Guitar/Bass Effects Pedals

[Fritzo]

I'm a drummer, so my pedals are 100% digital; on or off. :biggrin:

At our next rehearsal, I'll grab a photo of the guitarist's really nice pedal board, his axes, and amp.

Dude, the drummer is NEVER allowed to touch the guitarists equipment, because he knows what you do with your instrument

 

[Rubycon]

Dude, the drummer is NEVER allowed to touch the guitarists equipment, because he knows what you do with your instrument

Basically

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vm4oCswNp4k&

 

[Eos]

pssh

 

[Cerpin Taxt]

Its necro time...

Got together in a group with some friends of mine, so finally had the opportunity to drag the gear out and string it up. It feels damn good to be playing again.

In the past I wasn't too interested in pedals, but lately I got a bug up my ass to sort out a good general-purpose board that suits my playing style.

I've already replaced the multi-fx unit with a script logo Phase 90 and a Carbon Copy analog delay. The Polytuner is on its way, and I think I'm gonna build my own Tremolo and Fuzz pedals with kits off BYOC.

Anyway, I got gear on my mind so I decided to necro a thread on the subject...

 

[Platypus]

wow blast from the past, funny to see how diff my board was back then

Cerpin Taxt the script phase 90 and the CC are great for sure, nice to see a thread like this around again

 

[Cerpin Taxt]

wow blast from the past, funny to see how diff my board was back then

Cerpin Taxt the script phase 90 and the CC are great for sure, nice to see a thread like this around again

Yeah, I'm really enjoying them both. That Korg multi-fx unit actually has really good effects, but I'm fed up with having to dive through shit-tons of menu levels to tweak parameters. Deciding to replace it with discrete effects has really forced me to distill my ideas about the ways I want to shape my tone.

I also really like the idea of assembling my own stompbox. They got a superfuzz clone on BYOC that looks within my reach, skills-wise. I'll mock up a waterslide decal for the enclosure and call it the "Hairy Pussy."

At the same time I think I'll slap a decal on that Boss GE-7. It was re-painted when I sent it in to have it modded, and I just use it as a clean boost, so I'll call it the "Hard On."

 

[TheAdvocate]

The reverse reverb setting on the EHX cathedral pedal is nuts. My Bloody Valentine type sound. I want one so bad.

I have analog delay, chorus and a 90s russian Big Muff Pi. But I kind crave something like Boss ME-100 or a Digitech, just for simplicities' sake. I am only playing for myself. Anyone wanna talk me out of it? If you layer heavy effects on one of those digital ME's, does it suffer too much degradation?

 

[Cerpin Taxt]

The reverse reverb setting on the EHX cathedral pedal is nuts. My Bloody Valentine type sound. I want one so bad.

I have analog delay, chorus and a 90s russian Big Muff Pi. But I kind crave something like Boss ME-100 or a Digitech, just for simplicities' sake. I am only playing for myself. Anyone wanna talk me out of it? If you layer heavy effects on one of those digital ME's, does it suffer too much degradation?

In my opinion, multi-fx processors are fine if you're just playing for yourself. Like I said above, I didn't really have many complaints about the tone of my multi-fx pedals. I haven't used any of it's "primary chain" patches (distortion, overdrive, compressor, etc) in a long while, though. When I did, my only major complaint was that the distortion tones weren't very smoothly responsive to volume knob roll-off. Ever since I got myself a tube amp with a lead channel though, I've just been using it in my FX loop for modulation and delay. I wouldn't be surprised to find that the distortion tones have gotten a lot better since my unit was manufactured.

 

[Platypus]

The reverse reverb setting on the EHX cathedral pedal is nuts. My Bloody Valentine type sound. I want one so bad.

I have analog delay, chorus and a 90s russian Big Muff Pi. But I kind crave something like Boss ME-100 or a Digitech, just for simplicities' sake. I am only playing for myself. Anyone wanna talk me out of it? If you layer heavy effects on one of those digital ME's, does it suffer too much degradation?

