a toggle .Also if you're only looking at mini's ,and want simple Keeley just released a new mini comp,and Robert Keeley is Kind of the King when it Komes to Komp : )

[@akkunzero]

Tuner, Compressor and Preamp/DI must have THREE for any mf genre, that's it. no more shenanigans

[@VertexEffectsInc]

Nice!

[@mikemchaney23]

Personally, I am just so glad that Quentin Tarantino's English cousin loves bass pedals this much.

[@VertexEffectsInc]

Ha!

[@SuitcaseSamBand]

I fall into the category of singer/songwriter/guitarist who sits in on the bass from time to time. I used to just use an old dynacomp (always on) when I played bass. Recently bought a JHS V4 pulp n peel for a gig and I'm pretty happy with it. The fact that it comes with a balanced line out (xlr/DI box) is a huge plus for a (predominantly) acoustic player/sometimes bassist. And as a sometimes bassist, the dirt toggle switch comes in handy for that "zipper" sound. As I said above, I wouldn't classify myself as a bassist but the V4 Pulp n Peel ticks all the boxes I need to get the job done. PS. This comment is in no way sponsored by JHS pedals. I purchased the pedal, with my own money, from a third party retail supplier. I don't even think JHS is aware that I own one.

[@VertexEffectsInc]

Thats a great pedal!! haha! Thanks for watching Sam!

[@SuitcaseSamBand]

@@VertexEffectsInc Thank you, my guy! Love the channel and your pedals.

[@BillonBass]

I love my Ampeg SCR- DI as my pre-amp and DI. I was the touring bassist for the Motown group The Miracles and really needed to get that Jamerson sound as I was occupying his former chair! With the grit and classic Ampeg sound options it was the perfect unit for me. I did try the Noble and it’s great but for the money and my own sound preference the Ampeg was my choice. It’s also great in the studio and sound guys love it.

[@SplitHairz]

I have had several people tell me the Ampeg scr-di only lasts about 2 years and they die. How long have you had yours?

[@BillonBass]

@@SplitHairzAbout 6 years now. It’s been all over the world with me and no issues whatsoever.

[@mikelindinger]

Meine "Geheimwaffe" ist das Pedal "Knock Out" von Electro Harmonix, ein Attack-Equalizer. Es gibt dem Bass fetten punch/attack ohne Ende oder drahtige Höhen beim Slappen. Und es eignet sich unheimlich gut für schwierige Räume wie Kirchen mit viel Hall. Während der "Normal-Sound" im Raum mulmig und verwaschen klingt und eben auch kräftig nachhallt, gibt Knock-Out dem Bass mehr Klarheit und Durchsetzungskraft mit weit aus weniger Nachhall. Und es ist relativ günstig im Preis (ca. 80.-€)

[@kevmac1230]

Wren & Cuff , Pickle Pie Hella Bass is my fuzz of choice.And Preamps as the good Dr.noted are a must on a bass board.

[@VertexEffectsInc]

All good picks!

[@isaacramirez3729]

I just rearranged my pedalboard. I chain my effects are fuzz (bass big muff Pi) > Compressor (MXR bass compressor) > Boost (guitar BB Preamp) > Overdrive (Bass Commander by a local pedal builder) > Chorus Flanger (Ibanez CF7) > Preamp (SansAmp VT Bass DI) then I have that running to a Quilter Bass Block 800 which is plugged into a 115 that isn't branded so idk what it is lol

[@VertexEffectsInc]

Sounds good! If you dig the tones then it’s all good 😊

[@grisbain]

That was pretty expensive and convoluted for a “must have” video. You don’t need so much stuff. You don’t need a preamp if your amp sounds good. Any iteration of EHX big muff will sound decent. But if you have a good amp you probably don’t even need that.

[@fjoiewafno]

Yeah this came off like a show and tell for the guy with crazy expensive pedals. Cool pedals of course just not in the spirit of what a video like this should be imo.

[@4deuce31]

Tc Electronics tuner/mute Xotic SP compressor Ampeg Classic analog pre Digitech DROP tune Sansamp bass di All going into GK Legacy 500. Don't be afraid of the drop.

[@VertexEffectsInc]

Cool!

[@ImYourOverlord]

Fantastic first choice to name a preamp! I maintain that, in addition to a preamp, every bass player should have a noise reducer and a bass compressor. That is the bare minimum. If I have to add a fourth, in the spirit of this video, I choose a bass chorus 🙂

[@VertexEffectsInc]

Right on!

