What effects pedals should I use?

B

bornagainplayer

New member
I've always appreciated the responses I get from this forum, so I hope some of you can help me with advice on effects pedals.

I'm moving away from my multi-effects unit and going with individual pedals. It's been many years since I've shopped around for them, and there are so many out there now it's practically overwhelming.

I've done some online research, including Youtube videos that have some good demos. The speakers on my computer don't really do those demos justice though. I'll probably go with pedals under $100 new and on Ebay for even less. What pedals do you think I should get.

I have a Strat and a Les Paul and I'm using a Crate V50 tube amp and a Fender Super Champ 2S tube amp. I play mostly classic rock: Bad Company, Joe Walsh, Cheap Trick, U2, Pink Floyd, Brian Adams, Eric Clapton, and Rush to name a few.

Thanks for any advice you can give me about brand/type of pedals I should get.
 
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Re: What effects pedals should I use?

okay my 2 centz i really recommend making sure that you get all your pedals with, true bypass, (18 volt option if you can) i live and dive 18 volts at a time and ac adapter ready.

that being said, you best bets are light over drive pedal like a tube screamer or similar, a chorus pedal with usable rate and depth, hi/ lo if you need those as well and compression sustainer. Thats the the basic jist of it all.

If you really want or need a little more.
A good delay/ echo-plex type and a 10 band EQ . You'll be able to cover a sonic territory with this whole shebang
 
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Re: What effects pedals should I use?

It depends on whether you'll be using your amps for overdrive or not. A tubescreamer is a pretty generic type recommendation, but they do classic rock very well by themselves, or can be used to add some more punch/a mid boost for solos.

A wah pedal
Some type of Fuzz (?fuzz face or big muff)
Chorus/flange type effect (some can do either and get close to leslie-esque)
Delay/echo

As a budget line of pedals, look at Joyo. I've got their classic OD (tubescreamer 808 clone) and its very good, and not only for the $$. MXR also has some great modulation units in particular.
The other option if you're electrically minded is GeneralGuitarGadgets or BYOC (build your own clone). Both of these have build your own pedal kits (every last thing you need) with clear instructions for the novice at soldering.
 
Re: What effects pedals should I use?

The MI Audio Crunch Box is a great sounding, inexpensive distortion pedal that will cover your Bad Company requirements.

Then you need a delay, and I wouldn't skimp on this. I believe 600 ms is about all the delay time you'll ever need, and for U2 stuff it would be good if you can find one with multi-tap settings. I won't suggest any particular unit. My preference is for analog delays but digital unts have come a long way and I own and use both.
 
Re: What effects pedals should I use?

Start by playing just your guitar and amp then work out what's missing. There's no point in buying a chorus pedal (or wah or delay or fuzz.....) just because someone tells you you need one.

As TGWIF said - what effects did you use in the multi-effects?

Once you identify that you want, for example, a delay effect the question becomes "which delay should I get?" - which is easier to answer (depending on what features you want) :)
 
Re: What effects pedals should I use?

I really appreciate everyone's comments. As far as what effects I used with the multi-effects pedal...not much. I usually used a preset or I modified one that was "editable" and went with that. With my set-up and small space, running a computer to the amp using the software was cumbersome too. If I had more time and space to work with, I'd probably tinker with it more to learn how to get the sounds I want. But I don't. I really just want to plug in, turn on the clear channel, line up some pedals with true bypass, and stomp on the ones I need at the time. The thing is I want to have enough pedals and the right type to cover most classic rock rhythm situations. I don't need to perfectly match the original song every time, but having the right pedals to get close and cover most of the sounds I want to mimic is really what I'm after.
 
Re: What effects pedals should I use?

Unfortunately, you need to be a little more clear and direct. Your response was a little vague. What types of effects were on the presets? What's some classic rock songs you would cover? Are you playing lead or rhythm or both? Are you mainly playing distorted, clean or both? Are you going use the individual stomp boxes more than your multi effect pedal? If no, then I wouldn't pick up any pedals unless you absolutely need them. No sense dropping $100 on a pedal that just sits there.

Now I can go on and on with what "I" would use, but it may not be for you.

Here's some general advice.

1. Tuner - invest in a good one. They also work as a mute switch which is nice.

2. Effects for clean - you can turn a useable clean into a shimmering beauty by adding a "touch" of delay, chorus, flange, phaser, reverb or a mix of them. Same could be said with a lead.

3. Boost - You need something to drive your amp and/or increase your volume. Sometimes you just need to "thicken" up your rhythm part or have your solo "cut through the mix."

You need to find your palette. Tuner, Effect and boost would be a good start.
 
Re: What effects pedals should I use?

Well the Super Champ is an awesome studio amp so you should use it as a reference for what kind of effects you want in your chain.

Crate amps are pretty transparent, so they should work with any number of pedals to sound like your favorite combos/stacks.

It looks like you like classic rock:
The first thing you should look for is what I like to call a "brown box." It's Marshall type saturation. Options are:
Pro Co Rat, MXR Badass '78, GFS Brownie

Next should be your noise gate. All that distortion is going to make your Crate squeel:
Boss NS-2, MXR Smart Gate, ISF Decimator

Do you want ambiance? Reverb? Echo? Chorus? These boxes come last.
Any number of effects from Way Huge (Aqua Puss), TC Electronic (Hall of Fame), Electro Harmonix (Holy Grail)

In front of all your pedals are your filter effects. Do you like pitch shifting? Wah-wah? Volume swells?
Digitech Whammy, Dunlop 535q/Buddah Bud-wah, Morley

Probably cost you around $500 all new kit, or half that on the evilBay.
Make sure you get good patch cables too. Not that junk in the candy jars at Guitar Center. Nothing like a row of blitzy expensive pedals from a crappy chain.
My recommendation: Planet Waves 3 pack patch cables. Built like a brick s#it-house.
 
