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Gospel Instruments => Gospel Guitar => Topic started by: reindale on May 09, 2008, 09:23:17 AM

Title: Effects Pedal
Post by: reindale on May 09, 2008, 09:23:17 AM
What's going on Fellas? I have a question, I've been playing for a about two years and I've been playing at the Chapel here on Base for about 6 months. I have Fender Frontman 25 Watt amp. It has reverb on it. It sounds pretty good on the clean and I've used it a church a few times, sometimes I go through the house. The question I have is what kind of effects pedal should I start out with. I want to just try something new and play around. I know there are a ton out so I just need some ideas before I buy anything. Thanks
Title: Re: Effects Pedal
Post by: cordney on May 09, 2008, 09:25:25 AM
What's going on Fellas? I have a question, I've been playing for a about two years and I've been playing at the Chapel here on Base for about 6 months. I have Fender Frontman 25 Watt amp. It has reverb on it. It sounds pretty good on the clean and I've used it a church a few times, sometimes I go through the house. The question I have is what kind of effects pedal should I start out with. I want to just try something new and play around. I know there are a ton out so I just need some ideas before I buy anything. Thanks

What chapel and where is it located?
Title: Re: Effects Pedal
Post by: gtrdave on May 09, 2008, 10:53:40 AM
What's your budget?
Are you looking for some distortion or maybe some time-based effects (delay, chorus, flange) or maybe you're looking for a wah?
Title: Re: Effects Pedal
Post by: reindale on May 09, 2008, 01:49:00 PM
The Chapel is here on Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. My budget is about $70-$80. Definetely some time based effects. What does 'flange' and the 'digital delay' do? I know what the chorus does and wah. The other two I'm not sure. I may end up with all of them later. I'm just what's a good starting pedal. I'm open and just learning guitar. Thanks
Title: Re: Effects Pedal
Post by: trackman on May 09, 2008, 02:18:29 PM
If you want something that will give you a bit of evrything, try the Digitech line of pedals. They're not the best, but they'll give you an idea of what each effect does for your sound. It's probably the cheapest route to go also... :-\
Title: Re: Effects Pedal
Post by: gtrdave on May 09, 2008, 02:47:39 PM
The Chapel is here on Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. My budget is about $70-$80. Definetely some time based effects. What does 'flange' and the 'digital delay' do? I know what the chorus does and wah. The other two I'm not sure. I may end up with all of them later. I'm just what's a good starting pedal. I'm open and just learning guitar. Thanks


Flange is similar to a chorus effect but the effect rate is normally much slower and the effect depth is much wider.
Digital delay is delay or echo done via DSP rather than analog electronics. The difference is very accurate timing and a very clean effect...and for some (like me most of the time) it's too accurate and too clean so they prefer analog as it can sound a little more 'natural' but digital has it's place, especially when you're needing solid timing while playing a repetitive riff (a la the band U2).

If you're considering a chorus pedal, check out this page:
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/navigation/guitars?N=100001%2b304262%2b7&Ns=P_Price%7c0&Ntk=All&Ntt=chorus&Nty=1&page=1
They're all within your price range.
I use my chorus quite often, especially for cleaner rhythms to add a little thickness to the sound.
Title: Re: Effects Pedal
Post by: cbknox on May 10, 2008, 01:19:44 PM
I had been playing for close to 10 years with no effects.  When I finally got one, it was a Boss Chorus.  I loved it.  Shortly thereafter, I got a distortion pedal, which gave me a lot of options for "coloring" my sound.  Since then, I've owned a Digitech RP-300, an inexpensive multi-effects unit (uner $200) which allowed me to experiment with all of the typical effects in factory & customizable presets. This really helped me learn what works best for my preferences.  My current pedal board, the Line 6 PodXT Live, has a USB computer interface which lets me modify presets visually, turning effects on & off, making adjustments, etc. really helpful. Now, some of the smaller amps with built-in effects have a nice "logic" to their setup which goes from chorus to phaser to flange and still blend combinations of reverb to delay. This is another approach before ultimately deciding on your ideal effect set up.
Title: Re: Effects Pedal
Post by: Gibby on May 10, 2008, 02:50:56 PM
I had been playing for close to 10 years with no effects.  When I finally got one, it was a Boss Chorus.  I loved it.  Shortly thereafter, I got a distortion pedal, which gave me a lot of options for "coloring" my sound.  Since then, I've owned a Digitech RP-300, an inexpensive multi-effects unit (uner $200) which allowed me to experiment with all of the typical effects in factory & customizable presets. This really helped me learn what works best for my preferences.  My current pedal board, the Line 6 PodXT Live, has a USB computer interface which lets me modify presets visually, turning effects on & off, making adjustments, etc. really helpful. Now, some of the smaller amps with built-in effects have a nice "logic" to their setup which goes from chorus to phaser to flange and still blend combinations of reverb to delay. This is another approach before ultimately deciding on your ideal effect set up.

