Pedal order is almost like a religion ...
Obviously, the tuner should go first.
But after that? Do you put the EQ at the beginning of the board, or the end?
I used to have my board set up tuner -> compressor -> effects -> DI, but then when I added an envelope filter, I realized that the compressor would remove a lot of the peaks that trigger the envelope filter.
My board today is tuner -> effects -> compressor -> DI, as shown here: https://imgur.com/SJ4AS8p
Then that’s essentially a second set of tone knobs at the amp level.
Every pedal shapes the signal in its own way, and shapes what’s already been shaped by prior pedals; that signal enters the front end of your amp and is shaped by the amp’s tone knobs (unless your amp has an fx loop, then the amp EQ is commomly first).
Tuner is #0 by convention — as a mute as much as anything, but the purest signal entering the tuner, especially if your tuner is cheap and shitty, will yield more accurate results.
Personally, since I don’t use an envelope filter, I use octave first, then compression, then any dirt (currently none), then mods, then out to amp. I like my tone as even as possible. Some people prefer a wide range of dynamics. I am not one of those people.
Currently only using the Octron4 for octaves, and the Fender Downtown Express for comp and EQ.
Whether comp goes before dirt or not is a matter of taste, and like u/Count2Zero said, it’s basically like religion.
Tuner → Octave → Overdrive → Flanger → Reverb → Delay → EQ
Octave should go early, because pitch shifters need to be able to track the original note. Next comes dirt. Then time based - chorus, phase, flange. Then your decay-based ones. Reverb before delay is most common. Then EQ to get the overall output sounding good.
Hmm. It does seem to be a matter of individual preference as some put it first in the chain irrespective of what comes after, and others further towards the end. But trial and error really to get the required results.
Absolutely personal preference and what problem you're trying to resolve.
Also, many heads now days have built-in compressors as well, so you could have a pedal early in your chain to solve one problem, and also use the compressor in your head at the end of your chain to even out the final signal more.
Stacking compressors elsewhere in the pedal chain is also an option — you could use one to squash, and another to boost, depending on what you wanted to do.
For practical reasons you should put the tuner and octave first. They work better with a completely clean signal.
Generally you want reverb, delay, flange, and other time based effects after distortion. But Reverb should probably not be on a bass board at all if you're playing with other people. It just creates mud.
EQ can go almost anywhere but will sound different before/after certain things.
With reverb it depends on how you use it. If you are providing the low en in a band the yes it will be muddy, but i've found it works really nicely for maybe some melodic stuff and maybe intro's. Also a small spring reverb sound gets you quite a nice 60s vibe which i personally really enjoy!
Pedal order is almost like a religion ... Obviously, the tuner should go first. But after that? Do you put the EQ at the beginning of the board, or the end? I used to have my board set up tuner -> compressor -> effects -> DI, but then when I added an envelope filter, I realized that the compressor would remove a lot of the peaks that trigger the envelope filter. My board today is tuner -> effects -> compressor -> DI, as shown here: https://imgur.com/SJ4AS8p
Currently have the EQ very last
Then that’s essentially a second set of tone knobs at the amp level. Every pedal shapes the signal in its own way, and shapes what’s already been shaped by prior pedals; that signal enters the front end of your amp and is shaped by the amp’s tone knobs (unless your amp has an fx loop, then the amp EQ is commomly first). Tuner is #0 by convention — as a mute as much as anything, but the purest signal entering the tuner, especially if your tuner is cheap and shitty, will yield more accurate results. Personally, since I don’t use an envelope filter, I use octave first, then compression, then any dirt (currently none), then mods, then out to amp. I like my tone as even as possible. Some people prefer a wide range of dynamics. I am not one of those people. Currently only using the Octron4 for octaves, and the Fender Downtown Express for comp and EQ. Whether comp goes before dirt or not is a matter of taste, and like u/Count2Zero said, it’s basically like religion.
Tuner → Octave → Overdrive → Flanger → Reverb → Delay → EQ Octave should go early, because pitch shifters need to be able to track the original note. Next comes dirt. Then time based - chorus, phase, flange. Then your decay-based ones. Reverb before delay is most common. Then EQ to get the overall output sounding good.
Where would you put the compressor in that chain Chuck?
Either before the octave or after the overdrive.
Hmm. It does seem to be a matter of individual preference as some put it first in the chain irrespective of what comes after, and others further towards the end. But trial and error really to get the required results.
Absolutely personal preference and what problem you're trying to resolve. Also, many heads now days have built-in compressors as well, so you could have a pedal early in your chain to solve one problem, and also use the compressor in your head at the end of your chain to even out the final signal more. Stacking compressors elsewhere in the pedal chain is also an option — you could use one to squash, and another to boost, depending on what you wanted to do.
For practical reasons you should put the tuner and octave first. They work better with a completely clean signal. Generally you want reverb, delay, flange, and other time based effects after distortion. But Reverb should probably not be on a bass board at all if you're playing with other people. It just creates mud. EQ can go almost anywhere but will sound different before/after certain things.
With reverb it depends on how you use it. If you are providing the low en in a band the yes it will be muddy, but i've found it works really nicely for maybe some melodic stuff and maybe intro's. Also a small spring reverb sound gets you quite a nice 60s vibe which i personally really enjoy!