Which Guitar Effects Do You Have and How Do You Use Them?

[NSJ]

I need to start thinking about seriously integrating a decent pedal board set up and using them with my instrument.

Right now, I have a Sustainer Pedal (don't use it, much); a Boss Loop pedal (not sure how to use it); and a Hendrix Cry Baby Wah (don't use it much).

I'm thinking of adding:

1. Volume pedal
2. Verb Pedal
3. Delay Pedal
4. Something special--like an Electro Harmonix HOG


Any rules/dos/don'ts/setkup advice on building and properly using a pedal chain?

[billkath]

It depends. What music are you going to playing?
I have a POD XT live.
I have different setups, depending which guitar I'm using. Chain for my jazz guitar is-Amp+Cab model (Jazz chorus 100)==EQ===Reverb. I have the Drive, Delay and Modulation pedals off as standard, and they are set to a MXR Dynacomp on the drive, an optical Trem on the mod, and a slap back delay on the delay pedal. I bring them in when I need them.
Rules? Less is more!! They can be addictive.

[derek]

Like with billkath, it depends on what you are playing. For jazz, I am content with just an ooch of verb, and that is it. For rock/pop stuff, I have 5 different dirt pedals that rotate thru with 3 on the board at any given time, a wah wah, autowah, compressor (occassionally), clean boost, Eventide Modfactor and Timefactor, which cover every modulation and time based effect, and tuner.

[mongrel]

Guitar into Tonestyler micro pedal into Boss DD-3 delay into Line 6 Verbzilla into amp.

[NSJ]

I'm thinking of a unique live solo setup, playing jazz standards in a different sort of way plus improv using a wide array of real instruments (harmonium, hand percussion) to augment a jazz box and/or nylon guitar--to create parts on the fly,store and loop them as desired, using Main Stage perhaps (really gotta get up on the technology)--basic setup is verbz, delay, wah, volume,and one other killer pedal for reallyinterestung tones----no overdrive or dirty sounds. Right now i'm leaning on electroharmonix HOG

[Little Jay]

In my groove-jazz-funky-hardbop-something project I do use some effects. Besides the inevitable wah and OD-pedals I realy like my Tremolo and my Phaser (Phase Shifter). Ever considered those?

[sdr]

As an audience member watching a solo act, my preferred setup is guitar, chord, amp. Effects tend to detract from the intimacy of a solo performer. Just my opinion, which is probably different from most.

[perfischer]

I normally play straight into the amp, but with my trio I've got the following on my pedal board:
Rat2, Octaver, Chorus(CE-1), Parametric EQ, Digital delay (DD2!).

I'd love to try out a HOG as well, but the price...man.

[msr13]

The order is important, but I have heard lots of different versions of the rules. My general understanding is:
Guitar>> Tuners>> Filters>> Compressors>> Overdrive/ Distortion>> Modulation>> Volume>> Delay/ Reverb

Of course, I have heard that Volume should go right after the tuner, modulation before overdrive, filers after compressor, etc. Personally, I like my chorus pedal before my boost and overdrive. The trick is to play and see what you like. Fool around with pedal order and see what works for you. You can't break anything (I think).

Having said that, when I am serious about playing and practicing jazz, I have settled on guitar, amp, reverb (built in or a Hermida reverb-- depending on mood). But I have a fun pedal board for cranking it up and fooling around. The problem is when I record and listen to myself, I prefer the clean + a little reverb. But, I do like my processed sounds now and then. I did have fun putting the board together, though. When using it, I have:
guitar>>TC Polytune>> chorus (Analogman)>> RC Boost>> Hermida Distortion>> Hermida Zen Drive>> Delay (Maxon AD-999)>> Hermida Reverb>> amp.

I also have a looper (Boss RC-20XL), which is a lot of fun when practicing scales and improv.

As billkath said, pedals can and are addictive. For a while there, I was putting way to much time into finding that "right" tone and not playing. Finally, I realized my sickness. Haven't done anything about it, but at least I know I am nuts.

[sdr]

The order can make a pretty big difference on some things. Wah pedals, for example, sound completely different depending on whether they come before or after distortion. There's no right or wrong though, whatever sounds best to your ear.

[derek]

The order can make a pretty big difference on some things. Wah pedals, for example, sound completely different depending on whether they come before or after distortion. There's no right or wrong though, whatever sounds best to your ear.

Right. However, I am a big fan of putting time based effects in an effects loop on the amp. I don't particularly like the way they color the tone otherwise. YMMV.

[BigDaddyLoveHandles]

Right. However, I am a big fan of putting time based effects in an effects loop on the amp. I don't particularly like the way they color the tone otherwise. YMMV.

Are you using rack mounted effects in that case, or did you find your, say, delay stomp box works well at the effects loop signal level?

[derek]

Are you using rack mounted effects in that case, or did you find your, say, delay stomp box works well at the effects loop signal level?

The later. My amp has a passive loop. Not a big difference than when it is directly in the chain, but a discernable difference. I know, I know, that level of fussiness is pretty geeky, and smacks of cork sniffing.

[Flyin' Brian]

I have so many different projects going that I use several different pedals. Fortunately some of the stuff I've had for ages still gets the job done.

I use a (discontinued) Barber Tone Pump for overdrive, it has 2 stages so that eliminates an extra box.
I also use a Line 6 MM-4 for modulation effects....chorus, flange, doubling, tremolo etc. It's kind of big physically but gives me a choice of 4 different modulation effect presets. I use it a lot in the prog rock band I work with.
For delays I use a TC Electronics Flashback X4...another large box but it has a total of 7 presets, tap tempo and a boatload of different delay types. I use that on almost everything, including a tiny bit of dynamic delay for jazz gigs, slap back for country picking and modulated delay for spacey stuff. For a jump blues band project I use an Electro Harmonix B-9 organ pedal. It does a perfect B-3 BUT you have to remember to play like an organ player not a guitar player. I play it through a Hammond Leslie pedal.

