Quick pedal suggestions for me.

Top Jimmy

New member
I'm basically down to tuner, delay, and eq. Sick of trying OD's and distortions, I figured out I hate chorus, I stopped using reverb.

All I want now is: a new delay (using an old late 80's Ibanez delay), a fuzz (I want a Smashing Pumpkins type sound), and a phaser at some point (probably an EVH Phaser because I'm an EVH whore).

Delays: Price range less than $150.
Popular Options:
DigiTech HardWire DL-8
Boss DD-3
Boss DD-7
MXR Carbon Copy (Analog? What does that mean sound wise?)
Vox Joe Satriani Time Machine

Fuzz:
Did Corgan use a Big Muff?
Do I need to consider anything else other than a big muff?

That is all, thanks in advance.
 
Re: Quick pedal suggestions for me.

For Corgan fuzz a Big Muff will get you there as he used one... a lot. Also it can cover Pink Floyd, (later) Isley Brothers, White Stripes, etc, etc.

What kind of delay are you looking for? Long, short, one that can do both? Digital or analog?

You could get a Line 6 DL4 for $150 used and cover a huge range of delay sounds.
 
Re: Quick pedal suggestions for me.

Big Muffs...Billy used an early 80's Big Muff with the IC circuit (i.e. IC's instead of transistors)on siamese dream. A Transistor Big muff, won't really get you that sound. I know theres a few people making clones of the IC Big Muffs right now...But I've never tried any, so I can't recommend any...BUT, you can pickup a real Vintage IC Big Muff for $150-200 right now. So really, if thats what you want...I'd just buy the real deal.
Now, that said...An IC Big muff still isn't gonna get you the smashing pumpkins sound just sitting around in your house. Billy did alot of over dubs in the studio, so what you hear on tape...isn't what even came out of His amp.
If you want to get closer to those sort of sounds...Check out the various Modded Muff makers out there. Theres alot of great sounding muffs, that really beat the living **** out of anything EH has ever made.
The Devi Ever Soda Meister, will get you a great smashing pumpkins sound for around $100. The Black out Effectors Musket, is a great Modded muff circuit (based on the Russian Big Muffs), with alot more control options, sounds great. Stomp Under Foot also makes ALOT of Different Muff Clones, and if you talk with them, they can even add in a mids control, or other options (for a charge of course). Theres so many different great muff clones out there, its ridiculous.
If you want an Actual Electro Harmonix Muff, for whatever reason...Currently the Big Muff with Tone Wicker, and the Bass Big Muff, are the two best in the lineup IMO. The Wicker Muff, is basically a normal Big Muff Circuit with a switch to remove the tone control (for more mids), and "wicker" switches, that seem to add Upper midrange. The bass Big Muff is based on the Green Russian Muff Circuit, a bit warmer overall, and has a "Direct out" option, which is good for adding clarity back into the mix.

I'd say just spend a day checking out as many different Big Muff style pedals as you can, and just pick the one that works best for you. You might play them all, and realize you hate how they sound when you play em...or Love the Normal Big Box EH Big Muff more than anything else? Who knows. You definitely have ALOT of options to choose from though, haha.
 
Re: Quick pedal suggestions for me.

The Digitech Hardwire dl-8 has comparable options to the Line 6 dl4, but in a much smaller package with true bypass. I mainly use the 20 second looping, the analog delay, and the modulated delay, it is an amazing sounding, durable pedal with tons of options. That would be my choice for delay unless you are incredibly picky about a specific analog delay sound. For digital and looping options, I think the Line 6 and DL-8 are top contenders in your price range.
 
Re: Quick pedal suggestions for me.

