Am down to 4 pedals - must be insane ;-)

[Jimi75]

Hey friends,

After a long, long journey I am down to 4 pedals that kinda stood the test of being shredded live, at home and at sessions.
My board currently consists of a 1. Fulltone Clyde Std. Wah / 2. TC Spark Mini Booster / 3. Rockett Blue Note OD / 4. TC Flashback mini Delay / special occasions: (EHX Soul Food)

1. I hated this wah at times, then loved it again. It had a loose contact that brought me to full desparation during a live gig...anyways, I ordered the MAE C404 Wah...nothing for me...still considering a Dunlop Classic F, but after having brought the Fulltone to my technician, it sounds better then ever. After almost 4 years on my board, it is allowed to stay ;-)

2. TC Spark....what can I say. The wolrd is a better place with it, believe me. I know all the Timmyies and the Euphorias and the JHS Morning Glories, also the RC Boosters...EP Boosters....you name them. I have tried them all and the TC is and will always reamain one of the best sounding boosts I have ever played. I mean, you play a great sounding amp, you love the sound, you kick in the Spark, and you can't believe what it still adds. I also really like the JHS Morning Glory, but it is almost 4 times the price of the Spark, and the Spark still sounds more vivid, to my impression. However, a keeper, for sure.

3. Rockett...what an awesome pedal company. I wasn't really aware of them, until my last visit at the local guitar store. Look up "transparent, woody sound" in a dictionary and you will find a picture of the Blue Note OD. This thing is pure magic. By far the best overdrive that was ever put on my board. It does it all. I also had the Rockett Animal, which is, hands down, the best Plexi in a box. But playing a Two Rock, I didn't want to go for a Marhsall Plexi sound.

4. TC Flashback Delay. Not much to say about this. I am not "The Edge" so I can be satisfied with some slight Tape Delay sounds. The TC Flashback delivers. No magic here, just a fantastic price performance ratio ,-)

Special Case:
5. EHX Soul Food. Not on my board currently, but my trusty go to pedal. The SF was my main overdrive for solos, but as the Rockett gives me all the sounds I need, I reduced the pedal qty. The SF is the pedal that I use at home for all my drive sounds, plus it is my session go to pedal. It is incredible. Just recently I thought, I will have to upgrade my Klon Clone, and so I tested the Rockett Archer. Believe me, it couldn't touch the SF. The guy was telling me about better components....yeah, yeah.....my SF has seen a lot of stages, it sounded monster - always! And lets not talk about the price perf......ratio....thing.....it is the best pedal out there for the price.

Future pedal buying/testing plans (am not in a hurry at all with this):
Rockett Guthrie Trapp OD / Wampler Velvet Fuzz / Strymon Deco / some vibe effects

How about you guys, what have been your latest reorganizations on your boards?

[Robert]

Thanks for sharing!

I've just added a Rockett The Dude to my board and dude... lemme tell you it's freaking awesome! Dumble-ish sounds, lots of gain, but CLEAN sounding. I mean clarity is there, even with lots of gain. It's has that magic sparkle too. Fairy dust. Get one.

[piebaldpython]

Lots will be happening on my board(s) in the coming months. I do have a board I can play with though if I played a "roadhouse".

Remember, the move ROADHOUSE with Patrick Swayze, as the bouncer. Anyway, they had this "stage" behind chicken-wire fencing, and that is where the band (Jeff Healey) played. Fights break out, drinks all over, etc. Perfect situation for your gear to get damaged, wet, etc.

Joyo has a series of Ironman pedals. Rugged, mini-pedals with a cover that flips over to protect your controls.

I have the AT Drive, Green Legend Overdrive, Blue Rain Overdrive and the Husky Drive Overdrive pedals.

Great sounding, inexpensive pedals.

[crusty2268]

Hey Jimi75 thanks for the post. I like the idea of 'just what u need' on a board but I havnt got to that stage again lately. With years of suffering from GAS I have too many dirt pedals to mention.
Just going through a change over phase at the mo and selling a few amps to purchase a new toy. First time for a dual channel but looking forward to cutting down my pedal board...or at least dirt pedals anyway..!
You are bang on with the JRAD gear....all good..!

Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk

[marnold]

I am by no means a guitarist worth mentioning, but the more I think about it, the more I like the "less is more" philosophy. I don't have a ton of pedals, but the only ones that are always in my chain are my tuner (does that count?), DVM OD2, and my Digitech delay and reverb pedals. I have a few others, but they mainly gather dust.

On the reverse side of things Premier Guitar had a big write up on a few pedal switching systems, some costing well over a grand. After reading that, I can see why so many pros have gone to Axe-FX or something similar if they use a ton of effects.

[Jimi75]

Pedals are like an elegant brown Porsche, the AxeFX is like a fast car, but with shitty looks and spinning wheels. For my part, I know what I wanna be seated in ;-)

[helliott]

I'm pretty spare but not down to 4. I switched to a small Pedaltrain board as so many rooms are small these days. Right to left: EH C9 Organ Machine, Diamond Compressor, Classic Crybaby, Voodoo Lounge Sparkle Drive (some gain and clean boost), Fairfield Barbershop overdrive (for Tele and slide) and BD Waza drive for the real sustainy stuff.

Robert, is there a demo of the Dude? Heard they are incredible.

[Robert]

I will make a demo of the Dude. It's a killer pedal. Youtube it.

[Jimi75]

@Helliot: Brilliant choice of pedals
@Robert: Will check The Dude next week, the demos sound awesome - I want one!!! But I'm torn between the Dude and the Guthrie Trap OD... Looking forward to your demo, would be great to also hear some chords and single coil sounds and some driving of the volume on the guitar...just my personal wish ;-)

[tjcurtin1]

Oh oh, Jimi - sounds like 'down to just 4 pedals' is about to become history...;)

[piebaldpython]

The Mad Professor Simble Overdrive is a pretty good Dumble clone too. Definitely gets one in Robben Ford-sounding territory.

[Jimi75]

I've tried the Simbel once and I found the EHX Soulfood to be equally good. Hey my friend, I always try to keep it down to one clean boost and one overdrive, so if the Dude kicks me, one of the other candidates has to leave the show :-)

[Jipes]

I run trough 3 pedals for the time

- EP Xotic Booster (I'm still happy with this Jimi)
- TS808 clone (done by the guy who build my Fender Tweed Vibrolux amp)
- TC Flashback Delay (I'm far from mastering this but I use it mainly for slapback delay)

I bought an octaver that I really like from a member of The Fret but when it's on the volume dropped too much (default ?) so I don't use it during live gigs

[piebaldpython]

Hey Jimi75.....just wanted to know how your Rockett Blue Note OD interacts with your EHX Soul Food? What order do you stack them in when running both on your board?

I have a Soul Food on back order and considering getting the Blue Note too.

[Jimi75]

I like the SF before the BN. Congrats on your back orders - you'll highly enjoy the couple :-)

[piebaldpython]

The back order for the EHX Soul Food fell through. Just ordered a J Rockett Blue Note OD Demo off reverb.com for a good price. The Demo is in LikeNew condition.

[Robert]

The Blue Note OD is one of the best overdrives ever.

[Jimi75]

Great pedal!!!!

[Jimi75]

@Pibaldphyton - how do you like the Blue Note OD so far?