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"Essential" Circuits

kleinenenten

kleinenenten

Jan 30, 2012
7,831
8,770
St. Peters, MO
#1
I like to be prepared. I have a lot of pedals on my board (specifically dirt) so that I can handle pretty much any tone I think I may conceivably need. I also have a stable of other pedals. My question deals mostly with the stable of pedals not currently used. What are the "essential" circuits to have on hand? For instance, I feel that for my style, I NEED a fuzz, specifically a Muff. Which circuits would be the ones that would guarantee I have every style covered, whether or not they're on my board? Feel free to give a specific circuit/clone if you'd like, as I know "Muff" can cover a lot of stuff for instance!

Here's my list:
"Tube" Dirt/Overdrive (besides a tube amp!) - Pork Loin
Muff - Pharaoh Supreme/Swollen Pickle
Fuzz Face - Never tried one! (Unless, is the Carcosa one? I liked that one...)
Distortion - Ibanez PD-7 (highly underrated, IMO!)
HM-2 - Dunwich DIY HM-2
DOD 250 (Specific Distortion, I know!) - The original, though I'm interested in the Earthquaker Grey Channel
SS Dirt - GK Rails Pedal
Octave - MXR Bass Octave Deluxe
Envelope Filter - MXR Bass Envelope Filter
Chorus - MXR Bass Chorus Deluxe/DOD Deep Freeze
Flanger - DOD Bass Flanger
Phaser - DOD Stereo Phaser
Delay - MXR Carbon Copy/Way Huge Echo Puss
Reverb - Only ever had a Digiverb!
Compressor - DOD Milk Box
Rat - Earthbound Audio Iron Pig
OCD - Haven't found one I like for bass!

Alright, that's what I've got off the top of my head. What are your "essential" circuits, and which variants are your favorite? I'm sure I've missed some!
 
#3
RJ said:
I like to have a wah of some sorts around.

I love my Flint for the range of tremolo tones it can produce. Having a lush plate reverb is nice too.

To my knowledge the Lil Fella is based on an OCD. Folks really enjoy that on bass.
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I would LOVE a wah - but I am wildly uncoordinated. I can do hands OR feet, but not both! I have to make do with envelope filters...

As for OCDs, I believe you are correct about the Lil Fella. I've never found an OCD that I gelled with on bass. I even had the Dunwich ODB, which is considered one of the best. Just didn't work for me, and I found myself fighting it. I think my GK Rails Pedal fills that role now, but that's a very specific tone (800RB power amp simulation). Thus far, my favorite OCD is the EHX OD Glove. I love the internal switch for 9v to 18v. I always use 18v, and it's great for both a dirty boost and classic rock style dirt (I aim for AC/DC for this tone). That being said, I only use this on guitar, and have yet to find a bass OCD that I enjoy. I think that the best OCD for the money is the Joyo Ultimate Drive. I wonder if it had the 18v option...

I also just realized, I forgot an entire - and legendary - family of circuits! My pick for the best Tubescreamer goes to the Green Rhino version IV (I think? The most recent version!). Though I don't use it on bass or guitar, it's a competent circuit for both. I happen to prefer the Pork Loin on bass for my low gain needs and the EHX OD Glove (an OCD) for guitar, but could certainly do the Green Rhino if needed. I've actually toyed with making a dual purpose guitar/bass board for a fun practice board to keep in the living room when noodling MUST happen.
 
#4
Interesting how "Muff" is its own category by itself. I just got a Big Muff Pi Deluxe and am rather impressed, this thing sings! The midrange control with the expression pedal is like a wah from Hell! :)
 
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#7
bholder said:
Interesting how "Muff" is its own category by itself. I just got a Big Muff Pi Deluxe and am rather impressed, this thing sings! The midrange control with the expression pedal is like a wah from Hell! :)
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Well, yeah, I struggled with naming this thread for that reason. That's why I went with "circuits", because I know so many of these would fall under some sort of distortion. I feel like Rat/Muff/OCD/TS/DOD250/etc. all have their own followers, and rightfully so. But some effects I don't know enough about to distinguish, such as compressors, delay, flangers, and others. Feel free to add your own favorite flavors of dirt (or any other!) circuitry - I'd love to learn of a few new boxes!
 
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#9
I don't really have any other favorite dirt pedals, I guess. There was a Fulltone drive I kinda liked, wonder where I put that? But the Big Muff is another beastie entirely. Might be my new standard hah. I got it because I remembered the first guitarist I played with in the 70s using one, but this is so much more than that! What sounds!
 
#12
Just re dirt, might add a Zvex Wooley Mammoth type - like the Malekko Diabolique (the Zvex Fuzzalo is said to be somewhat similar) there are lots of clones.

Zvex kinda has a thing going, what with the Distortron, the Bassstortion, Mastortron ...

The SHO, Two In One, Box of Rocks, Fuzz Factory, etc., are popular for guitars.

Also, actual tube pedals are a cool variation. I like the Blue Tube and that line, and the Blackstar tube pedals are cool. EHX makes some, so does Ibanez and Vox (the green one is good).
 
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#14
The one essential pedal I use is a compressor. Currently I'm using either a Mark Bass Compressore or an EBS. Sometimes depending on the situation, I use a Bearfoot Blueberry distortion pedal although I'm really liking the distortion effect on my Genzler Magellan amp these days.
 
#20
You can get a lot of good tones from tube pedals. Really awesome part of a tube pedal is rolling tubes in to dial in the tone you want. The effectrode tube drive is a fun pedal for this. Active tube tone control and it sounds great on bass!
20211018_144004.jpg
 
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