The drive pedal trap

DannyP · November 2014

Our young guitarists says to himself:

"I will buy a few drive pedals in an attempt to establish my perfect set-up. Once I have my ideal 2 pedals, I will permanently attach them to my board and sell the spares."

What then happens is that the 3 or 4 pedals get tried and tested in various combinations and stacking sequences. Many of these combinations have great merit.

Yet more pedals are released/reissued/rediscovered leading to unbearable curiosity on behalf of our young hero, who can't help picking up a new drive pedal or 2. The number of possible combinations and sequences of pedals rapidly approaches infinity.

Each time our guitarist feels that he may be ready to discard a pedal, he plugs it in for a final blast and finds one or 2 nice settings that he cannot do without.

Our guitarist's hoard of pedals always increases,his bank balance always decreases and he never gets any closer to his "perfect set-up".

Anyone else stuck in this trap?!?

capo4th · November 2014

This is normal

not_the_dj · November 2014

Sounds very familiar ;-)

ThePrettyDamned · November 2014

It's largely because there are very few pedals that actually sound bad in the overdrive and distortion world.

So when you try the one you rejected because it "was lacking that hint of sparkle this one has", you'll realise it sounds really great anyway and that it could be used for...

So it's normal.

meltedbuzzbox · November 2014

I've stopped buying drive pedals. 3 on the board is enough, one light, one heavy and a fuzz

It did take a lot of pedals to settle at that point though,

mart · November 2014

Calling @mike_l

DannyP · November 2014

meltedbuzzbox said:

I've stopped buying drive pedals. 3 on the board is enough, one light, one heavy and a fuzz

It did take a lot of pedals to settle at that point though,

Yeah, that's what I use - I don't want any more than that on the board. The question is WHICH ONES!

monquixote · November 2014

meltedbuzzbox said:

I've stopped buying drive pedals. 3 on the board is enough, one light, one heavy and a fuzz

It did take a lot of pedals to settle at that point though,

I'm hoping I can settle on this too.

mike_l · November 2014

mart said:

Calling @mike_l

Why? I have no idea what the problem with having a shedload of dirty boxes is?

simonbeckwith · November 2014

Standard day in the life of a guitarist!

DannyP · November 2014

eg. I don't do really high gain, but for my heavier drive, I recently went back to my Guv'nor after spells with a Hot Cake and an OCD, but then on Thursday night's gig, I just COULD NOT get the thing to sound decent for some reason.

And I'm thinking about putting the Hot Cake back on - but this time as my lighter overdrive, as I've found it's really sparkly and nice with everything at 12 O'clock. That would replace my Bluesbreaker, which I love, but recently I seem to have to dime the tone to get it bright enough.

Maybe the Caline Crazy Cacti should get a run out?

And Fuzz? Don't get me started...

Endless headaches. And I still can't shake the idea that perfection may still be out there in pedals I don't yet own!

mike_l · November 2014

@DannyP try a Hardwire CM-2. Very similar to a Mk1 Guvnor, but different enough to be individual in it's own right. Also try MXR's. I love the MXR low-mid gain sounds.

Alnico · November 2014

I had this problem and found my solution by buying a new amp and starting again from a basic but beautiful clean sound. It will also give some very natural sounding breakup when pushed however even on full tilt, rolling volume off on the guitar cleans it up without losing too much actual volume.

So into my Fender Blues Junior III i now have a TU3 tuner (Inc. Buffer), a Weeping Demon Wah, A TC Spark Booster and a Zoom G3.

I have found that keeping the effects use to a minimum, gain lower and volume higher gives me a fantastic sound. For the first time in years i am really happy with my sound and the small board i have (Not actually mounted on a board yet but will be soon) is very easy to navigate and use properly.

I got caught on the pedal-roundabout for most of this year and i'm really glad to have got off it.

meltedbuzzbox · November 2014

DannyP said:

eg. I don't do really high gain, but for my heavier drive, I recently went back to my Guv'nor after spells with a Hot Cake and an OCD, but then on Thursday night's gig, I just COULD NOT get the thing to sound decent for some reason.

And I'm thinking about putting the Hot Cake back on - but this time as my lighter overdrive, as I've found it's really sparkly and nice with everything at 12 O'clock. That would replace my Bluesbreaker, which I love, but recently I seem to have to dime the tone to get it bright enough.

Maybe the Caline Crazy Cacti should get a run out?

And Fuzz? Don't get me started...

Endless headaches. And I still can't shake the idea that perfection may still be out there in pedals I don't yet own!

I recently removed my double hotcake from my board. I loved the blueberry side with low gain. Great and sparkly with good dynamics but the normal side was a big huge middy blanket (I understand it works great with an AC30 (which it was designed to do)).

I tried a few things from the pedal cupboard but as always the nobels ODR came back out.

For the heavier dirt and fuzz sounds I use an Empress Multi drive. I can't recommend one enough.

The 3 biggest things I have found that can cause doubt in my setup have been, guitar switching, different guitars do sound different (obviously) and it takes a while for your ear to settle with the new change (can happen if you have been listening to music before playing too). The same amp sounds different in new rooms or different places in the same room.

The worst has been this forum though. Too many people plowing through pedals swearing that pedal X is the newest greatest hand crafted NOS true bypassed tone machine ete and it is way better than last months pedal x (Strymons as an example) and that you need to cover all tonal options etc. Sometimes it helps to take it all with a pinch of salt

I think you can get some great sounds out of the guvnor and the hotcake, I wouldn't be in a hurry to replace them.

Richardj · November 2014

Somewhere there is the 'perfect' drive pedal, I just haven't found it yet.....................

Ooh look, another shiny one!

Drew_TNBD · November 2014

Drive pedals are something I've just never gotten into. I've had a few sure, but they've always irritated me. Scratchy undynamic sounds that amps alone just piss all over.

Now amps... yes... gone round the block with those!

RaymondLin · November 2014

it's not the destination, it's the journey.

Or something like that !

jonnyburgo · November 2014

Box of rock into a Weehbo JTM Drive, The BOR on crunch setting and the Weehbo on 3/4, then goose the bastard with the SHO on the BOR - MASSIVE

JohnPerry · November 2014

jonnyburgo said:

Box of rock into a Weehbo JTM Drive, The BOR on crunch setting and the Weehbo on 3/4, then goose the bastard with the SHO on the BOR - MASSIVE

this is the wisest comment in the history of wisdom. The Weehbo JTM, goosed with a boost. Astounding pedal.

jonnyburgo · November 2014

JohnPerry said:

jonnyburgo said:

Box of rock into a Weehbo JTM Drive, The BOR on crunch setting and the Weehbo on 3/4, then goose the bastard with the SHO on the BOR - MASSIVE

this is the wisest comment in the history of wisdom. The Weehbo JTM, goosed with a boost. Astounding pedal.

It is indeed @JohnPerry Ive never played through a JTM 45 but love the Wheebo and the BOR

JohnPerry · November 2014

playing mine through a Cornell 18/20 Plexi. Marriage made in heaven

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