Breaking-in of pedals, mojo-fying.

[Phil]

I've read some thread here on SOFT about the breaking in of pedals by playing on it for a long time. Just like the buttery-feel you get from broken in guitar-springs.
So, the older and more used the pedal is, it has more 'mojo'?
It is merely a myth, or does this really occur? Apply for all pedals?

I find this really interesting!
If it's true, it'd give me a new-found admiration for old, used pedals.

Do pardon me if this has been discussed previously.

:lol:

 

[ciel21]

its like the longer you wear your underwear the mroe comfy it gets =p

 

[Phil]

So basically, you wear the pedal down, and it sounds better? Seasoning?

 

[edo83]

I would attribute it to the wear and tear of components, as they age i assume the tolerance range would drift away from what was spec'ed. Other than that, would be the power of suggestion

 

[thor666]

probably edo is correct. it depends on the components however.

of course, you never know until you do a blindfold test.

 

[Phil]

I'd be up for a blindfold test. But I don't have two similar new and old pedals. :wink:

 

[ShredCow]

Its probably as what Edo said. Or the newer batch use different components.

 

[ciel21]

they say the old amps pedals have more mojo because the parts they used back then are crap, carbon comp resistors have wide torlerences and they tend to drift alot over time, the newer stuff are usually the same even after quiet a few years.

The newer components usually dun dirft tt much. Or its just the power if suggestion

 

[ShredCow]

Also, I guess if you use or listen to a pedal long enough, you tend to go for that kind of tone and it becomes your taste.

So if you like listen to loads of Vai, you prob end up loving hi output Evos and modern Morley wahs. But if you listen to old school stuff like SRV, then Tubescreamers probably cut it for you.

 

[theblueark]

Carbon resistors, germanium transistors change over time. Opamps seem to change over a lot of usage, hence the 'breaking in'. Whether good or bad is up to opinion.

Pickup magnets slowly demagentise over time too, changing the tone. Of course, we're talking decades here.

 

[Lifehouse]

So if you like listen to loads of Vai, you prob end up loving hi output Evos and modern Morley wahs. But if you listen to old school stuff like SRV, then Tubescreamers probably cut it for you.

Tongue in cheek: What if you listen to lot of neo gothic progressive punk rock?? :smt003

 

[RazrAsh]

well, capicitance values will change over time, so it might give u a different signature tone, but shredcows is quite right also, u might just like the tone alot in the end..

 

[unsane]

Pickup magnets slowly demagentise over time too, changing the tone. Of course, we're talking decades here.

i thought that was a myth which had been disproven? along with the one where pickups sitting next to each other in the shop have their magnetic fields realigned or something. pardon the poor physics it was never my best subject

 

[cereal]

Just like how the dirt and grime on my strings makes it more comfortable to play with...or aged cymbals whose sound gets warm n mellow because years of whacking and stuff has built up on it

I don't know if it works the same with electronic components (unless maybe u got tube pedals) but i guess Edo is right...it can be merely the power of suggestion.

Often times when i'm mixing i spends hours fine tuning, then once i go for a ten minute smoke break and come back,i tell myself what the heck was i thinking then...that sounds like crap. Often then not if u spend long hours with bad sound you'll pretty much get used so much so it sounds good to u

 

[sanXp]

Kick your pedals around and they will miraculously sound better.































Just kidding.