Re: What effects pedals should I use?

Kam said:
All of them.
Click to expand...

agreed. :friday:

seriously though, I would sit down for a week or two play a good few different songs on different amp settings and see what you like best, then like everyone has said, figure out what is missing from that sound. Sometimes I just need a little boost rather than a full on distortion pedal since my amp has a good overdrive channel and can deliver some great crunch. The thing is there really isn't any need on spending money on pedals for the sake of it, bit like myself, I bought two chorus pedals (although one is really for electronics projects and studying) and I hardly use them unless I decide to play some Nirvana or Killing joke songs.

Another tip, Don't ever dismiss cheap pedals (I know you are not but just saying). some of the cheaper pedals may sound better to your ear than expensive pedals, however everyone is different. :)
 
Re: What effects pedals should I use?

Check out the ProCo Rat2 distortion. That's my fave and it should be at $80 or so. Also the Electro-Harmonix Small Clone chorus, about the same price.
 
Re: What effects pedals should I use?

Any more info? I mean... you are not giving us much to work with here. What exact effects did you use (ie Chorus, Delay, etc)?

Start off playing just your guitar-amp for a few days and try to figure out which effects you would like to have out in front and then we could start giving recommendations based on what you want.
 
Re: What effects pedals should I use?

Chuck them all and just play;)
(sorry, but as you say, it is a jungle of pedals out there, have to try what fits you, and get a feel for them.)
 
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Re: What effects pedals should I use?

I can make you a recommendation on what pedals you need. You mentioned that you play classic rock and listed some bands who have tones that you'll need to cop.

1). You'll need a wah... make it easy and go Dunlop

2). You'll also need a delay... there are is an assload of good delays out there, pick one that can give you a vintage or even analog vibe

3). You need a chorus pedal for Rush, U2 and some Bad Company... again, pick something with a retro or analog vibe

4). You need some type of phaser. I would go the Univibe route since a rotary effect that phases will suit your needs... you don't have to get an actual Univibe, but get a pedal that does the Univibe sound well. This will make your psychedelic sound convince people that they are having a flashback.

And just why are you using the Super Champ and the Crate? I can't think of one instance where the Crate can get a tone that the Fender Champ 25 can't... why the Crate? I'd sell it to fund these pedals unless you gig and it is your backup amp.

Good Luck.
 
Re: What effects pedals should I use?

ah get a tuner, tubescreamer type od, a decent delay pedal and a wah if you feel ambitious. I think chorus and phase are overkill. Those first ones are must haves in the order i listed them i think...
 
Re: What effects pedals should I use?

zenmindbeginner said:
And just why are you using the Super Champ and the Crate? I can't think of one instance where the Crate can get a tone that the Fender Champ 25 can't... why the Crate? I'd sell it to fund these pedals unless you gig and it is your backup amp.
Good Luck.
Click to expand...

The Crate is a secret weapon for effects pedal users. They are super transparent.

I consider a Super Champ a modelling amp even though it's "technically" a tube amp. Almost along the same vain as the Vox Valvetronix series which has 1-12AX7 driving the power section.

Exactly why he shouldn't run effects pedals into a Super Champ. It has tons of effects and amp models already, even though none of them are truly spot on replicas of the originals.

*Also to anyone recommending a pedal tuner. Unless you are a gigging musician, or constantly need to tune your guitar, or can't tune by ear, pedal tuners whether they be a Peterson Strobostomp or a Korg Pitchblack are basically a waste of space in my opinion. Nothing you can't do with a good Snark or even a regular old Korg Chromatic tuner. Save room on the board for ACTUAL effects.
 
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Re: What effects pedals should I use?

bornagainplayer said:
I really appreciate everyone's comments. As far as what effects I used with the multi-effects pedal...not much. I usually used a preset or I modified one that was "editable" and went with that. With my set-up and small space, running a computer to the amp using the software was cumbersome too. If I had more time and space to work with, I'd probably tinker with it more to learn how to get the sounds I want. But I don't. I really just want to plug in, turn on the clear channel, line up some pedals with true bypass, and stomp on the ones I need at the time. The thing is I want to have enough pedals and the right type to cover most classic rock rhythm situations. I don't need to perfectly match the original song every time, but having the right pedals to get close and cover most of the sounds I want to mimic is really what I'm after.
Click to expand...

consider no nonsense setups then, figure out what effects you want and go after those. for instance, I do not know what amp you play and if you like your clear channel and distorted channel, so I do not know if you even need a dirt pedal.

tuner is necessary so start there. I like tons of distortion so I got a noisegate. I like diff dirts so I got a fuzz and rat. and a wah... and so on ;)

once you figure out what type of pedal you are wanting then make a thread on "wah" or "dirt" or "delay"... :) good luckz
 
Re: What effects pedals should I use?

I think there's benefit to having a buffered pedal in your chain - to me (If its a quality buffer) it keeps tone consistent. Its not going to matter as much if you use George L's, but it does IMO if you are using a good mid-cap cable.
 
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