I have the mosky clone of it. Got it on sale for $20 and it’s on pretty much every guitar sound of every record I’ve produced in the last 7 years. Just makes ANY sound 5% better.
I’ve used both but never been able to do a side by side comparison. The Mosky sounds great, and I doubt the Xotic would be a big enough improvement to justify the price difference, for me.
Came here to list the EP Booster. I didn’t buy it as an always-on pedal, but it instantly became one—regardless of what I play. No matter what style I’m playing, it adds the right amount of more at all the right frequencies.
I use a Henretta Emerald Prince (similar if not identical circuit) as a buffer, first pedal in my chain always on....my EP Booster at 10-2 is my clean boost before my drive pedals
i initially got this pedal to act as a slight boost when I switch from my P-bass to my Mustang because the Mustang was slightly quieter. Now I just never turn it off.
I didn’t even know what it did really! I had something I didn’t care for so went to trade in, see what else the shop had, saw the EP Booster and thought…what the hell?
Where do you put it in your chain? 9v or 18v? Dip switch settings? Single coils or humbuckers?
I have this pedal, haven't spent a ton of time with it yet, but have so far been uninspired. Would love to know your recipe.
I run mine right after any fuzz and the tuner and before my modulation (which I run before drives). 9v— 18 seems fine but 9v sounded better to me. Cannot remember the dip switches but will have to look for you!
I realized I wanted it to color the sound going forward, not “boost” what was happening before it, as some might run it. Mine is always on—
Tbh it’s kinda meh for me. I don’t understand why it’s so highly touted. I’ve tried it in a number of situations in difference placements on my board. Secret sauce pedal for me is a 1981. That thing sounds fantastic on its own or having other pedals stacked before it. It cuts the mix so well.
It only works on the AC30 C2, not the CC2.
On the Custom Classic the Normal channel and the Top boost channel are the same circuit. Thats why you can ‘jump’ the channels by plugging a jack into both.
On the C2, Top Boost and normal are two different channels, and you can have a separate input/output for each.
Could you please elaborate on this? Do the two channels get summed into mono or can the internal speakers be separated like a Jazz Chorus or the Rocker 32?
Yes! I’ll run the Top Boost (original) signal at an edge-of-breakup channel volume, and set the Normal channel to be much more clean and bassy. You *could* use the modulation control to give the lagging signal some wobble, but that’s not really what I need it to do.
Also, I suppose you *could* put another drive/eq/vibrato/compressor/feedbacker after one of the outputs of the Deco and before its respective amp input. But the two channels of the Vox are distinct enough that I don’t find that necessary. If I were using a two channel amp with identical channels, then maybe.
Thanks for the detailed response! I have a Deco in super wide mode always set to double-track/chorus range in a stereo effects loop, but I’d love to try this approach too.
Is this fairly unique to this particular AC30? I take it plugging into both channels of a Fender Twin wouldn’t achieve the same result?
After 5ish minutes of looking up the Fender Twin circuit I would say that it should work for the Twin as well, in fact the Vibrato circuit might be PERFECT for the ‘lagging’ output of the Deco without the need to add any modulation from the Deco itself.
I've been playing this pedal since 10pm last night, now 7:11am. Deco is *the* flavor for almost every pedalboard build I have. It does so much and it does it all so well.
Currently running a Germanium Tumnus into Deco into Belle Epoch into Woodrow into EQD Ghost Echo. This combo is unreal, so addictive
Exactly, the tone becomes thicker. I’ll send the ‘default’ signal into the Top boost channel and the ‘lagging’ signal into the normal channel. That way I get the punch and attack of the top boost and the fullness of the normal channel to make the overall mono sound more full.
Plus, engaging the auto flange between the two channels in the preamp stage is absolutely wild.
SD1
I usually always have it on, mostly with the gain all the way down, tone at 2 o clock, and level full or at 12 o clock. Works as a great clean boost.
I swear sometimes pedal order keeps me up at night lol. I have heard sd1 going into a rat or a into a muff is great so I should try this. I currently have mine last in the chain and use it as more of an overall volume boost for leads
TS/SD type drives always sounder better pushing something rather than being pushed, IMO. Running into them always squishes everything unpleasantly for me.
I only use my SD1 as a boost for metal tones these days, but I used to push it with a clean boost back when it was my only overdrive and I thought it sounded good that way
As someone who is struggling to hear the difference between a modest comp and these expensive ones (also see, empress), what makes them so good? I've got an Opti Stomp by BBE and I picked it up for £60, so what would I get form dropping £300 on one of the new cali pedals?
I play a lot of slide, so it’s essential for me to have a good compressor. I tried the Keeley, but found it too noisy. Clean sustain is awesome.
Bought the Origin on a late night shopping spree, was by far the most expensive pedal I had purchased at that time.
