order of pedals

JedimasterPaul · #1 03-07-2008, 06:35 PM

yes, I know folks have asked this sort of thing before, but I never get tired of talking about this sort of thing, so...

I have 3 pedals currently -

a Maxon OD9 Overdrive, an MXR Phase 90, and a Chorus pedal.

The order I have now is:

guitar ---> Maxon OD9 ----> Phase 90 ---> Chorus pedal ----> amp

the next pedal I buy is going to be an analog delay pedal. where is the best place in the chain for such a thing.

also, if you think my current setup is out of order, feel free to offer suggestion.

thans

HereIGoAgain · #2 03-07-2008, 06:41 PM

You definitely want the OD9 first. (How is that pedal, btw? I've been gassing for one, as well as about 100 dist and OD pedals.)

If the chorus and Phase 90 are ever going to be on at the same time, you're going to have to experiment with the order in order to find what works best for you.

Whether your delay is analog or digital, you want it either last before the amp, or in the amp's effects loop.

Hotraman · #3 03-07-2008, 06:45 PM

Yep... 2nd what Matt wrote.
Plus, if you look at most guitar modelers ( Vox Tonelab SE or L6 X3L) they'll
have it lined up the same way!
Have fun!

JedimasterPaul · #4 03-07-2008, 06:55 PM

I like the OD9 - it's warm, and I still get clarity.

ok then, delay goes last!

thanks for the tip

sometimes I do use the chorus and phase 90 together - sound really cool for arpeggiated / slow picked stuff - will play around with the order to see what works best.

jonlee · #5 03-07-2008, 09:26 PM

none yet but i'm thinking of getting a TC electronics NR1 sometime soon.

JedimasterPaul · #6 03-08-2008, 12:03 AM

I forgot to mention - the Chorus I am currently using is an old DOD FX 65 stereo chorus. I know they are not exactly at the top of most peoples list, but it sounds all right. My unit however, has developed a bad input jack, that will cut out unless the cable is positioned a certain way.

So, I ordered an Electro-Harmonix Small Clone chorus pedal. I like the fact that this thing only has one knob - I am not much of a tweaker and once I get a setting I like I rarely change it.

I'll will see if I can get the DoD fixed. yes I know I can pick one up on ebay for about 20 or 25, but that chorus pedal is actually the piece of music gear I have had the longest - we go back to the late 1980s. It is the only piece I have from that time, so I'm a little attached I guess.

HereIGoAgain · #7 03-08-2008, 01:21 AM

I used to have a Danelectro "Cool Cat" chorus. It's a very thick, lush chorus sound. If I had the money and the desire, I'd go for the MXR chorus.

Let me know what you think of the Small Clone. I may grab one eventually.

JedimasterPaul · #8 03-08-2008, 07:41 AM

I tried the MXR Stereo chorus, but it didn't blow me away, especially considering the price. Thus, I returned it to GC.

jyee · #9 03-08-2008, 10:20 PM

here's the link i've posted to previous threads on this topic. It's a good read on why the standard order of pedals is what it is (i.e. why OD goes first and delay last).
http://media.bossus.com/bugonline/how_to.asp?art=order

Hotraman · #10 03-09-2008, 07:59 PM

If this is for your Gibson SG, you need to add a wah pedal to your setup.

JedimasterPaul · #11 03-10-2008, 09:16 PM

How funny you should mention a Wah - I went out and bought one of those today.

I used to own one, but something in it went bad, and I sold it a few years ago on eBay to some gearhead who was able to fix it. At the time I was playing mostly acoustic so I didn't bother getting it fixed myself.

what I got today was the Cry baby Classic, which is a different beast than the standard CryBaby. It has some sort of vintage style electronic component inside (Fasel inductor) - but the bottom line is I ab-ed them and the Classic sound much, much smoother and pleasing to me, so the choice was easy.

I've been going pedal crazy - tonigh I bought the last thing I (supposedly) need, an MXR SUper Comp. Everyone tells me I need one of these things, so I got one cheap on the bay and will fiddle around with it to see what it will do for my sound.

So now, I have this order:

Guitar --> Cry-Baby Classic --> MXR Super Comp ---> Maxon OD-9 ---> MXR Phase 90 ---> Small Clone Chorus ---> Maxon AD-9 Delay ---> Amp.

My amp doesn't have an fx loop, so everything goes in order. I think I've dumped enough money into these pedals, but to be honest, I will actually use all of them at church to get different sounds, with the exception of the Wah, which I bought just for fun.

I used to have on of those Digitech GNX300 workstations, and it did sound great. But I spent most of my time tweaking / fiddling with the knobs. With the pedals, I'm finding I spend more time playing, which is another reason I have been buying relatively simple pedals (i.e., not many knobs)