Are Carl Martin Effects Overrated?

[Luke Duke]

Re: Are Carl Martin Effects Overrated?

That is an excellent point Luke, and one of the philosophies that I've adopted in the past couple of years regarding any purchase, guitar related or not myself. A lot of people don't think to the future. And if they're not stuck in the past, a lot are just going for immediacy. It's all perspective. But yeah, which is more beneficial, and longer lasting?

If somebody wants a certain effect, instead of impulsively jumping on one for some reason take the time to search all the possibilities. By the time someone's decided, "ehh this wasn't all that I thought it could be." After going through the time and hassle of unloading it, or keeping it, even accumulating more than you need and wasting space in a box in the closet, the end result is the costs paid out over & over again will far outweigh one that is backed by reputation, quality, and experience which may be a little bit more coastly initially. You do what you can do. Whatever you do just enjoy it, and don't worry about another person's choice to use something else.

In a nutshell, I think that everyone should just play what they want to play through and stop betchin and moanin. If somebody wants to pay $85.00, or $200.00 for a piece of equipment that may do similar things, it's that person's prerogative, and what they're capable of doing, or not. Whatever you get make the best of it, and incorporate it to give all that you can get out of it.

These are all just tools that help us to put out what we want to get out. Some form of music.

Good post.

I've just recently gotten into pedals in the last year or so. I drove Christian NUTS in my search for a delay pedal. Then when I started looking at phase shifters I was burning up his phone again. I listened to as many as I could could that were equipped the way way I wanted. I agonized, played and read and read....but it was worth it because I got a great phas shifter and delay out of the deal.

I liken it to when the Snap-On truck stops at a shop. You get a great tool for a specific job from an expert.

Luke

 

[The Golden Boy]

Re: Are Carl Martin Effects Overrated?

or the better question - why not find a good pedal that's cheap and not worrying about spending $250 on guitar accesories?

Good luck finding a "cheap" pedal that doesn't squash your tone and kill your dynamics.

 

[barbarianbrute]

Re: Are Carl Martin Effects Overrated?

Good luck finding a "cheap" pedal that doesn't squash your tone and kill your dynamics.

yeah, i have to agree with golden boy on that. the cheap pedals don't always do it for me. i've tried several and pretty much abandoned digitech all together. i like boss products, but mostly for effects. i have a metal zone, but i prefer the metal muff over it.

i'd like to find a distortion/overdrive pedal that's more articulate and less fuzzy than my metal muff, but with a bit more drive than my jeckle and hyde.

 

[Leveller]

Re: Are Carl Martin Effects Overrated?

Of course cheap pedals will generally sound worse... But man. Digitech Bad Monkey! Best pedal for the money ever.

 

[lex666]

Re: Are Carl Martin Effects Overrated?

We have a vibrato(soon two, one with a chorus/vib)........a flanger is coming...and that will be something!!
Pedals are tools...it is your job to make them sound good!
I can only say that our mainseries are not operating at a measly 9v, and that we aim for natural useful tones, as for overdrive...it will only sound as good as your amp and skills allow it
That is the oldest rule in the book!

Hey Rid,

When is that flanger pedal coming out? I'm currently looking for something with a real thick flanger tone, will the CM be like that?

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: Are Carl Martin Effects Overrated?

Well it will be anything but thin!
But it won't be a jetflanging one, more oldstyle spacy instead, we have made one prototype...it came to life some two years ago now....had too many other projects to juggle around, so it kinda got pushed aside!
But we are beginning on the second outfit now.
As both Thomas and me have being checking up on the subject all along....hehe sick project!
But not thin....not ever

 

[Axl H]

Re: Are Carl Martin Effects Overrated?

Did you get my message niels?

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: Are Carl Martin Effects Overrated?

Yeah yeah go and destroy some more guitars.....:chairshot:stooges:
If I hear one more word about bloody stinking Priest I am gonna puke....:headache:

 

[Axl H]

Re: Are Carl Martin Effects Overrated?

Yeah yeah go and destroy some more guitars.....:chairshot:stooges:
If I hear one more word about bloody stinking Priest I am gonna puke....:headache:

Why I love priest. They rule

But hey I decided to keep the JB in it, thats a good thing innit?

Dont be mad at me now... It is my guitar

Btw. do you know SKB cases? Found a hardcase for the strat for only 590kr, might be a good thing to get when I begin to play live alot.

