I just realized that I'm happiest when all I have....

some_dude

Raging BB Gunologist
I just realized that I'm happiest when all I have is a Les Paul, a cord, and a single channel amp.

Don't get me wrong.... this isn't a pedal hate thread. I actually really like pedals, and I like what other dudes can do with them. For myself however pedals have always been a love/hate thing.

With pedals it's always a fight. Some pedals sound best through a clean amp, others through a dirty amp. Some sound good through a loud amp but suck through a quiet one. Others are the complete reverse. It's such a pain in the ass, particularly when you have your stuff dialed in to where you want it only to find out your settings don't work at a particular live venue and your tone goes to sh*t.

On the other hand between the volume, tone and pickup selector on a Les Paul I can get pretty much everthing I need out of my amplifier. I just dime the gain, set the master volume and forget about the amp for the rest of the gig.

Same goes for multi-channel amps. I generally don't like the change in tone I get when I switch from one channel to another. What I want is two channels that sound the same with different gain levels. I can't seem to get that out of most channel switchers, but my volume knob does just that and more, as does my pickup selector. I also don't like using pedals as 'channels'. I've tried it and I don't like the fact that I generally degrade to an 'all knobs on 10' approach to my guitar's tone/volume. It feels limiting.

Anway, here's to simplicity :beerchug:
 
Last edited:
Re: I just realized that I'm happiest when all I have....

I'm w/ya! I've used pedals, but I usually come back to (maybe) a decent od pedal, and that's all. Lately, I'm more likely to be straight in, especially if it is a MV set up. Or, even if it isn't.

To be fair, I'm not as gain happy as I used to be, and I play music that doesn't demand atmospheric sonic qualities.

:beerchug:
 
Last edited:
Re: I just realized that I'm happiest when all I have....

There is something great about just going right into an amp and getting great tone. Cuts out a lot of hassle too imo without needing to manage a bunch of pedals, and like TS mentioned, it puts a lot of focus on playing dynamics and how you use your volume/tone controls.
 
Re: I just realized that I'm happiest when all I have....

Screamin', I'm with you. LP, cord, amp. Done.
 
Re: I just realized that I'm happiest when all I have....

Preaching to the choir here....

Every night I say that I really liked the way I sounded was the night I didn't have anything to do with alot of pedals or knobs.
 
Re: I just realized that I'm happiest when all I have....

Screamin', I'm with you. LP, cord, amp. Done.

Yea, but you have those really good amps...who makes those for you anyway?

:fingersx:
 
Re: I just realized that I'm happiest when all I have....

Yep, I'm with you on this. Unfortunately not every room I play allows me to crank my amp to the point I want, so pedals tag along. But unless I'm looking for something different, the amp's tone is where it's at.
 
Re: I just realized that I'm happiest when all I have....

If you're looking for killer overdrive, the best tones I've ever gotten were from amps - overdrive or distortion pedals simply can't substitute a good overdrive circuit.
 
Re: I just realized that I'm happiest when all I have....

yeah my tone is definitely better when i can just crank my Bassman and let 'er rip with the SG, no pedals in the line up or anything. There's actually a point where my amp's distortion is so heavy that it doesn't even notice overdrive or distortion pedals...it needs a Big Muff to sound any more distorted, and by that point it's just a ton of fuzz and noise. That's where I sound best...with my amp just goin out of control.
 
Re: I just realized that I'm happiest when all I have....

i've been wrecked for single channel amps.... i still use them but i like to use them with my switching system so i can switch to another head for louder solos... boosting my signal louder for solos just really works!!! i can switch from my 1982 2204 to a 5150 for more gain and pain....

but that being said i still use amp,cord,guitar for some things...
 
Re: I just realized that I'm happiest when all I have....

yeah my tone is definitely better when i can just crank my Bassman and let 'er rip with the SG, no pedals in the line up or anything. There's actually a point where my amp's distortion is so heavy that it doesn't even notice overdrive or distortion pedals...it needs a Big Muff to sound any more distorted, and by that point it's just a ton of fuzz and noise. That's where I sound best...with my amp just goin out of control.
Ditto, my last few gigs have been with just my SG X and Randall tube half stack. No pedals and just one channel with the EQ at 666.
 
Re: I just realized that I'm happiest when all I have....

Fender, cable, Marshall. That pretty much gives me what i need and love, though I'd love to get a wah for kicks once in a while.
 
