Christmas ideas: - Effects pedal ideas ?

[jp]

Electric Guitar Amps:

Carvin Vintage 16
Randall Commander II

Acoustic Guitar Amps

Peavey Backstage Chorus
UltraSound 15


What am I after, sound wise ? I think I am interested in things to have fun with in the Jazz/Clean side as well as some more "dirty" blues sounds, to start with. I would like to branch out from there, as I learn what I can do with the basics. I don't want to go all heavy metal, but I wouldn't mind coaxing Pink Floyd or Eagles stuff out of my rig.

Honestly, most jazzers go clean into solid state amps without any pedals. Your Randall should get you there for a more modern sound. Some use just a touch of reverb, which your Carvin should do at the full wattage as well. Those 16s are great amps. Some use slight chorus and a touch of compression. A Keeley Compressor is a solidly useful pedal under $200 that universally gets raves.

If you want to mess with some dirty blues, maybe try a dual boost/overdrive pedal. Most let you use the boost and overdrive separately or combine the two together, and in some cases you can change the order to have boost first or overdrive first. Most are true bypass and have a lot of gain and EQing options to filter, cut, boost, or tweak lows, mids, and highs. You can get a huge range of tones from clean boost to slight grit to raging overdrive. These are some great choices:

-- Tone City King of Blues - I don't think these are made anymore, so you'd have to find one used.
-- Full Tone Full-Drive 2 or 3 - Never tried the 3, but the Full-Drive 2 can get you a lot of great tones. Both under $200.
-- Wampler Pinnacle Deluxe or Dual Fusion - Both under $200 used.
-- Trutone VS-XO - New for under $200.
-- Earthquaker Devices Grey Channel - Under $200 used

Or you might want to try combining your SD-1 with an overdrive or boost pedal like one of these:
-- Ibanez Tube Screamer
-- Electro-Harmonix Soul Food
-- Fulltone OCD
-- Boss Blues Driver

Then you can buy another effects pedal like a delay or reverb or even a volume pedal with the savings. :C)

I could go on forever, but I know that's already a lot of demo videos to check out. Have fun exploring and Merry Christmas to you!

 

[JohnW63]

Here are some lower cost pedals I have been thinking about, since the thread started.

TC Electronic Flashback Mini


TC Electronic Hall of Fame Reverb Pedal


Xotic Effects SP Compressor Effect Pedal


Anyone have any experience with these ? I'll check out the Keely Compressor as well.

 

[crank]

Why a compressor? It can give you some sustain and it's main function is to even out your level. Doing so also dulls you attack. I go back and forth with mine and at this time I haven't used it in about a year.

 

[Smitch]

I'm a big TC Electronic fan. In addition to the core function of their various pedals, they have the unique Tone Print function that allows you to down load tones created by famous guitar players. This would be a versatile option for you and your budget.

 

[krysh]

TC Electronic Hall of Fame Reverb Pedal

bought it and sent it back, sucks tone.

Xotic Effects SP Compressor Effect Pedal

have it, keeper. great parallel compressor and also great booster.

 

[richly harmonic]

If you wanna go retro (or retro-ish), you can find a fuzz pedal clone or a maker that does fuzz pedal clones for reasonable price. That being said I like old FuzzFaces and various Tonebender fuzzes. I still have my DeMarco Klonebender MkII from 2005, but I haven't used it for a few years now. It's too bad the owner of that company had long passed away since. Either way, there's gotta be an affordable boutique fuzz clone pedal maker out there.

Anyway, whatever choice of overdrive/fuzz pedal you decide on, have a Merry Christmas (in advance) and wish you happy holidays!

 

[fronobulax]

Why a compressor? It can give you some sustain and it's main function is to even out your level. Doing so also dulls you attack. I go back and forth with mine and at this time I haven't used it in about a year.

FWIW, my teacher is a big fan of compression. He uses it when available for both bass and guitar, live and recording. He believes it alters the sound and notes that some compressors do so more pleasantly than others.

 

[crank]

FWIW, my teacher is a big fan of compression. He uses it when available for both bass and guitar, live and recording. He believes it alters the sound and notes that some compressors do so more pleasantly than others.

I am the opposite. I think compressors suck tone and, like I said, attack.

 

[Quantum Strummer]

I am the opposite. I think compressors suck tone and, like I said, attack.

You just have to use a good one with an appropriate guitar and amp. Or you can use an "overdrive" pedal like a TS or Klon klone with the gain knob turned all the way down. This gives you a bit of compression along with whatever amount of volume boost and/or EQ you want. The Klon(e)s are great at preserving attack, which has a lot to do with their popularity.