 

[cream123]

Re: Are Carl Martin Effects Overrated?

Because the cheap pedals don't sound the same?

Remember I'm not just talking about OD/distortion pedals.

Thing is man we spend boatloads on accessories. Have you ever added up how much you've spent on strings, picks and cables? Let me tell ya man it's DEPRESSING!

Luke

I guess, as a whole....More expensive pedals will be of better quality. But grouping it together...saying "cheap pedals are always worse than expensive ones" is like saying "the more expensive the guitar, the better it is."


it's not really a good mindset. There are good effect pedals out there that aren't ridiculously expensive.

 

[BigAlTheBird]

Re: Are Carl Martin Effects Overrated?

I guess, as a whole....More expensive pedals will be of better quality. But grouping it together...saying "cheap pedals are always worse than expensive ones" is like saying "the more expensive the guitar, the better it is."


it's not really a good mindset. There are good effect pedals out there that aren't ridiculously expensive.

Correct. The smartest minor on the boards.

 

[cream123]

Re: Are Carl Martin Effects Overrated?

We have a vibrato(soon two, one with a chorus/vib)........a flanger is coming...and that will be something!!
Pedals are tools...it is your job to make them sound good!
I can only say that our mainseries are not operating at a measly 9v, and that we aim for natural useful tones, as for overdrive...it will only sound as good as your amp and skills allow it
That is the oldest rule in the book!

is it true pitch vibrato...that's more of what I'm looking for.

 

[Luke Duke]

Re: Are Carl Martin Effects Overrated?

I guess, as a whole....More expensive pedals will be of better quality. But grouping it together...saying "cheap pedals are always worse than expensive ones" is like saying "the more expensive the guitar, the better it is."


it's not really a good mindset. There are good effect pedals out there that aren't ridiculously expensive.

I'm not talking about just better build quality I'm talking about more transparency, less signal loss or muddying, more "organic" sounding etc etc. Now don't get it twisted there are 5M guys out there doing TS clones that are pretty much BYOC stuff that they hand paint and charge 500 bucks for. I'm not talking about those guys.

It's like Christian said today when talking about tuning pedals "you'll see guys with 5K pedalboards and 79 dollar tuners. Remember that what's expensive to me might be the greatest deal to the next guy. If you think CMs are ridiculously priced look up Pro Analog stuff.....maybe a super quack wah. That puts stuff into perspective for me.

If I didn't know better man I'd say you were trying to preach to me about outlooks on gear.

Luke

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: Are Carl Martin Effects Overrated?

There are good effect pedals out there that aren't ridiculously expensive.

Define expensive??
What is expensive??
Ours have internal powersupplies(the mainline that is) they run at +-12v(24v)
Use normal parts with good tolerances, are made for everyday use, mostly simple and straightforward.
We give good service to those who buys them!
If you complain over prices...just take alook at Cornish effects....that is expensive...and very very good!
On some things there is a reason for the price!

s it true pitch vibrato

Well it is based upon a Vox AC-30 vibrato....I have the amp now, the designer made as a reference for the pedal.

 

[cream123]

Re: Are Carl Martin Effects Overrated?

okay, don't get me wrong...I didn't mean to say that Carl Martin Effects are overpriced....or that they aren't good....or anything of that sort....

I guess that it's not the right price for me....you know?

I don't want to spend that much on an effect. It seems like more of an accesory....

but w/e....maybe in a while.

I guess a big issue is that I'm not really that good....so having really good equipment w/out having the chops to sound good playing it....not cool. lol

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: Are Carl Martin Effects Overrated?


Hehe well.....as with all other tools..onesie gottas knowses howses to uses them

 

[Luke Duke]

Re: Are Carl Martin Effects Overrated?

Hehe well.....as with all other tools..onesie gottas knowses howses to uses them

Kinda like an angel arm right?

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: Are Carl Martin Effects Overrated?

Yup...but then I am going to blow it all up.....arh bugger

 

[barbarianbrute]

Re: Are Carl Martin Effects Overrated?

maybe this is a dumb question, but why can't i find any sound samples on the carlmartin.com website? where are the sounds samples available? the crush zone and heavy drive sound cool, any clips for those? what's the highest gain pedal cm offers?

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: Are Carl Martin Effects Overrated?

The forum man!!
The forum!!

And I am still waiting for the guy we use, to make some real demos for us!
I never have the time to record with amps....and I am not particular interested in it either.
I just wanna play, not demo stuff.