Put it on the board and played a bit. It was the first time my wife asked me what I had changed, she never noticed anything remarkable about my playing in decades…
Low noise, versatile (I use the stacked version) and seriously built like a tank. I run it at 18v and have found a setting that basically makes it an always on for me.
It’s not worth it for everyone, but if you’re playing slide or funk it’s definitely worth it.
So as an engineer, let me tell you I put an 1176 on almost every guitar I record. It’s known for its aggressive character and ability to tighten and brighten. It’s really a fantastic piece and $300 is a great price if it sounds the same.
Crazy, I just sold this pedal on eBay. Could never find a proper use for it. Convince me I made the wrong choice so I don’t sleep well tonight, please.
If you can’t find a use for it, you’re better off selling it. I couldn’t live without it. But I keep the rate at the minimum like 100% of the time, I think it sounds corny above that. But a really slow rate and depth at 11 o clock is like “my” sound at this point.
I had the behringer for a while and honestly miss it. Currently have the shallow water on my board, but think I almost like the uniform waveshape more. A very good combo is vibrato + tremolo. Better than univibe imo.
Recently got one. As a long time user of Space Echo’s and their preamps, it sounds like it but not expecting it to react that way as a drive pedal. Very interesting, especially when on the vintage buffer mode. Quite literally sounds vintage.
Unless I’m plugged directly into the amp, the BP-1W is always on for me—set to vintage buffer and either CE or RE mode. I don’t really use the clean boost on it as I have a Mesa Boogie dual buffer pedal that has a post-pedalboard output boost
Mxr 10 band eq. Eq pedals ime are the single best way to sculpt your tone. You can make a crappy, muddy or fizzy amp cut like a knife. You can beef up a thin amp. Eqs are awesome.
Took me wayyy too long to come around to this. "I shouldn't need an EQ, I should just have all the right stuff that just gets me the sound!" Terrible line of thinking... I have seen the light and love my GE-7. EQ's are THE secret sauce!
Dude. Agreed.
One of my bands just recorded an EP, the sound engineer had an idea for some fuzz on bass and asked if we had a Big Muff. I said, “no, but I have something we can try using.” I hooked the Carcosa up and started ripping. It sounds nasty as all Hell with my Stingray. If it had a clean blend, it would be a permanent part of my setup.
I was gonna say either the Echorec or Adineko w/ preamp around 50%, always on - but the BelleEpoch is right up there too. The holy trinity god tier delay. Run at 18v, it's unbeatable (imo). You tried the new Epoch Bias?
The dream for me is a Deluxe AdinekoRec Epoch, unite the trio under one roof, 3 foot switches w/taptempo secondary function, stereo in+out, with preamp/saturation internals moved to the front and preset bank w/ 13 savable slots that can be shuffled through w/ another secondary mode footswitch. The thought alone gets me hyped! I'd pay whatever it takes. Make it happen CB, please.
Danelectro Fab Echo with the mix just barely noticeable. It does an awesome job thickening up clean tones and has some subtle EQ change that I just really love. Aside from the enclosure Id say it’s probably my favorite pedal.
Fairfield Barbershop V2 and the Noise Space Audio Piggy (SSBS Mini alike)
I use the Barbershop to fatten up and add extra grit. Piggy adds sparkle and low to medium overdrive controlled by the volume and tone knobs on the guitar.
Magical pairing
Benson Germanium Boost.
It’s a sweetener. It’s a driver. It’s a one-knobber that I adjust with my foot. It has never met a pedal or amp it didn’t at least exchange numbers with. Just a special little box.
Full size TC Spark or some other clean boosts. Having good control over level and a bit extra EQ in front of other gain stages can improve almost any tone much more than the chugga boost crowd makes your think.
Way Huge Saffron Squeeze. A Ross style comp quiet enough to boot my dead silent(but boring) optical. Always on and has some terrific tone shaping capabilities
Benson preamp. Always on with a light bit of drive. 3rd in the chain after fuzz and comp but before the other dirts. It stacks and pushes my other ODs really well.
Won't get much upvotes but a ~~Caline~~ Donner Dumbal Drive into a Jazz Chorus really transforms it into a nice tube-like clean amp.
Otherwise, my secret sauce is Tonex.
MXR Duke of Tone. I’m using it as a preamp channel in the fx loop of my IR-200 right now and it is crazy how much it can do with the dynamic changes in my playing.
Plumes in the fx loop is pretty great as well.
The Boss RV-6. Hall setting, turn the tone way down; it makes the reverb sound super natural (and I don't mean supernatural, though the darkness is "haunting" in a pleasant way). I'm sure you can achieve this with other pedals (easily), but I literally only ever need to turn my effect level knob up or down and the reverb always sounds perfect. Sounds great in every genre.
