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Let's make a list: Magic tone sweetener pedals.

#143
tpaul said:
I've wondered about that one. Care to elucidate?
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sure! Offers a bunch of boost centered around 40Hz and 4kHz…but the response range on the treble side is large, covering the tradi treble and some of the super high stuff if not rolled off earlier.

most usefully the 600-ish Hz range is left scooped out as the lows and highs come through…particularly helpful if you need a mid cut anywhere in the chain. It is also a nice preamp.

I think this DB925 thing is neat, but of limited utility.

edit: got my model numbers wonky. Fixed :p
 
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#144
el murdoque said:
-Sushi Box FX pedals. I've had Particle and Underground Accelerators, but many others will fit this category just as well.
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Yep - I've got a Finally tube DI that resides at the end of my pedalboard. I go 1/4" out to my amp when playing live, and of course I can use the XLR to FOH or when recording at home. Brilliant little box.
 
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#150
el murdoque said:
I've crossed a number of pedals in the past that had a reputation of sweetening the sound, even if not used for their intended purposes.

Example:
Many a player uses the Effectrode LA-1A compressor pedal not for compressor duties, but to give their tone that certain je-ne-sais-croix that it adds.

Another:
Lower gain overdrive pedals that are used at minimal settings, where they do not overdrive per se, but rather .... you guessed it, adding that certain bit.

Then there are pedals that seem to be made specifically for that purpose.
The Noble comes to mind, or the Sushi Box FX Space Heater or the More. Eden has the Glowplug.

I have owned and/or used the following pedals that I would stuff into that category:

-The Noble Preamp DI. The venerable one. The endgame in the 'adds tube magic sparkle mojo to your tone' category.

-The Hudson Broadcast. An OD that drives a Transformer, which can do pleasant, yet subtle things to your tone at minimal drive settings.

-The Fairfield Barbershop: Low gain OD - so popular as an always on device that Fairfield built a mini version without the stomp switch

-JPTR FX Jive: A low to medium gain drive pedal that mimics tape saturation. You can switch off the clipping diodes.

-Spaceman Saturn VI: Harmonic Booster / low gain OD. Introduces smooth harmonics into the signal at low settings, can bring dead flats back to life

-Sushi Box FX pedals. I've had Particle and Underground Accelerators, but many others will fit this category just as well.

What's your secret sauce pedal that you run as an always on to sweeten up your sound?
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An EQ.
 
#157
Darkglass B7K. Provides a modern edge even with Drive set all the way down, so I use it for rock, often as a finisher for other overdrive pedals. I decided to stick with B7K over the Darkglass Harmonic Booster because the B7K has more EQ controls

Reiner amplifier. Reiner has made three different amp models of which I own two. All of them have a hand-wired all-tube preamp with mil-spec components, plus Jensen DI. In short: tube magic

Subtle compression: "barely there", meaning you don't notice it's there until it's turned off. I have a number of pedal compressors, ranging from a "big box" Origin Cali76 G-P thru the new Empress Compressor Bass*. Some are more colorful than others, but most offer parallel compression, meaning clean blend. With the proper mix of wet and dry, it's relatively easy to remain dynamic but with that extra je ne sais quoi ;) that improves how I sit in the mix. Optionally, it can add sustain that simulates a pushed amp vibe even at low volume. I don't always bother with compression, but there's nothing detrimental about it when I get the settings right

*Other pedal compressors I own and recommend: FEA DE-CL, OvniFX Smoothie, Becos Stella, Origin Cali Stacked
 
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#158
el murdoque said:
Do you have experience with the two versions of the Colour Box? I think I read somewhere that the V1 is to be preferred?
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No, just the v1, but I can't see how it would be much different - it was my understanding that v2 had a few improvements that benefitted bass, but I haven't heard anything comparing the two versions and I'm very happy with v2.
 
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