Lets look at our guitars thread

[31mph]

OldSkoolRS said:

I've never really been one for pedals, but now I'm in a covers band I need options for different sounds. I had a few already, but bought a used Nano+ 'board and have recently added the used TC Hall of Fame reverb and Flashback mini pedals. Today received an MXR Timmy (to replace a Soul Food that I found was a bit too nasal sounding for my taste/set up).

Still playing about with the order, but since I like SP compressor into the Timmy and also Timmy into the SL drive the current order seems good. The reverb/echo/boost go in the FX loop of my Marshall so I can boost solos and add ambience after any distortion stages. Got another rehearsal coming up (tiers, etc not withstanding of course), so will try it out properly in a band setting.



I like the little 'RAT' clone pedal; it's a £32 Black Secret with a 'Turbo' mode that uses a red led for distortion (I prefer over the 'vintage' setting). Not something I'll use on lots of songs, but seems to work on a Black Keys one we play (Lonely Boy).

Now back to more practising this weekend.

Oh go on then if we're sharing boards



The compressors an always on for me, which I know for a lot of people is odd, but I'm just so used to the feel of it now

I adore the sound of the Dimension C but I don't use it that much, the EQ pedal might seem boring but it's incredibly useful especially at gigs

It's taken me years of fiddling to get my board to a place I'm happy with, but I've not changed it in over year now so I guess I'm pretty settled, although I'd really like to try one of those EP boosters

[Stratovarious]

Here's my pedalboard ...

[Don1]

Very good. You've missed out 'buzz coming from somewhere, can't nail it down'

[Stratovarious]

And of course as usual the Thumbsnap logo covered up the best one!







Joking apart, these are my actual pedals.

[angusfaldo]

Gratuitous pedal shot to keep the content flowing:

[foreright]

Tim the pool man said:

Very cool, what gauge strings are on it now? I bought a Squier mini strat for my daughter, but I had to put heavier strings on it as I couldn't play it without bending the OEM strings (partly coz I'm ham fisted perhaps!)
My logic was that with the short scale length the light strings must have far less tension to be in tune, whereas the heavier gauge would need to be tighter... seems to have worked OK

You're right - shorter scale length will require heavier strings at the same pitch. The Squier is a 23" scale IIRC - I reckon 11s would probably feel like "normal" lightweight strings at that scale.

As for this guitar, it's a custom set balanced for tension (in theory - you want the tension to increase slightly with string thickness in reality otherwise it feels REALLY odd!) with the following gauges:

E .0115" dapl == 13.51#
B, .016" dapl == 14.68#
G, .020" dapl == 14.45#
D, .030" danw == 15.77#
A,, .042" danw == 16.58#
E,, .056" danw == 16.6#

total == 91.59#

... where "#" is lbs. The G is very slightly too stiff in practice so I might go a gauge or two down next time I think a .020 as a plain string is also slightly too thick to sound good at this scale length also - it's got a little bit of a strange tone compared to the others.

[RichTT]

slopes said:

I like that guitar but what is it?

It's the Snap Dragon SnapAxe E

https://snap-dragon-guitars.com/travel-electric-gu...

I'm on a guitar buying ban at the moment but that doesn't mean I can't sneak a new pedal or two into the house. This is how I'm currently set up. Soul Food and Big Muff are the new joiners to the board.

Running wet / dry split after the EQ pedal and before the E-lady.

[slopes]

[Grrbang]

angusfaldo said:

Gratuitous pedal shot to keep the content flowing:

Big fan of DTP. How have you found the Ocean Machine?

[RichTT]

Grrbang said:

angusfaldo said:

Gratuitous pedal shot to keep the content flowing:

Big fan of DTP. How have you found the Ocean Machine?

Looking at that selection of pedals gives me choice and parameter paralysis. I have more than enough pedals to ensure I have extensive tone and modulation choices but even then most of my pedals have only two or three knobs. That's more than enough.

[Pastor Of Muppets]

How would you describe the real world differences between having single pedals on a board, as opposed
to a good modern Multi-FX unit?

[chemistry]

Pastor Of Muppets said:

How would you describe the real world differences between having single pedals on a board, as opposed
to a good modern Multi-FX unit?

I'm not sure there is much (any?) real world benefit, IMHO.

