Author Topic: Pedals? What's it all about? (Read 8375 times)

_tom_ · « **Reply #15 on:** February 15, 2006, 05:21:46 PM »

Quote from: Neemo

Visual Sound Jekyll & Hyde is the only od/ds pedal I've ever owned that actually makes a bad amp sound better. Nowadays I'm using rack setup and prefer all the distortion coming from the preamp (yes, I play metal), so our rhythm guitarist uses it with his Ibanez Toneblaster and the amp's own distortion is horrible but J&H makes it sound so much better.

I as interested in a J&H ages ago, are they really that good? I know The Strokes use em through the same amp as me and seem to get some pretty good tones, but I've heard of people (including TO) hating them and say they sound cardboardy whatever that means :P The newer red one looks pretty cool with its bass boost and some other switch.

Bainzy · « **Reply #16 on:** February 15, 2006, 05:26:44 PM »

I like using modulation pedals with my plexi, but not overdrive/distortion - you can't beat the natural sound of this amp on 10 :twisted:

Neemo · « **Reply #17 on:** February 15, 2006, 05:27:13 PM »

Quote from: _tom_

Quote from: Neemo
Visual Sound Jekyll & Hyde is the only od/ds pedal I've ever owned that actually makes a bad amp sound better. Nowadays I'm using rack setup and prefer all the distortion coming from the preamp (yes, I play metal), so our rhythm guitarist uses it with his Ibanez Toneblaster and the amp's own distortion is horrible but J&H makes it sound so much better.

I as interested in a J&H ages ago, are they really that good? I know The Strokes use em through the same amp as me and seem to get some pretty good tones, but I've heard of people (including TO) hating them and say they sound cardboardy whatever that means :P

Well, considering you get an OD *and* a DS in the same box, It's very versatile. I went through numerous so-called 'boutique' pedals but they just sounded all the same, now J&H really brought some beef to my marshall with the jekyll side, drive set to 0. For really high gain stuff, hyde covers in spades. It was very refreshing to find many actually usable sounds in one box, highly recommended on my account.

donovan.x · « **Reply #18 on:** February 15, 2006, 05:35:54 PM »

What does a distortion pedal actually do to the amp to make it so much better?

Ratrod · « **Reply #19 on:** February 15, 2006, 07:00:37 PM »

I've tried many overdrive and distortion pedals, mostly Boss pedals. None of them can match my trusty H&K Tube Factor.

_tom_ · « **Reply #20 on:** February 15, 2006, 07:39:29 PM »

Did you get to try that HBE Power Screamer yet Ratrod? If so hows it sound? I'm on the lookout for another distortion/overdrive unit AGAIN :lol: Tubefactor seems the best bet so far though

Muttley · « **Reply #21 on:** February 15, 2006, 08:04:51 PM »

Quote from: donovanx

What does a distortion pedal actually do to the amp to make it so much better?

I've only ever used distortion pedals when my main amp was so cr@p I couldn't get a decent sound out of it any other way. So I was actually using the pedal as a preamp and the amp just to make it loud.

Muttley

Ratrod · « **Reply #22 on:** February 15, 2006, 08:10:29 PM »

Quote from: _tom_

Did you get to try that HBE Power Screamer yet Ratrod? If so hows it sound? I'm on the lookout for another distortion/overdrive unit AGAIN :lol: Tubefactor seems the best bet so far though

The damn thing is still on backorder. But I'm in no hurry.

Twinfan · « **Reply #23 on:** February 15, 2006, 08:50:43 PM »

I was totally against pedals for a long time. All I had was a CryBaby Wah for those Hendrix moments :D

I now have:

One of many guitars => CryBaby Wah => Maxon OD-9 Tubescreamer => MXR EVH Phaser => Electro-Harmonix Deluxe Memory Man => Marshall JTM 60 4x12

I also have a Danelectro Fish N Chips EQ in the effects loop. This is on all the time to get "my sound".

The Tubescreamer is used for solos, sometimes with the Phaser too for a thicker sound.

The Memory Man is used for clean arpeggio-type runs/chords.

The Wah is used very occasionally, but as it gives a slight treble cut when off I keep it there permanently.

With effects you either go two ways:

1) Have a very distinctive effect based sound, using extremes. Eg The Edge and his delay sound, some Brian May harmonised parts.

2) Use several effects sparingly for different types of sound (like I do).

carlaz · « **Reply #24 on:** February 16, 2006, 10:52:58 AM »

Back when I played a guitar out with bands and stuff regularly (um, 6 to 10 years ago!) I used a big spread of pedals -- mostly 'cause I'm enamoured of far-out spacey sounds, but I'm sure it helped hide my cr@ppy technique. :)

I make more use of straight-up overdriven amp(model) sounds now when doing my own demos (but this is also related to cr@ppy technique, since I can most successfully make myself sound competant by slamming out 2-finger power chords, and they don't sound so good with 500 FX shimmering around on top of them ;)).

Still, I gotta have access to the wah, and I like my old Boss analogue delay (not so much as a normal delay, but you can make the most fantastic/horrendous Dr. Who noises by leaping on it and wrenching the knobs around manically! I also gotta reach for the old Boss flanger on occasion, for those "jet engine on acid" sounds (leads or sometimes chords, in the manner of Monster Magnet's "Negasonic Teenage Warhead").

I guess these days I go back and forth a bit more between the two poles of either "pretty much guitar+amp" and "insane effect-drenched madness" without a lot of time in between!