I really like EHX stuff, got a bunch of their pedals from over their production. The Cathedral is really nice, I leave it on all the time for a subtle reverb sound mostly but it can get nuts pretty easily (like all of their pedals). The Deluxe Memory Man is also a mainstay as is the POG2 and the Superego.

If you're into gazey stuff (you mentioned mbv), the Superego is a really fun pedal to mess with. It's basically like their Freeze pedal (you can stomp to freeze a chord/note indefinitely) except this one lets you layer as many overdubs as you want on top of it, or play free-form over that frozen mess you create. It gets a little wonky the more gain and overdubs you throw at it but that's kind of the fun part. It lets you go absolutely apeshit during your freakout portions of the song/jam. It also has a latch/momentary so you can either stomp to activate it or hold it down with your foot and have it disengage when you let go. It's got an effects loop that lets you run a separate chain through it. It gets super glitchy and fun when you run old fuzz pedals or modulation type effects through it.

In terms of those digital multi-fx, I find them cumbersome to use. The newer ones do a much better job of not completely coloring your sound but imo they do a bunch of effects decently instead of one or two really well. However if you're just jamming at home without a full band mix, I'm sure they are a lot more practical.

 

[Fritzo]

In my opinion, multi-fx processors are fine if you're just playing for yourself. Like I said above, I didn't really have many complaints about the tone of my multi-fx pedals. I haven't used any of it's "primary chain" patches (distortion, overdrive, compressor, etc) in a long while, though. When I did, my only major complaint was that the distortion tones weren't very smoothly responsive to volume knob roll-off. Ever since I got myself a tube amp with a lead channel though, I've just been using it in my FX loop for modulation and delay. I wouldn't be surprised to find that the distortion tones have gotten a lot better since my unit was manufactured.

Get a Line6 M13 and your opinion of multi effects petals will change ��

 

[Cerpin Taxt]

Get a Line6 M13 and your opinion of multi effects petals will change ��

Y'know, I don't have anything against Line6 stuff. I did a long stint running a first generation POD into a solid state amp -- even had the accompanying floorboard unit. It was ok. Sold the floorboard, but kept the POD, and now I also own a PODxt and a Bass POD. I use them for home recording and for that they are marvelous.

Having said that...

To my ears, there's just something about analog circuitry that digital models just can't touch. I'm totally willing to admit that it may be all in my head, like dudes who claim they can see the difference between 200fps and 300fps. And for that matter, Line6 has probably made leaps and bounds improvements in their models along the way (not that they were ever 'poor' to begin with). Still, there's a certain organic authenticity to the discrete analog effects pedalboard that really primes my pump.

Fun fact, I used to live in Agoura Hills less than a mile from Line6's main office (at the time). I always watched their jobs page to find something I could do for them, but nothing ever really came up for me.

 

[Eos]

You are correct, that digital is probably still can't touch analog effects. But. BUT. On a stage, where only some of the musicians playing and maybe a few in the audience could ever hear the difference, guitar > modeler > PA is going to present as good of a product as is possible. A quiet stage helps create a better FOH experience for the crowd. Modelers and IEM = everyone wins.

Now, in the studio, when recording a guitar all alone, analog is the only way to go.

 

[DigDog]

guitar-> desk-> protools -> monitors.

that generally does the trick.

 

[TechBoyJK]

whoa necro

 

[TheAdvocate]

Thanks for the advice. Though my tastes run all over, I do like gazy stuff when I'm playing. It's too much fun to see what kind of insane layers of sound I can make (making a guitar not sound like a guitar).

I am a little intimidated by the looper type pedals. Probably because I am a pretty poor player (and I prefer rhythm over lead anyway), and they seem very involved. I may try that superego out, and I have almost pulled the trigger ona couple of craigslist PODs.