I have a pedal board and plenty of pedals and it's fun swapping them out to try new ones, put them in a different order, etc.; a very hands-on experience.

Having said that, there's a nagging doubt in my mind that a Headrush, Helix or similar would do it all - and more - equally well, cheaper and more reliably.

Bottom line is that I suspect that it's like classic cars vs modern ones. There's an appeal to the classics/pedals (easy to work on and muck about with, characterful) that, despite its superiority, the modern/multiFX stuff can't replicate (despite it being superior in most respects).

Edited by chemistry on Sunday 8th November 19:45

[RichTT]

chemistry said:

Bottom line is that I suspect that it's like classic cars vs modern ones. There's an appeal to the classics/pedals (easy to work on and muck about with, characterful) that, despite its superiority, the modern/multiFX stuff can't replicate (despite it being superior in most respects).

I agree in part. Analogue circuits do behave differently to purely digital simulations.

[sutoka]

RichTT said:

chemistry said:

Bottom line is that I suspect that it's like classic cars vs modern ones. There's an appeal to the classics/pedals (easy to work on and muck about with, characterful) that, despite its superiority, the modern/multiFX stuff can't replicate (despite it being superior in most respects).

I agree in part. Analogue circuits do behave differently to purely digital simulations.

The emulators have come on a lot the last few years but you can still tell the difference in a practice or studio space.

Where you can't really tell is in a big venue which is why the emulators have become more accepted.

[smn159]

sutoka said:

RichTT said:

chemistry said:

Bottom line is that I suspect that it's like classic cars vs modern ones. There's an appeal to the classics/pedals (easy to work on and muck about with, characterful) that, despite its superiority, the modern/multiFX stuff can't replicate (despite it being superior in most respects).

I agree in part. Analogue circuits do behave differently to purely digital simulations.

The emulators have come on a lot the last few years but you can still tell the difference in a practice or studio space.

Where you can't really tell is in a big venue which is why the emulators have become more accepted.

The modellers are emulating a mic'ed cab through a monitoring system though, compared to an actual guitar cab in a room. You can't tell the difference for recorded tones either

[Grrbang]

Pastor Of Muppets said:

How would you describe the real world differences between having single pedals on a board, as opposed
to a good modern Multi-FX unit?

FX units are great for heavily effects-laden music, those who play many styles, and touring bands. Lots of famous touring bands leave their stacks behind and bring Axe FX units that still sound great.

One reason I don't use them is because many mid-price units only allow you to select one of each category effect. So the 'modulation' dial can only select either chorus or flanger or phaser...

Another reason is that most units will either go into the front of my amp (reverb/delay gets distorted) or into the effects loop (can't overdrive the preamp) but not both.

Another reason is that while your standard boss or cheaper pedal is no more special than the corresponding effect in a multi-FX unit, there are some seriously good pedals out there, especially analog boutique pedals but sometimes cheap pedals that define a sound.

I would also rather have all the controls visible and accessible, rather than hidden behind menus or buttons. I invariably want to change presets but then feel a bit lost. Also, if I am presented with a multi FX unit, I will spend more time fiddling with it than playing! This is the same reason I don't use VSTs and impulse responses so much either, even though they can sound great.

[Pastor Of Muppets]

Thanks for the reply. Must admit the only pedal I ever bought was a Pro-co Rat distortion, aside from that I've only ever used multi-FX,
being just a home player it has provided all the sounds I require, although a nicely built pedal board does look tempting.

[Tom1312]

Any electrical gurus here? I used to be fairly handy but haven't a clue with amps...

Found an ENGL Thunder on eBay sold as for parts and not working, almost seems too good to be true so will probably give it a miss, as you can see below, this is what the seller said happened... Whether true or not, could be a simple fix such as dodgy fuse or bottomless pit?

Opinions?

[NDA]

pitboard said:

The lad has developed a fondness for Fender offsets. Jazzmaster.

I am not a guitar player, but bought my son this for his birthday. I figured as nobody was having a holiday this year he might as well have something he likes.

[sutoka]

Had this Hofner Senator for a few years now. I think it's around 1958 and not it the greatest condition, it's had a hard life.

Not the easiest or most comfortable of guitars to play but it sits in the corner looking pretty.