[Sigmar]

Hi, I currently play in a worship band and play in front of a live audience every thursday. I currently have an Epiphone Les Paul Ultra, a Fender Deluxe Amp and a Ibanez TS7 Tube screamer. Im thinking of getting a few more pedals but dont know where to start. ive been playing for almost 4 years now. I think the next pedal i buy will be delay, maybe boss DD 20. What do you guys suggest for the first few pedals. My budget is about $150 maybe $180 per pedal.
Thanks,
Sigmar

[akaukal]

Here's the best rule ever that will save you tons of cash:

Don't ever buy anything unless you are after a certain sound.

[thesteve]

Originally Posted by akaukal

Here's the best rule ever that will save you tons of cash:

Don't ever buy anything unless you are after a certain sound.

Yep...don't buy a delay because you think, "I need effects". Buy a delay because you think, "I could really see using a delay".

That being said, my current essentials are overdrive, distortion, delay (I have two) and a volume pedal.

oh and you can never going wrong with a tuner.

[tenwatt]

So the proper question might be...is there a sound or tone that you're going for?

[burningtr33]

here's my take on it.

Do you forsee in the future that you will be a gear junkie that absolutely loves individual pedals? Start small, look for used pedals, ask around. Because there are a lot of pedals out there. I guess the point I am trying to make is that if you are just using pedals for church and not for personal use, I suggest a multi stomp box modeler such as a line 6 m9 or m13 which goes for about 400-500$ depending where you get it.

Stomp box modelers do an ok job of modeling the types of pedal that you want, but (in the case of the m9 and 13 there are over 75 effects) you get a myriad of effects for in one box and it is much cheaper than building your pedal board with individual pedals and power adaptors and couplers and such.

However with that being said, building your board with individual pedals have the best tonal qualities and well this is obvious, but you get the exact tone you want out of the pedal that you wanted. The modeler only emulates to the best of its ability. The only down side to individual pedals is building it by piece by piece with other accessories.

With that being said the average ear cannot tell the difference between the modeler's tone and the individual pedal's tone. Besides this is worship time rite? They should be focused on worshipping the Lord instead of trying to determine if that delay was from a modeler or a pedal. And at this point it really comes down to price and how much you are willing to put down.

[johnray777]

Don't buy a delay unless you'll use it. The reason I bought a delay was because it was $20 on Black Friday. Depending on what you play and what you need you'll need different effects. I'd get a volume and tuner though.

[Gaetano Paul]

I seriously suggest the Zoom G7.1ut, I use it for worship, it sounds fantastic, and many effects, good delays, and great amp/od sounds. I will take some tweaking and learning how to use it, but it is well worth it to have a compact unit that wont need to be lugged around like a whole nother guitarcase. You could probably pick one up used from $120-200. Also another guitar player@ my church, who really turned me on to the multi effects thing, plays the Boss ME 50, this pedal sounds decent, but is super easy to use. So if your not very computer literate, though I assume you are since you are on here, the ME 50 is a great choice as well. You could find one used aroun $150.
Hope that helps

[Dbmaj7]

There is something to be said for having some pedals so that you can experiment, learn and create with. However, for live play these days I find myself using fewer and fewer pedals. I'm playing tomorrow night at a small gig and plan on using just a tuner and the amp switching pedal on my Super Champ XD. There are some effects on the amp but just a touch of delay/reverb ond overdrive is all that I will likely use.

I would say if you haven't used a delay before it might be good to get one just to learn how to use it. The DD-20 is an excellent choice and allows you to do dotted 8th notes. Also has a 23 sec loop so you can lay down a few chords and practice your licks with it.

[Hopeful]

I am a fan of modelers like the Digitech GNX3000. I am currently very interested on a Vox Tonelab ST because of its portability and features. I need something easy, light and powerful whenever I am out of town. Used ones go on ebay for less than $200.

[Six_and_Sax]

Dotted eighth note delays are a staple of Contemporary Christian music. Think Hillsong (and The Edge from U2), and you'll get the idea.

I pretty much leave mine on and forget about it, other than to tap in the tempo and turn the mix up a bit for songs that require tight synchronization of the echos. I like the Line 6 Tonecore Echo Park. It's versital, has tap tempo, and if you watch carefully, you can get one on eBay for under $100. I think it's the best bang for the buck for a single pedal.

A volume pedal would be a good investmant as well. A couple of the guys on our team swear by the Ernie Ball Jr. pedal ($84 on MF, but you can probably find one for less. It comes in both an active, and a passive model. get the one that matches your pickups.

Chorus, used sparingly, can add a nice effect if you want to add a bit of the etherial to your playing during some slower songs and breaks. I use a Line 6 Tonecore Space Chorus, and I think it's good. Again, chorus should be used very sparingly.

All that said, I have heard good things about the Line 6 M9 and M13 multi-stomp modelers. If I didn't already have a considerable investment in pedals (and have a POD X3 Live that is my main rig) I might consider one of those.

[Gaetano Paul]

the tonelab st does look very promising and affordable! =)

[wallinbb]

Originally Posted by burningtr33

here's my take on it.

Do you forsee in the future that you will be a gear junkie that absolutely loves individual pedals? Start small, look for used pedals, ask around. Because there are a lot of pedals out there. I guess the point I am trying to make is that if you are just using pedals for church and not for personal use, I suggest a multi stomp box modeler such as a line 6 m9 or m13 which goes for about 400-500$ depending where you get it.

Stomp box modelers do an ok job of modeling the types of pedal that you want, but (in the case of the m9 and 13 there are over 75 effects) you get a myriad of effects for in one box and it is much cheaper than building your pedal board with individual pedals and power adaptors and couplers and such.

However with that being said, building your board with individual pedals have the best tonal qualities and well this is obvious, but you get the exact tone you want out of the pedal that you wanted. The modeler only emulates to the best of its ability. The only down side to individual pedals is building it by piece by piece with other accessories.

With that being said the average ear cannot tell the difference between the modeler's tone and the individual pedal's tone. Besides this is worship time rite? They should be focused on worshipping the Lord instead of trying to determine if that delay was from a modeler or a pedal. And at this point it really comes down to price and how much you are willing to put down.

this.

I too use an Epi LP Ultra. It works very nice for a variety of tones!
My rig went from an RP350 to a Vox Tonelab then into individual pedals (costly, rewarding, and frustrating.)

My rig, as it stands now:
Epi Les Paul (with S Duncan Jazz/JB p'ups) into
Teese RMC3 wah-> Micro Pog -> Psilocybe -> OCD v4 -> Timmy -> Keeley Rat -> Ernie Ball VP -> Diamond comp -> Sniper GE-7 EQ -> Empress Tremolo -> AM Chorus -> DMM delay -> DD-20 delay -> NS-2 -> V32 (my amp ) into either a Warehouse Speaker ET-65 in the combo or a ceramic Tone Tubby in a 1x12 closed back extension cab.

I love how it sounds now, but if I had to do it all over again, with your amp already in place, I'd get an m13.