Pedals that (far) exceeded your expectations...

[Gremson]

Oh neat. Another outlet for me to express my love for the Joyo American Sound.
Such a killer preamp/amp sim. I switch out pedals pretty often on my board, but the Joyo is always my baseline. Always on at the end of my chain. Just adds the perfect amount of warmth and life to my sound. It's perfect for me. It's silly how cheap it is.

 

[Sunset Shalom]

Oh neat. Another outlet for me to express my love for the Joyo American Sound.
Such a killer preamp/amp sim. I switch out pedals pretty often on my board, but the Joyo is always my baseline. Always on at the end of my chain. Just adds the perfect amount of warmth and life to my sound. It's perfect for me. It's silly how cheap it is.

Been having fun running keys into the American Sound recently, perfect for that crunchy keys into amp sound. Sounds amazing on clavinet patches to add some grit and oomph.

For awhile I was using it for a volume control on an old analog synth with a broken volume slider. Worked perfectly at transparent low gain settings and also made a great boost/EQ. But eventually I started using the synth in stereo for the lush chorus sound, now I pretty much use mixers and a limiter for the volume control. But I miss having the American sound right after the synth. Also great in general for DI stuff and stacking.

 

[johnk_10]

the Aguilar Tone Hammer far exceeded my expectations.

 

[villegastx]

Diamond bass comp. Mk1 is an always on pedal

 

[cosmicevan]

Looked at my original reply in this thread and boy have things changed....

I'd say these days the ones that fall in the category of far exceeding my expectations would be:

- Red Panda Tensor
- Red Panda Raster 2
- Poly Beebo

 

[sutarappa]

Diamond bass comp. Mk1 is an always on pedalView attachment 4572712

Rockin dat v1 IP!

Lately in suta's toolbox, it's the EHX Tone Corset that's brought game. Nice price, easy dialing, and the versatility of a wet/dry blend have put it on board. Always thought I could get there with technique or hardware adjustment, but the TC helps balance signal levels between high and low strings. Frees up some mental and physical attention...

 

[Marihino]

Aguilar ToneHammer
Joyo American Sound
TC Electronic Spark
Zoom B1four

 

[WG Plum]

Broughton LHPF. Much like utilities in the eurorack world, the good ones are indispensable. This one is like that.

EQD Hizumitas. I thought it would be just another fuzz, but it's really not.

I'd also add the Broughton Calamity, but expectations were so high it's kind of amazing that it met them. Boy it did, too.

 

[Killing Floor]

This has exceeded my expectations. Follow filter and fuzz with a signal splitter so both effects are getting the signal first. Great filter. Worth every cent.

 

[Lammchop93]

Tech 21 Leeds. Still my favorite preamp and overdrive pedal. They are getting hard to find.

 

[HelpImaRock]

The BOSS DD6. So many negative reviews out there, but it's a great sounding delay. It's the last in the line to have the Hold function and it has reverse.

 

[villegastx]

This has exceeded my expectations. Follow filter and fuzz with a signal splitter so both effects are getting the signal first. Great filter. Worth every cent.
View attachment 4574125

I was looking at some videos and this pedal looks amazing. Ordering one pretty soon.
Im planing to buy a wonderlove mk2 or a fwonkbeta but this pedal sound amazing.
Any recomendations?

 

[Killing Floor]

I was looking at some videos and this pedal looks amazing. Ordering one pretty soon.
Im planing to buy a wonderlove mk2 or a fwonkbeta but this pedal sound amazing.
Any recomendations?

I really like it a lot. I run it with the fuzz engaged but pretty low. It's a blast. And seriously, Bob Daspit is the real deal. On their website there is a chat box. He will answer any question and even send you sound samples that aren't on the site. In fact, he's such a good dude I asked him which of his fuzz pedals would be best for bass and he sent me to Another brand. The Grease Juicer is pretty simple to dial in. It's not as much of a deep cycle envelope like a Seamoon (which I love too) but combined with the dirt it's just nasty. I've also tried it on guitar even though it says "bass" and it sounded pretty good so I don't know the actual difference.
It's a little more than some pedals but it's great. No noise. I like it better than the Josh Wah for comparison, It's less quacky.

 

[Les Fret]

This has exceeded my expectations. Follow filter and fuzz with a signal splitter so both effects are getting the signal first. Great filter. Worth every cent.
View attachment 4574125

Never saw that piggy before. Looks great! Going to check some videos.

 

[TTA]

The title says most of it...
This time I am interested to hear about pedals that exceeded your expectations or surprised you in positive ways and in how they did.

Darkglass adam. Amazing build quality, compressor, multi distortion, touch screen multiband eq, leds, 3 memory settings, tuner, can sim, slr out, ipod in, headphones out, clean and dirty signal out if desired, noise gate.

at the moment my pedal board is literally this and a wah.

 

[Zooberwerx]

*Fairfields Barbershop
*Tech 21 Bass Fly Rig
*Zoom B3n (...they got the format right this time)
*Any high pass filter
*Seymour Duncan DoubleBack Comp

Edit: Not necessarily the best available as I based my selections on a balance of sound quality ("30% of the money buys you 90% of the sound"), ease-of-use, practicality, and a sentimental attachment to some of the older technology.

Riis

 

[chiphaleonbass]

Wren and Cuff Tall Font Russian. I've purchased many fuzzes and overdrives over the years, however; this is the one that comes with me for studio work and it continually ends up on records. Very usable EQ and Gain sweep can make your bass tone go from gritty to super fuzzy and it just sounds right every time

 

[Basssy]

Source Audio Aftershock.

 

[Jebberz]

Received recently a Gup Tech Mad Honker. At low drives settings, it brings life to my T=Bird Pro, while the parallel mode gives me a eq-able clean blend to get the low end as I desire. Performs beyond my expactations, truly.

Mad Honker - GrindR->TS-808

 

[HoochfromP]

i'd also add the Broughton Calamity, but expectations were so high it's kind of amazing that it met them. Boy it did, too.

This, and i'd add the Broughton QS and S1 in the same train of thought. Had what i guess were my highest expectations on these, but they are exceptional pedals, reached them in a flick of a switch. Was blown away by the Free The Tone Bass Blaster as well. Got a super booty bottom end if it's what you're looking for, a nice breakup, non farty lows at all, and can cover some serious ground. Keepers !