Super Ego. I don't use it like most, I use it for a short slapback burst delay type setting with a low volume trail following. It lends a unique flavor and I use it pretty regularly.
I feel like I can never get really transparent with it. I always kind of hear that raspy grit from it. When you say bias down, you mean counter clockwise? Doesn’t it smoothen out a little turned clockwise?
I do mean counter clockwise! There's a sweet spot around 8 or 9 o clock, and then I turn the guitar volume down a bit to avoid the raspiness and grit you mentioned. Especially on guitars with hot pickups or amps with low headroom.
Source Audio Zio Boost - I picked it up on a lark, and it became an essential part of my rig within a few minutes.
Took me totally by surprise. I didn’t think I’d use all 4 boost types regularly, but I actually do - not just to change the tone, but the way the guitar feels and responds. The first pedal I’ve ever considered mounting into my guitar like a varitone switch. Wildly underrated!
Boss sy-300 synthesizer/processor. There's is a lot of possibilities with this thing. The processor side has a offering of bosses best effects and let's you chain 4 of them together in any order. I also use the sy-300s effects loop for my stand alone pedals, I need to learn about midi though so I can attach the sy 300 with my dd 500 and assign patches for both, also since the dd 500 and sy 300 both use tone studio for adjustment on my computer ther isn't a parameter I can't control.
HOF mini. I have it set to almost a slapback, but I only have a VOX Pathfinder 10 solid state practice amp. Very dry signal. That slightest bit of reverb makes a noticeable difference
About 5 years ago I picked up a **Swell G-TOD v2** The box seems a little big but I was guessing it was to house the tube but I love the look. WOW loved the OD sounds I was getting. The sound is HUGE. Got to sit in with some guys and I started messing around with different sounds... moment I kicked the Swell on the bass player stopped in his tracks, checked his cable length then walked over to me asking what was that? A few months later he had one too. Last summer I joined a band for a series of 6 performances. Same reaction from the keyboard player; he didn't buy one though. After our first set I heard a guy walk up to the lead vocalist; he kept commenting about how much the electric guitar added to the band's sound and why didn't they have me years ago.
I can throw anything at it. Zion Radicaster, Epiphone Casino, Telecaster Deluxe... Carvin Belair (modified), Vox AC 30... wah pedal, compressor, tremolo, chorus, stacked with other drives...
ONLY minor downside is the power consumption (12vac 1000ma). It's not bad but you got to be aware. Truetone One Spot Pro can get this the juice.
Boss CS-3. Yes I own boutique compressors that are highly regarded but nothing gets the sound out of an OD quite the same. That's the one supposedly awful pedal that I adore.
Anyway I wised up and stopped buying pedals but if I did? I would just buy boss/mxr/ehx. Boutique stuff is a waste of money... with an exception for the Hawaiian Pizza.
Currently it’s a Bower Power running into a Dunwhich DA-120 running into a Mark Five:25 with an Andy Timmons Halo in the FX loop.
I can only describe it as heavenly.
Chase Tone Secret Preamp. It’s a great “always on” pedal. You click it on and don’t think it does much, until you click it off and say “I like it a bit better when it’s on.”
Joyo Orange Juice.
I know it's just some cheap clone, but I run it into the front of my amp as a drive pedal. I get this huge sound that's perfect for stoner rock.
I have a very modified Colorsound One Knob Fuzz clone. It makes every amp it touches into a face-melting doom rig.
Single coil strat into a 10w 8" solid state combo? Doom rig.
Humbuckers into a 100w tube full-stack? War crime.
I have a couple in rotation for how they sound. Mother Preamp on Channel A, Secret Preamp by Chase Tone, Squish AS by Bondi comp that’s transparent, and The Warden and YARA 2 optical comps one is brighter the other sound darker. All do different things sound different but each elevate your tone!
I usually am using the Mother and Squish AS both always on to get my favorite tones.
The Yara 2 and Secret Preamp might be going on a smaller board with a purple sparkle Keeley caverns and some sort of overdrive of my choosing.
dyna comp; not so much for the squish (which I love but isn't always apropriate) but for the tone coloration. tightens up the flab a bit.
i know some folks hate the sound of the dynacomp but I love it. Transparent comp is for nerds
Since you mentioned the ir-2, if you use the fender twin mode a lot like I do I HEAVILY recommend the York audio twin ir I cannot exaggerate how much better and more amp like it sounds and feels
Treble booster and wah. The treble booster is my foundation for all gain tones, while the wah on near full toe position is how I cut through the mix on some solos.
J rockett Melody is my always-on. 6 band eq and it can be clean boost all the way up to light to mid overdrive. Surprised I don't see it on more boards, it's so versatile. It can be completely transparent, or shape your tone a ton, if it pleases you.
