Essential Stompboxes?

EET_FUK

EET_FUK

New member
I've gone pedal free for a long time now, but I feel like I'm missing out on a lot now.

So my question to you guys is, what are the essential pedals for someone who is just starting out in the world of pedals? The pedals that all others are compared to.

So far on my list is:
Ibanez TS-9 (808?)
Fulltone OCD
Electro-Harmonix Big Muff
Boss DS-1

Those are the OD's on my list, but I don't have a clue what the standards are for modulation, delay, and reverb pedals.

Thanks for the help guys!
 
Re: Essential Stompboxes?

RIGHT!!!

For me there is NO essential chorus pedal for example...I could care less about chorus pedals but I don't leave home with a fuzz box of some kind.
 
Re: Essential Stompboxes?

EET_FUK said:
I've gone pedal free for a long time now, but I feel like I'm missing out on a lot now.

So my question to you guys is, what are the essential pedals for someone who is just starting out in the world of pedals? The pedals that all others are compared to.

So far on my list is:
Ibanez TS-9 (808?)
Fulltone OCD
Electro-Harmonix Big Muff
Boss DS-1

Those are the OD's on my list, but I don't have a clue what the standards are for modulation, delay, and reverb pedals.

Thanks for the help guys!
Click to expand...

I agree with TO and Fire, there are no standards. Only your own standards of excellence. If you are just developing or feeling those out, you should revisit your list because those are not really 'the pedals all others are compared to". What I mean is that while those are all good known pedals, the OD, Chorus, Delay etc market is so much more exciting, versatile and musical than ever before. Don't look at the GC or MF variety (though they both sell some good pedals) check out Pro Guitar Shop and Pedal Geek as examples. Look into the Catalinbread, Wampler, Keely, Jetter, Lovepedal etc. You may connect with something really special. Its an awesome journey and this is the best ever to be a musician looking for cool gear IMO. Cheers!
 
Re: Essential Stompboxes?

A standard choice for delay is the Boss DD-3, but there are endless choices out there.
 
Re: Essential Stompboxes?

Yep, the best approach is to go and try some. If you want to go into it unbiased, just go to a music store with a large selection and try some. If you want to take the educated guess approach, listen to some youtube clips and see what you like. I can recommend the ProGuitarShop demo's they are awesome.

For me the essentials are OD, Delay and Chorus. I also like some wah, a tuner pedal a bit of flange, some fuzz. Yet if I were you I would start with either OD or delay. Delay really can help you play better, tighter. OD's just sound awesome ;).
 
Re: Essential Stompboxes?

EET_FUK said:
I've gone pedal free for a long time now, but I feel like I'm missing out on a lot now.

So my question to you guys is, what are the essential pedals for someone who is just starting out in the world of pedals? The pedals that all others are compared to.

So far on my list is:
Ibanez TS-9 (808?)
Fulltone OCD
Electro-Harmonix Big Muff
Boss DS-1

Those are the OD's on my list, but I don't have a clue what the standards are for modulation, delay, and reverb pedals.

Thanks for the help guys!
Click to expand...

Once Upon A Time...I might have recommended those. But not Today. As mentioned, whatever sound it is YOU need. That's why there are a bajillion boxes.

But in general:
An OD
A Distortion
A Chorus/Flange/Phase - as per YOUR needs; Maybe one of each
A Delay

Those boxes will get you pretty dang far to make whatever tone.

Today I'd say get these:

An OD - Digitech Bad Monkey
A Distortion - So many flavors....
- Modtone Speedbox
- Keely modded DS-1
- Rat 2
- Joyo US Dream
A Chorus/Flange/Phase - as per YOUR needs; MAybe one of each
- Chorus / Digitech CF-7 Chorus Factory
- Flange / Digitech Turbo Flange
- Phase / MXR Phase 90
A Delay
- MXR Carbon Copy (Analog)
- Boss DD3 (Digital)

If Wah; A Dunlop 535Q

The boxes I recommended, particularly Chorus/Flange and 535Q will save you years and $$$$ searching for the right box.
 
Re: Essential Stompboxes?

I agree with what has been said there are no rules but here's a few things I like as far as the basics

reverb: EHX Holy Grail Plus or tc electronic hall of fame
Delay: MXR Carbon Copy or Boss DD-3, or line6 dl4
Phaser: MXR Phase 90 or Phase 45
Chorus: boss ce-2 or ce-5
fuzz: dunlop hendrix fuzz face
wah: dunlop cry baby
compressor: mxr dyna comp or custom comp, or keeley 4 knob
tuner: boss tu-2 or korg pitchblack


a few more distortions/overdrives to add to your list
Boss BD-2
Boss SD-1
Proco Rat
marshall guv'nor
 
Re: Essential Stompboxes?

