A Return to Pedals!

[skelingtony]

This is my first real post in this part of the forum. For a few years I have used... no pedals! Just a Line 6 Pod 2.0 and a few amps. A while back I needed to raise some funds, so I sold off a lot of pedals, and hid the rest in a box.

Messing around with some new songs recently, I decided something was missing and found what was left of my old pedals - a Sovtek green tank Big Muff, and Cry Baby Wah, and a Rams Head Big Muff clone.

The Sovtek Big Muff is incredible I can't believe I have not been using it. Its rather old and heavy though (does anyone do a good cheap clone with the same 'rough dirt' edge and heavy mid presence of the old Russian Big Muffs? Nothing I have tried comes close).

I missed my old 80s RAT, so I have just ordered two RAT clones (one Keeley modded RAT, and one 'Mooer Black Secret' mini clone switchable between vintage and turbo - just as it was so cheap and so small!). I also missed my old MK 1 Marshall Guvnor a little so I've also ordered a fulltone OCD clone (an unbelieveably cheap chinese 'Joyo Ultimate Drive', that I have heard good things about).

I've also forgotten completely how to set up an effects chain. Would this look about right?

GUITAR > WAH > OCD (as boost) > RAT(s) > MUFF(s) > POD/AMP


There are probably more 'essential' pedals I haven't though of yet - this is pretty addictive!

 

[kboman]

The Sovtek Big Muff is incredible I can't believe I have not been using it. Its rather old and heavy though (does anyone do a good cheap clone with the same 'rough dirt' edge and heavy mid presence of the old Russian Big Muffs? Nothing I have tried comes close).

Talk to North Effects, I have a really good "Violet Ram" clone - should be pretty local-ish to you. Earthquaker Devices make the Hoof (which I also own, promise I'm not trying to sell stuff). The Catalinbread Manx Loaghtan is a very tweakable BMP style fuzz. I'm sure there are many others, and then I haven't even mentioned the quagmire that is BYOC and the other DIY suppliers...!

I've also forgotten completely how to set up an effects chain. Would this look about right?

GUITAR > WAH > OCD (as boost) > RAT(s) > MUFF(s) > POD/AMP

Looks ok to me, it's all down to taste really. Personally I generally go from high to low gain but there is no "right" or "wrong" way to do it as long as you enjoy the results.

There are probably more 'essential' pedals I haven't though of yet - this is pretty addictive!

Welcome to the asylum!

Edit: forgot to add Blackout Effectors' Musket fuzz (and its rude country cousin, the Blunderbuss). Pete Cornish makes very modified and very expensive pedals based on the basic BMP layout (and Top Tone make less epxensive versions of those).

 

[skelingtony]

So many options!

I love the green Russian Big Muff sound - but its a huge heavy pedal, and has no power input. I'd love something that sounded as close as possible to carry around with me. My Rams Head big muff clone just doesn't have the same mid range clout and 'dirt'... Maybe a self build would be a good option (unless the secret to the tone is the crazy vintage russian caps and resistors?!?)

I seem to remember my old pedal chain had a vintage Rat in front of the Muff to boost and tighten the sound - now I'm intrigued to see what an OCD, or BB, can do in front of a Big Muff... I can't wait for the pedals I've ordered to arrive - to think I had hardly used any pedals for a couple of years!

 

[StandingWave]

I love the green Russian Big Muff sound - but its a huge heavy pedal, and has no power input. I'd love something that sounded as close as possible to carry around with me.

Check out the Bass Big Muff. It's the Green Sovtek in a modern box for a nice price.

 

[st.bede]

I will guess that you should enjoy the Keeley modded ratt. I have one and I love it.

(Be forewarned, if you hang out here the number of pedals you own will easily double and the number of pedals you want will be on a crazy exponential curve that makes me think about a philosophical rebuttal to Aristotelian prime mover argument: can you imagine a million sided object... at the very least we will enjoy your company. Also, this is my crazy way of saying welcome )

 

[skelingtony]

Thanks for the tips. I can't wait for the 3 pedals to arrive (and the power supply, cables and patch leads...). Then I guess I'll go shopping for a Fuzz! One of our local stores stocks the Bass Big Muff, so I might see if I can try it out in store vs my green Sovtek Big Muff.

 

[StandingWave]

Please let us know how you think the Muffs compare.

 

[skelingtony]

Can do, but I won't be looking for one for a while - shipping for the pedals I have just bought is 15 to 25 days

 

[Standard 64]

For the FX chain,ditch the POD

 

[skelingtony]

The Pod is only used if I am plugging straight into headphones, into my mac for a quick demo of a song idea, or into a PA for a rehearsal (my amp weighs a ton, so I usually take the Pod to use as an Amp/Cab sim, plugged into the PA).

When I'm using my amp, the Pod stays in its box!