Re: I just realized that I'm happiest when all I have....

I just realized that I'm happiest when all I have is a Les Paul, a cord, and a single channel amp.

Don't get me wrong.... this isn't a pedal hate thread. I actually really like pedals, and I like what other dudes can do with them. For myself however pedals have always been a love/hate thing.

With pedals it's always a fight. Some pedals sound best through a clean amp, others through a dirty amp. Some sound good through a loud amp but suck through a quiet one. Others are the complete reverse. It's such a pain in the ass, particularly when you have your stuff dialed in to where you want it only to find out your settings don't work at a particular live venue and your tone goes to sh*t.

On the other hand between the volume, tone and pickup selector on a Les Paul I can get pretty much everthing I need out of my amplifier. I just dime the gain, set the master volume and forget about the amp for the rest of the gig.

Same goes for multi-channel amps. I generally don't like the change in tone I get when I switch from one channel to another. What I want is two channels that sound the same with different gain levels. I can't seem to get that out of most channel switchers, but my volume knob does just that and more, as does my pickup selector. I also don't like using pedals as 'channels'. I've tried it and I don't like the fact that I generally degrade to an 'all knobs on 10' approach to my guitar's tone/volume. It feels limiting.

Anway, here's to simplicity :beerchug:

I'm kind of with you. I agree completely about pedals. I don't hate on pedals, with the exception of crappy ones and a lot of dirt boxes, but I don't need sweeping flanges and long delays but I have nothing against other musicians using pedals. We all have different tastes and different ways of getting our tone. Plus with me being a rhythm guitarist in my band and lead singer, it's much easier to just have a footswitch for channels.

This is where I differ with you. I like having a shimmering bright clean sound with a heavy medium gain overdrive. I only use the channel switch on my footswitch and keep the amp boost on the overdrive channel on. I'm loving my setup and the tones I'm getting, but the next step amp-wise for me is a Road King II!!! I want all those wonderful tube-switching and 4 channel features!!!

However, I do appreciate simplicity and if all you need is one guitar and one amp to get the job done, more power to you!
 
Re: I just realized that I'm happiest when all I have....

I'm loving my setup and the tones I'm getting, but the next step amp-wise for me is a Road King II!!! I want all those wonderful tube-switching and 4 channel features!!!

I've actually considered that amp alot.

I know it digresses from what I said above.... but, I'd still be able to have a guitar - cord - amp setup with it... and I'd have a couple channels of tones, reverb, and with the assignable loops I could have a few effects and no need to step on anything except the amp's footswitch.
 
Re: I just realized that I'm happiest when all I have....

I love my pedals, but I agree that Les Paul - Cord - Amp is where it's at.

Rock on!
 
Re: I just realized that I'm happiest when all I have....

while i'm here in school all i use are my strat and my tube combo and thats all i need to really play. But honestly i dont think i could be content forever playing with no pedals. First off, it's really not good for a band situation. I need to be able to have a few options regarding effects, delay, overdrive, and wah for any kind of live playing.

On the other hand i'm really not that fond of a carpet full of boxes and switches that i have to transport back and forth from every jam or gig. Which is why i have tried to keep things as simple as simple as i can.

I've always had a wah and overdrive (see below), but i found that i really really need some kind of delay pedal and a few different effects. So i decided to get a processor for the interest of convenience and money. I got a digitech Rp-100, i know, not top of the line but I'm a college student and money is...well you know. my only worry is that it will mess with my sound too much, even when i dont use the models. havent gotten it yet, so i'll have to wait.
 
Last edited:
Re: I just realized that I'm happiest when all I have....

Dedicated effects-head here, but I can quite happily go without for some stuff that I play.
 
Re: I just realized that I'm happiest when all I have....

I used to run a bunch of pedals and would drag all the necessary cords, batteries, extra duffel bag to jam sessions and gigs. Then I got sold on the "all in one" effect units and used those to get sounds(with the wah pedal in the effects loop while the effects went to preamp, cuz man that's just how I thought it needed to be). Then I realized I was tired of broken cables and making sure my pedals didn't grow legs and take up jogging. *cue sound of angels singing and light from above with Eureka! over my head* I sounded better for it! Now even at home I just go guitar to amp...hands and knobs, man.
 
Re: I just realized that I'm happiest when all I have....

Yeah, I'd rather go barefooted, but once in a while shoes are nice.
Options...why be a one trick pony when there's so much more to explore?
 
Back
Top