best of means which one will do what with what.

[st.bede]

(I mean this with all respect to all people...)

I have too many OD/dist pedals and I have found (as with all things) some work better with a certain set up and other work better with a different guitar amp combo...and that I use one for a certain type of tone and a different one for a different type of tone.

now, a boutique pedal will (I hope) be better then a run of the mill mass produced pedal...however, maybe that cheap pedal is just what you are looking for...by cheap I mean not boutique...I should of been more clear...so, EH, MXR, would fall into that category...not cheap just not expensive.

has this been your experience too?

 

[zontar]

i think i do?

 

[PraXis]

I think the cheap pedals have no place in a gig setup (at least some that I own like the metal zone, anything danelectro), but they're fine for recording. An amp absolutely makes a difference, though.. it's all about the clean channel for dirt boxes (IMO)... for example, there's a huge difference in my crunchbox, catalyst, OCD, etc etc etc (I have too many distortion pedals!) between my valveking and my C50.. the clean channel on the C50 is SO pedal friendly.

 

[180gROC]

Wait... What was the question again?

 

[st.bede]

Wait... What was the question again?

certain pedals favor some amp and guitar pairings where as they would not work as good with a different amp or guitar....

by cheap I mean not boutique...I should of been more clear...so, EH, MXR, would fall into that category..

 

[180gROC]

certain pedals favor some amp and guitar pairings where as they would not work as good with a different amp or guitar....

by cheap I mean not boutique...I should of been more clear...so, EH, MXR, would fall into that category..

All my stuff is cheap by that definition... Well.. most of it.

...and in my experience, changing the guitar going in or the amp coming out of a particular pedal can change a lot about that pedals sound and function.

Not too sure the phenomenon would be less noticeable with boutique pedals. I don't have any boutique type pedals to test the theory though.