Heya! My first post on the forum, yay! =p

So, I’m basically a self confessed ‘pedalwhore’ or whatever, and am looking to expand my collection quite a bit. Just looking for some suggestions as to what would be a good order to put mah pedals in, and also some opinions as to my selection.

Now, I’m gonna start right off by saying that at the moment I’m pretty much an exclusive BOSS user (saved only by my recent addition of a POG 2!), and most of the pedals I did have in mind are also BOSS (mainly coz that’s what I’m familiar with), but I am looking to put a bit more EHX in there too.

I shall list in order the idea that I was having, with a [x] next to the pedals I currently have.(hehe, you shall see that if I get everything, my board is gonna pretty much double in size =p)

If you guys out there could critique the order, and even suggest alternative pedals that may be better to things I have in mind, that would be awesome! (I’m guessing we’re gonna have some EHX-favouring here, hehe). You CAN suggest things that would be better from the ones I have too, although I’m not so keen to be replacing things at this stage… here goes!

Guitar
BOSS PW-10 V-WAH [x]
BOSS CS-3 COMPRESSION SUSTAINER
[BOSS NS-2 NOISE SUPPRESSOR] Send>
EHX POG 2 [x]
EHX BIG MUFF PI
BOSS DS-2 TURBO DISTORTION [x]
BOSS OS-2 OVERDRIVE/DISTORTION
BOSS BD-2 BLUES DRIVER [x]
[BOSS NS-2 NOISE SUPPRESSOR] <Return
BOSS TR-2 TREMOLO
BOSS EQ-20 ADVANCED EQ
BOSS FV-500H VOLUME [x]
BOSS PH-3 PHASE SHIFTER [x]
BOSS BF-3 FLANGER [x]
BOSS CH-1 SUPER CHORUS [x]
BOSS PS-5 SUPER SHIFTER
EHX DELUXE MEMORY MAN XO
BOSS DD-6 DIGITAL DELAY [x]
EHX CATHEDRAL REVERB
Amp

I’ve had a look around at various suggested orders, but generally things are grouped into ‘distortion/overdrive’ or ‘modulation’. I’m wondering if someone has a good idea as to exact order within the groups too. (just for some peace of mind. I’ll keep worrying and changing things otherwise =S) ie. how would you line up the distortion/overdrive group? (big muff, turbo distortion, overdrive/distortion, blues driver), and the modulation? (phaser, flanger, chorus).

The tremolo’s placement in the plan was basically just for boardspace convenience, and the super shifter was kinda just chucked in there. perhaps it would be better before modulation?

Hmmm, I’ve certainly started out my posting BIG!! XD

Any help that can be given would be most welcome

Cheers

Jamie

first and foremost, welcome to the forum Jamie.  :thumb:

i’ve recently started writing a pedal-centric blog, and one of my articles addresses pedal orders… maybe have a read of that… there’s a little bit which talks about putting dirt pedals in order too…  http://effectextra.blogspot.com/2010/03/hung-on-line-like-poison-spider.html

with your pedals specifically, i’d put the PH-3 Phaser near the start of your chain; before the CS-3 unless it’s too noisy there, then i’d put it after the CS-3.

with your dirt pedals, i’d go:

BOSS BD-2 BLUES DRIVER
BOSS OS-2 OVERDRIVE/DISTORTION
BOSS DS-2 TURBO DISTORTION
EHX BIG MUFF PI

my own preference with the POG2 is to put it after distortion/fuzz, but it may be worth trying it between the DS-2 and Big Muff…
same thing with the EQ-20 - i’d probably put it in amongst the dirt pedals; i usually like EQ before a Big Muff but after overdrives/distortions.

i like tremolo after delays - as it sounds ‘clearer’ that way; if you have tremolo going in to delay it can end up sounding really messy…
same thing with other modulation (chorus and flanger)...
but as your plan is to have two delays, i’d put all of your modulation (besides the PH-3) between the delays so you have lots of options.

also, just a little note about the flanger… sometimes distortion->flanger can sound TOO metallic, so you may want to try the flanger before one or two of your dirt pedals.

if i were using your pedals, i’d go something like this:

Guitar
BOSS PW-10 V-WAH [x]
BOSS PH-3 PHASE SHIFTER
BOSS CS-3 COMPRESSION SUSTAINER

[BOSS NS-2 NOISE SUPPRESSOR] Send>
BOSS BD-2 BLUES DRIVER
BOSS OS-2 OVERDRIVE/DISTORTION
BOSS DS-2 TURBO DISTORTION
BOSS EQ-20 ADVANCED EQ
EHX BIG MUFF PI
[BOSS NS-2 NOISE SUPPRESSOR] <Return

EHX POG 2
BOSS FV-500H VOLUME
EHX DELUXE MEMORY MAN XO
BOSS BF-3 FLANGER
BOSS CH-1 SUPER CHORUS
BOSS PS-5 SUPER SHIFTER
BOSS TR-2 TREMOLO
BOSS DD-6 DIGITAL DELAY
EHX CATHEDRAL REVERB
Amp

I mostly agree with Kevin, that would be the way I would do it too. But I always put the Big Muff in front of my overdrive, because that way you get a more different sound when you have them both on.. But that is just a matter of taste of course…

Enjoyed reading your blog by the way, pretty much is my vision on pedalorders too! Could be helpful for lots of people!

