some effects questions from a n00b

[subhro]

Hi guys

I'm looking to put together my first pedal board, and needed some advice on what effects i should have. I've previously used a g2.1u, which had preset patterns so I'd just play with what sounded good with some minor tweaks. But now I'm looking to graduate to individual pedals.

I want to use the pedal board for classic rock and blues- i listen to clapton (bluesbreakers and subsequently "from the cradle" era), CCR, led zep, the Who, cream, jimi....

What effects do you suggest I buy?

thanks !

 

[snuffleupagus]

CCR? Woohoo at last another fan!

My board is what I use to cover almost the same influences as yours.

Ok, I recommend the FoxRox Zim- you can pick and choose your seperate cards OD or DiST or FUZZ to suit your liking. I use this and I think its great for my needs. I use the B9 and +TAR cards now.

A RMC wah pedal

Probably a volume pedal

Sweet sound Mojo Vibe for authentic Vibe-a-la- Jimi sounds

A Korg DT 10 tuner

Perhaps a good tube screamerish pedal (Mi audio Blues Pro) if you do not want the Zim.

Or a Mi Audio Crunch Box for Marshall sounds (if you do not want to get the ZIM)

 

[EugeneSmasher]

Fuzz > Overdrive > Delay > Chorus > Wah

Simple. But you might wanna add other stuff.

 

[Crawldaddy]

Hmm.

Considering what you want to achieve, go for the basics e.g.

1. Overdrive/Distortion: MXR GT-OD, Marshall Guvnor, MI-Audio Crunch Box / Tube Zone
2. Booster / Light OD: EHX LPB-1, MXR Micro Amp, Tubescreamer etc
3. Wah Wah Pedal: Crybaby, Budwah, etc etc
4. Delay: DD3, DE-7, Digidelay, Echo Park

Not to mention a good EQ pedal to maintain your basic tone through the vast variety of jam studio amps and a tuner pedal as mention above.

If you want Fuzzes please do the proper research before getting one, and do bear in mind that although fuzzes were used quite prominently during the 60s and 70s, fuzzes are generally woolly-sounding, muddy-up-your-sound drive pedals. Also in general, fuzzes do not work well after buffered-bypass pedals e.g. Boss pedals.

Sorry, but that's my opinion on fuzzes... had a bad time with fuzzes in general.

 

[lightice]

What yours budget first?

I recommend you upgrade in this order depending on your budget

1) Fuzz
2) Overdrive
3) Wah
4) modulation (phaser/vibe)
5) delay

I'd also recommend you try to pick up used stuff, they are much cheaper than getting new and the item would already have depreciation factored in.

You can then sell it off at a similar or slightly lower price you bought it at.

The most expensive would usually be the fuzz and overdrive pedals, and I recommend you get the best sounding to your ears fuzz and overdrive you can afford.

Reason being, you can really pick out a crappy sounding fuzz and overdriven tone but for modulation and delay, you can make it hide in the mix yet still make it pronounced enough to add a nice dimension to your playing.

 

[subhro]

Thanks guys for your suggestions! This is more complicated than i'd thought. Budget is around upto 1000 SGD. I ideally want to make the set up at one go rather than piece by piece over time.

What do you think of the following that someone I know suggested?

Morley Bad horsie wah
Boss MD-2 distortion pedal
visual sound h20 chorus /delay
J&H JPT-10 Pedal Chromatic tuner

Also for overdrive, apologies this might be a stupid question, but if my amp already has an overdrive option, then do i need another OD pedal? I reckon if you're performing on stage then you'd probably play thru the amp in clean mode and use your pedal for OD, as you know what it would sound like. But if i'm just playing at home, then do I need it?

 

[lightice]

The pedal will keep your hands free, and also a pedal would probably sound much better than your amp's overdrive button. (for lack of a better term)

It really depends on what you're after IMO.

For myself, if the amp I am using has 2 channels, one cleaner with more headroom, the other grittier. I'd use an A/B switch between the 2.

It allows me to tailor a clean and a gritty sound differently.

If I don't have two channels, I'd get an overdrive pedal. A cheap and respectable overdrive pedal will be the BOSS OD series pedals.

If you have more cash to spare, I'd get something else.

As for the equipment you listed down, they really are all a matter of personal preference.

But for the tuner, I'd get the KORG DT-10, it works really well and is really bright. (new ~$110 or so) This is one I will recommend because its an item based on practicality, effects pedals are purely based on personal tastes.

The VS H20 is another respectable pedal, but personally I don't have much experience with it. I suggest you try out all the pedals first before you buy.

If you want suggestions on what pedals to get certain sounds, maybe you can give some sound samples from those artists you mentioned and the guys here can point you in the right direction.

Also, what guitar/pickups and amp you playing through?

 

[subhro]

ok the makes sense lightice ..... my guitar is a fender strat with single coil pickups, and amp dean markley K30RX.

that's a lot of info for me on one day.... hope I don't catch G.A.S. !

Thanks again

 

[Phil]

You can't escape GAS!

A good sweet fuzz is must.