Pedal newbie

[tawraste]

Hi All,
First posting, looking for a bit of advice please.
I've been playing for a long time now, but I've always taken the approach of just a guitar (fireman) and an amp (marshall vs265).
Recently I got a rat 2 and a EH silencer and have taken to using them 'always on' right in front of the lead channel.
What I'd like to do is add to this setup by adding things that can improve the sound. For example, a compressor that can focus on specific bands to nudge a couple of dbs out of percussive chugs, or an equalizer to take some crackle out of the high notes.
Any and all ideas, suggestions and explanations would be most welcome, the world of pedals is new to me after all.
Thanks in advance!

 

[DrewJD82]

Welcome and say goodbye to your bank account!!!!

An EQ is a great pedal to get at the start just because you'll gain a good amount of information learning how boosting/cutting certain frequencies can help or hinder your tone. They're also a lot easier to 'learn' than a compressor, which is generally very transparent and can be tricky to understand what's actually happening with the sound until your ears have a good amount of experience behind them.

 

[tawraste]

Thank you! That's sound reasoning. Have to admit I had not thought about it that way.
I like the idea of a unit with both graphic and parametric, but something like the source eq2 is a bit pricy.
Any cheaper, but solid alternatives?

 

[dronerstone]

Thank you! That's sound reasoning. Have to admit I had not thought about it that way.
I like the idea of a unit with both graphic and parametric, but something like the source eq2 is a bit pricy.
Any cheaper, but solid alternatives?

I'd recommend a Boss GE-7 for a starter. Not parametric, but it's a classic EQ for a reason and imho not a mistake to own one.

Are you running the Rat in the Silencer's loop?

 

[tawraste]

Hi,
Yes, I had the rat in the silencer loop.
I ended up getting the EQ2...
I've put the rat in the loop on that one.
Just so much fun! I have the guitar gated and eq'd both before and after the rat, with a seperate parametric EQ taking the annoying resonant frequency out of the chug.
Have to admit, I really enjoyed using my phone to sweep for that frequency with the narrow Q at +18dB. Next door's dog is a nightmare and it drove him flippin' nuts!
Merry xmas.....

 

[Jasco]

My opinion, which may not be popular here, is that a compressor pedal is a waste of money. Best used as a fancy doorstop.
As far as EQ, 3 bands of parametric are more useful than 30 bands of graphic.

 

[Frodebro]

My opinion, which may not be popular here, is that a compressor pedal is a waste of money. Best used as a fancy doorstop.
As far as EQ, 3 bands of parametric are more useful than 30 bands of graphic.

It depends entirely on what you’re doing. If you’re running an MV amp with a ton of preamp gain, a compressor brings very little to the table. But for lower gain and clean stuff, the impact it has can be pretty dramatic.

 

[Jasco]

It depends entirely on what you’re doing. If you’re running an MV amp with a ton of preamp gain, a compressor brings very little to the table. But for lower gain and clean stuff, the impact it has can be pretty dramatic.

I'd agree. And add pretty dramatic in a bad way.

 

[Frodebro]

I'd agree. And add pretty dramatic in a bad way.

Sure, if that’s not what you’re after. Compressors are kinda like fuzz pedals and the Grateful Dead. You either love them or you hate them, with very little in between.

 

[sashimi]

Not a fan of compressors either, and I play clean a lot. Parallel compression can be useful but I like it pretty transparent, where you can’t really tell it’s there.

I love fuzz and love/hate the Grateful Dead for what it’s worth.

 

[Boudoir Guitar]

Hi All,
First posting, looking for a bit of advice please.
I've been playing for a long time now, but I've always taken the approach of just a guitar (fireman) and an amp (marshall vs265).
Recently I got a rat 2 and a EH silencer and have taken to using them 'always on' right in front of the lead channel.
What I'd like to do is add to this setup by adding things that can improve the sound. For example, a compressor that can focus on specific bands to nudge a couple of dbs out of percussive chugs, or an equalizer to take some crackle out of the high notes.
Any and all ideas, suggestions and explanations would be most welcome, the world of pedals is new to me after all.
Thanks in advance!

using multi band compressor pedal in front of an amp to bring out the chugs is gonna be...tough. At best.

 

[Whizzinby]

I put the Empress ParaEq back on my board. Really great as a choose your own adventure OD/Boost/FrequencyTamer.

You cant go wrong with an EQ to make subtle tweaks depending on the guitar/amp/cab you’re using.

 

[dronerstone]

I put the Empress ParaEq back on my board. Really great as a choose your own adventure OD/Boost/FrequencyTamer.

You cant go wrong with an EQ to make subtle tweaks depending on the guitar/amp/cab you’re using.

I tend to use para EQ's like cocked wahs, they often give increased tweakability.