Help!! My bass player needs a pedal

[rglenna]

My bass player doesnt use any pedals. I would like to know what effects are commonly used on bass and what you would recommend he buy. We are a variety band playing country, rock and blues. He plays a Gedde Lee signature bass thru a single 15 ampeg amp, if that helps. It must have an onboard tuner in it and be in-expensive cuz he is tighter than a gnat's a$$ strecthed over a rain barrel. Any help is appreciated.

[KCKC]

Why does he need a pedal?

What kind of sound/tone is he/you looking for?

I've tried a chorus and octo but for me, straight into the amp works the best.

KC

[jimmynumber9]

Probably compression... Can't see why you would need much more.

Unless you're in to that kind of thing

[SamClemons]

Never found a pedal that really augmented my bass. One thing I am going to add is a reverb pedal or rackmount to my vintage bassman rig. I like reverb on bass. I very rarely use a flanger on a bass for a really odd spacy sound. Really don't need any pedals on bass. For a different sound/feel I would suggest if he doesn't already, play with a pick instead of fingers, or vice versa, or another different bass all together like an acoustic or some flat wound Hofner or something.

[guitarzan13]

Compressor... maybe a light chorus if he plays any slap stuff...Other than that..... nothing IMHO

[rglenna]

He doesnt have a stage tuner and he needs one. I was assuming he could get a combo pedal of some kind with an on board tuner. I am tired of our whole crowd listening to him tune just before we start a set.

[andrenighthound]

try the behringer bass chorus. I just bought one for my bass player for 24.00. Its subtle so its good for bass.

[Tim Armstrong]

I use a tuner, nothing else!

Tim

[RomanS]

Then just have him get a tuner pedal (Korg Pitchblack would be my choice) - about the only effects pedal that makes sense for me on bass is compression, but even that is not a necessity, and you won't find a tuner/compressor combo.
In fact, except for multi-effect pedals (most of which suck really badly, until you get in the higher price regions - Line 6 M9 and the likes), almost no pedals have a combo of a tuner with something else...

If money is tight, just get a clip-on tuner, like a Snark...

[pickingrinnin]

I use a rackmount tuner, in my rig. Sometimes at home, I'll use a headstock tuner. I personally don't like the clutter of pedals. I find the Planet Waves headstock tuner to be very fast and accurate on my bass and guitar.

As for effects, I normally don't use any. (I play Blues, Country, and Classic Rock). Sometimes I add a little overdrive for a little grit, (built in to my Sans Amp). Chorus is really nice on a bass, but unless you're doing a bass solo, or a quiet passage, it will probably get buried in the mix. Compression is very useful to even out your attack.

In short, I'd say compression, and overdrive would be the most useful for the styles the OP listed.

[losergeek]

Originally Posted by rglenna

He doesnt have a stage tuner and he needs one. I was assuming he could get a combo pedal of some kind with an on board tuner. I am tired of our whole crowd listening to him tune just before we start a set.

Ya, I won't play in a band with anyone who tunes by ear on stage - just a pet peeve of mine - I think it's unprofessional (and I have a very low standard of professionalism). But that doesn't mean he needs any other pedal - just get a good tuner pedal. Most multieffects with onboard tuners are awkward enough that he's not as likely to use it anyway.

[bigbandtele]

Just tell him to get a Korg Pitchblack or TC Polytune.

If the bass sounds good, he doesn't need anything else.

[Old Cane]

Yeah, just get a tuner. If he has to have a pedal, get a pedal tuner. No bass player needs a pedal. That's just looks weird seeing it in print.

[rglenna]

Sounds like the popular opinion is to play clean thru the amp. If I can get the cheap sob to use a tuner I can probably keep performing with him. Thanks for your input.

[dan1952]

Yup, headstock tuner (Snark) for me. Jerry Jones Longhorn through Ampeg B100R, it's what a big sound sounds like.

[Old Cane]

If he wasn't a cheap sob then he'd be a steel player.

[SamClemons]

As far as the tuner goes, I played many years without one and even now rarely use one with a bass. If a bass player can't get in tune on the fly real quick....he has not go much of an ear. I actually prefer to tune the bass by ear to the guitar players I am playing with, I can get closer than with the tuner, I know some would doubt that. I generally use the tuner when no one else is not around or if we want to hit the stage running with no setup time. It is also good if you are changing to someother tuning mid show, I have done that, drop a half step or something, though I prefer a second bass in that case, but I have done that many times, down a half step, back up on the fly without a tuner, no problem. Heck, we played guitars for years without an electronic tuner, probably helped us in the long run, but I do like them now, the Boss is handy cause it cuts you out, then back in again (mutes the guitar).

[TeleTim911]

No reason for a player today to NOT have a tuner. Just check on Ebay and other places, dirt cheap, cost of a couple six packs.

[SamClemons]

I would agree.

[Jakedog]

I'm with the rest of the guys here. My bass rig is P-bass, cable, tuner, cable, amp. I tried effects on bass back in the 80's and early 90's when everybody was doing it, but it never really caught on with me. Don't like 'em for me, don't like hearing other people use them either.

Just get your guy to grab a tuner. Cheap and easy.