What Would You Keep/Take Away?

[gregmon79]

Hey all. I haven't started a thread in a long time. But I figured since I was going to be somewhat torn about it, I'd get some general opinion from my fellow TB'ers.

I came up on an MBD1 a couple days ago. Its straight awesome. I was at practice last night and I realized that I just don't need all the dirt I have. I've been talking about doing this for over a year now, shrinking what's on my board. Especially trimming the fat from the dirt. I still love all these pedals but if I'm honest with myself, I only really use 3 to 4 or them at any given time.

So here it is, what would you guys cut out? Some of you know me pretty well, others not. I'm in a hard rock original band and I do actually use just about all the pedals you see. But the dirt sections are not always used. Especially on the smaller board (the one on the right in the pano pic). So what would you guys cut and what would you leave?

If anything, just based off of the pics and YOUR tastes, what would YOU leave on and take off?

Oh snap, not pictured is the Fuzzro Rat Tail which will be taking the place of the blower box. The BB is coming off! Never thought I'd hear myself say that!

This is the most recent pic of my main board.

 

[father of fires]

I would hold off a bit. You are in lust and some of these pedals have stood by your side for ages.

But if you must cut, the first things should be the ones that are easily replaced.

 

[gregmon79]

I would hold off a bit. You are in lust and some of these pedals have stood by your side for ages.

But if you must cut, the first things should be the ones that are easily replaced.

You're kind of right. And I really don't have much reason to remove. It's not like I have to worry about freight charges for travel. However, I have been wanting to do this for a while. I really want to get back down to one board with everything I need on it. And really just simplify my dirt section. I'd also love to fit the BWhammy on but if It came down to it and I need to just put it on the floor next to the board, I'd do it.

Another thought if I wanted a second board, put my POG2, Whammy and my Moog exp on that and then I would feel very confident about fitting what I wanted on the big board. I just want to be able to move easier again and navigate with my feet with ease. Sometimes it really stinks moving all this stuff or trying to tippy toe tap dance on a board at a show.

I will say this as well, I am totally lusting on your MBD1 dude haha. Wont be the first time it's happened. But dang man, I know with certainty that it's a bad mamajamma and it will indeed be getting the bulk of my dirty duties. It's just too good not be using like all the time.

 

[father of fires]

You're kind of right. And I really don't have much reason to remove. It's not like I have to worry about freight charges for travel. However, I have been wanting to do this for a while. I really want to get back down to one board with everything I need on it. And really just simplify my dirt section. I'd also love to fit the BWhammy on but if It came down to it and I need to just put it on the floor next to the board, I'd do it.

Another thought if I wanted a second board, put my POG2, Whammy and my Moog exp on that and then I would feel very confident about fitting what I wanted on the big board. I just want to be able to move easier again and navigate with my feet with ease. Sometimes it really stinks moving all this stuff or trying to tippy toe tap dance on a board at a show.

I will say this as well, I am totally lusting on your MBD1 dude haha. Wont be the first time it's happened. But dang man, I know with certainty that it's a bad mamajamma and it will indeed be getting the bulk of my dirty duties. It's just too good not be using like all the time.

Thanks for the kind words. It's certainly encouraging!

Maybe go to IKEA and buy a glass case and put all your pedals in it. Maybe get some LED rope lights and make it a mini museum.

Then pick your small board and an arbitrary number of pedals that you can't exceed.

Mix and match until you're happy and just like those hoarder shows if you haven't touched a pedal in 6 months or so then sell it.

 

[gregmon79]

Thanks for the kind words. It's certainly encouraging!

Maybe go to IKEA and buy a glass case and put all your pedals in it. Maybe get some LED rope lights and make it a mini museum.

Then pick your small board and an arbitrary number of pedals that you can't exceed.

Mix and match until you're happy and just like those hoarder shows if you haven't touched a pedal in 6 months or so then sell it.

hmmmmmm.....that actually doesn't sound like a bad idea....... when all is said and done, this may be the only way I will make decisions haha

 

[jpTron]

Based on your posts, I'd say keep the Rusty Box, Rat Tail and B7K. They seem like your always on, go-to pedals. Everything else should go.

Edit - a couple of months ago someone posted a band that had one of the gnarliest tones I've ever heard. The bassist was female. She uses a Rat into a Rusty Box. I can't remember the name of the band and I wish I could. If that's not a confirmation that those 2 pedals are all the dirt you need, then I don't know what is, haha.

 

[gregmon79]

Based on your posts, I'd say keep the Rusty Box, Rat Tail and B7K. They seem like your always on, go-to pedals. Everything else should go.

Edit - a couple of months ago someone posted a band that had one of the gnarliest tones I've ever heard. The bassist was female. She uses a Rat into a Rusty Box. I can't remember the name of the band and I wish I could. If that's not a confirmation that those 2 pedals are all the dirt you need, then I don't know what is, haha.

Oh lordy no hahaha There's no way in hell I'm cutting THAT much out! I still want all my tone shaping, mod, delay (maybe just get down to one for now) and wah and stuff. I'm mainly thinking of dirt pedals and all that stuff on the second board. I should've pointed the convo that way to begin with. Its cool to see opinions like yours regardless though. Keep em comin!

That would be way too much for me though man. Although it would be cool to try it one day and see how it goes. Just bring like 4 pedals to practice and done......

 

[jpTron]

Oh no when I said the "rest" I meant just the dirt. I'd use those 3 pedals, the rest of your cool effects, and ditch the rest of the dirt. I should have clarified.