[@bochafish]

Tuner into the sansamp. When engaged, it has some compression already. I can also get a good fuzz sound, or a thick sound out of it. If it aint broke... lol

[@tomt55]

Fascinating show! Super knowledgeable guest. I wish I could have heard him play through some of those pedals. I used to play bass in the 80s. I think I only had a Rockman and a Boss flanger, super fun. Billy Sheehan gets an amazing drive/distortion sound. I wonder if there's something in the pedal world to get in that ball park.

[@VertexEffectsInc]

Glad you dug the video Tom! Check out Janeks channel for more playing!!

[@haxenheimer9707]

Doesn't he use a biamp-setup? The Orange Bass Buttler comes to mind, he also had a few signature drive pedals with ebs that might get you there. But his Equipment in general is quite unique from the getgo, the whole split bass and treble signal thing goes through his whole chain, i believe

[@Espresso101]

For anyone looking for a little more budget friendly alternative to the Noble Pre/DI and REDDI (both of which are tube DI's priced around $1k USD), take a look at the Khan Tube DI. It was designed by the same guy that made the Ampeg SVT DI but improved the design. Retails around $600, which may not exactly be budget friendly but is definitely cheaper and just as good, if not better sounding than the Noble and REDDI.

[@VertexEffectsInc]

I'll have to check it out!

[@Espresso101]

@@VertexEffectsInc I genuinely would be excited to hear a comparison of the 3 tube DI's. Could even go extra and add a ZOD IDDI, also a tube di that retails for about $600 but is more like the REDDI. The REDDI (and ZOD) lean more toward a B15 kinda sound where's the Khan leans more SVT. I feel like these are fair assessments but would be cool to hear them side by side and see if that's really the case.

[@someonebald2022]

The best money I ever spent on a pedal was on the Zoom MS-70CDR. That and my Bass Big Muff Pi make all the sounds and tones I've ever needed, and all for less than £200.

[@VertexEffectsInc]

Nice!

[@mattster693]

ive been using an MXR custom comp on bass i found used for $35! i really like the color it adds to the bass

[@heftyjo2893]

Been watching a few of your videos using ideas for messing around with my BOSS GT-1B multi-effects pedal. It's a super budget friendly option to be able to mess around with tons of tones. Though setting up patches with the knobs on the pedal itself is kind of a pain. But the pedal will plug into a laptop through USB and can configure everything with their Tone Studio app that makes everything a breeze in comparison. Not gonna lie and say the patches are anywhere close to any of the actual pedals it purports to sample. Of course, it being a BOSS product I assume that it models the actual BOSS pedals like the 'Octaver' fairly close to the real thing. But there are other effects for the: Electro-Harmonix Big Muff pi, the Rack DBX-160x Compressor/Limiter, SansAmp Driver DI

[@VertexEffectsInc]

Thanks for watching and sharing!

[@haxenheimer9707]

Big bump for gettin a multieffect unit for research/starting out! Got myself a Zoom B3 years ago and still use it next to my other pedals. If you're on a real tight budget: get that. It was great for just seeing what effects you like and how pedals affect each other. Got me into vibes and tremolo.

[@VertexEffectsInc]

Yes!

[@seandalejackson2525]

!DUDE.......@15:13 you killed everything he said before it. hahaha....GREAT VIDS GUYS! Can you do a review on the ZOOM B6, mentioning everything it replaces PLEASE?!?!

[@VertexEffectsInc]

Thanks for watching!

[@dboone7670]

Matt Berry's American accent is really coming along nicely

[@VertexEffectsInc]

Huh?

[@dboone7670]

@@VertexEffectsInc kzbin.info/www/bejne/eWW5pX-si657hpo

[@onionpaper7071]

He's been living in Staten Island for a really long time

[@TwoBassed]

Surprised no mention of an eq pedal.

[@sun6moon9]

Ah...I was just about to drop the clear influence Juan Alderete has had on this, and you guys mentioned Him. That was Nice. He is really such an influence not only on musician, but also to the pedal Channel KZbin thing.

[@VertexEffectsInc]

Heck yea!

[@sun6moon9]

I still to this day never heard a Muff sound like his. It really is a special Muff. And suits him well cause he is such a special guy ,an astounding musician and sonic explorer, and a trailblazer. Keep up the good work you guys!

