I'm curious. When I use my pedals, they're just about always on. MXR Bass Compressor, Fulltone OCD, and Sansamp BDDI. They are each huge parts of my tone. But looking through threads, I often forget that I appear to be one of few who views pedals like this. Most of you/us use them sparingly or only on certain songs, especially with effects like flangers, choruses, delays, fuzzes, etc. So I'm wondering, how many of you use your pedals to define your sound/tonality, and how many just use them for more obvious traditional effect styles?
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Always-On vs. Selective Use
- Thread starter Angel Switch
- Start date
I have eight pedals on my board and none of them are always on. I run a very clean, hi-fi tone 90% of the time but like to kick on various shades of dirt or a bit of modulation now and then to emphasize a part.
However, it seems to me that always-on preamps and dirt pedals are incredibly common on these forums, so you may have just seen an uncharacteristic run of posts.
However, it seems to me that always-on preamps and dirt pedals are incredibly common on these forums, so you may have just seen an uncharacteristic run of posts.
When I play with my metal band I've always the compressor on and sometimes I add a chorus and reverb. Sometimes I add a litttle bit of overdrive for getting a more hard sound...We're working on new songs for the new record and , for the moment , the overdrive is always on...For our new stuff the bass overdrive is part of the overall bass tone.
In my cover band I use a clean MXR DI+ simulation which beefs up the clean sound of my passive basses.
Sometimes I just plug the bass straight to the amp...I like to use fx but I don't want to be dependent on them..
As a general rule, when playing in a band type setting, the only pedals I would leave on would be an EQ and Compression and then use the effects needed for certain songs. But when playing solo stuff I have a reverb that's constantly on and at the end of the chain. It's not enough to change the tone and it's not too audible when playing in the low register but really enhances and adds depth to the high
I don't have one specific pedal that's always on but I don't ever play clean so there's always at least one on, usually 3 or 4.
I use two boards. One is small, and has 2 "always on" pedals- a compressor and eq. The 2nd board is optional, but has all the fun stuff, synths, filters, octaves, even an arpeggiator and delay. There is no right answer, just use what you like.
I only use my compressor, reverb and delay at all times. . . and just a little reverb and delay to fill out the tone for my ear. There are many others that are used - but only as the song dictates. I surely don't need my POG on at all times!!
It all depends what I'm playing. I've found since I got my Boss CS-2 it's usually on, but not always. Might also so be a honeymoon phase, I've only had it a few weeks. My Fulltone Bass-Drive Mosfet also gets LOTS of use, but once again, not always.
- May 20, 2000
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- Endorsing Artist: Aguilar Amplification, Spector, Dingwall, Tech 21 NYC, Darkglass
I always use pedals as always on tone shapers too.
I used to stack a few different distortion and/or eq to create my tone but now I'm down to just the Brimstone XD-1 on its own for my main project.
I used to stack a few different distortion and/or eq to create my tone but now I'm down to just the Brimstone XD-1 on its own for my main project.
Ditto. My Diamond Comp never shuts off, and the rest vary - some are on a lot, and others for just a song or two here and there.
I have 3 pedals always on: SFX Microthumpinator, Empress Compressor, EBS Valvedrive.
and 8 effects I use momentarily in songs. I voted "I consistelely do all the above." Not sure how consitent this is though, 3 vs 8...haha But to clarify I am not tap dancing during the whole gig or anything.
and 8 effects I use momentarily in songs. I voted "I consistelely do all the above." Not sure how consitent this is though, 3 vs 8...haha But to clarify I am not tap dancing during the whole gig or anything.
I have a compressor that always stays on, a pedal for light overdrive, a russian big muff for over-the-top fuzz, a wah and a 10-band eq. Those go on/off depending on what I'm playing.
Similar setup here,
micro thrumpinator, B7K (slitly dirty) and pwnzor always on.
Then I have 4 that I punch on or off (octave, od, fuzz and filter).
EQ, compressor and reverb always on. Chorus & Tremelo for fretless most but not all of the time. Other effects as needed though I almost never combine two or more elective effects.