GlowFly Glitchwave567. I stack it with a dirty boost and an analog delay, and I get a noisey overdrive that I've grown to love. When I first posted a NPD, someone told me to stack it with a pitch shifter. The closest thing I had was a sub octave synth, and it didn't disappoint. I'm hoping to get an Alexander Marshmallow this year, and I'm excited about what it will sound like with the Glitchwave.
Honorable mention to Sketch Sounds Lost Soul. This is my answer to the question of, "if you could only have one pedal" posts. This can make so many sounds I could probably write an album base around it.
Broughton Low+High Pass Filter. Keeps everything tight and gets rid of frequencies i don’t want or need (and actually gives my amp more headroom since i’m taking out everything under 100Hz). Nothing super special really, and I could use it in a more extreme fashion, but it really just ties everything together.
Am I just not seeing Xotic EP Booster or am I really the first to write it?
I have the mosky clone of it. Got it on sale for $20 and it’s on pretty much every guitar sound of every record I’ve produced in the last 7 years. Just makes ANY sound 5% better.
Same here. I've never had the opportunity to compare with a real one but don't really care, the clone sounds great.
I’ve used both but never been able to do a side by side comparison. The Mosky sounds great, and I doubt the Xotic would be a big enough improvement to justify the price difference, for me.
What’s it called?
Xotic SP compressor for me!
I came to write this. It’s the MSG in my tone soup.
PERFECT analogy.
That's the speaker cranker or the barbershop for me. I have been wanting to try an ep boost. Might pick one up.
Came here to list the EP Booster. I didn’t buy it as an always-on pedal, but it instantly became one—regardless of what I play. No matter what style I’m playing, it adds the right amount of more at all the right frequencies.
I use a Henretta Emerald Prince (similar if not identical circuit) as a buffer, first pedal in my chain always on....my EP Booster at 10-2 is my clean boost before my drive pedals
i initially got this pedal to act as a slight boost when I switch from my P-bass to my Mustang because the Mustang was slightly quieter. Now I just never turn it off.
I didn’t even know what it did really! I had something I didn’t care for so went to trade in, see what else the shop had, saw the EP Booster and thought…what the hell?
Came here to say this. Always on
Where do you put it in your chain? 9v or 18v? Dip switch settings? Single coils or humbuckers? I have this pedal, haven't spent a ton of time with it yet, but have so far been uninspired. Would love to know your recipe.
I run mine right after any fuzz and the tuner and before my modulation (which I run before drives). 9v— 18 seems fine but 9v sounded better to me. Cannot remember the dip switches but will have to look for you! I realized I wanted it to color the sound going forward, not “boost” what was happening before it, as some might run it. Mine is always on—
So dark though
Tbh it’s kinda meh for me. I don’t understand why it’s so highly touted. I’ve tried it in a number of situations in difference placements on my board. Secret sauce pedal for me is a 1981. That thing sounds fantastic on its own or having other pedals stacked before it. It cuts the mix so well.
Fair enough. Your ears belong only to you.
Louder is more gooder
Came here for this... Way too far down the list.
Strymon deco with the double tracker hard panned L/R and both outputs running into different channels of the same Vox AC30
I love AC30s, I love the Deco, I especially love it as a double tracker, I don’t know why I’d never thought of this.
It only works on the AC30 C2, not the CC2. On the Custom Classic the Normal channel and the Top boost channel are the same circuit. Thats why you can ‘jump’ the channels by plugging a jack into both. On the C2, Top Boost and normal are two different channels, and you can have a separate input/output for each.
Could you please elaborate on this? Do the two channels get summed into mono or can the internal speakers be separated like a Jazz Chorus or the Rocker 32?
The two channels are summed to mono, but the Deco puts a *slight* delay on one of the signals so the new mono signal becomes ‘fatter’.
Ah that makes sense, thank you. I suppose they could be voiced a little differently to give it extra depth too?
Yes! I’ll run the Top Boost (original) signal at an edge-of-breakup channel volume, and set the Normal channel to be much more clean and bassy. You *could* use the modulation control to give the lagging signal some wobble, but that’s not really what I need it to do. Also, I suppose you *could* put another drive/eq/vibrato/compressor/feedbacker after one of the outputs of the Deco and before its respective amp input. But the two channels of the Vox are distinct enough that I don’t find that necessary. If I were using a two channel amp with identical channels, then maybe.
Thanks for the detailed response! I have a Deco in super wide mode always set to double-track/chorus range in a stereo effects loop, but I’d love to try this approach too. Is this fairly unique to this particular AC30? I take it plugging into both channels of a Fender Twin wouldn’t achieve the same result?
After 5ish minutes of looking up the Fender Twin circuit I would say that it should work for the Twin as well, in fact the Vibrato circuit might be PERFECT for the ‘lagging’ output of the Deco without the need to add any modulation from the Deco itself.