Welcome to LGM!!!
Title: Re: Effects Pedal
Post by: Jordan Rivers on May 11, 2008, 01:38:20 AM
What's going on Fellas? I have a question, I've been playing for a about two years and I've been playing at the Chapel here on Base for about 6 months. I have Fender Frontman 25 Watt amp. It has reverb on it. It sounds pretty good on the clean and I've used it a church a few times, sometimes I go through the house. The question I have is what kind of effects pedal should I start out with. I want to just try something new and play around. I know there are a ton out so I just need some ideas before I buy anything. Thanks

             HI I'd go on ebay, and you might get an RP-300 Digitech effects peddal around 75.00..........they originally sold for 300.00,  now a newer RP-350 is being sold by Digitech. I have seen a few on ebay. So shop around.
                                      C ya
                                                   GW Williams
http://jordanriversguitarforum.blogspot.com/
Title: Re: Effects Pedal
Post by: trackman on May 13, 2008, 08:46:00 PM
I'm on my second generation of gear right now, but my rig started on ebay! In fact, the GNX-3 that I use right now is from ebay. I traded two Wah-Wah (Crybaby and a Jimi Hendrix(, and a RP-something plus $50 for it. What a blessing it was! Now I really want my Jimi back...  :'(
Title: Re: Effects Pedal
Post by: Gibby on May 13, 2008, 09:51:19 PM
I'm on my second generation of gear right now, but my rig started on ebay! In fact, the GNX-3 that I use right now is from ebay. I traded two Wah-Wah (Crybaby and a Jimi Hendrix(, and a RP-something plus $50 for it. What a blessing it was! Now I really want my Jimi back...  :'(

A wise bass player told me to never sell your gear.
Title: Re: Effects Pedal
Post by: trackman on May 14, 2008, 10:53:39 AM
A wise bass player told me to never sell your gear.

It had a short on the input and at the time I didn't want to deal with it. Looking back, I should have fixed it myself! I love my GNX-3 though...

I'm still going to get a couple of stompboxes in the future
Title: Re: Effects Pedal
Post by: JayP5150 on May 15, 2008, 06:57:46 AM
A wise bass player told me to never sell your gear.

In the past 15 years, I've sold one guitar...

I even hold on to my beaters, and effects that no longer work properly--I'll eventually fix them, but they sit in the closet for now.

Trackman, your best bet--instead of paying the extra money for a Jimi wah--is to buy a a standard Crybaby and mod it to your liking. You'll end up with a wah you like BETTER than that Jimi--I promise. And, you'll save about $60.
Title: Re: Effects Pedal
Post by: Gibby on May 15, 2008, 02:24:47 PM
In the past 15 years, I've sold one guitar...

I even hold on to my beaters, and effects that no longer work properly--I'll eventually fix them, but they sit in the closet for now.

Trackman, your best bet--instead of paying the extra money for a Jimi wah--is to buy a a standard Crybaby and mod it to your liking. You'll end up with a wah you like BETTER than that Jimi--I promise. And, you'll save about $60.

Jay would know  :D :D

If you need yo pedals hooked up right, go to Jay Stunna!  :D
Title: Re: Effects Pedal
Post by: trackman on May 15, 2008, 03:44:02 PM
In the past 15 years, I've sold one guitar...

I even hold on to my beaters, and effects that no longer work properly--I'll eventually fix them, but they sit in the closet for now.

Trackman, your best bet--instead of paying the extra money for a Jimi wah--is to buy a a standard Crybaby and mod it to your liking. You'll end up with a wah you like BETTER than that Jimi--I promise. And, you'll save about $60.

I'll get with you later about that. First let me run to Guitar Center. I'll be right back...
Title: Re: Effects Pedal
Post by: Abe on May 15, 2008, 05:44:23 PM
Have you checked out the new $500 Boss GT-10 Multi-Effects Pedal?
Much improved, a better looking dispaly and fewer knobs than my old antique Boss GT-6.
Here's a link:
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Boss-GT10-MultiEffects-Pedal?sku=151133 (http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Boss-GT10-MultiEffects-Pedal?sku=151133)

I currently us the Boss ME-50 in church. It has just what I need, a nice footprint, easy to carry around and setup.

Try to make your first choice your best choice.

Good luck!  8)
Title: Re: Effects Pedal
Post by: JayP5150 on May 15, 2008, 05:51:57 PM
Thanks, Gibb...

Track, if I can find it, I'll post clips of the mod I did for my nephew-in-law on his Vox.

