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The best bass pedals for most players are just three: a tuner, a compressor and a preamp or DI pedal. A bass overdrive is the most popular fourth pedal. Our top picks are the BOSS TU-3, the MXR M87 Bass Compressor, the Tech 21 SansAmp Bass Driver DI V2 and the Darkglass Microtubes B7K Ultra.
Bass pedals work differently from guitar pedals. They have to keep your low end intact, which many guitar pedals don’t. If you’re still building your first rig with our bass guitar for beginners guide, get your bass and amp sorted first. This list of the best bass pedals is for the next step.
Below are the best bass pedals by category, with a comparison table and the right order for your signal chain. If you record at home, a DI pedal also doubles as your recording front end (see how to record bass at home).
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Best Bass Pedals: Quick Picks
| Pick | Who it’s for | Skip it if | |
|---|---|---|---|
| BOSS TU-3 Chromatic Tuner | Best tuner pedal | You already have a reliable clip-on | Check price on Amazon |
| MXR M87 Bass Compressor | Best bass compressor pedal | You want a one-knob simple comp | Check price on Amazon |
| Tech 21 SansAmp Bass Driver DI V2 | Best bass DI pedal | You only want a clean DI | Check price on Amazon |
| Darkglass Microtubes B7K Ultra | Best bass overdrive and preamp | You play vintage styles only | Check price on Amazon |
| MXR M80 Bass D.I.+ | Best value preamp and DI | Board space is tight | Check price on Amazon |
| BOSS ODB-3 Bass OverDrive | Budget bass overdrive | You want subtle warmth only | Check price on Amazon |
| Electro-Harmonix Bass Big Muff Pi | Best bass fuzz | You play clean styles | Check price on Amazon |
| BOSS OC-5 Octave | Best octave pedal for bass | You don’t need sub-octaves | Check price on Amazon |
The 8 Best Bass Pedals Reviewed
1. BOSS TU-3 Chromatic Tuner – Best tuner pedal
The TU-3 is the most common tuner on pro pedalboards and the first of the best bass pedals to buy. It has a bass mode, a bright display for outdoor stages and a mute function for silent tuning, and it can supply 9V power to other pedals.
- Modes: Chromatic, guitar, bass
- Extras: Mute, power out for other pedals
Pros: Rock-solid; Readable on stage. Cons: Bigger than mini tuners.
BOSS TU-3 Chromatic Tuner: Check price on Amazon
2. MXR M87 Bass Compressor – Best bass compressor pedal
The M87 gives you full control of attack, release, ratio, input and output, plus an LED meter that shows how much compression is happening. It’s transparent enough to keep your tone, and it can squash hard for slap.
- Controls: Input, Ratio, Attack, Release, Output
- Meter: LED gain reduction
Pros: Very flexible; Transparent; Clear metering. Cons: Lots of knobs for beginners.
MXR M87 Bass Compressor: Check price on Amazon
3. Tech 21 SansAmp Bass Driver DI V2 – Best bass DI pedal
The SansAmp Bass Driver DI is one of the most-used bass pedals ever. It’s a tube-amp-style preamp with drive, blend, 3-band EQ (with a selectable mid frequency) and an XLR DI output for the PA or recording.
- Outputs: 1/4 in. and XLR DI
- EQ: Bass, Mid (selectable), Treble
- Extras: Blend, Drive, Presence
Pros: Huge range of tones; DI output; Classic sound. Cons: Can be fizzy at high drive.
Tech 21 SansAmp Bass Driver DI V2: Check price on Amazon
4. Darkglass Microtubes B7K Ultra – Best bass overdrive and preamp
The B7K Ultra is one of the best bass pedals for the sound of modern rock and metal. It combines a growly overdrive with blend control, a 4-band EQ with switchable mids and an XLR DI output with a ground lift.
- Outputs: 1/4 in., XLR DI
- EQ: 4-band with switchable mids
Pros: Modern aggressive tone; Pro DI; Blend keeps low end. Cons: Expensive.
Darkglass Microtubes B7K Ultra: Check price on Amazon
5. MXR M80 Bass D.I.+ – Best value preamp and DI
The M80 has a clean channel with color switch, a distortion channel with blend, 3-band EQ and an XLR output. It’s a great all-rounder for gigging bassists who want a reliable DI and a dirt option.
- Channels: Clean, Distortion
- Outputs: 1/4 in., XLR DI
Pros: Two channels; Solid DI. Cons: Wider than standard pedals.
MXR M80 Bass D.I.+: Check price on Amazon
6. BOSS ODB-3 Bass OverDrive – Budget bass overdrive
The ODB-3 has been around for decades and is still a great, inexpensive bass overdrive. Its Balance control blends clean and driven signal so your low end doesn’t vanish.
- Controls: Level, Gain, Balance, Low, High
Pros: Affordable; Indestructible. Cons: Can sound harsh at high gain.
BOSS ODB-3 Bass OverDrive: Check price on Amazon
7. Electro-Harmonix Bass Big Muff Pi – Best bass fuzz
The Bass Big Muff Pi adapts the famous fuzz for bass, with a Dry output, a bass boost switch and a direct XLR output.
- Extras: Bass boost switch, Dry out, XLR DI
Pros: Massive fuzz; Keeps low end. Cons: Very specific sound.
Electro-Harmonix Bass Big Muff Pi: Check price on Amazon
8. BOSS OC-5 Octave – Best octave pedal for bass
The OC-5 adds a sub-octave below your notes for synth-like heft, with excellent tracking on bass and a vintage mode inspired by the classic OC-2.
- Modes: Poly, Vintage
- Range: Selectable
Pros: Accurate tracking; Huge low end. Cons: Easy to overuse.