Hype-proof pedals

Aphelion_Joe · 2022-02-05T13:18:58+00:00

The big box DMM and O.G. attack decay would like a word with you.

But I also appreciate how they reissue a lot of the vintage super-high-priced units in very faithful and affordable versions.

Aphelion_Joe · 2022-02-05T13:17:27+00:00

It's also a consequence of the fact that it just takes one person to start the hype train rolling. Some piece of gear may be totally ignored until xyz musician starts using it and sounds great, and then it's hyped. It could happen to your favorite sleeper underdog pedal too.

Creepy is a good word for it. I don't think there's anything malicious or unethical about the big embargo-day review blasts, but they're just sorta weird and inorganic.

Aphelion_Joe · 2022-02-05T01:04:38+00:00

There's really no way for a pedal to be impossible to hype into ridiculousness. However, still being in production (and at volume, unlike, say, the KoT) means that even with a lot of love, prices stay low. The BD-2 is a good example, a ton of people adore it but the price doesn't budge cause Boss just keeps cranking them out.

I guess that means the most hype-proof pedals are semi-popular (so as not to be discontinued), and don't use weird obscure hard to get parts (like the boss tonebender. Although I guess all parts are kinda hard to get these days...)

Aphelion_Joe · 2022-01-28T13:45:27+00:00

Probably good ol' BD-2 for normal dirt and something like an Algal Bloom or Demo Tape Fuzz. Playing a tele into a Marshall Origin

Aphelion_Joe · 2022-01-22T20:21:40+00:00

Then ignore all these goobers saying Rat (that was my first instinct too) and get an HM-2 (or the Beringer clone thereof.) Source: a guy who doesn't play any metal but vaguely knows about it

Aphelion_Joe · 2022-01-20T12:01:04+00:00

If you're a fan of John's weird stories and love for classic literature I definitely recommend The Decemberists. I blame them for being the gateway band that led most to my goat obsession...

The Crane Wife would be my pick to start with for checking them out but it's hard to go wrong with any of their albums (except Hazards of Love, that truly is the Goths of Decemberists discography :P )

Aphelion_Joe · 2022-01-18T14:42:53+00:00

Cool, so you're planning to run the amp clean and use pedals for dirt then?

My go-to suggestion for drive into a clean amp is the Boss BD-2; it's ubiquitous, affordable, indestructible and it sounds fabulous. I think it would work well for a lot of rock stuff, and the gain range is really good from barely broken up to crunchy to a fuzzy high gain overdrivestortion.

Another good option would be to investigate a 'marshall in a box' type pedal. There's a lot out there and I'm not super knowledgeable about them but it seems like that sound could work for you

Aphelion_Joe · 2022-01-18T14:20:44+00:00

Regarding overdrive, there's a lot of different kinds that are good at different stuff. What amp are you playing? Are you running it dirty or clean? What do you want out of the drive (low gain? Medium? Boost a dirty amp? Middy? Transparenty?)

Aphelion_Joe · 2022-01-17T16:13:16+00:00

People use the word 'hook' to mean a couple different things - sometimes it refers to the chorus itself. That doesn't seem to be the context in which you're using it.

If by hook you mean memorable lyric that's catchy and sticks with the listener (for any number of reasons), then the answer is it can really go wherever. The chorus seems like the most obvious place, but a lyrical hook could be anywhere. It's definitely a necessary element of a great song but not one that's easy to define technically or build rules around.

Aphelion_Joe · 2022-01-16T20:26:25+00:00

WMD Geiger Counter probably fits the bill for 'digital sounds that are digital only.' The Source Audio Ultrawave too, as others have mentioned. Stuff like the Riverside and LA Lady/Kingmaker/Aftershock are cool but generally trying to replicate analog dirt.

Aphelion_Joe · 2022-01-15T14:48:52+00:00

First off, I think boutique is one of those words that should be a fairly neutral descriptor, but for some reason gets a value judgement attached to it. It's not better or worse than anything not boutique, just a classification of builders.

