In the not-too-distant past, a well-equipped recording bassist would likely have had a studio rack to take to sessions. These racks were often filled with vintage studio gear and typically were designed with a mono signal chain consisting of a preamp, an EQ, and a compressor (along with a tuner, power strip, and sometimes effects). These days, however, the functionality of a large (and expensive) studio rack can be achieved with a relatively inexpensive pedalboard.
Here’s how I’d put together a small pedalboard that will work for both studio and live gigs:
Tuner
Yes, you need a tuner — not only because your bass will sound better if you’re in tune, but also because most tuner pedals mute the instrument while you’re tuning. That means you can also use it to mute the signal when changing basses or taking a break. I’ve had good luck with both the BOSS TU-3 and the TC Electronics PolyTune 2.
Compressor
The basic role of a compressor is to reduce the dynamic range of a signal by clamping down on the loudest notes. If your bass has some notes that are louder than the rest, or if you’re a slapper, then a compressor can help tame transients that would otherwise stick out. A compressor can also help to increase the apparent sustain of your bass. For a compressor that’s clean and transparent, the Aguilar TLC is an excellent choice, as is the Keeley Bassist Limiting Amplifier.
Overdrive
I like to use an overdrive pedal to add a bit of grit to an otherwise pristine bass sound rather than use it as a fuzz box. My goal is to emulate the sound of my favorite vintage tube amplifiers when they’re pushed pretty hard. Even if you use a preamp pedal that offers a distortion circuit, a separate overdrive pedal allows you instant access to another sound. There are many to choose from, but both the Electro-Harmonix Bass Soul Food and the MXR M89 Bass Overdrive can dial in the perfect amount of grit.
Preamp
A preamp pedal can be as simple as Ampeg’s Classic Analog Bass Preamp with basic controls, or it can be a multifunction device such as Gallien-Krueger’s PLEX Preamp, which combines a preamp with a 4-band EQ, an overdrive, a tuner, a compressor, and a plethora of I/O options (including an effects loop, headphone output, and even a USB connection). Ultimately, the best way to choose the right preamp pedal is to find the one that sounds the most like how you want to sound. For me, Ampeg’s SCR-DI was the best choice.
Summing it up
A small pedalboard can make it easy to get a great bass sound both live and in the studio quickly. These pedals have worked for me, but you may want to experiment to find the perfect sound for your own playing.
