DUNCAN FORUM - help a pedal newbie out!!!

[The Dali]

Hi everyone - so I have recently treaded lightly into the waters of tube amplification. I have been a solid state guy with digital FX for a long time. I have a Mustang III that I really like - and it has the advantage of simply turning a knob and getting me "Aussie Rock" or "Puppet Master" tones... but I am testing out a tube head and getting into speaker cabs (I'm slightly crazy with cabs right now) and speaker changes... which leads me to the fact that I don't want to use a multi-fx with the tube amp. I'd like to build out a small, but usable pedalboard. The amp head I'm testing out right now is a Egnater Tweaker, which is 1 channel so no footswitch for gain/clean.

There are literally a zillion pedals available (I'm selling a few actually that I got in a trade - they are all way over my head in terms of use), and price points that vary from $25 Joyo to $400+ boutique.

My first question is about the KINDS of pedals that a decent board should have. I see like 5 different kinds of overdrive/gain pedals alone! How many gain/OD pedals do people usually have on their board?!?! Is it normal to have 3 or 4?

I'm thinking of the following (not in this order):

Wah
Overdrive/Boost
Distortion/Metal?
Fuzz
Reverb
Chorus
Phaser

I don't know that I NEED phaser. I think Reverb is a must and possibly chorus. It sounds like people like to have multiple OD/distortion pedals.

What do you all do??

We can talk about prices and brands later - I've been researching and have lots of ideas - but like to nail getting a solid basic understanding of what is a "required" set of pedals first. (ie,m should I look to have multiple OD over a phaser?)

Thanks!

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: DUNCAN FORUM - help a pedal newbie out!!!

Tuner

just sayin

I dont think you'll need an overdrive and a distortion and a fuzz
you may be able to get a fuzzy sound with a boost into a distortion

some sort of modulation
chorus/phaser/flanger

a Delay would be would probably be better than a reverb
most amps come with a reverb
my Digitech DL8 has a modulated delay that sounds kinda like reverb

 

[Gtrjunior]

Re: DUNCAN FORUM - help a pedal newbie out!!!

You can still run your digi fx into the fx loop of a tube amp. Just use the amp for the OD/dist sounds and the fx unit for you delay chorus reverb etc

 

[Hsb]

Re: DUNCAN FORUM - help a pedal newbie out!!!

On my board I have a tuner, an od, distortion and phaser in the front of the amp and in the loop I have delay, chorus, verb and lastly a looper. If you are strictly looking for effects that should cover it, if you want the joy of recording some of your own work and practice along with it, looper is a good choice. My pedals range my Electro Harmonix to Wampler and in between.

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: DUNCAN FORUM - help a pedal newbie out!!!

EHX has some nice boutique pedals at mid range prices

ok they are kinda high sometimes

I got my Octavix Octave Fuzz one sale at $49
and some other EHX pedal
I can see it right now
but I know its here somewhere

 

[The Dali]

Re: DUNCAN FORUM - help a pedal newbie out!!!

EHX has some nice boutique pedals at mid range prices

ok they are kinda high sometimes

I got my Octavix Octave Fuzz one sale at $49
and some other EHX pedal
I can see it right now
but I know its here somewhere

Thanks for the responses so far!

Yeah, I was looking initially at CHEAP pedals... like JOYO and others, but I'm seeing a nice collection of used mid-quality pedals in the $40 - 85 range, which is nice.

Still trying to figure out what to get - there are so many distortion pedals. I need to look at the differences between BOOST, Overdrive, distortion, fuzz, etc....

 

[jeremy]

Re: DUNCAN FORUM - help a pedal newbie out!!!

i have three boards setup right now

sunface->dls mkii->vapor trail which is fuzz into overdrive into delay

vice grip->phase 90->valvetone->green rhino->deja vu compressor into phase into two overdrives into delay

killing floor->ltd->carbon copy->twin cities dirty boost into overdrive into delay into aby

there is no rules. what tones do you need? obviously i like dirt and delay but there is plenty of the time i play a blues/rock set with just a guitar->cable->amp. if you are doing soundscape stuff then youre gonna want delays and reverbs and modulation. 80's metal then distortion and chorus and delay. grateful dead crap then you need an envelope filter

 

[Mincer]

Re: DUNCAN FORUM - help a pedal newbie out!!!

I think the music you are creating dictates the board. If you want to be ready for anything, the sky is the limit. Sometimes having a ton of options isn't the best thing in live performance.

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: DUNCAN FORUM - help a pedal newbie out!!!

the Joyo Ultimate drive and the Biyang Tri Reverb
are some amazing inexpensive pedals

both can be had used for around $25

Boss SD1 is about $29 used as is the DS1

 

[The Dali]

Re: DUNCAN FORUM - help a pedal newbie out!!!

