Really thinking about cutting down my effect pedals, and I only have 6

[klejst]

If you have a need for and use all of them then nah leave them, if not then downsize if you must. Personally the only stomp box I have is the TU-3 tuner, other then that all natural.

 

[RickyWoo]

I rock 3 pedals. I'm doing fine. Do what works! Sometimes it's not the chain that's affecting things. Cables that are too long can do that.... The story goes, for every 20' of cable, use a buffer.

 

[EarnestTBass]

I used active basses and multiple pedals for years. Last month I bought a passive 5 string Fender P bass and started using the bass with an amp and a cabinet- no pedals. Initially I just wanted to evaluate the bass, but I inadvertently found a lot more to explore, by not using the pedals. Maybe this is boring, but I am learning how to use the tone control on my P bass and the controls on my amp to get whatever sounds I need. The pedals may been just a novelty or a distraction, or crutch, sometimes.

I found that a more simple rig has definite advantages.

Five gigs later....Paring my rig down, I believe, is making me a better musician. Sound engineers seem to be turning me up in FOH. I have no plans to sell my pedals, but I don't anticipate using them again anytime soon either.

 

[gazzatriumph]

Used to have three but now have none and don't miss them.

 

[hintz]

Not counting my compressor or tuner (I see as utility pedals) I'm down to 3 FX pedals at the moment: BOSS OC2, SA Aftershock and SA orbital modulator. And I've gone down from a PT pro filled up with anywhere between 12-20 pedals....lugging that thing around and setup was a PITA.

The only addition will be the SA Manta, and I might replace the OC2 with the TC "sub n' up" so I can run all through a midi switcher(if I do this all pedals will be rack mounted except tuner/midi).

You have less probability of error with less pedals and that gives peace of mind when I think of gigs where "gremlins" started making my old big board fail.

 

[Wfrance3]

Since I got my new Aguilar Twin filter, I am thinking about cutting down to 3 pedals. my three would be my Keeley Bassist, to my Aguilar filter twin, and my Boss dd-3. I would be getting rid of my Fuzz pedal a guy made for me nice pedal its a copy of the old Dallas Arbiter, and get rid of the Boss GEB-7. I can tell a different in my sound even when they are turn off. And there is just to much EQing going on for me. Do you guys think I am crazy.

No at all. I play with 2 pedals only 90% of the time. If we need to get schmancy, I can get what I need from a zoom Ms60b. Been working for me last couple years with no anticipated failure going forward.

 

[beans-on-toast]

You won’t get much out of them. Why not stick them in a box for now. Some day you might want to use them.

 

[Badwater]

No you're not crazy, cutting down to 3 FX is not a huge leap into bare naked tone. If you find that you can finesse your tone more with your amps and hands, it's OK to use less. As they say less is more?

 

[gary mitchell]

You will now make inferior music.

Why I don't have machines making it for me.

 

[Nev375]

Nothing wrong with using only what you need and nothing you don't.

 

[Blu bro]

I really am in two minds about this subject. The longer i gig the smaller i want my rig to be...

I have one Midi board which is big (10 pedals plus expression pedal and DI)- Which i love for its flexibility but really dont need all thoise sounds on most my gigs these days.

I have one medium board (5 pedals plus DI) which I am constantly changing around. As this is as small as i can go without compromising different ideas/textures... but even this board I have second thoughts about every week or two.

Then i have my small board (Tuner/Octave/Drive) this is the board that probably gets the most gig time funnily enough (but least practice time- its much more fun playing around at home with crazy noises)

And i still dream up other small essential boards that I would like to have lying around to get the most out of the different basses i own. E.g. I would love a; hudson broadcast/MBD-1/Meatbox/Wooly Mammoth board.

So many great possibilties out there and as you can see sometimes smallest is most fun/convieniant.

 

[riccalioliojr]

It really doesn't make much different which you put first. I find that the gain control on the Keeley bassist, really makes the Aguilar Filter Twin shine if put first. But that's to my ears and it seems to my worship band members like it better that way .

I forgot that filters can be used to either have a consistent sound or to make it react to dynamics. So maybe if you prefer the consistent sound, that signal flow should work fine.