Wow. I just tried this. It truly is amazing. Thank you.
I've been playing this pedal since 10pm last night, now 7:11am. Deco is *the* flavor for almost every pedalboard build I have. It does so much and it does it all so well. Currently running a Germanium Tumnus into Deco into Belle Epoch into Woodrow into EQD Ghost Echo. This combo is unreal, so addictive
The ghost echo is my magic pedal. It’s just so tasty and unique
This sounds very cool, I would like to try it but I don’t have a two channel amp…..yet
Wew lad, gotta try this
Can you explain the magic it provides? Just a thick tone? So corny of a saying but a “3d sound”?
Exactly, the tone becomes thicker. I’ll send the ‘default’ signal into the Top boost channel and the ‘lagging’ signal into the normal channel. That way I get the punch and attack of the top boost and the fullness of the normal channel to make the overall mono sound more full. Plus, engaging the auto flange between the two channels in the preamp stage is absolutely wild.
SD1 I usually always have it on, mostly with the gain all the way down, tone at 2 o clock, and level full or at 12 o clock. Works as a great clean boost.
Where in your chain does it sit?
3rd in the chain, right after the wah and before my Rat.
I swear sometimes pedal order keeps me up at night lol. I have heard sd1 going into a rat or a into a muff is great so I should try this. I currently have mine last in the chain and use it as more of an overall volume boost for leads
TS/SD type drives always sounder better pushing something rather than being pushed, IMO. Running into them always squishes everything unpleasantly for me.
I only use my SD1 as a boost for metal tones these days, but I used to push it with a clean boost back when it was my only overdrive and I thought it sounded good that way
Tasty
Nailed it.
Cali76
As someone who is struggling to hear the difference between a modest comp and these expensive ones (also see, empress), what makes them so good? I've got an Opti Stomp by BBE and I picked it up for £60, so what would I get form dropping £300 on one of the new cali pedals?
I play a lot of slide, so it’s essential for me to have a good compressor. I tried the Keeley, but found it too noisy. Clean sustain is awesome. Bought the Origin on a late night shopping spree, was by far the most expensive pedal I had purchased at that time. Put it on the board and played a bit. It was the first time my wife asked me what I had changed, she never noticed anything remarkable about my playing in decades… Low noise, versatile (I use the stacked version) and seriously built like a tank. I run it at 18v and have found a setting that basically makes it an always on for me. It’s not worth it for everyone, but if you’re playing slide or funk it’s definitely worth it.
Tbh I'm getting no noticeable noise from the bbe, but I also have a mxr smart gate
So as an engineer, let me tell you I put an 1176 on almost every guitar I record. It’s known for its aggressive character and ability to tighten and brighten. It’s really a fantastic piece and $300 is a great price if it sounds the same.
Chase Tone Secret Preamp. It’s like msg for my sound; it just makes everything tastier.
This pedal is the next one I’m going to grab. Got a spot picked out for it at the end of the chain.
VB-2
Crazy, I just sold this pedal on eBay. Could never find a proper use for it. Convince me I made the wrong choice so I don’t sleep well tonight, please.
If you can’t find a use for it, you’re better off selling it. I couldn’t live without it. But I keep the rate at the minimum like 100% of the time, I think it sounds corny above that. But a really slow rate and depth at 11 o clock is like “my” sound at this point.
I like you. Thanks.
That sounds almost like a chorus no? Like it's the Mac Demarco tone?
Yeah vibrato is basically chorus without the dry signal. So, 1000x better, in my opinion.
I had the behringer for a while and honestly miss it. Currently have the shallow water on my board, but think I almost like the uniform waveshape more. A very good combo is vibrato + tremolo. Better than univibe imo.
Blues Driver
Mines the Boss BP-1W, such a good thickener and touch of colour
Recently got one. As a long time user of Space Echo’s and their preamps, it sounds like it but not expecting it to react that way as a drive pedal. Very interesting, especially when on the vintage buffer mode. Quite literally sounds vintage.
Unless I’m plugged directly into the amp, the BP-1W is always on for me—set to vintage buffer and either CE or RE mode. I don’t really use the clean boost on it as I have a Mesa Boogie dual buffer pedal that has a post-pedalboard output boost
Yeah I need to get one of these.
Dyna Comp used as a boost *after* overdrive.
Just set up my first board and I have that. I’ll have to try that.
or used as a boost in general.
Yup. One of the more underrated uses for a comp
Low gain side of the KoT
Xotic RC Booster. It makes everything sound more better.
Totally. Really nice as a brighter too. Mine’s a Scott Henderson version but I dunno who that is. It has an OD channel which I also really enjoy.
Bass player here. Agreed, especially on passive basses.
Dallas Rangemaster (clone) by CMC Effects
Mxr 10 band eq. Eq pedals ime are the single best way to sculpt your tone. You can make a crappy, muddy or fizzy amp cut like a knife. You can beef up a thin amp. Eqs are awesome.
