What Would You Keep/Take Away?

[gregmon79]

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.

I thought I made it somewhat clear why I wanted to cut down. I may have been confusing. This is the very reason why my board has become, what I feel to be, somewhat jam-packed or overcrowded in some ways. Another reason to cut some out is to make it look a little more uniformed and allow for some more room so I'm not tip toing to step on a lot of them.

 

[lfmn16]

I thought I made it somewhat clear why I wanted to cut down. I may have been confusing. This is the very reason why my board has become, what I feel to be, somewhat jam-packed or overcrowded in some ways. Another reason to cut some out is to make it look a little more uniformed and allow for some more room so I'm not tip toing to step on a lot of them.

Got you. Maybe a roadmap and some pointy toed cowboy boots?

Good luck!

 

[Fiset]

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.

Agree with this 100%. I've had some pretty big boards over the years and while I've sold plenty of effects to fund other gear purchases, I've also kept a bunch that sit in a cupboard in my music room, just waiting for me to re-discover them at some future date within some future configuration.

 

[TheLowDown33]

I feel overwhelmed with a packed PT mini sometimes haha. If you really want to pare it down, get one footprint that can do multiple things. The fact that you have a mobius and the boss modulator and a zoom and individual mod pedals is a *little* overkill. Best way to reduce board sizes is to prevent overlap. If pedal 1 can do what pedal 2 does about 90% of the time, get rid of pedal 2. Unless you really need that one trick pony, trim the proverbial fat. Also, what kind of music do you play?

 

[gregmon79]

I feel overwhelmed with a packed PT mini sometimes haha. If you really want to pare it down, get one footprint that can do multiple things. The fact that you have a mobius and the boss modulator and a zoom and individual mod pedals is a *little* overkill. Best way to reduce board sizes is to prevent overlap. If pedal 1 can do what pedal 2 does about 90% of the time, get rid of pedal 2. Unless you really need that one trick pony, trim the proverbial fat. Also, what kind of music do you play?

Well the Mobius is gone now. And I was using the Zoom as an LPF so there isn't much overlap there. But I do have overlap in the dirt area and some in the mod realm. I would like to get the Meatbox on the main board but that is one pedal I use once in a blue moon but man, when I do use it, people in the audience can tell and usually remark about it. So I like to keep it there for that. But I do understand what you mean and it makes total sense. It's easy for me to get carried away at times though.

I play in an original hard rock band (link in my sig). It's just me, guitar, drums and vocals so it leaves me room to move and breathe. And I take advantage most times. As you can see

 

[gregmon79]

So if I look at my board, I think what may come off right away:

Shape Shifter
Carcosa or muff, one of those is coming off
B:Assmaster
ODB
I may take one of my delays off too as I only used the DD3 for oscillating delay in one song we barely play anymore
Blower box
Swollen pickle
Pork loin
Behringer synth
MS60b- may keep this one depending on room just for a utility knife pedal or in case I need a synth. I also use it for octave too from time to time which could possibly cause me to lose the OC2 as well
Freeze
And the other dirt pedal on the second board (forgot what it was called already)

And depending on how my board sounds when all that's said and done, I may be able to ditch the bypass looper as well since the only thing I really ever use it for is a mute for the most part.

That's 10 for sure, possibly 12 with the possibility of the looper going bye bye. That's a lot....

 

[mikewalker]

Keep em all, but take a few more tap-dancing classes! ( or maybe sign up for ballet? )

 

[TheLowDown33]

Well the Mobius is gone now. And I was using the Zoom as an LPF so there isn't much overlap there. But I do have overlap in the dirt area and some in the mod realm. I would like to get the Meatbox on the main board but that is one pedal I use once in a blue moon but man, when I do use it, people in the audience can tell and usually remark about it. So I like to keep it there for that. But I do understand what you mean and it makes total sense. It's easy for me to get carried away at times though.

I play in an original hard rock band (link in my sig). It's just me, guitar, drums and vocals so it leaves me room to move and breathe. And I take advantage most times. As you can see

Ah, see. This is why context is important haha. This is all IMHO, but I feel like with the ΑΩ, you can get a very nice variety of dirt alone. Add another versatile dirt and a fuzz and you should be set on that front. I would stick with one multimodulation pedal mostly because mod isn't something to really layer, so you don't need to have multiple ones running at the same time. Honestly, rounding that out with an envelope/wah, pitch shifter, delay and reverb and you're pretty much set on all fronts. Then, add the must have one trick ponies and that should be enough to round out a solid, manageable board.