I think the music you are creating dictates the board. If you want to be ready for anything, the sky is the limit. Sometimes having a ton of options isn't the best thing in live performance.

Very true - and I'm just experimenting right now so it isn't life or death! I play classic rock to newer blues. Don't have the skills to play too much metal (although I try) so my focus is really on AC/DC, Rush, Floyd, to Black Keyes, Neil Young, etc...

I want to have fun with it - but also don't want to buy stuff that I don't need (although re-selling and buying new is fun too)

 

[The Dali]

Re: DUNCAN FORUM - help a pedal newbie out!!!

the Joyo Ultimate drive and the Biyang Tri Reverb
are some amazing inexpensive pedals

both can be had used for around $25

Boss SD1 is about $29 used as is the DS1

Thanks - the Ultimate Drive does get some good reviews. I was looking on Reverb and people are selling SD-1 for $40 plus shipping when a new one is $49 free shipped. LOL

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: DUNCAN FORUM - help a pedal newbie out!!!

yea used to be able to get them on GC used for $20
some folks are just looking for a sucker

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: DUNCAN FORUM - help a pedal newbie out!!!

you know I went on Google and typed Boss SD1 and shopping
Music go round shows one at $19.00 but when you click on it ,
its used and $65 plus $15 shipping
how do they get away with that bait and switch nonsense
f*** that

I wouldn't buy anything ever from them
cheating rascals

 

[jeremy]

Re: DUNCAN FORUM - help a pedal newbie out!!!

fuzz-overdrive-other dirt pedal-delay-chorus-reverb

that would cover a ton of bases. you could add a wah or phaser or 2nd delay if you wanted both a long and short option or a delay with tap tempo

 

[The Dali]

Re: DUNCAN FORUM - help a pedal newbie out!!!

fuzz-overdrive-other dirt pedal-delay-chorus-reverb

that would cover a ton of bases. you could add a wah or phaser or 2nd delay if you wanted both a long and short option or a delay with tap tempo

Thanks - this is helpful.

I looked around (a little down time today LOL) and here are some ideas of pedals I think it would be possible options to pick up ...:

Fuzz:
EarthQuaker Hoof (ONLY because I just traded for one. Otherwise I will sell it for something cheaper)
TC Electronics Honeyspot Fuzz
EHX Big muff nano


Overdrive:
Joyo Ultimate Overdrive
Boss SD-1
Outlaw Effects Marhsal Overdrive
Tone City Model M
Barber Dirty Bomb
EHX Crayon Overdrive


Dirt:
EHX Metal Muff


Delay:
EHX Worm
TC Electronics Feedback
EHX Memory Toy
Visual Sound H2O (has Chorus too)

Reverb:
Digitech Polara
Modtone Coliseum Reverb


Phaser:
Virtual Sound Oil Can
MXR Phase 90
EHX Stone Phaser


Chorus
Modtone AquaChorus II
Biyang Tonefancier Chorus
TC Electronics 3rd Dimension
EHX Clone Chorus


I know EHX, Boss and MXR are solid stuff. Not sure about the rest.

 

[jeremy]

Re: DUNCAN FORUM - help a pedal newbie out!!!

so you have all those pedals? start experimenting. with a big muff based fuzz location is much less important, where as a fuzzface or tone bender needs to be first to sound best most of the time. the hoof is a great muff style fuzz pedal

 

[The Dali]

Re: DUNCAN FORUM - help a pedal newbie out!!!

so you have all those pedals? start experimenting. with a big muff based fuzz location is much less important, where as a fuzzface or tone bender needs to be first to sound best most of the time. the hoof is a great muff style fuzz pedal

No, I have been researching those pedals as options for each category!

 

[jeremy]

Re: DUNCAN FORUM - help a pedal newbie out!!!

ahh gotcha. what do you actually own right now?

 

[The Dali]

Re: DUNCAN FORUM - help a pedal newbie out!!!

ahh gotcha. what do you actually own right now?

The only thing I have right now is the Hoof pedal. I traded a guitar for a bunch of pedals and the Hoof was one of them. I wanted to sell them, but it started me to get thinking of using pedals for the tube amp, so here we are! And I decided the Hoof might be a good one to keep.

The others I have are the Walrus Lumninary, EHX Sampler, and Wampler Ethereal - I have them for sale as I don't need $150+ pedals at this point... LOL

 

[The Dali]

Re: DUNCAN FORUM - help a pedal newbie out!!!

I am amazed at the cost-effectiveness of EHX. Most are made in USA (all?) and they can be had used for $45 - $125 in most cases. Impressive.

Notr sure if they are all good, above average pedals, but the build quality seems good. I had a Metal Muff back about 15 years and it was pretty nice.