Electric Bass Pedals from the Best Brands (Guide), Their Types and Features. The Most Used Effects by Professional Bassists.
Most bassists use effects sparingly. Given that the instrument’s essential function is to provide melodic and rhythmic support. As well as providing the lower frequencies that are impossible to achieve with a guitar, but are essential to the overall sound and body of a piece of music.
The basic function of the bass is to provide accompaniment. So a heavy load of effects is generally dispensed with in favour of the final sound of the band.
Although it is also essential for the bassist to have some essential pedals such as the equalizer or the compressor. With these pedals we can obtain greater control over the sound of the electric bass, while maintaining discretion in the final sound of the instrument.
However, sometimes we may be interested in going beyond the typical discretion of the bassist, and adding distortion, Wah Wah and other effects to the bass sound.
Equalizer Pedals for Electric Bass
Equalizer
But we’ll start with the essential pedals like the equalizer. While bass amps have their own equalizer, it’s not a bad idea to have an external equalizer pedal to increase the precision of our tone. As most of these pedals have several equalization bands.
With the advantage of being able to use the equalization of the amplifier, in addition to the additional equalization provided by the pedal when we activate it. This pedal can be used to enhance some frequencies, or to directly increase the volume as a booster would do, as it has its own volume control.
The Boss GE-7 equalizer is one of the most used and best-rated pedals. But although its price is not cheap ($110), it is not an inaccessible pedal either.
Used by countless professional guitarists and bassists like the great Mike Kerr of Royal Blood. The brilliant artist only needs a bass, his voice, and the accompaniment of a drum handled by his bandmate Ben Thatcher to make grand show.
This duo release their first album in mid-2014. But are considered by many to be nothing less than the saviors of Rock.
Features and Best Compressor Pedals for Electric Bass
Compressor
The compressor is an effect that is also often used on guitar. But when it comes to bass, it is a classic and characteristic pedal.
With this effect we can have greater control over the punch of an instrument as sensitive to dynamics as the electric bass.
What is Compression Pedal for?
If we play the strings with varying intensity, this can create volume rises and falls that are too noticeable, or even annoying if we play too hard.
Well, this is where the compressor comes in to help us control this problem. Since this effect attenuates in the volume peaks and enhances the notes that sound with less intensity. A certain dynamic range would be maintained, but suitably softened.
The compressor also provides more sustain to the instrument. Although it would be advisable to purchase a compressor specifically for bass guitar. Since the frequencies of this instrument are different from those of a guitar.
There is a wide range of compressors specifically for bass. But in my opinion it is better not to risk it with low-quality compressors that can add noise or excessive coloration to our sound, which would be a useless investment.
Among the most affordable, but with optimal quality and manufactured by a legendary brand, we have the Ampeg Opto Comp Compressor. A smooth and transparent classic-style compressor, easy to use and at a fairly moderate price for its quality ($120).
If we needed greater versatility, but maintaining simplicity in its handling, we have the EBS MultiComp Blue Label with three compression modes.
It also has an active/passive switch on the side, to attenuate the input level, in case our bass provides a very high output. Something characteristic of active instruments.
There are other compressors with a very good reputation such as the Aguilar TLC compressor or the famous MXR bass compressor M87. But the most normal thing is that they will cost you around $250 for each of these pedals.
Best Distortion Pedals for Electric Bass
Overdrive
Another pedal that can be considered basic today is the overdrive. This effect offers the bassist an additional saturation configuration, apart from the one that the amplifier can generate. The overdrive adds an extra point of sustain, apart from its warm and controlled distortion.
Distortion Pedals
One of the most versatile and widely used overdrive pedals is the BOSS ODB-3 ($120). This pedal can generate everything from a mild overdrive to a heavy distortion, while maintaining definition even on 5- and 6-string basses. It also has two bands of equalization for bass and treble.
If you think that great bass players who can afford any pedal no matter how expensive it is, wouldn’t use a pedal like this, you’re wrong. It has been used by stars like Adam Clayton from U2, or Simon Gallup from The Cure.
