Most & Least reliable pedals

katri · #1 02-03-2009, 12:52 PM

What are the most and reliable pedals you have ever owned?

For me my most reliable pedals are
Tech 21 PBDDI (only ever failed me once, turns out the battery died)
Tone Factor/Mojo Hand cream pies both are great, built like tanks, I would bet my life on it working and the same with all the TF pedals I have played

Unreliable
I've had a DOD flanger that was a bit crappy, never worked too well

So let's hear yours

excane · #2 02-03-2009, 12:54 PM

Interesting....my DOD bass flanger I've had for almost 16 years and it's one of the few that has never let me down. I've stomped it, thrown it, dropped it, etc. Still works and sounds great.

kevteop · #3 02-03-2009, 12:58 PM

Most reliable: So far, an old DOD Gate/Loop that I've had for... over a decade, I can't remember. It's been used a lot too.

Least reliable: Never had a failure from any pedal, but my OC-2's footswitch is a bit dicky.

katri · #4 02-03-2009, 12:59 PM

It was a FX75(I think) a friend gave it to me because he was tired of it being as unreliable as it was, the thing must have been a dud, it gave me an electric shock before while I was running it off a power supply and I haven't used it since

Bassenstien · #5 02-03-2009, 01:03 PM

Good:
I have a Dano French Toast octave fuzz that I have broken, glued, taped, thrown, stomped etc... It just keeps tickin.
Whirlwind AB/Y that is bulletproof.
My old old Morley Power Wah Fuzz has been through it all and kept up with beer spills, kicks, bein lugged around in a backpack. I love that pedal.

Bad:
Had a Wobo AB/Y that put horrid noise in my signal and has never worked right.
Had a DOD tuner that was horrible.
EDIT: another bad was another old Morley Volume that would shock you if you touched it while playing...

Jared Lash · #6 02-03-2009, 01:31 PM

Good
My SansAmp is rock solid. Maxon gear (especially the 9 series) is tough. My Planet waves tuner took a fall onto concrete from about 5 feet and literally didn't have a scratch or dent on it.

Mixed Bag
Boss pedals have a really sturdy housing, but I've seen a few (and owned one) with footswitch issues. Guyatone minis are built okay other than that horrible rubber ring and thin bottom plate. I see they are issuing a new series of minis with a different housing. If so, I may pick up a couple, because I like them now but I wouldn't want to depend on them.

Bad
The king is Snarling Dogs. Everyone said they had build issues, but I bought the Mold Spore anyway. Sounded great (well as great as a ring mod/wah can) but crapped out within a few days. Luckily I was still able to return it.

I've heard a lot of talk that the Line6 modeling series (MM4,DL4 etc) are really flimsy, but my guitar player has gigged with his for almost two years with no problems. Well, other than the bypass being less than optimal.

katri · #7 02-03-2009, 01:35 PM

I forgot to add that I've had a TU-2 for 4 years and it is chipped to hell but still works great.

kesslari · #8 02-03-2009, 01:38 PM

Not a pedal, but I've had a TU12h tuner since the mid 1980's, hundreds of gigs and abuse, and it still works fine. Scary...

derrico1 · #9 02-03-2009, 02:02 PM

My bomb-proof pedals (trouble-free for me since. . .):

DOD 250 (since ~1980, despite having been soaked in a club with a leaky roof *and* having been used once as a hammer)
MXR limiter (1982)
MXR Overdrive (1982, and this one is from their cheap, plastic-cased "Commande" series.)
Boss BF-2 (~ 1983)
MXR Micro Amp (~1984)

Too early to tell:
Sans Amp Classic (~1993)
Chandler Tube Driver (purchased used ~ 1997)

Happynoj · #10 02-03-2009, 02:22 PM

The only pedal that has broken on me is my Micro Q-Tron.

I guess my most reliable one is my Boss BF-2. I've had it less than a year, but I think it was made in 1985 or something, and it still works.

kevteop · #11 02-03-2009, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by derrico1

DOD 250 (since ~1980, despite having been soaked in a club with a leaky roof *and* having been used once as a hammer)

Sounds like we've both got a similar approach to DIY.

RickenBoogie · #12 02-03-2009, 03:23 PM

I've only ever had problems with Ehx pedals. Several of them, but my Stereo Electric Mistress (x2) both crapped out very soon after I got them. Otoh, my Black Finger has been quite reliable, so I'm not slamming the brand.

whoatherechunk · #13 02-03-2009, 04:34 PM

a wobo? really? i guess i should stay away then.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bassenstien

Good:
I have a Dano French Toast octave fuzz that I have broken, glued, taped, thrown, stomped etc... It just keeps tickin.
Whirlwind AB/Y that is bulletproof.
My old old Morley Power Wah Fuzz has been through it all and kept up with beer spills, kicks, bein lugged around in a backpack. I love that pedal.

Bad:
Had a Wobo AB/Y that put horrid noise in my signal and has never worked right.
Had a DOD tuner that was horrible.
EDIT: another bad was another old Morley Volume that would shock you if you touched it while playing...

Valerus · #14 02-03-2009, 04:38 PM

Nothing yet for me. Granted, I've only had pedals since December 07.

asherthemachine · #15 02-04-2009, 01:01 AM

ive had quite a few EHX problems, but yet my muff'n always sounds great. the most relyable (i thought) were m barge blenders, but they both broke...now my whole board and set up sounds different without them.. sad day

MNAirHead · #16 02-04-2009, 01:10 AM

I've not had good luck with anything wiht a plastic box.

burno70 · #17 02-04-2009, 04:43 AM

The only pedal I've had issues with is the EBS Wah One.

2 days after purchase the active/passive button fell off (wasn't a problem as I only have active basses).

2 weeks later the switch failed - I soldered a new one in myself.

3 months down the line the power input needed re-soldering.

It died temporarily at band practice last week so I'm keeping my eye out for a replacement - but it won't be for another Wah One!

But all these probs in a pedal about 1 and a half years old is poor construction.

alexclaber · #18 02-04-2009, 04:59 AM

Not sure about most reliable, most have been fine. Akai Deep Impact definitely takes the prize for least reliable though!

Alex

katri · #19 02-04-2009, 05:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by derrico1

Too early to tell:
Sans Amp Classic (~1993)
Chandler Tube Driver (purchased used ~ 1997)

so over a decade is still not reliable enough?!

derrico1 · #20 02-04-2009, 05:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by katri

so over a decade is still not reliable enough?!

A little bit of tongue-in-cheek, that was. Still, since 1993 is for me only long enough to know that those pedals aren't "least reliable." I assume we all hope for a pedal to last forever, but how long do you expect a pedal to last you?

For my money, I expect a pedal that's decently built and decently treated to last at least 10-15 years.

In my world, a box would have to do at least 20-30 yrs of protected pedalboard gigs (or withstand exceptional abuse) before I get excited about its durability.