Good 'Utility' Pedals

Ayliffe · #1 08-05-2011, 11:01 PM

So i don't think i've really seen many good threads about this, and it could be a good idea so we'll give it a shot.

Pedals like the LS-2 and such things have tons of different uses: Blending, Splitting, Muting etc. What are some other good pedals that can be used to do lots of different useful things? Or any weird uses for pedals that most wouldn't necessarily know about? Soundwise or utility wise.

GO!

sillyfabe · #2 08-06-2011, 12:23 AM

In regards to utilities:
Boss TU-2 Awesome tuner, will never die and fast plus accurate.
as mentioned Boss LS-2: effect loop, connect two amps, connect two instruments, blender with 2 individual volume controls, and good bypass for crappy bypass pedals.

Cool sounds not normally stated:
Boss DD-7: connect an expression pedal to control time and it sounds like LP scratches!
EHX MM with Hazarai: set to modulated delay, set delay to about 7 o'clock with max modulating and it sounds like a bomb being dropped.

Bassmike62 · #3 08-06-2011, 06:56 AM

Haven't seen this issue discussed before, will be interesting to see what's out there. I use

Bos TU-2
Boss NS-2 (as mute switch, like to keep the TU2 always on)
Boss LS-2 (at one point, I had two on my board)
EHX LPB-1 (for clean boosts, well worth the 40 $ paid)

I'm not sure if the BBE Sonic stomp qualifies for this thread. Not really an effect, but acts as some kind of "sparkler".

RickenBoogie · #4 08-06-2011, 07:21 AM

Any Lehle pedal.

Lowbrow · #5 08-06-2011, 10:25 AM

TU-2/3 is a passable Y connection in a pinch, too.

rratajski · #6 08-06-2011, 10:29 AM

Rusty Box - The DI makes it special...bypass clean, dirty, dirtier boost, eq, preamp capabilities!!!

M Sterling · #7 08-06-2011, 10:54 AM

I use a Badger Schism for parallel processing, a Loop Master ESR flip flop pedal to change the order of the effects with a stomp, and a CopilotFX Broadcast to control the expression jacks on various pedals. I am a fan of utility pedals!

I also consider my eq and compressor pedals as utilities because I use them to process my effected sound. The eq boosts the mids to bring the synth and fuzz sounds into the mix more and the compressor is used to even out the levels and limit peaks to avoid speaker damage.

BassMonstrum · #8 08-06-2011, 11:13 AM

Sansamp BDDI and MXR Bass DI+. Preamps to run a poweramp, EQ to make a dull instrument/amp sound good (or at least better), DI-boxes and overdrive/distortion.

Vlad5 · #9 08-11-2011, 12:47 AM

I love utility effects!

I use:

FEA 2 Channel Mixer and a ABY switch box. 2 channel parallel mixing fun; clean or dirty, or clean and dirty.
EWS BMC - mid frequency boost/cut and sweep. Two knobs in one!
ElectronX Submarine Designer - clean boost, tone adjust, low boost, fixed mid frequency boost/cut/flat. Lots of switches!

With these I mix distortion, fuzz, octave, chorus, phase, delay, and (sooner or later) a filter. I may add some loops to each channel too, someday.

M Sterling · #10 08-11-2011, 06:24 AM

Check this one out!!!

Coming soon - the Expressionator

G.Bisson · #11 08-11-2011, 06:43 AM

Barge Concepts GLZ - impedance matching, level booster, gain booster, clean boost, mute switch. I've used it as a headphone amp. I've used as a clean preamp into a home stereo. Used for tweaking a strong signal sent into a finicky fuzz.

raul · #12 08-11-2011, 08:38 AM

what? the Rusty Box also has a DI????? are you serious? so...it's kinda like a BDDI or VT but different...the same as in that it's got a DI? the XLR? wow, i need to look into this since i'm looking for a BDDI or VT...maybe the Rusty Box is the one?

Phalex · #13 08-11-2011, 08:41 AM

I own 2 "pedals". A tuner, and a volume pedal.

**SVE** · #14 08-14-2011, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raul

what? the Rusty Box also has a DI????? are you serious? so...it's kinda like a BDDI or VT but different...the same as in that it's got a DI? the XLR? wow, i need to look into this since i'm looking for a BDDI or VT...maybe the Rusty Box is the one?

Look up demos, from what I've listened to the Rusty trumps the VT bass for what I want. I returned the VT two days after I bought it, I didn't like the sounds I was getting at all. The Rusty has a waiting list though, so you should sign up soon if you want it; or you could snag one from the classifieds, although the pedal is always gone at tops 15 minutes after it's posted.

I can't wait to try one, I'll be able to zone in on the tone I want. The DI feature is going to be really helpful for me.( Sound guys at shows I've played plug me into Behringer DI boxes that sound absolutely terrible:grumblegrumble: )