Not sure that i still have them... I'll look when i get home tonight.
Title: Re: Effects Pedal
Post by: JayP5150 on May 16, 2008, 06:36:25 AM
OK, I found it... and the playing is REALLY bad. It was just a quickie to send to him to approve the tone.

He wanted a fatter wah (like Slash), but this gives you and idea of what can be done with a stock wah--for a couple bucks.

This was a Vox V847 that was true-bypassed, and I changed the sweep resistor to make it more vocal, and the Q capacitor to fatten it up. I think I changed the volume a bit to compensate for the true bypass, as well (that way there's no volume drop when you turn it on).

http://www.freewebs.com/jayp5150/Vox%20Wah.mp3 (http://www.freewebs.com/jayp5150/Vox%20Wah.mp3)

For some reason, every time I post a link, it will work for a day, then it just takes us back to this page... so, cut and paste if you have to.
Title: Re: Effects Pedal
Post by: jlynnb1 on May 16, 2008, 09:45:53 PM
Have you checked out the new $500 Boss GT-10 Multi-Effects Pedal?
Much improved, a better looking dispaly and fewer knobs than my old antique Boss GT-6.
Here's a link:
[url]http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Boss-GT10-MultiEffects-Pedal?sku=151133[/url] ([url]http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Boss-GT10-MultiEffects-Pedal?sku=151133[/url])

I currently us the Boss ME-50 in church. It has just what I need, a nice footprint, easy to carry around and setup.

Try to make your first choice your best choice.

Good luck!  8)


boss has good effects and flexibility....but i just can't stand the cosm amp modelling or the pain in the rear UI. also doesn't ahve near the output capabilities.

I admit that I am a Line 6 fan...but I promise you the X3 is a much better choice....especially if you record, since it has vocal, bass and acoustic guitar effects/preamp/cab models.
Title: Re: Effects Pedal
Post by: made2praise on May 17, 2008, 09:03:52 AM
You could save about $250 and get a Vox Tonelab SE used. They don't make the SE models anymore, and most of the guys that want to sell it just flat out don't know how to use it. I have seen them used for as low as $200. Don't get an effects board that can(paint the house), that stuff is alot of times is only good to wow the kids. This pedal board has all of the effects that the others do. Remember! When you are playing with other musicians, the best effect you can have is a good sound.
Title: Re: Effects Pedal
Post by: jlynnb1 on May 17, 2008, 09:55:15 AM
You could save about $250 and get a Vox Tonelab SE used. They don't make the SE models anymore, and most of the guys that want to sell it just flat out don't know how to use it. I have seen them used for as low as $200. Don't get an effects board that can(paint the house), that stuff is alot of times is only good to wow the kids. This pedal board has all of the effects that the others do. Remember! When you are playing with other musicians, the best effect you can have is a good sound.

i'm sorry...but the tonelab se is pretty limited effects wise. sure it has a few to choose from....but there is much flexibility/tweakability there. you can get some good sounds out of them....but i think there are better options.
Title: Re: Effects Pedal
Post by: made2praise on May 17, 2008, 11:34:29 AM
Not really that limited. Alot of the effects that come out on some of these new effects boards are nothing new. Alot of the new features on alot of the new ones are just gear setup options. It all comes down to delay, modulation, reverb, and of course a good wah, which I suggest the Dunlop 535Q. May God  lead you to a decision.
Title: Re: Effects Pedal
Post by: jlynnb1 on May 17, 2008, 10:26:54 PM
Not really that limited. Alot of the effects that come out on some of these new effects boards are nothing new. Alot of the new features on alot of the new ones are just gear setup options. It all comes down to delay, modulation, reverb, and of course a good wah, which I suggest the Dunlop 535Q. May God  lead you to a decision.

depends on how much tweakability you need and how much you get to experiment. I need a lot of tweakability and variety...the next guy may not. one thing that Line6 does that owns everyone else is the computer based editor for the pod. hook up your pod via usb...all your parameters are on the monitor. tweak something in the editing app on the comp...it's changed on the pod. so much easier than scrolling through menus and pushing buttons all night just trying to change a few settings.
Title: Re: Effects Pedal
Post by: made2praise on May 18, 2008, 09:13:55 AM
The good part of the Tonelab series is that is it analog as well as the computer set up options as well, plus the tube, which really gives a nice warmth to the tone. But this is just my preference.
Title: Re: Effects Pedal
Post by: gtrdave on May 18, 2008, 03:31:02 PM
The good part of the Tonelab series is that is it analog as well as the computer set up options as well, plus the tube, which really gives a nice warmth to the tone. But this is just my preference.

