Essential FX Pedals

[theboatcandream]

Re: Essential FX Pedals

Hey hey hey

I would like to know what essential guitar Fx pedals (compression, tube Screamer, chorus... etc). Will you as a guitar player never leave out of your 'rigs' ?

Thanx

I don't think there's such a thing as an essential pedal. There's nothing wrong with just a guitar, a patchchord, and an amp - unless you're trying to copy someone else's sound.

 

[Indie P Bass]

Re: Essential FX Pedals

honestly... I could live without a single effect. The effects in my setup are essentially useless these days. Sure, I sometimes use the acoustic pedal to augment my acoustic's tone through the Vox... or the distortion to push my marshall to OD when I can only use one amp... but... other than an A/B box (which I don't count), I could live without a single effect.

 

[millsart]

Re: Essential FX Pedals

I don't think there's such a thing as an essential pedal. There's nothing wrong with just a guitar, a patchchord, and an amp - unless you're trying to copy someone else's sound.

Using just a guitar, cord and amp though makes you sound just like everyone else who plugs straight into their head as well though. No more or less original than using pedals.

 

[theboatcandream]

Re: Essential FX Pedals

Using just a guitar, cord and amp though makes you sound just like everyone else who plugs straight into their head as well though.

That's not true at all. Besides differences in equipment, who's holding the guitar makes a big difference to the sound.

 

[Pink Unicorn Horsey]

Re: Essential FX Pedals

That's not true at all. Besides differences in equipment, who's holding the guitar makes a big difference to the sound.

Agreed. That said, you may want to throw a tuner in there. Of course, a tuner isn't exactly an effects pedal, so it probably doesn't count for the sake of this thread.

- Keith

P.S. Wrong forum, Jumanji.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Essential FX Pedals

With amps having so many built-in effects these days, pedals aren't needed like they used to be. I prefer the two basics, overdrive & reverb, to be from the amp, not pedals.

If you don't like your amp's reverb, then a good reverb pedal is important. Although you don't want to use these all the time, as they can make your sound overdone and boring: delay (especially a tape echo simulator), flanger, & a uni-vibe type or rotating speaker pedal are nice on certain songs for variety.

If your sound is buried under too many effects, it quickly gets tiring to listen to. Like curse words, effects are best used for occasional emphasis. Effects don't make a song, anymore than swearing makes a conversation. Save them for the right time and they'll have a bigger impact. The important thing is your real tone & musicianship.

 

[Bludave]

Re: Essential FX Pedals

Depends on the amp. Some amps don't require to much hel, others do.
I don't use a lot of effects anyway but I like to have Chorus, Delay, OD, Wah and tuner. Thats pretty much it!

 

[lex666]

Re: Essential FX Pedals

For my needs I always try to have my Tuner, noise suppressor, wah, and my EVH Phase 90 at the ready.

 

[ErikH]

Re: Essential FX Pedals

That's not true at all. Besides differences in equipment, who's holding the guitar makes a big difference to the sound.

I agree 100%. No two players sound alike even using the same exact rig (guitar included). Each player has their own style that defines their own tone.

For me, there are no essential effects pedals. You either use them or you don't. I don't anymore. Reverb and drive are built in to the amp so I'm good there. I do have a tuner in live situations but sometimes I'll not use it at practice and just tune up against the bass player. I'm working on fixing up my wah and then I might put that on the floor for certain things, but it's not necessary.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Essential FX Pedals

for me the essential stuff is a guitar, cable and tube amp.

reverb in the amp is nice but not necessary, an overdrive/distortion pedal is a good thing to have, delay and chorus are probably the most used fx. everyone and their mother seems to use a wah pedal (usually badly) these days

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: Essential FX Pedals

Comp(preferly two), od of some fat sort(preferly two), not too gainy either, tremolo, chorus/vib, Univibe, flanger, delay...several
I like effects...hehe
But I can live with guitar, cord amp as well!!

 

[Pink Unicorn Horsey]

Re: Essential FX Pedals

for me the essential stuff is a guitar, cable and tube amp.

reverb in the amp is nice but not necessary, an overdrive/distortion pedal is a good thing to have, delay and chorus are probably the most used fx. everyone and their mother seems to use a wah pedal (usually badly) these days

Slightly off-topic here, but is there a decent instruction video or something on using a wah well? Seems like the kind of thing that may exist out there somewhere.

- Keith

 

[jeremy]

Re: Essential FX Pedals

if there is i think it needs to be passed out with every wah that gets sold. i think it has just become way to over used. its like the mustang sally of fx.

 

[Pink Unicorn Horsey]

Re: Essential FX Pedals

I was surprised to see how many people list the wah among their important, if not essential, effects. Didn't realize it was this popular.

- Keith

 

[blueman335]

Re: Essential FX Pedals

I was surprised to see how many people list the wah among their important, if not essential, effects. Didn't realize it was this popular.- Keith

I think the wah-wah peaked in the late 1960's. Neat at the time, but a little bit goes a long way these days. Unless you're playing "Shaft" on a regular basis...

Another consideration is how wet your sound is. A little reverb takes off the harshness & makes your guitar sound warm and alive. Too much & you sound like you're underwater (guys on stage seem to have a hard time judging this). Chorus is another one that can be laid on too heavily, and instead of being nice and shimmering, it can become annoying.

If you have a good basic tone from your guitar & amp, effects pedals are best an occasional treat throughout an evening.

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: Essential FX Pedals

Wah...I almost never use it...got an old JEN wah that is killer....but it is stuck under my table
Keep it for those moments of wah wah sickness periods

 

[thespricket]

Re: Essential FX Pedals

I dont think i could go without an overdrive, as a boost for the dirty channel on my amp. Something to kick it up to "eleven". I use a bad monkey.

but the ones i think every guitar player should have:

Overdrive
Wah
Chorus/flanger/phaser (any one would do for me)
Delay