really?

[mayonaise]

hello there...

is there like a MUST that bassplayers have effects? I mean, i like the setup of a Tuner and an Overdrive or Fuzz...

but is it necessery to have like Delays, Reverbs, Octave blablabla... (Chris from Muse)

or is it just up to what kinda music your playing?

[BlueOrb]

you don't have to have any effects if you don't want to

[mikekash]

Last time i played bass in a band i went to an ovedrive and to the amp. I think most rock bassists are pretty similar to that. A lot of bassists use no effects at all. i think that bass doesnt really fill up those bass frequencys when you start adding effects (or using a pick) It seems to me that for the most part a bass should be felt more than heard. What i mean by that is that you should feel the rhythym and dynamics much more than the actual frequency of the note.

[cubby]

You really don't need any effects if they don't fit into your style. I had a russian Big Muff and a Bassballs and I rarely used them - they were more for when I wanted to played something loud and distorted. The Bassballs is now being used by a guitarist and the Big Muff is still in a case and has been unused for ages. For the most part I used my basses plugged directly into my amp - I didn't even run it through a tuner.

All things said - it really just depends on the bass sound you like.

[ben murphy]

all i'd ever want to use on bass is maybe a sans amp bass driver for a little edge. perhaps some sort of "enhancer" like a bbe or maybe a slight bit of compression. but really those are frivolous in a live rockband.

[jimbobass]

I think the delays and etc are for the type of music but as far as distortion I use big muff for bass leads and a wah and unless you count compression as an effect thats it on my rig.

[TomBert05]

a little OD sounds great but i'm a huge Entwistle fan so that sways my beliefs

[phunkybassist]

I've been playing bass in bands for 15+ years..all I ever do is just plug in..I had a Zoom 505B (crappo) and all I EVER ended up using it for was the tuner.

[Crash]

My compressor is an absolute must, it really help bring out the high end. If you don't move all over your bass though it's not an issue. I'm also quite happy with my big muff but I could live without it, I only use it to add a little edge to the sound, not for full on fuzz.

[CicadaSilence]

It is not necessary for ANYONE to have effects. An effect is a tool, and a tool is only as useful as its wielder. That said, if a musician can find a use for an effect, than it is perfectly within reason for that musician to own and use it. Singers, guitarists, bassists, etc... I've seen violinists with wah and delay pedals that will knock you on your ass.

[jimbobass]

Well Said

[jacobhimself]

my bassist uses nothing... mostly because he doesnt have anything... but i let him use my octave multiplexer and fz-2 sometimes... (when we have batteries)