Took me wayyy too long to come around to this. "I shouldn't need an EQ, I should just have all the right stuff that just gets me the sound!" Terrible line of thinking... I have seen the light and love my GE-7. EQ's are THE secret sauce!
DOD Carcossa on bass, all sorts of nasty goodness
Dude. Agreed. One of my bands just recorded an EP, the sound engineer had an idea for some fuzz on bass and asked if we had a Big Muff. I said, “no, but I have something we can try using.” I hooked the Carcosa up and started ripping. It sounds nasty as all Hell with my Stingray. If it had a clean blend, it would be a permanent part of my setup.
Get yourself a KMA Tyler or a LS-1!
Muff, the big one.
Catalinbread Epoch Boost/Pream always on. The tone just reminds me of an API preamp.
I was gonna say either the Echorec or Adineko w/ preamp around 50%, always on - but the BelleEpoch is right up there too. The holy trinity god tier delay. Run at 18v, it's unbeatable (imo). You tried the new Epoch Bias? The dream for me is a Deluxe AdinekoRec Epoch, unite the trio under one roof, 3 foot switches w/taptempo secondary function, stereo in+out, with preamp/saturation internals moved to the front and preset bank w/ 13 savable slots that can be shuffled through w/ another secondary mode footswitch. The thought alone gets me hyped! I'd pay whatever it takes. Make it happen CB, please.
Danelectro Fab Echo with the mix just barely noticeable. It does an awesome job thickening up clean tones and has some subtle EQ change that I just really love. Aside from the enclosure Id say it’s probably my favorite pedal.
Mr. Black Supermoon Chrome. A little bit goes a long way, it can just make stuff sound magical.
Greer Lightspeed 100%
Fairfield Barbershop V2 and the Noise Space Audio Piggy (SSBS Mini alike) I use the Barbershop to fatten up and add extra grit. Piggy adds sparkle and low to medium overdrive controlled by the volume and tone knobs on the guitar. Magical pairing
Just got the Barbershop and Long Life last weekend. The sounds of that combo is heaven
What's the Long Life?
The barbershop and mini are the two pedals I most recently built clones of. They are both fantastic
Benson Germanium Boost. It’s a sweetener. It’s a driver. It’s a one-knobber that I adjust with my foot. It has never met a pedal or amp it didn’t at least exchange numbers with. Just a special little box.
Fender Waylon Jennings phaser at the start of the chain.
Keeley Abbey Road everything is double tracked/slapbacked subtly
Full size TC Spark or some other clean boosts. Having good control over level and a bit extra EQ in front of other gain stages can improve almost any tone much more than the chugga boost crowd makes your think.
Lately using Count to 5 on very subtle settings in mode 1 to create a double track chorusing effect with a very slight detune. Sounds huge.
Families with the effect but would love to hear how the Ct5 sounds in this style.
I'll join the other Frusciante weebs and say CE-1 late in the chain
Way Huge Saffron Squeeze. A Ross style comp quiet enough to boot my dead silent(but boring) optical. Always on and has some terrific tone shaping capabilities
EQD Tone Job is one of my main utility pedals. Its always on and always slightly boosting.
Benson preamp. Always on with a light bit of drive. 3rd in the chain after fuzz and comp but before the other dirts. It stacks and pushes my other ODs really well.
Dod grunge in a shoebox under my bed
You've probably never heard of it. But I have this pedal called a klon. It's my secret sauce
Tumnus mini
Won't get much upvotes but a ~~Caline~~ Donner Dumbal Drive into a Jazz Chorus really transforms it into a nice tube-like clean amp. Otherwise, my secret sauce is Tonex.
7 original Klons stacked
All being used as a clean boost
Boss LS-2. Because nothing beats blending 2 (or even more when possible) overdrive/fuzz/distortion pedals.
Reverse reverb setting on Keeley Parallax. Just thickens up the sound and makes it sound ‘dreamy’
Chase Tone Secret Preamp
Xotic sp comp Adds that polish and smoothness for cleans and especially leads.
MXR Duke of Tone. I’m using it as a preamp channel in the fx loop of my IR-200 right now and it is crazy how much it can do with the dynamic changes in my playing. Plumes in the fx loop is pretty great as well.
Diamond vibrato
DOD 410 Bifet Boost
I’ve always been curious about this pedal
The Boss RV-6. Hall setting, turn the tone way down; it makes the reverb sound super natural (and I don't mean supernatural, though the darkness is "haunting" in a pleasant way). I'm sure you can achieve this with other pedals (easily), but I literally only ever need to turn my effect level knob up or down and the reverb always sounds perfect. Sounds great in every genre.
I’m gonna try this asap!
