Beginner pedal board?

Cam42 · 03-12-2010, 07:26 PM

What would you suggest for a pedal board for a bit of a beginner? I know a better amp should come first, but I'm planning ahead.
I currently use:
Wah
Delay
Dirt
and Volume

What pedals would you recommend? I have no idea what a reasonable budget for a pedal board is....

And for the board itself?

cheyguy426 · 03-13-2010, 12:27 PM

I have a Boss DD-3 that I picked up for $20 at a pawn shop that is a solid little delay, nothing out of the ordinary but definitely gets the job done. Can't help with wahs, I have a crybaby and never use it. As far as overdrive I would take a look at some of SB's stuff (sbnpedals.com), sounds great and can't beat the customer service behind it.

Here is a link to the board I use and I could not be happier with it, hold 6 pedals very comfortably.
Buy Gator GPT Pedal Tote Pedalboard with Carry Bag | Pedalboards | Musician's Friend

**Rainer.** · 03-13-2010, 12:42 PM

Rondo has some great pedal cases for the money.

Ernie Ball's VP Jr. is a volume pedal that lots of folks (including myself) use.

I use a Morley wah pedal. Vox and Crybaby pedals are general sub $100 options for wahs that are generically popular among players.

Delay depends on what exactly what you need in a delay. For general straight digi delays with tap tempo, a DD-5 will do the trick with an external tap. The DD-6 and DD-7 have built in tap, but it takes a little more time to hold down the pedal to activate the tap. The Line 6 Echo Park is also an option, though it doesn't feel as solid to me. I've always liked the looks of the new Nova Repeater, though I haven't gotten to try one out yet. For highly flexible delay modelers, the DD-20, Line 6 DL4, and TC Electronic Nova Delay are great options. I use the Electro Harmonix Stereo Memory Man with Hazarai, in the same price range, which has a few more interesting avante-garde delay sounds than the others.

If analog delay is more your flavor, you can try a MXR Carbon Copy, or if you have a lot of cash to spend, a Diamond Memory Lane with tap tempo.

I'm not gonna even get started with dirt. More flavors of dirt out there than ice cream.

pooleman0 · 03-13-2010, 12:45 PM

I made a board and would recommend going that route. All the parts cost me like $30 and I was able to biult it exactly the size I needed. The OCD is a great drive pedal. Highly recommended.

***BillSPrestonEsq*** · 03-13-2010, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rainer.

Rondo has some great pedal cases for the money.

Ernie Ball's VP Jr. is a volume pedal that lots of folks (including myself) use.

I use a Morley wah pedal. Vox and Crybaby pedals are general sub $100 options for wahs that are generically popular among players.

Delay depends on what exactly what you need in a delay. For general straight digi delays with tap tempo, a DD-5 will do the trick with an external tap. The DD-6 and DD-7 have built in tap, but it takes a little more time to hold down the pedal to activate the tap. The Line 6 Echo Park is also an option, though it doesn't feel as solid to me. I've always liked the looks of the new Nova Repeater, though I haven't gotten to try one out yet. For highly flexible delay modelers, the DD-20, Line 6 DL4, and TC Electronic Nova Delay are great options. I use the Electro Harmonix Stereo Memory Man with Hazarai, in the same price range, which has a few more interesting avante-garde delay sounds than the others.

If analog delay is more your flavor, you can try a MXR Carbon Copy, or if you have a lot of cash to spend, a Diamond Memory Lane with tap tempo.

I'm not gonna even get started with dirt. More flavors of dirt out there than ice cream.

Umm, my favorite budget delay was not on there. Marshall echohead. Has tap, is the size of a dd-5 and can be found on ebay CHEAP. Sound just murdered the boss for quality IMO.

I can't believe I am going to say this, but for simplish sounds, the TC Electronics nova system has most everything you could want, excluding dirt, or a line6 M13 might be the way I would steer someone wanting to build a board,

Cam42 · 03-13-2010, 06:13 PM

I should've mentioned that I currently own a Zoom G1X multi-effect. The only thing I dislike is that it's impossible to use 2 effects at once, and that's why I'm thinking of getting a real setup.
I've used a crybaby wah, and I do quite like it. I've heard good things about the DD-20

***BillSPrestonEsq*** · 03-13-2010, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cam42

I should've mentioned that I currently own a Zoom G1X multi-effect. The only thing I dislike is that it's impossible to use 2 effects at once, and that's why I'm thinking of getting a real setup.
I've used a crybaby wah, and I do quite like it. I've heard good things about the DD-20

Yeah, but let me tell you why I went novasystem.