[@STRATMAN1969]

My signal chain on my chef's polyethylene cutting board is DOD meat box ,EQD tentacles, Boss "tuna", pork,and pickle fuzz, bass dyna comp, soul food (bass) ,Liquifier chorus, JHS milk man (boost always on for a pre amp),Dan electro fish, and chips E.Q./boost .

[@VertexEffectsInc]

Very nice!

[@BrandonBames]

For a second, before my eyes adjusted I thought you were sitting next to Quentin Tarantino. That would have been a mindf**k lol

[@VertexEffectsInc]

Huh...don't get that vibe, but I've also been told I look like a number of celebrities, most unflattering: Geraldo Rivera, Jack Black, Emile Hirsch, etc.

[@johnswendseid4278]

This is a great video, thanks Mason and Janek 🙏

[@VertexEffectsInc]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@HarryHobbit]

I would have thought chorus on bass would have got a mention in the modulation part? ... great vid though 😎

[@VertexEffectsInc]

Glad you enjoyed the video Greg!

[@madhatter7862]

I love my MXR deluxe bass chorus.

[@NOTshaneplaysbass]

Korg Pitchblack - Seymour Duncan Vise Grip - Tech 21 Sansamp Bass Driver V1 - DOD Juicebox - EHX Green Russian Muff - Darkglass B3k - ISP Decimator - MXR Bass Octave Deluxe - EHX Bass Clone. Why? It works.

[@burtreynolds2969]

I feel pretty lucky. I got an OC-2 "Octaver" with box for $50 canadian a few years back.

[@RobertNolan]

A preamp pedal trick I'm testing lately is a ProCo Rat set to a hair above clean on the gain, filter and output to taste, and you've got a nice extra stage of control that sounds really good. Doubles as something of a drive or fuzz style distortion if you need it as well.

[@VertexEffectsInc]

Interesting! Thanks for watching Robert!

[@briandaly7236]

TC Electronic flange chorus, dark glass compressor, , and a EQ pedal. That all a Bass ever needs. LoL

[@GRBAquatics]

Very Enjoyable and Informative Video. Thankyou Guys. Not a Bass Player but have a Bass ..... sounds like a good excuse for me to buy some Bass Pedals .... although I will probably just buy another Cuvave Fuzz (awesome) and a Delay and a Compression as I have tried My Guitar Pedals on My Bass and love the sound created ..... Oh and I will need a Tuner for my Bass. So 4 New Pedals ... Fun Times LOL. Cheers

[@VertexEffectsInc]

Thanks for watching!

[@couchcamperTM]

you guys are crazy. essential pedals for way more than 1000 bucks xD

[@VertexEffectsInc]

These are more "food groups" not the specific pedals themselves.

[@RileySullivan]

I use my old DigiTech RP155 for my bass. My main patch includes the Boss CS-3, some EQ, and a Rat distortion. My other patches include a shallow, slow rate chorus effect, and some with delay. It sometimes sounds like I know how to play bass. 😂

[@VertexEffectsInc]

Sounds great!

[@djhinormas959]

my board is built around a hxeffect but the V1 sansamp di is the star of my bass tone, cant beat the real thing with the sansamp! thanks for showing the bass some love

[@VertexEffectsInc]

Thanks for watching!

[@bassheart365]

Excellent. I've been buying octavers since the Boss OC-2 came out. The (very hard to find) Cog Effects T16 he best. Second place (also hard to find) is the 3Leaf Audio Octavbre.

[@poodlesareawsome]

all i could look at the entire video was Janek's double watch situation... guy loves hardware...

[@VertexEffectsInc]

Love it!

[@bumblesnowmonster]

Nice! Good stuff. Keep 'em coming. This is great! Personally digging the Idiot Box Effects Blower Box, EHX Green Russian and DOD Carcosa. Carcosa is def a sleeper and worth checking out. All work well with actives. No chorus pedals? Thought that was THE bass pedal in the… 80's!

[@VertexEffectsInc]

Carcosa is king! Great pedal!

[@morphman86]

I'm not sure I understand the need for a pre-amp pedal. From what I understand, it's just an EQ and most amps already have one, so why would you need to EQ before you EQ? Is it only to "colour" the tone before other effects, or does it serve a purpose on its own?

[@farhadchaudhry]

The way I use it is to just be able to switch the sound with a button. My amp has a particular sound that I like. If I need to switch it to sound something else, I'll dial the preamp that way. E.g. SVT sound vs. Bassman sound. It saves money than buying another amp and using an amp switcher. But that's just me. I know others use it at gigs if they're just plugging into the house amps or speakers. I think that's the more functional use.

