Next essential effect?

stefanwa · January 2004

Hi Gearheads!

With my new Fender American Series Strat I got for Xmas I discovered the world of electric guitars!

Only had an acoustic before then. I don't really have knowledge of effects and would like some recommendations for my next essential pedal to get.
My only pedal right now is the "Boss BD-2 Blues Driver" (good one I believe). Should I go for a delay, a chorus or something different now? I don't want to achieve a certain sound, I want to be flexible and get a wide variety of "standard" sounds until I'm more experienced. Maybe my music preferences might help out a bit: PJ (of course), REM, Radiohead, Sonic Youth, etc... I think you got my taste.

Thanks!
Steve

mccreadyisgod · January 2004

There are so many options out there, it's difficult to recommend any one. Wah-wah or delay would be my first recommendation as a standard effect, but phasers, flangers, compressors, vibratos, tremolos, distortions, fuzz-boxes, and other toys are all pretty cool, depending on what you're shooting for. You might just wait for a while, see what sorta stuff you want to do, but if you want a new toy, get a delay. That's my personal opinion and recommendation, though, don't just take my word for it.

Pacomc79 · January 2004

Go for a Wah Wah or a delay they are the least subtle effects that are really fun to play with.

stefanwa · January 2004

Thanks for your suggestions!

I think I'll go for a delay next. Any brand/model suggestions? I'm pretty happy with my current Boss, so how about the "DD" series?

exhausted · January 2004

if you can find one, try a danelectro dan-echo. it's digital but emulates analog very well. they're discontinued now so stores may be clearning them out.

the boss DD's are extremely sterile and lifeless in my opinion.

Pacomc79 · January 2004

i like the guyatone MD-3.

The Digitech x-series digital delay is 99 bucks and very flexible. It would also be a good one to try because of the different tones.

Also the Ibanez Delay Echo is cool

The Visual Sound H20 is also cool and in the Dan Echo vein.

I also think the Rocktron Short timer is a good deal

The Bosses are fine. As a general rule Digital is clean and crisp and accurate to some people dull and boring with too much high end.

Analog is rich and warm and loose. Depending on your musical taste you will probably like one or the other or both. Digital is much cheaper than analog but there are various ways to go. The only way to find out is to go play them.

MissYouAllDay · January 2004

does smashing pumpkins fall in to your favorite bands category.

2 words BIG MUFF

who's_pearljam? · January 2004

Delay
Wow, look how many agree!

You can play around with them a lot.

Then, two weeks later, repost for the next effect you'll want!

Are the Akai Headrushes still around?
I have one of them and that one has a little bit of a looper built in, delay and tape echo. The looper is great to practice to yourself with. You kick a button and get like 22 seconds of recording that will loop over and over.

That can get you through maybe 4 weeks before you want a Chorus pedal!

El_Kabong · January 2004

I'd say a phase for your SY and Radiohead sound.

As for delays for just under $100 you can get a Guyatone MD-3 or a Digitech Digidelay. A Boss DD-6 is around $150 or so, DD-5 a little cheaper. They each do things the other doesn't. I got the MD-3 because it was the only one that self-oscilates.

If you want to drop around $200-250 a Line 6 DL-4 is good. But SY and Radiohead are known more for their phase instead of delay. Try a MXR or an EH Small Stone for under $150

$200 and up the MF103 Moogerfooger 12-Stage Phaser, Mutron, Maxon PH350 Rotary Phaser or a Prophecy Sounds Infinitphase.

exhausted · January 2004

Originally posted by who's_pearljam?
Delay

Are the Akai Headrushes still around?
I have one of them and that one has a little bit of a looper built in, delay and tape echo. The looper is great to practice to yourself with. You kick a button and get like 22 seconds of recording that will loop over and over.

hold on to that headrush. they're going up in value.

BinFrog · January 2004

Originally posted by exhausted
hold on to that headrush. they're going up in value.

El_Kabong · January 2004

Originally posted by who's_pearljam?
Delay
Wow, look how many agree!

Delays are very nice but for Sonic Youth/Radiohead a phase is more what he's looking for.

Pacomc79 · January 2004

Originally posted by El_Kabong
Delays are very nice but for Sonic Youth/Radiohead a phase is more what he's looking for.

Hmm, sonic youth. Grab a pawnshop Music Man amp a Pawnshop guitar maybe a distortion pedal and phaser. Shove a drumstick inbetween the two middle strings, bash away. Use another drumstick as a bow.

An old ibanez (maxon) chorus would be a good find.

For Radiohead, chain delays and distortions toegther and have fun.

goto_l · January 2004

If you wanna sound like Radiohead save your money & you can get Jonny's delay board. Got a good look at it in Oct when I saw them. He has a regular pedal board & then also has a delay board. He has 12 DD-3s on it, then runs it in to a moog bass synth, then to a marshall 8 in baby amp. The other board runs to his sick collection of vox amps. That's all I can recommend for the Radiohead sound. As for the Sonic Youth sound, a really good tradional chorus pedal, not anything the has a vibe to it, & a small clean amp. Also for Sonic Youth, be prepared to come up with the most bizarre tunings you can think of.

El_Kabong · January 2004

well not everybody can be surronded by gear and make it work really well like Jonny can...I have a few videos that have some great shots of his stuff...on the MTV2 $2 bill show there's a good passing overhead shot of both his and Ed's gear.

I know SY can do some odd things like the drum stick between the fretboard and strings...but overall on albums like 'daydream nation' and other ones you can hear more phase than delay.

There's a good EP of them in the Netherlands with the dutch band ICP (not the horrible 'rap' group, a dutch jazz band) and members of the dutch band the Ex. It's pretty interesting. Kind of reminds me of Bill Laswell stuff in a way.

anarchRist_14 · January 2004

F buying a delay, just buy a multi-FX. It's got everything you want in one, wah's, fuzz's, delays, fazers, chorus, overdrive, etc. You can even buy them with expression pedals now. Theres lots of different brands, just go with the cheapest, wich is usually basic and only about 60 bucks if you buy it at musiciansfriend.com. If you like a certain effect type, and want more expression from it, then plop down the cash for it based on what you've learned from the multi-FX. But if you want to stick to single units, go with dunlop effects. They make good wahs, especially the new dimebag cry babies. And they make a line of Jimi Hendrix wah/fuzz's.

exhausted · January 2004

the general path of evolution is that those that buy multi-fx usually end up unsatisfied with the sound of something trying to do too many things in one box and they end up buying individual pedals.

Pacomc79 · January 2004

Originally posted by exhausted
the general path of evolution is that those that buy multi-fx usually end up unsatisfied with the sound of something trying to do too many things in one box and they end up buying individual pedals.

Bingo!

anarchRist_14 · January 2004

yeah probably so, but I'm poor. So I'll stick to trying them all out at one time before I waste my minimum wage buying an effect that sucks.

anarchRist_14 · January 2004

I have got a really awesome Hendrix Wah Wah though. You guys should try it out. And does anyone know what that new DOD grunge pedal sounds like?

Pacomc79 · January 2004

Originally posted by anarchRist_14
yeah probably so, but I'm poor. So I'll stick to trying them all out at one time before I waste my minimum wage buying an effect that sucks.

we're all poor dude. I'm currently selling to buy.

Next essential effect?

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