A little complex but it all get used and it all works.

[docbop]

Still have some my old pedal from my working days and they pretty much just collect dust. So these days occasionally a HOF reverb pedal. Just picked up a Ditto looper, but haven't hooked it up yet. I do like a little chorus when playing my nylon string. I think about getting a para-EQ and maybe a envelope filter pedal. The envelope pedal is actually a nice practice tool because they require clean picking to trigger right.

[TieDyedDevil]

I didn't start out with this monstrosity. It has grown over the past couple years. This is the most recent (re)incarnation.

That said, everything here gets used. If I dare say so, it gets used tastefully. I hardly ever have more than two or three pedals engaged at the same time.

I have an instrumental trio that records everything live, direct-to-stereo. We have guitar, bass/cello and drums. Our genre is "garage" jazz: almost entirely improvisational, drawing upon our varied influences as the mood suits. (I'll paste a link to our new recording in a separate thread.)

You'll notice that a lot of the pedals are delays and reverbs. I like to add different flavors of ambience as suits the music.

The Boomerang takes up a lot of real estate, but it's by far the best looper I've ever used. (That includes a Looperlative LP1 with a LiquidFoot+ 12+ controller.)

The EHX Superego and B9 pedals are magical, each in its own way. The Superego is great at doing pads. The B9 is by far the best organ emulator I've used; it's easy to play (especially compared to a divided-pickup rig) and sounds very authentic.

I run this board direct to a mixing console. I even have a DI under the riser.

The only downside is that it's a huge board. Fortunately, I use this for recording and not gigging. (I do have a "minimalist" board for the rare occasions when I venture out to do a showcase set.)

Here's the complete spec:

2014-09 Direct Rig

Signal flow:

Input header
Mr. Black Boost Tiger (clean boost)
MXR Noise Clamp (gate)
TC Electronic Polytune (polyphonic tuner)
Electro-Harmonix B9 (organ simulator)
Electro-Harmonix Superego (granular synthesizer)
Earthquaker Devices Pitch Bay (dual pitch shifter)
Xotic SP (compressor)
Catalinbread Naga Viper (treble boost)
Xotic BB Plus (dual distortion)
Electro-Harmonix Memory Toy (analog echo)
Catalinbread Belle Epoch (tape echo simulator)
Catalinbread Topanga (spring reverb simulator)
Catalinbread Echorec (drum echo simulator)
Earthquaker Devices Disaster Transport Sr. (reverb + dual echo)
Earthquaker Devices Afterneath (delay-based reverb)
Electro-Harmonix Stereo Electric Mistress (flanger + chorus)
Electro-Harmonix Stereo Pulsar (tremolo)
Boomerang III w/ Wholly Roller & Sidecar (looper)
A.R.T. PDB (direct box)
Output header

Power supplies:

ModTone Power Plant
Pedaltrain Powertrain 1250

Board:

NYC Pedalboards custom 47" x 16" w/ 46" riser & butterfly latches

[Longways to Go]

+1 on guitar -- cable -- amp for me. K.I.S.S. !!!!!
but I do like an amp with built in reverb!
I have toyed with the idea of a looper, but I'm not too keen on the learning curve.
Meanwhile, I'm working on my fingers & theory.

[Music]

Guitar > Compressor > EQ > Amp.

[woland]

I like simplicity.

3leaf Audio Groove Regulator 2 (autowah w/ Blend knob - you can dial in very subtle vocal quality to your solo)
Wampler EGO compressor (one and only for me - same deal Blend knob allows it ro be always on)
Xotic RC Booster
Keeley true bypass looper (in case I want to add more ODs or other pedals into the chain - eg tremolo or Ravish)
Boomerang chorus/delay (set in stereo)
Ditto X2 (set in stereo)
TC Electronics Hall of Fame reverb (set in stereo)

Edit: I still experiment with RC Booster - tried EQ pedal there or EP booster type of pedal - not sure which one to go with yet.

[jazzbow]

I have toyed with the idea of a looper, but I'm not too keen on the learning curve.

LTG, you should seriously consider a looper, it's a great tool for learning, I use mine to loop specific chords then I find the chord tones on the fingerboard. Also it's good for recording drum patterns and ireal book looped blues backing tracks for that 5 minute solo!

[jazzbow]

I have an instrumental trio that records everything live, direct-to-stereo. We have guitar, bass/cello and drums. Our genre is "garage" jazz: almost entirely improvisational, drawing upon our varied influences as the mood suits.

I'm in, post a link TDD.

With the reverbs and superego do you venture into drone/ambient?

[KEOKI]

Vol ped last in chain between effects and amp, or in the effects loop. Reason: you want a full strength signal thru your effects for them to work correctly and the same at different levels. Putting the pedal last modulates the altered guitar signal to the amp. Putting the volume pedal in the effects loop modulates the effects plus the preamp stages.

[jorgemg1984]

Tuner - Drive - Parametric EQ - Delay - Reverb. These days I have all these on a Zoom MS50G.

[KEOKI]

When I use outboard effects that is the pedal I use. MS50G !!

[jorgemg1984]

It's the best pedal ever. Everyone should have one - price and size of a tuner with an array of excellent effects. I am selling my board!!