Compression isn't a thing you must use. Just use it if you want it or feel you need it.

-Dave-

 

[JohnW63]

I'm liking the reviews and price of the FullTone Full Drive 3. One reason I am looking at some of this is to learn about all of these types of effects. The other is if I make my current guitars sound "new", then I won't be GASing for a new to me guitar !

So, I might see about getting a couple pedals to cover a gamet of tones. While I could get a multi-effects pedal, I would rather buy GOOD versions of separate pedals.

 

[Quantum Strummer]

I also like putting together groups of self-contained effects rather than using a multi-effects device. But I'm playing mostly for myself…for gigging a single gizmo has many pluses.

BTW the latest That Pedal Show is all about flangers. I was a little disappointed that Dan didn't demonstrate how subtle the old EHX Electric Mistress can be when dialed in accordingly, but otherwise it was a good overview.

I always recommend listening to the Gilmour song Mihalis (an instrumental) as an example of a flanger used musically. All the guitars are going through an early '70s Mistress.

-Dave-

 

[jp]

I am the opposite. I think compressors suck tone and, like I said, attack.

I actually don't use my compressor pedal so much, but it can be applied well if you know how to use it. Like Frono said, it's good for recording like evening out peaks and valleys in fingerpicking with both electrics and acoustics. I use it more for increasing sustain rather than compression. However, as someone who likes to use the dynamics of how tube amps react to attack and gain, I don't use it so often.

So, I might see about getting a couple pedals to cover a gamet of tones. While I could get a multi-effects pedal, I would rather buy GOOD versions of separate pedals.

I recommended the Line 6 M5 because it's an exception to the crappy multi-effects pedals. It's first and foremost a high-quality effects pedal modeler. While it does have sounds with limited use, there are a lot of usable effects that will let you explore before you spend on boutique pedals. It's super simple to use too. Really, check out reviews.

BTW the latest That Pedal Show is all about flangers. I was a little disappointed that Dan didn't demonstrate how subtle the old EHX Electric Mistress can be when dialed in accordingly, but otherwise it was a good overview.

I still have an EHX Deluxe Electric Mistress that I had in high school. It's noisy as hell, but I still love it. :C)

I also have the TC electronics Hall of Fame Reverb and the Flashback X4, and I love both of them. They don't suck the tone when I run them through the effects loop of my Mesa DC-3.

 

[krysh]

I'd also recommend the zoom g3. you'll really have to dig into this thing but unbeatable quality for the price and you get impressions of the "real pedals" you'd like to own in the future plus its an audio interface too.

 

[markus]

What I just got me for x-mas is a Fishman AFX Chorus (used) for my acoustics.
Some years old and digital, but: wow!

Anyone played the Fishman AFX delay?

Markus :smile:

 

[Bill Ashton]

Markus, a chorus pedal is so much fun that you want to use it all the time...and risk sounding like John Schofield used to. Delay is also another one that is addicting, then you wind up being Brain Setzer...

Just like a good bourbon...moderation. But by all means, have fun! And Merry Christmas!

PS: Try that riff by Andy Summers of The Police from "Message In A Bottle"...

 

[markus]

Bill, you got me: I have almost always used chorus and delay for some time now, but I always try to dial both in very carefully - hardly noticeable without A/B-ing dry/wet signal.
(And it's sad but true for sure: nobody will mistake my playing for John Scofield's …)
Maybe I should send you a mp3-file to get your opinion of "my sound" …

Markus :smile:

 

[Neal]

If neither of your amps have tube-driven reverb, then a reverb pedal would be first on my list.

I love my Holy Grail. It gives me the variety and amount of reverb I am looking for.

Having said that, I am trying out a friend's Mission Tweed clone (5E3), and it really doesn't need much to add to what it brings to the table, especially when plugged into an old Guild archtop!

 

[JohnW63]

My Carvin does have reverb, and so does my Randall, but I might not be using those, with the guitar of the day. I most often play the Randall on the clean channel that doesn't have reverb. The effects side channel distorts too easily.

I left an Amazon Wish list for my wife, and I'm pretty sure 2 pedals might be under the tree. Not sure which ones.

 

[JohnW63]

Got the TC Electric Flashback Mini ( Need power adapter. Doesn't use a battery. ) and Full-Drive 3 pedals under the tree. Just placed order for short patch cables and TC power adapter.

 

[Bill Ashton]

That Fulltone should be quite the pedal, not familiar with the TC...congrats!