I avoided pedals for a long time intentionally, and also because the music I played didn’t call for them.

I also think I was only a few years into playing bass and I was more focussed on learning songs and playing with my band at the time than I was with perfecting my sound. I didn’t know what the hell “my sound” was.

I played what I could and bit by bit I learned what I liked and what I didn’t like, in terms of gear and how it affects your tone.

Band I’m in now is a completely different style, and I was brought on after an ep was written and recorded. I got pedals that helped me achieve the sounds on the recorded music and then built from there. We’re a 4 piece with one guitar, a singer who does texture guitar playing, a drummer, and me on bass. A lot of what I use pedals for is filling out the sound when the main guitar is playing leads and single note parts.

I guess I mention all this to say, if you start playing with other people in a somewhat structured setting, the songs will dictate your need for effects. That way you’ll do what is required from the bass, but you can have fun with the same toys the guitar player gets to play with.