If you could only have the best, most essential pedals in front of your amp....

Godlykepower

I’m currently looking at buying a second amp, to have a stripped-down option next to my Helix into my Blackstar setup.

The amp I’m looking at, and demoed today, is a Marshall Origin 20. The pedals I used today on the demo, were a Digitech Polara, and a Way Huge Overrated Special.

My question is, if I ONLY wanted compression, drive, and reverb in front of my second amp, what is the very best single pedal you would choose to do each function? My reverb needs are simple - a good spring ‘verb will do....but what is the best?

That Way Huge pedal sounded immense....but give me that ONE alternative.

I love a good compressor, and used to own a Fairfield Circuitry “Accountant” - I’ll quite happily get another one of those unless you can recommend something to better it.

I may consider a delay in there too, but I really do want a bare-bones setup here.

Fuengi

I had a Fairfield Accountant, actually preferred my Mooer Yellow Comp as the FA wasn't voiced to my taste. 

However, the Thorpy Fat General is hands down the best comp for any tone, any pickup and for driving other pedals. 

Godlykepower

Fuengi said:

I had a Fairfield Accountant, actually preferred my Mooer Yellow Comp as the FA wasn't voiced to my taste. 

However, the Thorpy Fat General is hands down the best comp for any tone, any pickup and for driving other pedals. 

If I’m not mistaken, you bought your Accountant from me!

Fuengi

Godlykepower said:

Fuengi said:

I had a Fairfield Accountant, actually preferred my Mooer Yellow Comp as the FA wasn't voiced to my taste. 

However, the Thorpy Fat General is hands down the best comp for any tone, any pickup and for driving other pedals. 

If I’m not mistaken, you bought your Accountant from me!

Well, you obviously didn't rate it either!! 

The Mooer Yellow was much more transparent, but I often think with cheaper pedals you give them a bit more leniency. 

Sounds like you are looking for the best, not the 'best buy'. I think the Thorpy FG is still available in his clearance sale if you don't mind the larger chassis. 

Philtre

I put an OCD 1.7 or a Tube Screamer in front of my Origin 20 head, sounds good to me. Mind you, so does a Zen Drive clone and a Timmy/JanRay clone.

Godlykepower

Fuengi said:

Godlykepower said:

Fuengi said:

I had a Fairfield Accountant, actually preferred my Mooer Yellow Comp as the FA wasn't voiced to my taste. 

However, the Thorpy Fat General is hands down the best comp for any tone, any pickup and for driving other pedals. 

If I’m not mistaken, you bought your Accountant from me!

Well, you obviously didn't rate it either!! 

The Mooer Yellow was much more transparent, but I often think with cheaper pedals you give them a bit more leniency. 

Sounds like you are looking for the best, not the 'best buy'. I think the Thorpy FG is still available in his clearance sale if you don't mind the larger chassis. 

I DID rate it actually! Debated not selling it at all in fact....it’s just that I was getting fed up setting up the pedalboard over the (then) Boss GT100 every time I fancied a change.

Now I’m going to a two amp setup....I’m quite happy to get one again, unless I hear a better option. One of the pedals I sold from that pedalboard was a ThorpyFX Peacekeeper...they do the job brilliantly, but are a bit cumbersome - not that I’ll mind that if the compressor is that good.

Godlykepower

Philtre said:

I put an OCD 1.7 or a Tube Screamer in front of my Origin 20 head, sounds good to me. Mind you, so does a Zen Drive clone and a Timmy/JanRay clone.

The pedals I use most often on my Helix, are the Klon, Tube Screamer and Ratt.

I’d want to be mixing things up entirely!

merlin

Might you be interested in my Empress Compressor? 
I think I no longer really need it... pretty though it is.....

Lebarque

Thorpy comp
Origin revival drive
Source Audio True Spring

Teetonetal

Origin compressors are the only ones worth having imo... Drive, no idea depends on so many factors.
Spring reverb, you can do a lot worse than the fender one boss did. 

Sassafras

my answer is always the same: Boss OD 2 and any of the Way Huge pedals.

Grunfeld

Godlykepower said:

My reverb needs are simple - a good spring ‘verb will do....but what is the best?

Boss FDR-1 is excellent.

The spring on the EHX Oceans 11 sounds fantastic too.

munckee

I had the frv1 which was great now have an ehh nano which is probably as good plus has hall and flerb   I have Marshall comp into T S9 into joyo tremolo into nano into looper. Everything I need. 

EricTheWeary

I've been admiring the Black Country Customs Secret Path as a nice reverb, bit of versatility but not too faffy. 
There a million bloody overdrives and I don’t get on with compressors so that’s my single recommendation. 

mark_jwedge

Lebarque said:

Thorpy comp
Origin revival drive
Source Audio True Spring

If money is no object then this all day long

sweepy

Boss FV500 Thorpy Fat General, Ethos Overdrive, Eventide H9 at the moment. Things I might add as they are "essential" EH Freeze, Digitech Whammy, Germanium Fuzz and a Simble or Klon 

Gassage

If you really want the very best...

Effectrode Levelling Amp/Comp

Kingsley Jester/Klon/KOT perm one from 3.

Fender 63 RI 6G15 Reverb Tank.

Matt_McG

Thorpy Fat General (or Mad Professor Forest Green) compressor

Mad Professor Royal Blue drive

Neunaber Immerse (or one of the Expanse pedals with some reverbs loaded)

i went only with pedals I’ve owned. The Revival drive looks a great option, but never owned one. The Fat General replaced the Forest Green on my board but the Forest Green has a really versatile control set, too, and can do squish or addictive subtle tone shaping, as well.

I’d have the compressor after the Royal Blue as it does that cleanup impedance thing that fuzzes do.

Neunaber reverb algorithms are the best I’ve tried, but the Source Audio stuff (tried but not owned) would be a good alternative.

Matt_McG

I sold the Royal Blue and actually use a modded ODR-1 clone (with an added bass control), but that isn’t a commercial pedal.

NorthernStomps

Fat General 
Dr Scientist The Elements
Source Audio True Spring

Bonus delay - Malekko Ekko 616

TheMarlin

Nocturne Atomic Brain (pre amp)
or
Mad Professor Simble Pre Driver (Pre amp). 
Also looking into Catalinbread Formula 5F6...