You have up to I believe 7 effects at once plus eq and noise gate. The only limitation really is one of each type at a time.

The effects quality is stellar, equivalent or better than most single unit effects and I hear the drive section is quite nice as well. (Because of the way I use it, the drive block is bypassed)

Now, by the time you buy 3-4 pedals you could get the nova or a line6 m13, which is another excellent unit. (Would not serve my needs as I require a line level input and output which is an odd quirk of both my main amps)

Programming I found very intuitive and the sound quality is superb.

Skifree0813 · 03-13-2010, 10:00 PM

+10000 on making your own. You don't have to worry about the right size, angle, cord path, etc. And it can be done quite inexpensively.

metropolis4 · 03-14-2010, 10:58 PM

My first board was a $300 SKB case.
After using that for a couple years I sold it and built one.

My current board is a wood shelf I bought at Home Depot for $3 and a roll of velcro I bought at Wal-Mart for $7. Grand total = $10 and I've been using this board for three years so far. It works perfect for me and makes me feel dumb for spending the money on the SKB every time I think about it.

As for what to put on the board; it's difficult to say without more information. Some styles of music may require a big digital delay with tap like the DD-20, others may be better suited to a simpler analog delay. Greg Hill from Mute Math uses cheap and simple Ibanez de7 delays which can be found for about $30 on eBay

Dirt is entirely dependent on what type of amp you're using. Different dirt pedals sound better with different amps. With my Fender amps I really liked the OCD best and thought the Fulldrive II sounded dull. With my Vox amps I really liked the Fulldrive II best and thought the OCD sounded harsh and fizzy.

metal4Christ · 03-15-2010, 07:12 AM

Check out CNB cases. I have one and it's unreal!

If you want my advise regarding the pedals -don't settle for second best. You want to start with a good pedal board to save upgrading later.

"http://www.cranbournemusic.com.au/cs...004005209.html" -heres the link for cnb cases

Oh and the great thing about the Mister crybaby super is that it doubles as both a wah and a volume pedal -and it's the best sounding wah I've ever found. It also comes with a boost function which will give a variable boost -it's effect on cleans is pure volume and on pre distortion it'll saturate the sound (or make it hairier).

DD-20 is a good call if you don't mind the chunkiness.

Define "dirt" warm overdrive? Mean distortion?

**thesteve** · 03-15-2010, 11:15 AM

I think the CNB cases are the same ones that are sold by Rondo in the States.

relient nelson · 03-15-2010, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thesteve

I think the CNB cases are the same ones that are sold by Rondo in the States.

I believe you're correct, Steve. On the Rondo website the cases are called CBN "PC-Whatevernumber".

metal4Christ · 03-15-2010, 06:15 PM

Awesome. Well there you go Cam. They've been selling like nuts around here and are ideal for the size of rig you had in mind.

Cam42 · 03-15-2010, 06:32 PM

Thanks, metal.

Yeah, I should've been more clear. I play a lot of U2 type stuff, that's what I needed the delay for. I believe Edge uses a DD-20, or similar, correct?

And I'm a bit in between when it comes to dirt. There are a few songs that I play with very little distortion, but some I lay on some pretty heavy overdrive. I've heard nothing but terrible things about the Zakk Wylde OD pedal, is this true?

Also, I'd like to get a USB or Firewire 800 recording interface, nothing special, just something to go from my guitar, through my board, and into my computer. Ideas?

**nbfan** · 03-15-2010, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cam42

Also, I'd like to get a USB or Firewire 800 recording interface, nothing special, just something to go from my guitar, through my board, and into my computer. Ideas?

Line 6 Toneport GX? Trust me, you don't want to simply run your board into a line level input. That's basically the equivalent of running it into a PA system without a preamp of some kind. It just sounds bad.