FWIW, I play in a 5 piece cover band. Drums, guitar, heavy keys/synth, vocals and myself. I have a very clear job. My board is small, and essential...but I managed to squeeze an H9 on there so there's still so much I can do.

 

[gregmon79]

Ah, see. This is why context is important haha. This is all IMHO, but I feel like with the ΑΩ, you can get a very nice variety of dirt alone. Add another versatile dirt and a fuzz and you should be set on that front. I would stick with one multimodulation pedal mostly because mod isn't something to really layer, so you don't need to have multiple ones running at the same time. Honestly, rounding that out with an envelope/wah, pitch shifter, delay and reverb and you're pretty much set on all fronts. Then, add the must have one trick ponies and that should be enough to round out a solid, manageable board.

FWIW, I play in a 5 piece cover band. Drums, guitar, heavy keys/synth, vocals and myself. I have a very clear job. My board is small, and essential...but I managed to squeeze an H9 on there so there's still so much I can do.

I think that's what I'm going to aim for on the dirt. I've always been of the mind "I could use this for something at some point" and I usually did. But I just don't need all I have on there. If it comes down to it, I can just play musical chairs with some of them as time goes on. The MD500 will hopefully end up covering a lot of ground for me. I already use it for flanger and chorus but I plan on using it for trem, slicer, filter, phaser, overtone and more as time passes. I would like to get a bigger more substantial delay unit like the DD500 or a Timeline but time will tell there. The main thing I needed to do was ditch some dirt. The MBD1 is going to be a big piece for me. I can tell just from one night with the band it's going to be a staple.

And like I said in a previous post, I think I'm going to keep the MS60b on and use it as a synth, octave, HPF and whatever else. Not at the same time of course.

 

[skydivingninja]

So you keep your four preamps, from there I know I would be good with one distortion and one fuzz as far as dirt goes. I'd go with the Carcosa or Bassmaster for the nastiest fuzz sound possible and then use the Rat Tail or MDB-1 for distortion. If you find you want to keep an overdrive then pick between the Pork Loin and the DOD 250 clone (I'm personally not a fan of either so I'm not much help). If you don't use the DD-3 anymore I'd say take that out.

If you need a synth, I'd say keep the OC-2 and get rid of the Zoom and Behringer, and then combine the OC-2 with whatever fuzz you choose (could also include a phaser or chorus from the Boss). From there hang on to your pitch shifter and wah. I'd personally keep one of the two delays because I love delay so much, but if you don't need it you don't need it.

 

[gregmon79]

So you keep your four preamps, from there I know I would be good with one distortion and one fuzz as far as dirt goes. I'd go with the Carcosa or Bassmaster for the nastiest fuzz sound possible and then use the Rat Tail or MDB-1 for distortion. If you find you want to keep an overdrive then pick between the Pork Loin and the DOD 250 clone (I'm personally not a fan of either so I'm not much help). If you don't use the DD-3 anymore I'd say take that out.

If you need a synth, I'd say keep the OC-2 and get rid of the Zoom and Behringer, and then combine the OC-2 with whatever fuzz you choose (could also include a phaser or chorus from the Boss). From there hang on to your pitch shifter and wah. I'd personally keep one of the two delays because I love delay so much, but if you don't need it you don't need it.

That's what I'm talkin bout man. I like those breakdowns. I'm the same as you, I like delay. I have 2 because I used them differently. At this point though I'd be better off with a nice all in one delay. One day, I'll have one. A Timeline would look mighty fine up there

Synth is a hard one for me as I rarely ever use it. Like at all. But I want to. That doesn't mean I need one! haha I do however use octave enough to warrant keeping one or two.

I like the way you're thinking about the dirt. I am thinking along those lines as well. We'll see where I land here in a few days. It may take me some finagling and testing to get where I want to be. But it IS happening.