For overdrive, there are so many flavours that you will probably have to buy and try until you find the right box for your rig. A great place to start is the Ibanez or Maxon TS9/808, or the Fulltone OCD/FullDrive 2. I currently have a Visual Sound Route 66 that has a compressor too - a great deal of a pedal if you're looking to add some grit and maybe try out some sparkle/sustain/punch at the same time.

In the modulation game, a Boss CH-1 Super Chorus or EHX Small Clone. The former is pretty good and more adjustable. For several years, I swear by my Boss BF-2 flanger (older MIJ) for everything from subtle chorus-like effects to psychedelic shimmer to all-out jet plane action. If you can find a BF-2 on eBay I say snag it - it's much more versatile than you would think.

In the wah world, you can't go wrong with the Cry Baby 535Q as has been mentioned. It's totally tweakable and very solid. I got the Dimebag signature version maybe 7 years ago and haven't spent as much time with any other wah. A Vox V847 is also a good choice: cheap, and easily modded to your preference.

Delay, I say track down a Line6 DL4 if you never want to buy another delay again.
 
Re: Essential Stompboxes?

See - I think the TS-9 is NOT a great place to start. I think most would actually be very dissapointed with it these days. Almost every copy out there has MORE. More Bottom, more drain, more EQ options, more more more. HELL, even Ibanez makes one with more!

Bad Monkey is the TS-9 for today.

And it really shines with certain amps to push the dirt. Others, not so much....
 
Re: Essential Stompboxes?

Aceman said:
See - I think the TS-9 is NOT a great place to start. I think most would actually be very dissapointed with it these days. Almost every copy out there has MORE. More Bottom, more drain, more EQ options, more more more. HELL, even Ibanez makes one with more!

Bad Monkey is the TS-9 for today.

And it really shines with certain amps to push the dirt. Others, not so much....
Click to expand...

Doesnt make sense dude. Anyone who would be disapointed in a real TS9 would also be disapointed in a bad monkey. The extra bass control isnt really going to tip the scales. Maybe for a few but not many. To me the Bad Monkey is the Shasta Cola of TS9's sure its a TS9 but theres a quality in it that just isnt quite right.
 
Re: Essential Stompboxes?

EET_FUK said:
what are the essential pedals for someone who is just starting out in the world of pedals? The pedals that all others are compared to.

So far on my list is:
Ibanez TS-9 (808?)
Fulltone OCD
Electro-Harmonix Big Muff
Boss DS-1
Click to expand...

Like some have mentioned, those are the pedals most are compard to, but not necessarily essential anymore. Yeah, the tube screamer is a classic, but almost every pedal maker out there has a TS copy that is superior, or at least better suited to a specific need. the Fulldrive 2 and the green rhino come to mind as better tube screamers. But for a better sounding overdrive with the same amount of gain as a TS, the possibilities are endless. I like the bogner ecstasy blue and the wampler tweed 57 personally.

The big muff is the same thing: yeah, it is the standard, but there are a million big muff clones that destroy the curent EH model. I like the violet rams head from stomp under foot best myself.

Fulltone OCD i actually think is a great pedal and you should definitely get one.

Boss DS1 is a piece of crap in my opinion. if youre gonna get one get a used one for $20 just to have one, but i do not like that pedal.
 
Re: Essential Stompboxes?

Yeah - I mean this is like saying "I'm getting into cars, what should I start with?"

- Well, the model T.....

Times have changed. It is time to STOP comparing things to stuff from 20 years ago. The ONLY reason I look at DS-1's is for cheap mod practice.
 
Re: Essential Stompboxes?

For me its chorus, delay, Overdrive(I like my TS9) Wah & tuner. I am a pretty basic player and I use my chorus when playing chords delay and overdrive when soloing. Wah when needed. Other then thos basics I dont use much. I know plenty of guys that use a lot more and I know a few guys that have one pedal for one song, so different strokes for different folks. Whatever works for you as an individual should be what YOU use!
 
Re: Essential Stompboxes?

Aceman said:
Yeah - I mean this is like saying "I'm getting into cars, what should I start with?"

- Well, the model T.....

Times have changed. It is time to STOP comparing things to stuff from 20 years ago. The ONLY reason I look at DS-1's is for cheap mod practice.
Click to expand...

I'm really not baggin on yah man but thats another bad analogy. By that line of thinking why are you still coddling your Les Paul along? Cars from 60 years ago are much different than they are now. Guitars not so much.. Hell most of the new stuff aspires to be like the old stuff. If we were all after "the cutting edge" we would be playing graphite parkers through modelers.
 
Re: Essential Stompboxes?

i think the DS-1 is pretty cool with the gain low and something more midrangey in front of it. lots of people use tube screamers I use a mxr distortion III. it's worth the $35 to me
 
Re: Essential Stompboxes?

well for me the essential pedals are a Big Muff, Catalinbread SFT ( amazing cranked ampeg tones and my base tone) and an analog delay and a digital delay and a octave up fuzz and a Digitech Whammy 5 ... those are the essentials for me :D
 
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