Setting up a mini board, need pedal suggestions...

samothy01

Hey all,

I have my main board with all of my toys on but I'm currently looking into also setting up a more accessible mini board. The idea will be that I can use it for smaller gigs or quick rehearsals without the hassle of lugging a large board around...

Essentially, recommend me so good, cheap-ish (Maybe like £150 second-hand MAX), pedals in the following categories:

• Boost/EQ
• Chorus (Reaaaally like the Walrus Audio Julia but man no one wants to sell theirs, for good reason)
• Distortion (I have a Soulfood, Atlas III and DS-1 right now so none of those I guess, open to anything)
• Tuner (Looking at a Polytune 2 currently)
• Maybe delay? I'm thinking I could move my Avalanche Run across when I need to? Idk, suggestions welcome

I think 5 tops will probably do it, as I'll be setting it all up on the following plank of wood...



I think I'll probably make a separate post at some point for tips on the logistics of making this into a pedalboard.

Thanks in advance!

simonk

I’d get a Carl Martin Quattro (V2 with chorus) and a clip on tuner.

samothy01

simonk said:

I’d get a Carl Martin Quattro (V2 with chorus) and a clip on tuner.

Not a massive fan of multi effects units, so probably no for me. Also clip on tuners won’t work in a gig situation.

simonk

samothy01 said:

simonk said:

I’d get a Carl Martin Quattro (V2 with chorus) and a clip on tuner.

Not a massive fan of multi effects units, so probably no for me. Also clip on tuners won’t work in a gig situation.

I wouldn’t class the Quattro as a multi fx... it’s four quality effects, of type you’re after, stuffed into one enclosure... with one power cable. They’re great little units IMO.

I’ve never found using a clip on tuner a problem for occasional gigs, although I wouldn’t want to use one all the time.

TTBZ

What kind of distortion are you after? The Mooer Black Secret gets good reviews as a mini cheap rat with the option of standard or turbo. Mind you a new Proco Rat 2 isn't that expensive. Rats are quite versatile and sound great in a band but you have to like that sound I suppose as they're not too transparent. 

samothy01

simonk said:

samothy01 said:

simonk said:

I’d get a Carl Martin Quattro (V2 with chorus) and a clip on tuner.

Not a massive fan of multi effects units, so probably no for me. Also clip on tuners won’t work in a gig situation.

I wouldn’t class the Quattro as a multi fx... it’s four quality effects, of type you’re after, stuffed into one enclosure... with one power cable. They’re great little units IMO.

I’ve never found using a clip on tuner a problem for occasional gigs, although I wouldn’t want to use one all the time.

I feel like your description matches exactly what a multi effects unit does haha. But not for me anyway, I don't like multiple effects units in one box! I'm skeptical about the clip on too, I'd prefer a pedal, what size gigs did you use yours for?

samothy01

TTBZ said:

What kind of distortion are you after? The Mooer Black Secret gets good reviews as a mini cheap rat with the option of standard or turbo. Mind you a new Proco Rat 2 isn't that expensive. Rats are quite versatile and sound great in a band but you have to like that sound I suppose as they're not too transparent. 

Y'know I've never actually tried a Rat? This may be a good time to have a little delve into them and see what they're about!

In terms of the type of distortion I want, can you find me a Chase Bliss Brothers for £100? Prolly not (but I mean, if you can.........). I guess I don't need anything high gain is the only parameter I'm setting myself, I'll have a look into the Black Secret tho!

UnclePsychosis

The circuit I continually return to is the MXR Distortion+. 

Cheap as chips, sounds great  

mistercharlie

+1 on the Rat. It’s surprisingly versatile. For a tuner, consider a Sonic Research mini turbo tuner. An amazing strobe tuner, and tiny. 

And you you could try a Deluxe Memory Man Tap Tempo 550. That’s delay and chorus in one, and also a really, really good clean boost. 

markr76

For a boost. What about a tc electronic spark boost mini. I think they are great little boosters. 
What about a Thorpy warthog for the distortion. That one can do clean boost, distortion and get fuzz tones all in the one pedal. It's just if you can find any second hand ones.

Winny_Pooh

buy a nano+ perfect grab and go size.

https://i.imgur.com/cVvoRjW.jpg

BintyTwanger77

I've got a DD7 for sale, if you're after a delay.

samothy01

UnclePsychosis said:

The circuit I continually return to is the MXR Distortion+. 

Cheap as chips, sounds great  

I’ve done a lil bit of research and although I’m not really impressed, they are super cheap so I feel like that makes up for it! 

Im not particularly after a pedal which can go fuzzy and for what I’d  it for I think I could cover off with an even cheaper DS-1... possibly.

samothy01

mistercharlie said:

+1 on the Rat. It’s surprisingly versatile. For a tuner, consider a Sonic Research mini turbo tuner. An amazing strobe tuner, and tiny. 

And you you could try a Deluxe Memory Man Tap Tempo 550. That’s delay and chorus in one, and also a really, really good clean boost. 

I’ll absolutely try out a rat eventually, it’s just getting around to it! I haven’t done much research into it but am I right in saying that the sonic research tuner is quite hard to come by???

Ah my friend has a 550 and it’s superb, great recommendation.

samothy01

markr76 said:

For a boost. What about a tc electronic spark boost mini. I think they are great little boosters. 
What about a Thorpy warthog for the distortion. That one can do clean boost, distortion and get fuzz tones all in the one pedal. It's just if you can find any second hand ones.

I’ve only heard great things about Thorpy Warthogs, it’s a shame they’re so elusive!

samothy01

Winny_Pooh said:

buy a nano+ perfect grab and go size.

https://i.imgur.com/cVvoRjW.jpg

I’m making my own board dude! See my original post.

samothy01

BintyTwanger77 said:

I've got a DD7 for sale, if you're after a delay.

No thank you! I already have a DD-6 (I think) in storage that I MAY be tempted to get out for this board

mistercharlie

samothy01 said:

mistercharlie said:

+1 on the Rat. It’s surprisingly versatile. For a tuner, consider a Sonic Research mini turbo tuner. An amazing strobe tuner, and tiny. 

And you you could try a Deluxe Memory Man Tap Tempo 550. That’s delay and chorus in one, and also a really, really good clean boost. 

I’ll absolutely try out a rat eventually, it’s just getting around to it! I haven’t done much research into it but am I right in saying that the sonic research tuner is quite hard to come by???

Ah my friend has a 550 and it’s superb, great recommendation.

Yes, I had to order my Sonic Research direct from the manufacturer. It was worth it though. Easily the best tuner I’ve ever used. 

rico

I would go TU3 -> EP Boost -> OCD -> chorus of some type -> Carbon Copy. 

Jalapeno

Xotic XP booster and whatever else you fancy - that's my approach

UnclePsychosis

samothy01 said:

UnclePsychosis said:

The circuit I continually return to is the MXR Distortion+. 

Cheap as chips, sounds great  

I’ve done a lil bit of research and although I’m not really impressed, they are super cheap so I feel like that makes up for it! 

Im not particularly after a pedal which can go fuzzy and for what I’d  it for I think I could cover off with an even cheaper DS-1... possibly.

Its probably not a circuit for everyone but its absolutely the sound in my head!

I actually really like mine with the gain down really low, which is a sound I probably use even more than I use it cranked up.