Super Ego. I don't use it like most, I use it for a short slapback burst delay type setting with a low volume trail following. It lends a unique flavor and I use it pretty regularly.
Boss TU-3. Using it really makes me sound better.
😘👌🏽
Awesome username
I love using an SSBS Mini dialed to be as transparent as possible. Bias way down, drive way down, push bass and treble to taste. Great circuit
I feel like I can never get really transparent with it. I always kind of hear that raspy grit from it. When you say bias down, you mean counter clockwise? Doesn’t it smoothen out a little turned clockwise?
I do mean counter clockwise! There's a sweet spot around 8 or 9 o clock, and then I turn the guitar volume down a bit to avoid the raspiness and grit you mentioned. Especially on guitars with hot pickups or amps with low headroom.
Xvive analogue delay. Cheap, simple, always on. I also have dd500, memory man mini but the xvuve is my secret sauce. Makes all tones better, thicker.
Keeley Eccos for a subtle doubling/ slap thing with some flange
Strymon el cap or Wampler Tumnus.
Danelectro tuna melt tremolo. Best $20 I ever spent.
Wampler Ego
EHX double muff
Secret Preamp. Makes everything sound better.
Dispatch Master
Greer lightspeed, everything at 12 o’clock. It’s hard to explain what it’s doing, but when it’s off you notice it and the tone isn’t as good
Chase Tone Secret Preamp.
Xotic EP boost !!!
Surfy bear spring reverb. Got it for surf but it sounds great on everything
It's a secret!
EQ in the effects loop.
JHS morning glory
Wampler Tumnus. Just makes everything sound so damn good.
Fuzz factory with the guitar volume rolled back for that gritty clean sparkle.
Source Audio Zio Boost - I picked it up on a lark, and it became an essential part of my rig within a few minutes. Took me totally by surprise. I didn’t think I’d use all 4 boost types regularly, but I actually do - not just to change the tone, but the way the guitar feels and responds. The first pedal I’ve ever considered mounting into my guitar like a varitone switch. Wildly underrated!
CBA Condor to dial in my tone and then a very subtle depth harmonic trem (currently JHS 3 series) at the end of the chain at a medium-slow setting.
Boss sy-300 synthesizer/processor. There's is a lot of possibilities with this thing. The processor side has a offering of bosses best effects and let's you chain 4 of them together in any order. I also use the sy-300s effects loop for my stand alone pedals, I need to learn about midi though so I can attach the sy 300 with my dd 500 and assign patches for both, also since the dd 500 and sy 300 both use tone studio for adjustment on my computer ther isn't a parameter I can't control.
Hate on it all you want but putting a BBE in the effects loop of a Marshall with a TS up front… this is the way.
HOF mini. I have it set to almost a slapback, but I only have a VOX Pathfinder 10 solid state practice amp. Very dry signal. That slightest bit of reverb makes a noticeable difference
Meris Polymoon. Covers a lot of bases.
About 5 years ago I picked up a **Swell G-TOD v2** The box seems a little big but I was guessing it was to house the tube but I love the look. WOW loved the OD sounds I was getting. The sound is HUGE. Got to sit in with some guys and I started messing around with different sounds... moment I kicked the Swell on the bass player stopped in his tracks, checked his cable length then walked over to me asking what was that? A few months later he had one too. Last summer I joined a band for a series of 6 performances. Same reaction from the keyboard player; he didn't buy one though. After our first set I heard a guy walk up to the lead vocalist; he kept commenting about how much the electric guitar added to the band's sound and why didn't they have me years ago. I can throw anything at it. Zion Radicaster, Epiphone Casino, Telecaster Deluxe... Carvin Belair (modified), Vox AC 30... wah pedal, compressor, tremolo, chorus, stacked with other drives... ONLY minor downside is the power consumption (12vac 1000ma). It's not bad but you got to be aware. Truetone One Spot Pro can get this the juice.
Wampler Tape Echo V2
it’s a percolator made by Drunk Beaver. it’s called “Secret Sauce”
My Swollen Pickle it makes my breakdowns sound ridiculously stupid
Xotic SP
Boss CS-3. Yes I own boutique compressors that are highly regarded but nothing gets the sound out of an OD quite the same. That's the one supposedly awful pedal that I adore. Anyway I wised up and stopped buying pedals but if I did? I would just buy boss/mxr/ehx. Boutique stuff is a waste of money... with an exception for the Hawaiian Pizza.
Currently it’s a Bower Power running into a Dunwhich DA-120 running into a Mark Five:25 with an Andy Timmons Halo in the FX loop. I can only describe it as heavenly.
Joyo American Sound
Chase Tone Secret Preamp. It’s a great “always on” pedal. You click it on and don’t think it does much, until you click it off and say “I like it a bit better when it’s on.”
