So after many years not being in a band when I've built a board with a nice range of pedals including delays, reverb, tremelo and a few different drives - some for stacking purposes, and another post delay and reverb (you've got to have a drive at the end of your chain if your doing anything shoegazy right?), I know find myself in an originals band.
I do most of the writing and started out with plans to use the delays etc creatively, however now that the band is properly taking shape, I find myself using just three pedals - a drive that's always on, another drive I stamp on for loud bits, and the reverb. The rest of the pedals are just taking up space and helping me look the part.... I think it's largely because of the type of music we are playing, loud thrashy Swervedrivery instrumental rock, and the fact that as the main tune writer, I'm mostly playing the core rhythm parts and don't have much opportunity to get overly creative as a guitarist.
Should I be bothered (probably not as long as the tunes sound good)?? Should I consciously try and use the other pedals more (probably yes as long as they compliment the music and sound in keeping with our vibe)?? And anyone else find that in truth a lot of your pedals are just for show?
Comments
I generally use an overdrive and a delay/reverb. So that's whats on the board. I've got fuzz, pitch shifters, synths, trem and filters for when I need them.
I've got a covers start up which needs a fair range of pedals. I play in an acoustic duo that uses no pedals and no amp. Horses for courses.
If you can be bothered to swap stuff keep your board as is and dont use the pedals you dont use. You dont have to use a ring mod on a ballad cos its on your board
But if I was gigging I would specifically cut down to whatever’s needed and little/nothing else. Nothing bigger than a PT Jr unless the gig absolutely needed it. It makes load-in easier, it helps reliability and it makes me less likely to stand on the wrong thing halfway through a song!
If I played in an originals band, or even in a covers band of the type I'd likely end up in, I reckon I'd just need drive, compression, delay and maybe a flanger.
Guitar: Marshall ED-1 Compressor
I tune up using a Peterson StroboStomp and for my Anderson, a Korg DT-7. The tuners are not in circuit when I play.
I have a few FX pedals, perhaps I ought to get rid of them. In a skip????
Nil Satis Nisi Optimum
I don’t even use my tuner anymore. I use evertune guitars so as long as I’ve tuned them that week when playing through my DAW at home I know they’ll be in tune for rehearsal.
What you use for fun/writing inspiration can be different to what you use with your band too, nothing wrong with that.
The chain is:
Polytune Mini
Tumnus
Barber Gain Changer
Suhr Koji
Hotone Soul Press (wah/ volume)
Buffalo TD-X
Empress Echosystem
Suhr Jack Rabbit
A number serve double- duty, I have a preset on the Echosystem that is a straight chorus without any delay, the Jack Rabbit is sometimes used just as a clean volume boost at the end of the chain so I get a fair bit of flexibility with just a few pedals and there's no room for anything to be just there for show.
- Two amp models - Soldano Clean and Friedman BE-100.
- Compressor (for lead sustain)
- Two delays (either just one, or both)
- Octaver
- Reverb
That's it.
When I was a pedals + amp guy, I only had a tuner, a drive pedal (Bogner Ecstasy Red), a Joyo Quattro delay, a Flashback Mini and a wah. If I'm going to do the pedal thing, I prefer to keep it small and simple. Looking the part is totally secondary to the possibility of the singer or bassist treading on my board and arsing things up for me
But - with tastes like mine (instrumental / experimental / ambient) - it's easy to get carried away, and I certainly did after selling off lots of old guitars and collectors' toys and having funds to buy a lot of desired pedals. However, I've always maintained an approach of 'if I don't use it, I sell it', and sure enough I've sold off anything I'm not using.
With my current pedal boards (just two, one for the small/regular size ones, and one for the volume and Whammy plus Synth9, for carrying purposes) I use every single pedal on there - and enough to justify keeping them there permanently. I'm a stickler for having everything I need in one place, and a sense of permanence, so everything I have is used and most of our songs are written using these pedals as key factors for the sound.
If I was into different music, especially more song-based conventional stuff, or metal, then I'd perhaps have a simpler board with the 'essentials' on, but as experimentation plays a big part in my band/songwriting, the ridiculous pedal setup I have is kind of essential.
I'm sure many would look at my board and consider many of the pedals 'just for show' or novelty items, but believe me I've been through so many to find the right ones which offer the sounds I want, that nothing's for show. I want good quality stuff that offers those sounds, nothing more.
(if anyone's curious - and not for showing off, I just like talking pedals - current setup is:
Guitar >
EHX Synth9
Boss FV50H
Digitech Whammy (4th gen)
EQD Arpanoid
Boss BD-2 Blues Driver
Boss DS-1 Distortion
EHX Big Muff Pi Nano
Zoom Multistomp
Boss TE-2 Tera Echo
Boss DSD-2 (for sale, to be replaced by TC Electronic Flashback 2)
Ibanez Mini Analog Delay
Boss RV-6
Digitech Obscura
TC Electronic Ditto x2
Digitech Digidelay
> Amp
A bit of an odd mix, but those are the sounds I want. Still considering an EQD Data Corrupter when I see one cheap enough, but that's it for now!)
i was looking at Tera Echo demo's last night on youtube. looks interesting, one would imagine the sound of it self oscillating going through another delay to be awesome. I also use the Zoom multistomp (BT100) and for reverbs it is immense
TU-3
Pickle Vibe
Riot
Cali76CD
Tim Pierce OD
Timeline
Trelicopter
Blue Sky
Pedals I plan to put on a small board (some not yet purchased) for some flying gigs later this year:
TU-3
Revival Drive
Flint
Pedals I own but only use occasionally at home:
MM4
Gunshot
Budda Wah
If I’m not using them I tend to sell them on.
Other pedals I have but don't use are
Boss SD-1
EHX Chorus
Boss DD-6
Jim Dunlop Wah
Boss CS-3
Digitech Drop Tune
Analogman Sunlion (both sides)
Ventura Vibe
EP Booster
Greer Lightspeed
Catalinbread Belle Epoch
TC Flashback Mini
TC HOF Mini
Fulltone Cyde Deluxe
I regret nothing.
Been uploading old tracks I recorded ages ago and hopefully some new noodles here.
About 30% on my gig board
30% on a home board
10% in the broken box
And 30% nailed to the wall to make my house look like 'That Pedal Show'.
Swoon.
Feedback
Supportact said: [my style is] probably more an accumulation of limitations and bad habits than a 'style'.
Supportact said: [my style is] probably more an accumulation of limitations and bad habits than a 'style'.