 

[Alien8]

Based on your posts, I'd say keep the Rusty Box, Rat Tail and B7K. They seem like your always on, go-to pedals. Everything else should go.

Edit - a couple of months ago someone posted a band that had one of the gnarliest tones I've ever heard. The bassist was female. She uses a Rat into a Rusty Box. I can't remember the name of the band and I wish I could. If that's not a confirmation that those 2 pedals are all the dirt you need, then I don't know what is, haha.

^This.

I *might* add the MBD-1 or the AO so I could have a few other flavors, but the others are redundant, or could be approximated with these 3-4.

 

[gregmon79]

Oh no when I said the "rest" I meant just the dirt. I'd use those 3 pedals, the rest of your cool effects, and ditch the rest of the dirt. I should have clarified.

^This.

I *might* add the MBD-1 or the AO so I could have a few other flavors, but the others are redundant, or could be approximated with these 3-4.

Awesome guys. Thanks for commenting. This will help. It'll help keep me focused on what I want and need. Not what I think I want.

I was thinking about it last night and I may go like this:

MBD1
RT
A/O
And either the Carcosa, B:Assmaster or my muff.

I def need at least one fuzz. Not sure which one to keep though. The carcosa can almost cover a muff sound and more. But then I really like my main muff. And the B:Assmaster sounds awesome but I like never use it. So I think the carcosa may be the one I end up keeping on board. Plus it's small so that's good. That would bring me to 4! I can't remember the last time I had that few on my board. This could be liberating haha

 

[gregmon79]

I should also mention that my always ons are the fx10, B7KU, Ictineo and rusty box. Those will not be moving.

 

[gregmon79]

I could even ditch the Shape Shifter at this point because the MD500 has some nice trem and rotary in it. And the slicer. Not quite the same as the SS, but once I have my patches set, I may not need the SS anymore. I think it will be going as well.

 

[Juststanley]

I'd sell all of it and put a homeless person through college !

 

[Fiset]

Tell me the modded Pork Loin isn't going!

Its funny, I just picked up a cheap Pork Loin which is due to arrive today (got my soldering iron and a 470p capacitor ready to go!) in part because you guys have completely sold me on it (the demos in the various threads are tasty as hell). I've got a feeling its going to fill a big hole I've had in my sound. I used to have a Pork Loin and loved it but eventually, the "blanket" over the tone forced me to move on...so I can't wait to try it with the 470p.

 

[gregmon79]

Tell me the modded Pork Loin isn't going!

Its funny, I just picked up a cheap Pork Loin which is due to arrive today (got my soldering iron and a 470p capacitor ready to go!) in part because you guys have completely sold me on it (the demos in the various threads are tasty as hell). I've got a feeling its going to fill a big hole I've had in my sound. I used to have a Pork Loin and loved it but eventually, the "blanket" over the tone forced me to move on...so I can't wait to try it with the 470p.

Oh no, that PL is never going anywhere. That pedal is worth far more to me than what I can get for it. That's awesome you have one on the way!! I think you will be very pleased with the results if you feel its a tad too dark already yet still like it. You'll have to let us know what you think when you do it and get some time with it. But yeah, even if I'm not using it on my board, that pedal is staying with me for good.

 

[gregmon79]

I'd sell all of it and put a homeless person through college !

What can I say, I like me some pedals!

Mine actually aint bad at all compared to some others in these forums

 

[lfmn16]

Seriously, why do you want to shrink your board? If you really don't have a need to, I wouldn't. I'd rather have it there and not need it than want to use it and not have it there.

 

[ThePresident777]

Sell the most expensive ones.

 

[40Hz]

You own them, know them, and they're paid for. So unless you want to downsize for personal or financial reasons, I see no reason to start culling your collection.

Suggestion:

Work out "killer combinations" and "perfect pairings" and set up different board configurations. There's nothing to say you can only have one board. Or that every effect you own has to be on the same board at the same time.

I've got my goto "everywhere" grouping consisting of a tuner, compressor, baxandall preamp, Mild OD, and HPF. But I've also got my "progger" modulation and delay board, my "studio" EQ and tweaker collection, etc.

You've got patch cables so it's not hard to patch a secondary board into your everyday lineup. So try to think modular and functional groupings. What's the point of owning twenty or more expensive effects if you can't feel free to mix and match devices as your mood or the requirements of the situation dictate?

Effects are our spice rack. You don't use every spice in every dish. The art is in using the exact right combination of ingredients for whatever you're serving up. But that doesn't mean you need to arbitrarily restrict your choices either.

 

[AndyLES]

Ask yourself:

1) Can I get by with one drive pedal, and simply use my volume knob to adjust gain?

2) How many songs am I using ___ on? If it's only one, see if you can get by without that particular pedal whilst still getting your point across.

3) Am I using a pedal in order to make up for a deficiency elsewhere? Too often, we ( I count myself here) think the solution to a problem in the signal chain is, "more gear!" when in fact we're only compounding the problem. For example, if you're adding gates and signal boosters in the chain, maybe it'd be better to simply eliminate those pedals that are adding to the issue at hand (scientifically speaking, in an analog system, each and every added component adds some sort of noise, however faint; in a large chain, this obviously builds up and becomes noticeable).

Don't take this the wrong way - I love FX (in fact, I'm about to add to my pedalboard right now). But it's best to first ask ourselves why before we do it. Good luck!