The Best of Boutique Pedals

[Rainmaker]

A lot of members here have lots of experience with boutique pedals. Whilst its discussed a fair bit, usually its only just about a specific effect (delay, overdrive, etc.)... here we need the best of the best, of all kinds of effects.

So, what are the best boutique pedals out there? The ones that stood out to you, driving you to purchase one (or you may already have one!)

 

[castiron]

Re: The Best of Boutique Pedals

i was just going to ask this question.

 

[jeremy]

Re: The Best of Boutique Pedals

the klon centaur is an amazing mild overdrive, not cheap but very nice

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: The Best of Boutique Pedals

the klon centaur is an amazing mild overdrive, not cheap but very nice

I have not tried the Klon but I do have a LoveTone Brown Source and it is the most amazing overdrive I have ever tried!

 

[Rainmaker]

Re: The Best of Boutique Pedals

Let's have in-depth descriptions too guys! You are our source of education.

 

[Davey]

Re: The Best of Boutique Pedals

yes.. ben get yer ass in here and say sumthing about the OD you got!!!

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: The Best of Boutique Pedals

Best??
What is that?
Some will love TS-style od's, some will hate those no matter how they perform.
Others likes more of this and that.
There is no best, only what works best for you.

 

[Stringmachine]

Re: The Best of Boutique Pedals

Best??
What is that?
Some will love TS-style od's, some will hate those no matter how they perform.
Others likes more of this and that.
There is no best, only what works best for you.

+1

Rid is a smart guy!

 

[Sune]

Re: The Best of Boutique Pedals

Well, in Denmark we tend to be smart.

 

[Stringmachine]

Re: The Best of Boutique Pedals

Well, in Denmark we tend to be smart.

Well, Norway aint that far away!

 

[Sune]

Re: The Best of Boutique Pedals

You're right. In the viking age danes and norwegians was almost the same.

 

[Stringmachine]

Re: The Best of Boutique Pedals

You're right. In the viking age danes and norwegians was almost the same.

Yup. Vikings rock! :headbang: :biglaugh:

 

[seafoamer]

Re: The Best of Boutique Pedals

The Zvex Lo-fi Loop Junky is a fun pedal to spend some time with.

 

[Armotron]

Re: The Best of Boutique Pedals

DigiTech RP50

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: The Best of Boutique Pedals

Best??
What is that?
Some will love TS-style od's, some will hate those no matter how they perform.
Others likes more of this and that.
There is no best, only what works best for you.

Hmmmmmmmmmm ........



Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm ......


Okay, I had to really think about that post. I disagree, but I will explain why.
I think that there is a universally accepted 'good tone'; we all know it when we hear it, it doesn't have to be expained, debated, or analysed. Of those acceptable good tones, there probably is a 'best' but I think that it will always be narrowed down to 'top 10 guitar tones'; with a big enough poll, I bet you that most guitarists will be astoundingly close on their choice, aside from the wacky people out there as well as the contrarians, like Rid.

However, when we're talking effects, one man's trash is another man's treasure. I can certainly appreciate the old Tube Screamer, Rat, and Boss GE-7, they are not my cup of tea, nor would I classify them as the best, per se.

The best pedals aren't necessarily the most expensive, tho, and here's where Rid scores a direct hit -- are you asking about boutique, luxury pedals, and what we liked about them to spend $200 - $1,000 per pedal? Or are you just assuming that because a pedal costs $800 that it must be the best? I tried out the Time Machine Boost yesterday, which costs $300, and the HBE Big D blew it away, and cost $80 less. The Time Machine was very disappointing.

I've been impressed by many, many pedals over the years, and as my tone becomes more individualized, I am graviating more and more towards things that are custom made, or boutique in variety.

I would definitely include the Klon Centaur in this list. I would also include the Ibanez Tube Screamer, tho it's not to my personal taste.
Fulltone Full-Drive 2, Fat Boost, Tube Tape Echo.
Brotech Fat Pipe Pro distortion pedal.
Homebrew Electronics Big D, Dos Mos, and Power Screamer.
Keeley Java Boost.
The new Mooger Fooger is a great, weird, boutique piece as well.
I also love my Roland VG-88 for amp modeling.

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: The Best of Boutique Pedals

That is because some of those "great" tones are getting slightly tired to listen too all the time
Plus I am more like using what ever sound that will work in a certain kind of way, reflecting the mood of the player and the feel.

 

[Falstaff]

Re: The Best of Boutique Pedals

The Janglebox compressor is the bomb.

 

[Quencho092]

Re: The Best of Boutique Pedals

what's that dumble OD called?

i wanna get the schematics of these things.....

 

[ef86pentode]

Re: The Best of Boutique Pedals

I also shared the sentiment that such a question would be impossible to answer, as tone is so subjective.
However, on closer inspection, I think we can definetly do it, but a definition of terms might be in order.
Some might say a boutique is a small firm or company concentrating on a specific or specialized market niche.
If you accept this definition, you might not refer to certain pedals made by big companies, regardless of how tonfull (is that a word?), celebrated or rare they happen to be (the Ibanez TS808 or Vox ToneBender are pretty good examples), based simply on the fact that they are produced by behemoth companies, impossible to describe as small or niche. For this very reason, it always strikes me as odd to hear pedals made by Ibanez, Roland and Digitech referred to as "Boutique Pedals". They may be expensive and they may have great tone, but boutique? They are not. A company like Analog.Man or Keeley, which modifies Tube Screamers & often reproduces copies of vintage pedals (along with their own, unique designs) would certainly qualify however.
If you accept those terms, I think a company like Klon is the definition of Boutique. Similar would be the Tim Overdrive, but we don't need to limit to just overdrives. FoxRox produces super cool stuff, as does Fulltone (though they are getting pretty big!). Zvexx, Everman, BJF, Black Cat, Crowther and Tone-Bone are all good, along with probably a million others...
Anyway, just my 2 cents, sorry for the length...
Based

 

[FireBros.]

Re: The Best of Boutique Pedals

Voodoo Labs stuff is pretty cool, and they are not expensive, compared to most smaller companies. I really like the Tremolo, and Sparkledrive. BTW I'm one of the guys who think that the best OD pedals have always been Tubescreamer based designs.