Rich_S
HomeGrownToneBrewologist
I got two new pedals today, both used via eBay.
The first is a Boss CE-5, an older analog version from '98. Its high- and low-cut EQ controls let me shape its tone to suit my amp better than the old 2-knob CE-2. The CE-5, with its highs maxed and its lows pulled back a little bit, beats out the old CE-2 in my chorus torture test, The Pretenders' Time the Avenger. (Robbie McIntosh FTW.)
The second is an Xotic BB Preamp. I had one of these a while back and sold it when I entered my "Eternity" phase. I've been playing a modded SD-1 recently, but wishing it had a bit more dynamics and "chunk". After listening to a lot of Andy Timmons lately, I decided I needed another BB. I like my SD-1, but the BB's big advantage is flexibilty; its Baxendall tone stack really lets me dial in a lot of different sounds. Long-term I think the BB is a good all-around overdrive that will be tweakable to suit different amps. (THe SD-1 works really well with my 18 Watter, but I don't think it would play well with a clean Fender, for example.)
Also, I've been doing a shoot-out between my DS-1 Recto mod and an MXR Distortion+. There's something I really like about the D+, but I think my new pedalboard theme is going to be "flexibility". I can dial in the Recto to sound a lot like the D+, but it can also give me more gain, lots more volume, adn it has as tone control. Also, I want the distortion pedal first in my chain, and having the Boss buffer up front is a big advatage over the non-true-bypass, tone-sucking MXR.
So, I think my new pedalboard line up is going to be:
DS-1 Recto -> BB Preamp -> MXR Phase 90 Script RI -> CE-5 -> MIJ BF-2 -> DD-3 (short delays) -> DD-3 (long delays) -> Boss TR-2 Tremolo.
I've finally learned the lesson; STOP SELLING PEDALS when I find something I like better. Since nothing I'm keeping off the board (D+, DIY Eternity, SD-1, DIY EP Booster, MIK CE-2) represents a lot of money, I'll hang onto them all for when I want a different flavor. However, with my new "flexibilty" emphasis, I think this line up is going to last for a while. Good thing, too, I'm really sick of swapping pedals, and want to concentrate on my playing more. I have a few ideas for one-off live shows that I want to put together over the next two years, and I need to work on my chops.
The first is a Boss CE-5, an older analog version from '98. Its high- and low-cut EQ controls let me shape its tone to suit my amp better than the old 2-knob CE-2. The CE-5, with its highs maxed and its lows pulled back a little bit, beats out the old CE-2 in my chorus torture test, The Pretenders' Time the Avenger. (Robbie McIntosh FTW.)
The second is an Xotic BB Preamp. I had one of these a while back and sold it when I entered my "Eternity" phase. I've been playing a modded SD-1 recently, but wishing it had a bit more dynamics and "chunk". After listening to a lot of Andy Timmons lately, I decided I needed another BB. I like my SD-1, but the BB's big advantage is flexibilty; its Baxendall tone stack really lets me dial in a lot of different sounds. Long-term I think the BB is a good all-around overdrive that will be tweakable to suit different amps. (THe SD-1 works really well with my 18 Watter, but I don't think it would play well with a clean Fender, for example.)
Also, I've been doing a shoot-out between my DS-1 Recto mod and an MXR Distortion+. There's something I really like about the D+, but I think my new pedalboard theme is going to be "flexibility". I can dial in the Recto to sound a lot like the D+, but it can also give me more gain, lots more volume, adn it has as tone control. Also, I want the distortion pedal first in my chain, and having the Boss buffer up front is a big advatage over the non-true-bypass, tone-sucking MXR.
So, I think my new pedalboard line up is going to be:
DS-1 Recto -> BB Preamp -> MXR Phase 90 Script RI -> CE-5 -> MIJ BF-2 -> DD-3 (short delays) -> DD-3 (long delays) -> Boss TR-2 Tremolo.
I've finally learned the lesson; STOP SELLING PEDALS when I find something I like better. Since nothing I'm keeping off the board (D+, DIY Eternity, SD-1, DIY EP Booster, MIK CE-2) represents a lot of money, I'll hang onto them all for when I want a different flavor. However, with my new "flexibilty" emphasis, I think this line up is going to last for a while. Good thing, too, I'm really sick of swapping pedals, and want to concentrate on my playing more. I have a few ideas for one-off live shows that I want to put together over the next two years, and I need to work on my chops.
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