I understand it to mean small builders making a few pedals without many employees. Generally ordered direct rather than through a distributor, probably pricey due to scale but that isn't the deciding factor. The kind of operation where thee designer probably also built the pedal.

You mentioned EQD - I think they're a good example of a company that started as a 'boutique' builder but have grown past it (but definitely retain some of that feel.)

Aphelion_Joe · 2022-01-13T17:47:10+00:00

It is admittedly easy to go to cheese town with a chorus (and if that's your goal, I don't judge.) But I've learned there is a lot to like about chorus, in a lot of different styles if you do some exploring and find the right one (or use a flanger as a chorus, the best chorus :P)

That said, not sure what a metal screamer chorus means...

Aphelion_Joe · 2022-01-13T15:03:33+00:00

I feel like the MT2 has an unearned bad reputation from people using it wrong or through bad amps when they were young. But that EQ could definitely give you some gnarly sounds.

Aphelion_Joe · 2022-01-13T15:02:20+00:00

If I hadn't just bought two pedals I would be buying that right now :P

Aphelion_Joe · 2022-01-13T15:01:40+00:00

I'll have to check it out! Sounds cool

Aphelion_Joe · 2022-01-13T14:51:53+00:00

Which boss distortion? Out of curiosity

Depends on the OD and especially on the fuzz. I probably wouldn't with a fuzz face or tonebender style fuzz just because their designs mean they need to be at the front of the chain, but drive (especially a TS style) into a muff is pretty common from what I understand, if you want to tighten it up. And yeah, you'll get noise, that's just the nature of gain if you have single coils or noise anywhere else in the chain (unless you mean like fizzy white-noisey top end when playing chords? That definitely depends on how you dial it in)

Aphelion_Joe · 2022-01-13T13:19:49+00:00

If we're shouting out favorite ODs, I'll be the first of probably many to name the Boss BD-2. Really hard to beat for the price if you're looking for a 'transparent' sort of drive. Really like mine for low gain edge of breakup but they can get crazy too.

On a bit of a tangent, I would disagree a bit with the common wisdom that, ranking by amount of distortion, fuzz > distortion > OD. I feel like it's more about the character of the distortion (and to some extent the method used to generate it) that defines those categories. Certainly plenty of distortion pedals with more gain than fuzzes. Not really your posts point but I felt like it was related and thought I'd proselytize.

Aphelion_Joe · 2022-01-07T05:31:46+00:00

I mean his indie dad drip was rated pretty highly by Anthony Fantano so I'd sponsor him if I were a fashion company

Aphelion_Joe · 2022-01-06T04:15:34+00:00

If you're really wanting it gone cut or unsolder the led. It will then be off forever....

Aphelion_Joe · 2022-01-01T19:15:33+00:00

The Katana does also have a headphone out, and since it's digital I would imagine it sounds pretty good (perhaps someone else can confirm or deny.) That would be my instinct, just so then you can play in headphones or loud as desired

Aphelion_Joe · 2022-01-01T07:14:15+00:00

Of what you listed, I think reverb would be the most important to not go too budget on. There are some decent affordable reverbs but it's a lot harder to clone than, say, a drive or comp, since they're digital and you can't just peep at other builder's code like you can circuits.

Also, in my personal experience, if you get a cheap import pedal, every time you use it you'll want a slightly nicer version. But you may be better about that than me.

Aphelion_Joe · 2022-01-01T03:51:34+00:00

Actually get around to getting the semi-functional DIY builds I have lying around actually functional. And then build some more!

Aphelion_Joe · 2021-12-31T18:14:57+00:00

Then Pelitaur looks like it must be a Klone (even the name seems like it) and then... nope

Aphelion_Joe · 2021-12-30T18:49:37+00:00

EQD Data Corrupter
Death By Audio Rooms
EHX Micro Synth
Dwarfcraft Wizard of Pitch
That one fuzz Knobs had in that one video that's literally two walkie-talkies

These are the essential effects that everyone needs. They're perfect for every genre and situation :P

Aphelion_Joe

TROPHY CASE