The “always on” pedal trap

[metropolis_4]

I’m feeling myself falling into this trap again. Some pedals are hard to turn off because everything sounds so much better when they’re on.

My downfall has always been the DynaComp. I love what it does to the attack and how it makes everything a little tighter. I can’t seem to ever turn it off!

 

[James Freeman]

For me its my modified SD-1, I even put it in front of the AxeFx, I can't get satisfactory high gain without it.

 

[PLX]

Eventide H949 is like Frank's RedHot® Sauce.

 

[HomespunEffects]

Ever try an EP Booster in the loop?

 

[sleewell]

Ever try an EP Booster in the loop?

you ever try it...... on weed

 

[KHAAAAAAANNNNNNN!!!!!!!!]

 

[Boudoir Guitar]

“If you have to have an always on pedal, you’re obviously playing the wrong amp”

 

[Jarick]

Honestly haven't found a pedal I love to leave on, but I was thinking about this regarding the delay & reverb "sauce" and having an expression pedal to control the mix seems awesome. You can leave it on but roll it in and out. Especially something like the Halo...

 

[SillyOctpuss]

I always use a drive pedal to make my amp a little happier if my kids in bed. I don't use a lot of gain on it but it helps it feel a little bit more alive without having to use silly volumes. During the day I don't bother and just turn the amp up.

 

[gearJunkie]

My fav always on pedal is the Origin Effects DCX Boost, based on the UA 610 preamp.

MojoAdder™

 

[metropolis_4]

“If you have to have an always on pedal, you’re obviously playing the wrong amp”

I always hated that statement because there are things that a combination of a pedal and an amp can do that no amp does on its own. And if you had an amp with that already baked in then you’re stuck with it with no way to turn it off

 

[newholland]

if im playing a solid state amp, ill just put a drive out front, leave it on, and use my volume knob to make it more familiar. not really a trap- just more like getting the front end to act in a way i like it for how i play. aint gonna get to a happy place with NO happy harmonics, so they gotta come from someplace

 

[PLX]

aint gonna get to a happy place with NO happy harmonics, so they gotta come from someplace

 

[sleewell]

me, a dad, : my helix is always on (slaps knee) hahahahaha



but fr i usually always have a boost and a gate on.

 

[KingsXJJ]

Once you find a really great “always on” pedal that matches with and suits you it’s a glorious thing!

Bizarrely, I’m actually grateful I found it. I thought it was kinda BS until then.

 

[newholland]

haha.. umm.. not quite sure where that came from or where its going... but good information.

 

[the swede]

I’m feeling myself falling into this trap again. Some pedals are hard to turn off because everything sounds so much better when they’re on.

My downfall has always been the DynaComp. I love what it does to the attack and how it makes everything a little tighter. I can’t seem to ever turn it off!

Similar to you, i cant turn of my Philosophers Tone Micro. It can be a trap for sure, and my guess is that it may be better to use some kind of OD, Preamp, Boost with good EQ controls to use as a first in chain tone enhancer. But compressors work fine to, depending on the pedal.

I think in my case (Philosopher), the pedal is very transparent and doesn't change the guitars tone at all, and it has blend and treble which is the main key to keep the compression/sustain work underneath my playing. The key letting the guitar still be responsive to dynamics. Letting my soft strumming be clearer and a tiny bit louder, and letting me attack hard and have volume go up while it stills works its magic balancing the strings output (for the better)... and in this case... turning it off sounds sooooooo boring now.

In my case, playing a telecaster with its uneven stringbalance and low output pickups, its very good to enhance everything. My clean toneeez are sweeeeeet and clear and punchy.

 

[Eagle]

I’m feeling myself falling into this trap again. Some pedals are hard to turn off because everything sounds so much better when they’re on.

My downfall has always been the DynaComp. I love what it does to the attack and how it makes everything a little tighter. I can’t seem to ever turn it off!

Which DynaComp do you like?

 

[State of Epicicity]

There was a boutique Japanese builder I found some time ago, I can't remember at all the brand, but it was wildly expensive. Anyway, they have the philosophy that each guitar needs to have it's own pedal to sound right, so each of their guitars comes with a handmade pedal specifically designed for it. I'd love to hear one of those, but after a certain price point I stop taking guitars seriously.

 

[dronerstone]

I use a Sound City Rangemaster always on, first thing the guitar signal hits.

Depending on which guitar I'm playing, I'll make subtle tweaks to the volume and "range" controls. Works like a charm.