With an even lower price of $100 we have the legendary Soul Food from Electro Harmonix in a bass version.
A transparent overdrive that can also be used as a Clean Booster, and with a -10db switch for active instruments.
Fuzz Distortion
If standard overdrive is not enough for you, we can opt for a classic fuzz distortion pedal, with which we will obtain sounds straight from the underworld. The legendary Electro Harmonix Bass Big Muff Pi at a very competitive price of $85. A true legend in bass distortion, used by numerous professionals such as Led Zeppelin bassist John Paul Jones.
Chorus
Chorus is also an effect that can be interesting for the bassist. As it provides a richer sound, similar to what two basses playing in unison might produce. Chorus provides greater fill and depth to the bass sound, as do other modulation effects such as Flanger.
Stereo versions are very popular for both effects. Although we would obviously need two amplifiers to recreate the stereo sound.
Chorus Pedals for Electric Bass
One of the most classic chorus pedals is the Boss CEB-3 ($120). This pedal features a Filter control to select the frequencies that we don’t want to be affected by the effect, while maintaining defined bass. The trusted pedal of former Metallica bassist Jason Newsted.
In the same brand we can find another legend, but this time with a Flanger effect: the Boss BF-3 ($150). With separate inputs for bass and guitar, and stereo output. Among its users we can find bassist Bootsy Collins.
And if we want to have a pedal with several modulation effects, we have the EBS UniChorus SE with Chorus, Flanger and Pitch Modulation effects ($200). The favorite of metal bassist James LoMenzo.
Phaser
Another modulation effect that can also be used by bassists is the Phaser. This pedal provides an oscillating or swirling effect similar to the Flanger, but provides a sweep of the signal with a slight sound similar to the wah wah effect.
A classic in this style of effects is the MXR Phase 90. A robust and simple pedal with a single speed control, used on guitar and bass, as well as keyboards.
Wah Wah Pedals for Electric Bass
To generate more pronounced vocal sounds in the purest funk style, we have a classic in this style of effects that resembles the sound of a wah wah. The Electro Harmonix Nano Bassballs ($80) is a simple, compact and affordable dynamic filter. Used by great bassists such as Flea of Red Hot Chili Peppers.
Although Flea has used other pedals mentioned above such as the Boss GE-7 equalizer, and the BOSS ODB-3 overdrive.
If we prefer a Wah Wah pedal for bass, we have the legendary Dunlop Cry Baby in a Bass version for about 175 dollars.
Octavers
If we need a very heavy bass sound, we can opt for octavers. This effect doubles the sound of a note, and plays it one, or even in some pedals two octaves lower, at the same time as sound the original note.
Something that adds body to the higher notes of the bass, and a low end extension below the standard 4 strings of an electric bass. With this effect we will obtain a sound similar to a multi-octave organ.
The Pitch-Shifter is an effect similar to the Octaver, but works differently. This effect modulates a note at another interval either towards the low or high pitch, and only the modified note would be heard.
The classic pedal for this type of effect is the Digitech Whammy Bass, now optimized for electric bass. This device integrates a pedal to slide progressively from the original note to the modified note.
Reverb and delay effects also be applied to the electric bass. These effects add their own characteristic depth to the sound of the instrument.
Electric Bass Synthesizers
To go a step further in terms of bass effects, we have synthesizer pedals like the Electro Harmonix Bass Mono Synth ($150). This device is loaded with 11 different bass synthesizer sounds, and its price is quite affordable.
As with guitar, we can also use multi-effects processors designed specifically for electric bass. Loaded with a multitude of effects including amplifier and synth simulations.
The Zoom B3n is a very complete multi-effects for bass, at a very affordable price ($200).
All of these effects are simply tools available to the bassist, and it is up to him to decide which tools he needs and which he doesn’t. Most bassists stick to a limited number of effects, essentially geared to their musical style.