That line6 M13 looks sweet, but :gulp: $500? Yikes. I saw an M9 on craigslist but it went immediately, for near retail.

 

[Cerpin Taxt]

That line6 M13 looks sweet, but :gulp: $500? Yikes. I saw an M9 on craigslist but it went immediately, for near retail.

Yeah, $500 might seem like a tough pill to swallow, but if you really add up all the different effects models they've bundled into it, its a steal. Hell, you buy 2-3 common boutique pedals and you're already over $500.

 

[Chapbass]

Yeah, so this thread is super old...but still...

My guitarist uses the M13..sounds pretty damn good, imo.

I've used an old digitech bp8 and a bp200 at one point. At the moment the only thing I use is my Aguilar Tone Hammer preamp/DI which is amazing.

Really want to get a Roland VBass, and some of the various gear from Moog.

 

[Sheik Yerbouti]

Its necro time...

Got together in a group with some friends of mine, so finally had the opportunity to drag the gear out and string it up. It feels damn good to be playing again.

In the past I wasn't too interested in pedals, but lately I got a bug up my ass to sort out a good general-purpose board that suits my playing style.

I've already replaced the multi-fx unit with a script logo Phase 90 and a Carbon Copy analog delay. The Polytuner is on its way, and I think I'm gonna build my own Tremolo and Fuzz pedals with kits off BYOC.

Anyway, I got gear on my mind so I decided to necro a thread on the subject...

Is that an Agile ALxxxx series LP? Those are SWEET guitars man. Bigtime bang for the buck.

 

[Fritzo]

Check this out: Guitar Player Magazine just put up an e-Book with 100 Boss pedals. It gives descriptions and sound samples of each one. I just spent the last hour going through it

http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/newbay/gp_boss/index.php#/0

 

[Cerpin Taxt]

Is that an Agile ALxxxx series LP? Those are SWEET guitars man. Bigtime bang for the buck.

It is absolutely an AL-3000 and I love the shit out of it. I was so nervous when I ordered it because it violated the one rule it always emphasize to my friends -- don't buy any guitar you haven't actually held in your hands and played.

I guess some people swap out the pickups in these, but I haven't been disappointed with them at all. It's totally stock.

 

[Sheik Yerbouti]

Yup the AL3xxx series come with AlNico V's in them. Pretty damn fine stock equipment in that guitar. I have a few AL's in my stable. But I have swapped the pickups out of them because I OCD over stuff.
AL2500 w/Jimmy Page wiring mod AL2000 w/Tonerider P90's, AL2000 with Seymour Duncan 59 and AlNico II in the neck, AL3000 stock P90 in the neck, SD Mini 59 in the bridge

 

[Cerpin Taxt]

Updated pic of the minions...

Added the MXR Carbon Copy, the MXR Script Phase 90, and the TC Electronics Polytune.

Ordered my BYOC Leeds Fuzz (Superfuzz clone) kit yesterday, and started mocking up the waterslide decal for the enclosure:

 

[TechBoyJK]

haha thats awesome

 

[Cerpin Taxt]

Yeah, yeah... this thread is back again...

I finished the build of my Superfuzz clone:

Oh, and I built a DIY pedal board out of some Ikea shelving. Pretty pleased with the results. Got space still for 2 more pedals, and I'm trying to decide what should fill those spots.

 

[Fritzo]

Yeah, yeah... this thread is back again...

I finished the build of my Superfuzz clone:

Oh, and I built a DIY pedal board out of some Ikea shelving. Pretty pleased with the results. Got space still for 2 more pedals, and I'm trying to decide what should fill those spots.

Ha! I built a similar pedal board out of wood slats. It's too freakin heavy to move though

I've had this Tonebender clone fuzz for over a decade. It's my secret sauce:

I have the original purple one though with the hard to find germanium transistors. I think they switched to silicon in the last several years. It's noisy as hell though, so I have to run it with a Boss NS-1 suppressor.