Towards the Fuzz:
I don't know if you are a DIY-person or are open to building your own pedal, if not you may know somebody who can build you one?
If you are open to building it yourself, or would know anyone who can (it's not that hard), I'd advise getting the General Guitar Gadgets Big Muff Pi kit, and build it to the "Triangle" version, you'll find it here (kit is on the website too):
http://generalguitargadgets.com/projects/17-distortion/108-big-muff-pi
The "Triangle" version may not be the one used by Corgan, but it will offer you a great sounding and versatile Muff in my opinion, and with a set like this, you definitely won't break the bank ;)


Towards delay:
I have promoted other pedals from this brand pretty often before, always for the same reasons: good designs, using great components such as WIMA caps etc,.., "true" bypass and being sold at very low prices if you look for them.
And once more I am going to recommend a couple pedals from the Biyang line.
Out of their "Tonefancier" line comes the Biyang AD-8:

1270109959.jpg


They also have a "BabyBoom" line, featuring smaller housings and kind of boutique-style finishing, they also have a delay in that line using a PT2399 and offering up to 1100ms of delay time:
1270112317.jpg


http://www.biyang.com.cn/Products.php?id=71

I own a Biyang AD-8 from the Tonefancier series, and I am very happy about that pedal, concidering the prices these sell for, and what you get in return, I truly concider these a bargain! If you have the chance check them out!! ;)
 
Re: Quick pedal suggestions for me.

he Big Muff with Tone Wicker, and the Bass Big Muff, are the two best in the lineup IMO.

I've got the Tone Wicker muff and I think it's great. I pretty much always leave the "Wicker" switch turned on because I like it best that way.

For delays, the Hardwire seems to be pretty good but also check out the TC Electronic Nova Delay or Nova Repeater. I've got the Nova Repeater and I'm happy with it.
 
Re: Quick pedal suggestions for me.

They are all cool dealys but i gotta say something about the sd deja vu.....
It has a knob that allows you to change delay patterns from 16th notes, to 8th note triplets, to 8thnotes, to quarter note triplets etc. Put this together with the tap function and its not juts a great sounding delay, but totally useable and easy to make it fit to whatever you are after on the fly.
Im not even talking about the other stuff it offers, but that knob alone is what makes it a much better pedal than the others for me.
 
Re: Quick pedal suggestions for me.

Alright...analog delays are darker and nastier in their repeats...digital delays are very clean and bright in their repeats. Also, in an analog delay each repeat gets darker and nastier until it just kind of fades away where digital delay units give each repeat just as strong and full as the first just with less volume.

Neither are better or worse, it's all a matter of opinion...of the delays you named I'd go with the Carbon Copy for analog or the DD-3 for digital...

Fuzz...first off Billy is a gear head and has used lots of fuzzes besides Big Muffs however a Big Muff will please ANY Pumpkins fan!

If you want a Big Muff I suggest the BMF Aries Fuzz...it's not a clone of any specific era Muff but rather a pedal that pulls the best bits from each design giving you a great classic Muff sound plus there is an added MID control letting you get the classic Muff scoop, an even bigger scoop or all the way to a slight mid humnp and all points in between which lets you cut in a live band which is something Muffs don't do well IMO.
 
Re: Quick pedal suggestions for me.

What kind of "using an old late 80's Ibanez delay" are you using? It may be as good as anything you are going to get now, the old Ibanez pedals were made by Maxon and sound great!
 
Re: Quick pedal suggestions for me.

My two cents and I have owned and used all that I will mention. The Hardwire DL-8 is a fantastic pedal. Great tones and very flexible. Some mention the carbon copy but it is limited in what it can do, great tone and delays but just is too limited in function. The second one is over your budget new, the SD deja Vu. Now this pedal has so much flexibility and options that I am still exploring it. It has great delays from analog (true analog) to digital. It gives the best of both worlds and is still simple to operate. In budget go for the Hardwire, push the budget another $100 and you are in Deja Vu land. I still own the Hardwire also and have no intention of getting rid of it nor the Deja Vu.
 
Re: Quick pedal suggestions for me.

What kind of "using an old late 80's Ibanez delay" are you using? It may be as good as anything you are going to get now, the old Ibanez pedals were made by Maxon and sound great!

The old DE-7 is a fab delay. I've just swapped mine for a Deja Vu on my main board, but I'm going to put together a 'mini-board' with it on.
 
Re: Quick pedal suggestions for me.

Great info, thanks.

Yep, thought about the SD delay but priced to high for me to justify.

I wouldn't be affraid to DIY since I've rewired guitars but I'm lacking in time right now.

I have never used an analog so I can't say what I'm looking for sound wise, but my current is digital and it works fine, just think it's on its las legs and getting hissing, etc.

I'm just a basement player so I don't need anything top of the line, just something to make me happy.

I'll look at the muff suggestions.
 
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