 

[TheLowDown33]

I think that's what I'm going to aim for on the dirt. I've always been of the mind "I could use this for something at some point" and I usually did. But I just don't need all I have on there. If it comes down to it, I can just play musical chairs with some of them as time goes on. The MD500 will hopefully end up covering a lot of ground for me. I already use it for flanger and chorus but I plan on using it for trem, slicer, filter, phaser, overtone and more as time passes. I would like to get a bigger more substantial delay unit like the DD500 or a Timeline but time will tell there. The main thing I needed to do was ditch some dirt. The MBD1 is going to be a big piece for me. I can tell just from one night with the band it's going to be a staple.

And like I said in a previous post, I think I'm going to keep the MS60b on and use it as a synth, octave, HPF and whatever else. Not at the same time of course.

Sounds like you're already down to a PT-2!

 

[rtslinger]

this is just me but I would keep the tuner and the comp. Then I would see what others were absolutely necessary go to pedals on every show, and cut it down from there.

 

[gregmon79]

Sounds like you're already down to a PT-2!

nah

 

[JFMusic]

This doesn't help trim the fat, but what kind of buttons are those on a few of the boxes? They look like Barefoot Buttons, but a bit different...

 

[gregmon79]

This doesn't help trim the fat, but what kind of buttons are those on a few of the boxes? They look like Barefoot Buttons, but a bit different...

They are Mooers take on them. Much more affordable.

 

[gregmon79]

So I trimmed the fat. And I'm not done. I still need to combine the second board to this and redo it. I think the only things I'm gonna fit are the POG2 and meatbox. Then the bwhammy will go on the floor next to it.

 

[Matt Dean]

Ouch! It hurts to see the ODB off your board.

I think it should always be the goal of an effects using bass player to have a bigger board than the guitar player.

I've been dedicated to limiting the number of pedals I own to what will fit on a PT2 and to what I use in one of my bands. The board you're using seems close to a PT2 (maybe a little larger), so I do appreciate your goal. Also, I plan on getting a MBD-1 as soon as Jeff makes more.... so it will be an interesting battle of the drives when I do.

 

[gregmon79]

Ouch! It hurts to see the ODB off your board.

I think it should always be the goal of an effects using bass player to have a bigger board than the guitar player.

I've been dedicated to limiting the number of pedals I own to what will fit on a PT2 and to what I use in one of my bands. The board you're using seems close to a PT2 (maybe a little larger), so I do appreciate your goal. Also, I plan on getting a MBD-1 as soon as Jeff makes more.... so it will be an interesting battle of the drives when I do.

I like that philosophy

I've been wanting to do this for a long time. I started ripping them off and it was pretty liberating. I even snatched the PS6 off since I don't really need it as I can do what it was going with my bwhammy. My board is actually the exact dimensions of the PT Pro. That's what I modeled it off if. I bet my second board is the size of a 2. Possibly a tad bigger. I never minded the size of it. There was a time when I wanted nothing more than to fill this board to the point of capacity. But that time has gone. And now I just want an efficient, neat and tidy easy to stomp board.

The ODB was a tough one. I'm still not totally sure it's leaving. I may actually take the A/O off and leave either the PL or ODB. I still haven't decided. I'm grateful I have options like that. This def feels good but I'm also treading lightly. I feel if I don't, I may end up with like 2 pedals haha

I was serious when I said the MBD1 has changed my outlook on everything. You NEED one brother.

 

[Matt Dean]

I like that philosophy

I've been wanting to do this for a long time. I started ripping them off and it was pretty liberating. I even snatched the PS6 off since I don't really need it as I can do what it was going with my bwhammy. My board is actually the exact dimensions of the PT Pro. That's what I modeled it off if. I bet my second board is the size of a 2. Possibly a tad bigger. I never minded the size of it. There was a time when I wanted nothing more than to fill this board to the point of capacity. But that time has gone. And now I just want an efficient, neat and tidy easy to stomp board.

The ODB was a tough one. I'm still not totally sure it's leaving. I may actually take the A/O off and leave either the PL or ODB. I still haven't decided. I'm grateful I have options like that. This def feels good but I'm also treading lightly. I feel if I don't, I may end up with like 2 pedals haha

I was serious when I said the MBD1 has changed my outlook on everything. You NEED one brother.

"tidy easy to stomp board."

This is how I would define an elegant pedal board... cause imo it's all about playing music, not what or how many pedals one had on a pedal board. .