[@kylemurray91]

If you use a solid state amp, you could use a tube pre amp pedal to add a bit more colour and grit to your tone! It would give your tone a bit more ‘life’.

[@morphman86]

@@kylemurray91 That doesn't sound very essential to me...

[@kylemurray91]

@@morphman86 I have an EBS valve drive pre amp pedal that is always on and without it I wouldn’t be able to achieve the tone I desire, so I would consider that essential for me? What pedal do you consider essential?

[@kylemurray91]

@@morphman86 also, I run a direct DI to the PA from this pre amp DI because if I didn’t and I ran an XLR from my amp I wouldn’t be able to adjust my on stage monitor volume and tone without effecting the FOH volume.

[@Danieljfern]

Would be great to have a follow up shootout with each of these pedals

[@VertexEffectsInc]

Coming :)

[@Martin-lj9jj]

Bass Wah pedal, Boss CEB3 Chorus, EBS Dynaverb, TC Electronic Flashback are my Must have pedals. Mu-Tron would be great...

[@VertexEffectsInc]

Good choices!!

[@richardselby1711]

No disrespect to any of those who can afford a Noble preamp. Another very good option is the Arkham Oracle Bass Preamp. I just picked one up from Micah and I zero regrets, within 5 minutes I dialed in a nice fat, warm Motown Bass tone. I've heard amazing reports about the Noble, which I'm sure I'll own at some point in the few years. I'm currently using a Darkglass Hyper Luminal Compressor and a Rupert Neve RNDI with the Oracle.

[@VertexEffectsInc]

The Nobel is certainly not a required product, there are many great preamps out there including some more budget friendly stuff from Sans Amp and others.

[@michaelglidden4765]

Nobelium C2CE for the solder iron inclined.

[@TotalEvo7]

You guys didn't even touch on the Miura preamp pedal

[@elliotthall5543]

Great video for a guitar player who needs to play bass in my songwriting process.

[@VertexEffectsInc]

Glad it was helpful!

[@HondoFelder]

Dope vid. 🤘🏽

[@VertexEffectsInc]

Thanks for watching!

[@BigAhnold]

Good video, informative, but I would love to either see or hear what these pedals do - visually, how does the compressor alter the signal? Why is this compressor better than that one, or what neat feature does it have that others don't? Why is this $1000 pedal better than that $250 pedal, or vice versa? Sonically, why do we like how this preamp sounds better than that one? It could take hours to go through this, but I come away from this not knowing differences between the options named. Bottom line - for the time spent, very good range of most important candidate pedals for us pedal newbies, many thanks!

[@VertexEffectsInc]

We're working on another video, this was more focused on the pedals and our picks more than the sounds.

[@Alpha_7227]

Be great to hear these pedals being used. Top video lads. Cheers.

[@Geddyfleaharris]

Fun video. Thanks guys! I am not a purist. I love pedals!

[@VertexEffectsInc]

Amazing! Thanks for watching!

[@Charles-Robitaille]

My favorite compressor is the Demeter Compulator !!!!!!

[@VertexEffectsInc]

Oh yess, thats a good one!

[@carollinson]

From someone new to bass pedals, this is a silly film where they talk up far too many high-end boutique pedals. Pedals that your average beginner can't afford. No real description about what each pedal does and a comparison between them. It's like product placement on acid. Not inspiring.

[@seanstoltz6957]

Yeah, ain’t no way in aboutta blow $1000 dollars as a high schooler 😂

[@firefibre26]

Janek just shit talks about pedals and gear but no such details.

[@Kuztomshop]

hands down, boutique versions of old EHX vs new versions of EHX, all day long. forget the price, save up and avoid the disappointment - love wren and cuff!

[@VertexEffectsInc]

Glad you dug the video Mason!!

[@mathieuc6934]

Naive question - why use a pre-amp pedal that costs as much as an amp instead of using a really good bass and a really good amp?

[@NicHasegawa]

Some stages where you have to use IEMs you can’t have an amp. Also simply, carrying a huge amp around is a lot more hard work than carrying a preamp in your gigbag. If you connect straight into the FOH with good PAs, a good DI/Preamp can be more useful than an amp. Usually amps are used as a monitor for yourself on stage and not really for the audience 😊

[@Moises505130]

I'm surprised there was no mention of an EQ pedal on here

[@VertexEffectsInc]

Good pedal, but maybe not on the "essential" list.