It's been shown time and time again that the presence of a single 12ax7 tube in an otherwise completely silicon-based circuit hardly introduces what some consider "warmth".
Yet I digress...if you think that it adds "warmth", so be it.  ;D
Title: Re: Effects Pedal
Post by: JayP5150 on May 18, 2008, 04:07:16 PM
It's been shown time and time again that the presence of a single 12ax7 tube in an otherwise completely silicon-based circuit hardly introduces what some consider "warmth".
Yet I digress...if you think that it adds "warmth", so be it.  ;D

For the most part, I think "warmth" is a buzz-word for inaudible distortion (to the regular ear).

So, slapping a tube in the path makes a difference only depending on how it's driven, where it is in the path, etc.

Just like a tube mic pre. I like the one I have, but it's really not noticeable until you crank the gain to just under the breakup point of the tube... and then who's to say that "warmth" isn't being added by the loading of the numerous transistors in that circuit as well?

I have a FET-based booster that I love, it adds warmth...

It's all based on application and execution, really (and about 85% perception to be honest--and this is coming from a tube guy lol).

Really, putting a tube pre in front of a digital effects engine... kinda silly. "Warm" up the signal to then tear it to binary shreds, process it, and then piece it back together as an analog signal before feeding it to your amp? That doesn't add up in my tone equation.

However, feed your signal through a digital processor, then to a tube power amp... I could maybe go to bat for that.

Maybe  ;)  ;)  ;)
Title: Re: Effects Pedal
Post by: made2praise on May 18, 2008, 06:23:56 PM
All I know is how it sounds, I have adjusted the tube all the way up and then set set the distortion level back on the amp settings, and I get a very full sound. Also being that I play through a keyboard amp. I do that because it has no built in preamp that I have to fight, since the TLSE already has it taken care of. Then you can hear what the difference is. Also amazing clean channel tones, but of course many factors are involved in tone also.
Title: Re: Effects Pedal
Post by: JayP5150 on May 19, 2008, 06:15:20 AM
All I know is how it sounds, I have adjusted the tube all the way up and then set set the distortion level back on the amp settings, and I get a very full sound. Also being that I play through a keyboard amp. I do that because it has no built in preamp that I have to fight, since the TLSE already has it taken care of. Then you can hear what the difference is. Also amazing clean channel tones, but of course many factors are involved in tone also.

I don't have a lot of experience with that unit personally, I was just making a generalization about tube-y-ness all-around.

If you can tell a difference, that's what matters.

Ask anyone around here... I'm a tube nazi, I just happen to have a moment of clarity occasionally.  ;D
Title: Re: Effects Pedal
Post by: gtrdave on May 19, 2008, 08:45:36 AM
For the most part, I think "warmth" is a buzz-word for inaudible distortion (to the regular ear).


Exactly. Most of these modern circuits that contain a single pre-amp tube already have an entire pre-amp circuit which it solid state in design. All the addition of the tube does is add even more preamplification which, typically, adds low-level analog distortion to the signal.
That's what's being sold as "warmth" these days when in actuality it's nothing like the "warmth" that comes from a genuine class A or even a class A/B tube amplifier.

Regardless, if it sounds good to the player (and hopefully the listener) then it doesn't matter if it takes old fish bones and dried rose petals to create the tone.  ;D
Title: Re: Effects Pedal
Post by: made2praise on May 19, 2008, 08:50:26 AM
Well nothing can actually replace the true tube sound of a tube amp.
Title: Re: Effects Pedal
Post by: gtrdave on May 19, 2008, 11:25:58 AM
Well nothing can actually replace the true tube sound of a tube amp.

True.
I tried what might be called the best of both worlds this weekend: a Line 6 Spider Valve 112.
Overall, it's a great amp, mostly for it's modeling/effects versatility and it's Bogner-designed tubeishness  ;D but it STILL has that inherent shrill synthetic nature of DSP-based audio.
A Bad Cat/Matchless/Top Hat/etc it will never be. 'Course, it's also at least a third of the cost of any of those amps.  ;)
Title: Re: Effects Pedal
Post by: jlynnb1 on May 19, 2008, 03:19:19 PM
True.
I tried what might be called the best of both worlds this weekend: a Line 6 Spider Valve 112.
Overall, it's a great amp, mostly for it's modeling/effects versatility and it's Bogner-designed tubeishness  ;D but it STILL has that inherent shrill synthetic nature of DSP-based audio.
A Bad Cat/Matchless/Top Hat/etc it will never be. 'Course, it's also at least a third of the cost of any of those amps.  ;)

that presence knob on the SV will tame most of that dave....but your right....it will never be a high-end boutique tube amp.

of course, nonoe fo those amps give you the versatility of the SV.....so it's all about what you are going for.