"Essential" Circuits

[Dave W]

I think you need to round out your compressor section a little more.

You need to add a Boss OC-2 to your octave section and an MXR Phase 90 to the phasers. Those are arguably the most important and popular in those categories, used by tons of players in all style of music, on countless recordings.

 

[kleinenenten]

The OCD category could pretty well be covered by the 250. The OCD is based on the old 2 knob Voodoo Lab OD, which is based on the 250.

I did not know this. Interesting! I've always wanted to like the 250, but it never quite gets there. I think it's the lack of a tone knob. Which makes sense, since the OCD has that as an added feature!

 

[kleinenenten]

Hmmm. I wonder what you're preparing for. An imminent band or just planning for the sake of planning? You have a lot of effects and different kinds.

EVERYTHING. In reality, I just want a decent version of every major effect. I don't think I'll ever get numerous compressors, or all sorts of delays, or anything too esoteric, but I'd like to have my bases covered if the need arises. For now, I like my DOD pedals for affordable effects to fill out my stable of effects I don't use often.

 

[kleinenenten]

There are so many compressor types, variously described as colored and transparent, tube, VCA, optical, digital, one-knob through 6+ knobs, with grit/dirt and without ...

I know there are TONS of compressors out there - and I'm pretty ignorant of most of them! All I know is I like my Milk Box, and it's been the best one so far out of my limited experience. And I have no need or interest in trying others!

 

[Frank77]

I don't use it very often, but for Choruses I think the Tech21 Bass Boost Chorus is a fantastic specimen. Glad I grabbed one, I'm not sure if they make it anymore.

 

[Iristone]

Mostly I just use a compressor into preamp for my low signal, fuzz → preamp → chorus for my high signal.

If I'd pick the prototype machine for each category:
(* means it cuts low-end so a parallel signal path might be needed; ** means it sounds different with an active bass, or a buffer in front)

• Tube Screamer: Boss SD-1* (the original Tube Screamer, also cheapest)
• Muff: EHX Nano NYC
• Fuzz: Dunlop mini red Fuzz Face**
• Gated Fuzz: Catalinbread Fuzzrite*,** (the circuit looks like the Acoustic 360 fuzz)
• Octave-up Fuzz: Joyo Voodoo Octave
• Dirty Boost (Transparent Overdrive): EHX Muff Overdrive
• Clean Boost: Xotic EP
• Distortion: MXR Distortion +
• Compressor: Darkglass Hyper Luminal (1176 + SSL Bus + their own Super Symmetry in one package)
• Chorus: Boss CE-2W
• Flanger: I'd say real tape/digital recording flanging, but there's no pedal that does either AFAIK
• Phase Shifter: Dunlop Uni-Vibe (beware it might cause volume tremolo)
• Envelope Filter: Mu-Tron
• Envelope Fuzz: EHX Bassballs
• Octave Down: Boss OC-2
• Octave Up (Pitch Shifter): Digitech Whammy
• Reverb: I usually leave it to the soundperson
• Analogue Delay: EHX Nano Memory Man
• Digital Delay: Boss DD series
• Wah: Vox V847*

 

[gstaats]

I know there are TONS of compressors out there - and I'm pretty ignorant of most of them! All I know is I like my Milk Box, and it's been the best one so far out of my limited experience. And I have no need or interest in trying others!

I do like the Effectrode LA-1A too. Super quiet, sounds great. Has a tube boost too.

 

[Dave W]

• Tube Screamer: Boss SD-1* (the original Tube Screamer, also cheapest)

Wouldn’t the Ibanez TS-808 Tube Screamer be the original Tube Screamer? It was released years before the SD-1 and is actually called a Tube Screamer.

 

[HelpImaRock]

I don't believe in essential circuits or having all of my bases covered. That said, the BOSS BC-1x is essential to my sound and just as important as my bass and amp. So take that for what it's worth.

 

[Adagietto]

Wouldn’t the Ibanez TS-808 Tube Screamer be the original Tube Screamer? It was released years before the SD-1 and is actually called a Tube Screamer.

Maybe he meant the OD-1, which came out a year or so before the TS-808. The TS isn't a clone of the OD-1, starting with using symmetrical clipping instead of asymmetrical — but they inhabit the same general ballpark. The TS-808 actually was created and manufactured by Maxon.

 

[Iristone]

Maybe he meant the OD-1, which came out a year or so before the TS-808. The TS isn't a clone of the OD-1, starting with using symmetrical clipping instead of asymmetrical — but they inhabit the same general ballpark. The TS-808 actually was created and manufactured by Maxon.

And IIRC the SD-1 was more faithful to the OD-1 by retaining the asymmetrical clipping (which the TS-808 couldn't, because of patent issues).