[@madhatter7862]

What about BBE Sonic Maximizers? They crisp up the tone nicely. Seems to add some saturation to the top end. But curious how it sounds in the audience in a mix on my rig? Can you guys explain these sonic maximizers and what they actually do?

[@VertexEffectsInc]

Some guys use them more as boosts others use them to impact their instrument early in the chain. They are nice!

[@constantk8780]

Its just a mid scoop.

[@KlockoFett]

Supposedly, they slow down the high frequency to time align them with lower frequency so both hit the audience/your ear at the same time. They claim the higher the frequency the faster it moves...or something. Ever see studio monitors where the top/tweeter is set back like an inch or two from the woofer below it? It's doing that electronically instead of physically. That's how I understood the explanation I read like 20 years ago. Whatever it's doing, it works. I have a rackmount version in my fx loop. I like it live, but had to pull it from my signal chain for recording. Had to do the same with my rack mount compressor.

[@ColinVernonandtheVikings]

By far, the best bass pedalboard informative video

[@VertexEffectsInc]

Wow, thanks!

[@ImYourOverlord]

Bass flanger is great fun!

[@VertexEffectsInc]

Heck yea!

[@madhatter7862]

Question, I just got the HX stomp. So why bother with all the analog pedals when the Stomp sounds so good for bass? I may keep my source audio envelope filter becasue I love it so much but don't see the reason to buy any other effects for my application.

[@VertexEffectsInc]

It's an acceptable substitute, but not equal to the analog model the HX is emulating. It depends on what you can live with. For some the HX is the methadone to the real effect whether it be Fuzz, Drive, Compression, etc.

[@madhatter7862]

@@VertexEffectsInc Thanks for the explanation! Veteran bass player just getting into effects, :). I did love my Russian Big Muff Pi (The black and yellow one). Just didn't use anymore now I probably would :(

[@jacprendo]

First things first you need a good tuner and maybe a mute switch!

[@josephfelice8308]

I use the Preacher for compression. Does the job without much color, which is what I want.

[@VertexEffectsInc]

Nice!

[@agcarrubba]

Is it acceptable to shorten the power cables and terminate them at the pedal endpoint instead of at the power source? I have Cooks power supply and the connectors differ than the ones you demo on your show.

[@VertexEffectsInc]

Sure, but it’s better to do it at the power supply, since that gets less manipulated than the pedals.

[@dw7704]

If I could only use one pedal with bass, it would be a chorus But hey it’s cool that different people use different pedals

[@VertexEffectsInc]

For sure...everyone has different tastes :)

[@arsenije_wav8620]

I wonder why bass players have this weird affinity for chours pedals

[@Farewelltokingz]

@@arsenije_wav8620Bass is normally pretty clean so it helps add depth without affecting EQ.

[@Jeff-11_354]

Man he dropped, "Box and Papers." I'm dead! 🤣Is that the old Monte Carlo or the new one? Enthusiast pick. Clutch.

[@VertexEffectsInc]

hahahahaha!

[@Jeff-11_354]

@@VertexEffectsInc not since John Mayer Talking Watches on Hodinkee have worlds collided like this! 🤣

[@janekgwizdala]

@@Jeff-11_354 Hahhahaha. I knew there would be at least one person who would get the reference. It's the Heritage Chrono Blue. The new one. Although I do wish I had the $25k for a real Monte Carlo from the 70's

[@Jeff-11_354]

I think that when you guys come out with the new amp you should start off with, 'Oh yes sir, do you have a purchase history with us? We'll be glad to put you on a waiting list.' It would be pretty true to form for Dumble right?

[@taehoonkim6384]

Hi! I am thinking of getting these set. Would this set be enough to start with? Boss Tuner - Noble - Empress Bass compressor - darkglass alpha omega - MXR vintage Bass octave in this order Thank you

[@Wido08GP]

More than you'll ever need

[@littlefishy6316]

I only use one affect and that is the brown colour Boss Octave pedal, gives a huge sound even when used sparingly

[@KlockoFett]

Skip the Noble as a starter pedal. For $1200 it's just not worth it for someone not exclusively making their income with it. Why it was even included here is beyond comprehension. If you really feel you need a preamp, just get a SansAmp Bass Driver for 1/6 the price. As for the others, sure. Go nuts. Maybe look at the TC Electronic Polytune3 instead of the Boss tuner. The Boss pedals have really poor buffers. The TC has a good one they sell as a standalone built in and a slightly smaller footprint.

