Lets talk about pedal mods

[Whitestrat]

in my most honest opinion and also my personal preference, a modded DS1 no matter what cannot be compared to the MI Tubezone. Not apple to apple.

I cannot agree more. But my question was mainly more about why people go for mods. You make your own pedals. Do you use mods? or do you totally redesign the circuit from scratch? Why did you choose the way you do it? I see and hear so many others going on about mods and all that, like it's the best thing for tone. Personally, I've never used them, so I was wondering whether I was missing anything.

 

[Whitestrat]

BUT - only mod with the right amp and guitar equipment in mind. DON'T mod gain pedals based on the idea that the gain pedals will sound the same with different amp and guitar equipment. They typically don't.

That's what I don't get. How do you know whether or not that mod will suit you? Most pedals have a distinct tone you can identify. A stock DS-1 sounds like a DS-1. A Crunchbox sounds just what it's supposed to be. But if mods are apparently so adaptable, then I'll never be able to tell if it's what I want or not. AND, if it's so unpredictable, why don't these modders go for stock pedals in the first place?

Am I getting this right?

 

[thor666]

Well, I concur with you. But I guess everyone has different experiences with modding.

I will say that actually changing the quality of the components/fixing some parts may help sometimes. Decreasing noise ratio, resolving odd quirks from stock pedals.

 

[wayne1991]

sometimes people mod because they bought a pedal and dislike to sound
some also mod to get that unique sound that is hard to get in stock pedals
sometimes people mod so that they can have a wider range.. they can switch between stock mode and the moded one
some mods are also done to try and follow the tone that the user is looking for..

yeah! modding can also be changing to higher quality componenets to reduce noise

 

[edder]

I cannot agree more. But my question was mainly more about why people go for mods. You make your own pedals. Do you use mods? or do you totally redesign the circuit from scratch? Why did you choose the way you do it? I see and hear so many others going on about mods and all that, like it's the best thing for tone. Personally, I've never used them, so I was wondering whether I was missing anything.

A LOT of boutique pedals are MODS of classic pedals. :wink:

 

[wayne1991]

yeah!!

 

[embryo]

Pedal Mods it's pros and cons come aplenty similar to boutique and stock pedals. Mods are usually done in the spirit of trying to create a more personalized variation of a classic design to suit one's intended muscal intentions.

All variables of opinions considered and set aside I'd simply say that all the gear in the world will never make you play better simply by just plugging in and "Presto! I sound exactly like so and so!" Until the day arrives when they start making and selling pedals that give you instant Talent, Feel and Soul (heheheeh i noe someone's working on a "Talent Boost Drive Pedal" practice hard, listen and play music with your ears and heart instead of your eyes. As one gets better you'll naturally play the gear and not the other way around.

If cost was no object there's no harm in choosing the path of searching and buying and trading off every single available pedal out there stock or boutique to sample and experience the promise, hype and what nots that come with all of them... or you can simply do your best with whatever more cost effective gear you already or can have honing your chops with them and in progressive steps later down the road choose to tweak these with cost effective personalized custom or replica modding to complement your own tone quest.

 

[edder]

"Talent Boost Drive Pedal"

I'm still working on my "Rice Emulator Pedal" for Bro Aging Youth Bro....