Toonster - 24 March 2010 08:49 AM

I mostly agree with Kevin, that would be the way I would do it too. But I always put the Big Muff in front of my overdrive, because that way you get a more different sound when you have them both on.. But that is just a matter of taste of course…

Enjoyed reading your blog by the way, pretty much is my vision on pedalorders too! Could be helpful for lots of people!

thanks for reading. :thumb:

in most cases, i prefer overdrive->Big Muff unless it’s a ‘transparent’ overdrive, in which case i’ll put the OD after. i think the most important thing is for people to try arranging their pedals themselves, just to see how much difference it can make in terms of sound.

friedjesseradio - 24 March 2010 09:19 AM

hmm, i dont have the patients to think it out with all of them but i can tell you that distortion then chorus is 1000x better than chorus then distortion

not always.

the actual pedals in question make a huge difference…

if it’s a really bright sounding chorus, i think it sounds better before distortion;
if it’s a ‘warm’ sounding chorus, then i’d put it after.

(it depends on the distortion pedal too of course.)

yeah, it depends. I usually like modulation before the distortion, it’s not so overpowering even though i have to admit that flanger after big muff is an astonishing sound, especially for solos on the neck pickup with the Tone rolled off a bit

i’m also not sure about the compressor after the phaser. I’d put it the other way, but it’s just an opinion.

the NS-2 is kinda distracting me… but i’d put the volume pedal before it - i like volume before the dirt

DarkAxel - 24 March 2010 10:51 AM

i’m also not sure about the compressor after the phaser. I’d put it the other way, but it’s just an opinion.

some phasers i’ve used can create big volume boosts at the peak of their sweeps, others (like the Small Stone) have volume drops.
putting a compressor after it will help in both of these situations.

Kevin Demuth - 24 March 2010 07:40 AM

i like tremolo after delays - as it sounds ‘clearer’ that way; if you have tremolo going in to delay it can end up sounding really messy…
same thing with other modulation (chorus and flanger)...
but as your plan is to have two delays, i’d put all of your modulation (besides the PH-3) between the delays so you have lots of options.

 

Hey Kevin, I LOVE the ‘2 delay’s with modulation in the middle’ idea !

Might have to pick up a Memory Toy and give it a try.

Kevin Demuth - 24 March 2010 11:08 AM

DarkAxel - 24 March 2010 10:51 AM

i’m also not sure about the compressor after the phaser. I’d put it the other way, but it’s just an opinion.

some phasers i’ve used can create big volume boosts at the peak of their sweeps, others (like the Small Stone) have volume drops.
putting a compressor after it will help in both of these situations.

ha, good thinking… my bad, i didn’t think about that

TenSecondTed - 24 March 2010 11:24 AM

Kevin Demuth - 24 March 2010 07:40 AM

i like tremolo after delays - as it sounds ‘clearer’ that way; if you have tremolo going in to delay it can end up sounding really messy…
same thing with other modulation (chorus and flanger)...
but as your plan is to have two delays, i’d put all of your modulation (besides the PH-3) between the delays so you have lots of options.

 

Hey Kevin, I LOVE the ‘2 delay’s with modulation in the middle’ idea !

Might have to pick up a Memory Toy and give it a try.

:thumb: i really recommend it.

DarkAxel - 24 March 2010 11:45 AM

Kevin Demuth - 24 March 2010 11:08 AM

DarkAxel - 24 March 2010 10:51 AM

i’m also not sure about the compressor after the phaser. I’d put it the other way, but it’s just an opinion.

some phasers i’ve used can create big volume boosts at the peak of their sweeps, others (like the Small Stone) have volume drops.
putting a compressor after it will help in both of these situations.

ha, good thinking… my bad, i didn’t think about that

no problem; as i hinted at earlier, it all depends on the individual pedals… and there is no right or wrong.

Coolios, thanks guys!

Hmmm, now another matter has come up… The plan was to have a DMM xo in the rig, but now this new Deluxe Memory Boy has come out, and complicated matters.
I’m still sort of leaning towards the DMM, but what thoughts do others have on the matter?

Well I think it really depends on your needs.. I don’t nknow if there is a way to test them both.. But I think tap-tempo and an effects loop are great but if the sound of an DMM still is more useable and warmer I would choose that, unfortunately never had I the chance the A/B them at the same time.. But they are my only two analog delays I really like according to the demoes..

I agree with Kevin Demuth on saying that the Big Muff should be the last distortion on the chain.

I have a few Dist/OD pedals and the BMP sounds awesome when pushed by other pedals and crappy (In My Opinion) in front of other DIST/OD pedals.

Ed

I personally like it more as my first Dist/Od/Fuzz, but I guess that’s just a matter of taste^^

Toonster - 13 May 2010 11:11 PM

I personally like it more as my first Dist/Od/Fuzz, but I guess that’s just a matter of taste^^

It is by all means a matter of taste.

The only way to go about this is by trial and error!!!

Use the suggestions just as a guideline.

As an example, I’m moving my Phaser to be in front of my DIST/OD pedals. This would be heresy for some. But I’ll only know if I like it AFTER TRYING IT MYSELF!

Ed