[@AeGeR97]

Thank you!

[@VertexEffectsInc]

Sure thing!

[@akkunzero]

You only need the trinity of bass pedals - Tuner - Compressor - Preamp/DI

[@VertexEffectsInc]

Tuner is a give-in...don't waste the Holy Trinity on a a tuner ;)

[@isaacandhismusic1153]

How do you talk about Bass Preamps and not mention Darkglass?

[@isaacandhismusic1153]

Scratch that apparently it’s a Fuzz

[@VertexEffectsInc]

I think Janek lumped some of their pedals into distortion/fuzz category. I agree that they are a great option for preamps for the modern stuff no doubt.

[@Carsonchildersmusicnow]

Source for Pino using the Noble?

[@VertexEffectsInc]

I know I've seen some photos of it with Blake Mills in the studio.

[@BlackRootsAcademyOfSoul]

How about the Caveman Audio BP-1 preamp?

[@VertexEffectsInc]

I've heard it's great!

[@andrewawood3658]

Hey guys great content. Of the 4 must haves Pre Amp Compressor Octave/fuzz Filters Can you give me your preferred order of these four tuner being first of course

[@ampthebassplayer]

There aren't any rules for effect order. I'd say try them out in every order and see what you think sounds good. The order I do on my board is Octave>Fuzz>Filter>Preamp>Compressor

[@VertexEffectsInc]

All great picks.

[@VertexEffectsInc]

Be sure to check out our bass signal path video as well!

[@oscarmorales-cn3hz]

I love pedals for guitar, they're really worth it. For bass... get a helix or a pod go, it's a no-brainer.

[@mkrokocki]

Depends... what you want to play, how you want to sound... Pod go is really not a good option for bass, no parallel processing ;)

[@simaojoseph]

Sure bass is such a lesser instrument that don’t deserve boutique stuff.

[@SquareWaveSymphonies]

In my opinion, pedals are just as useful on bass as they are on guitar. I have about 14 pedals on my board, rn, and use them to achieve a wide variety of sounds that I wouldn't be able to get from a multi in the same quality.

[@oscarmorales-cn3hz]

@@simaojoseph Why do you think that "boutique" is better for bass? Top producers don't let me use my pedals for recording anymore, just my oc-5, that's it...

[@VertexEffectsInc]

Could be good for a lot of things!

[@larstinderholt7438]

Out of this world prices

[@VertexEffectsInc]

Some of these vintage pedals have gone crazy price wise.

[@michaelglidden4765]

Lessee... couldn't afford stuff so... built my own Mammoth... then built a Meatball... a Doppleganger... Bit Commander.. and Nobel.. 1176 is a studio comp and should go at the end of your chain... if your DI is on your preamp it should come after the effects... so the board gets your wet. The tube preamp works great for recording, but shouldn't be a sub for a bass amps ... preamp... Unless you want a super light setup and put a Noble through a clean power amp into your stack. Like a GSS Baby Sumo, or hell a Harley Benton 800... anything to save you from lugging around a fridge is well worth it.

[@jazz4asahel]

Is the compressor pedal for bass different than for guitar?

[@scottlovesplayingbass3495]

I just got a Noble. Use it or stay with my CSspot?

[@ivarssonjorgen]

Absolutely Amazing! Much Appreciated!

[@khayree]

Yes you missed letting us hear the pedals which is the most important thing next time don’t review every pedal on the planet just a couple so we can hear them. Thank you

[@michellebrown7714]

Id argue fuzz is dependent on what genre youre playing, hard rock and metal sounds like ass with fuzz, it sounds way better with overdrive, but overdrive would be a bit much if youre playing a "softer" genre

[@VertexEffectsInc]

I agree with that.

[@jeremiahdavis6012]

question: Why would a beginner bass player would be looking for a pedal?

[@_Information_]

To learn about tone, song structure, dynamics and sound design.

[@jeremiahdavis6012]

@@_Information_ you mean without learning to play first? sorry if I didn't explain what I meant. I meant the basics of PLAYING before hand.

[@NelsonMontana1234]

Stop looking. None are necessary, especially for a beginner. After you do 100 gigs, you can start thinking about it.

[@jeremiahdavis6012]

@@NelsonMontana1234 Yeah, but that's not necessarily a beginner. But I'm talking from personal experience. I played for two years before I discovered pedals