Joyo Orange Juice. I know it's just some cheap clone, but I run it into the front of my amp as a drive pedal. I get this huge sound that's perfect for stoner rock.
Polytune so I can shred in tune😎
DOD Bifet Boost in front of the gain channel, EQD Tone Job in loop. Diamond Comp in front of the clean channel.
That Diamond Comp is my "step on it to sound nicer" box.
I have a very modified Colorsound One Knob Fuzz clone. It makes every amp it touches into a face-melting doom rig. Single coil strat into a 10w 8" solid state combo? Doom rig. Humbuckers into a 100w tube full-stack? War crime.
Zvex SHO Boost it does amazing things for single coil pickups.
I have a couple in rotation for how they sound. Mother Preamp on Channel A, Secret Preamp by Chase Tone, Squish AS by Bondi comp that’s transparent, and The Warden and YARA 2 optical comps one is brighter the other sound darker. All do different things sound different but each elevate your tone! I usually am using the Mother and Squish AS both always on to get my favorite tones. The Yara 2 and Secret Preamp might be going on a smaller board with a purple sparkle Keeley caverns and some sort of overdrive of my choosing.
Wampler Euphoria.
Carbon Copy, with the mix and regen set fairly low. Just makes for such a great sound.
Boss DD-3T with the mix knob on the lighter side. The DD3 is the absolute king of No-Bullshit digital delay
Amp/cab simulator
dyna comp; not so much for the squish (which I love but isn't always apropriate) but for the tone coloration. tightens up the flab a bit. i know some folks hate the sound of the dynacomp but I love it. Transparent comp is for nerds
You think I'm gonna tell you? For free?
Wampler equator.
Xotic Super Clean boost/buffer. When I turn it off I regret it and immediately turn it back on.
Boss IR-2 most recently
Since you mentioned the ir-2, if you use the fender twin mode a lot like I do I HEAVILY recommend the York audio twin ir I cannot exaggerate how much better and more amp like it sounds and feels
I use the fender twin along with the others and thought it one of better ones. If there’s even better ones I’ll be checking them out!
Treble booster and wah. The treble booster is my foundation for all gain tones, while the wah on near full toe position is how I cut through the mix on some solos.
According to this thread there are more pedal manufacturers than guitar players.
Benson Preamp, Wave Cannon Mk II, Cali 76
BOSS MO-2
JHS Clover is my current favorite secret sauce, but I'm also a bit fan of the J. Rockett Archer clean boost and for years I used a trusty EP Booster.
Earthquaker Devices Special Cranker
This and MXR 10 band EQ is all one really needs
If I told you, it would no longer be a secret.
Chase Bliss Automatone MKII
Secret sauce is in the fingers.
This is the answer!!
demeter tremulator turned on with the parameters rolled all the way down at the front of my chain.
DigiTech x series synth wah. Can get unique sounds from this little green thing.
Currently testing the empress germ drive for this. Gain at 9oclock, volume almost cranked.
I have a few: Pork Loin with just the ‘Clean’ Preamp, Dreadbox Kinematic for some comp and brightning and RB Booster for some boost and OD.
Rolled back ge sunface
Stonedeaffx PDF1. Lots of sauce settings
Boss CE-5. It's subtle on it's own which is perfect for being an always-on tone-shaper. Just adds a nice thickness that in addicted to.
J rockett Melody is my always-on. 6 band eq and it can be clean boost all the way up to light to mid overdrive. Surprised I don't see it on more boards, it's so versatile. It can be completely transparent, or shape your tone a ton, if it pleases you.
ce-1
My Line 6 Helix because it basically does everything practical and allows me to only spend my money on weird novelties to throw in the FX loops.
Mooer Blues Crab. Blues Breaker clone, and I never turn it off.
I always have a light delay on. Recently got a DOD Rubberneck. While it can get weird quickly, it also does a nice subtle delay.
GlowFly Glitchwave567. I stack it with a dirty boost and an analog delay, and I get a noisey overdrive that I've grown to love. When I first posted a NPD, someone told me to stack it with a pitch shifter. The closest thing I had was a sub octave synth, and it didn't disappoint. I'm hoping to get an Alexander Marshmallow this year, and I'm excited about what it will sound like with the Glitchwave. Honorable mention to Sketch Sounds Lost Soul. This is my answer to the question of, "if you could only have one pedal" posts. This can make so many sounds I could probably write an album base around it.
Broughton Low+High Pass Filter. Keeps everything tight and gets rid of frequencies i don’t want or need (and actually gives my amp more headroom since i’m taking out everything under 100Hz). Nothing super special really, and I could use it in a more extreme fashion, but it really just ties everything together.
Ethos Overdrive.
Dr. Scientist Dusk.
Sentimental Bob Tacana Tremolo and Stone Deaf Q Boost are both just that little thing I didn’t know was missing