Boutique electric guitar Pedals

Dru Edwards · #1 12-09-2017, 12:14 PM

Lots of great input on the "Boutique Amps" thread. What about boutique electric guitar pedals? I don't have any and I'm not planning on getting any, although the Friedman Dirty Shirley pedal has me intrigued.

What boutique pedals have you tried, do you like, and do you own?

Steely Glen · #2 12-09-2017, 02:01 PM

Greer Amps Lightspeed. Bondi Effects Sick-As. Chase Bliss Brothers. Those are probably my favorite three boutique drives. For wet effects, I like the Strymon three (the Stryfecta, it’s called), Source Audio Nemesis and Ventris, and Empress Reverb.

KevWind · #3 12-09-2017, 03:16 PM

I only have two pedals period ( at the current time)

One while maybe not "Boutique" is a definitely a "Classic" and that is the MRX Carbon Copy (all analog) delay using the classic Bucket Brigade analog delay circuits.

The other might be considered boutique in that it was a special limited run of 1500 (no longer made) signature pedal made by Xotic of California - Soul Driven AH (for Allen Hinds ) Over Drive/Boost

Some I could possibly consider in the future:

Neunaber Expanse , which can be programed for multiple different FX including Reverb, Shimmer, Echo, Chorus , Phaser, Flanger , and Tremolo

Then another that looks pretty interesting is the Belle Epoch Deluxe by Catlinbread.. a digital pedal with the same analog pre section circuitry as the original Ecoplex tape delay

And last the new version of Arion Chorus pedal the EWS SCH-Z Modified Arion Stereo Chorus/Vibe Pedal a new updated on another classic

here is a quick vid on the Neunaber Expanse in the "Shimmer/Reverb" mode

aknow · #4 12-09-2017, 03:45 PM

Strymon Brigadier, Strymon tape echo. I REALLy wish the mfg's like Keeley would stop using the bright blue lights for power. For some reason they blind me.

Bob Womack · #5 12-09-2017, 04:06 PM

Mmmm...

How about a BK Butler Tube Driver and an EP-3 Echoplex? "Meat and potatoes boutique."

Bob

clintj · #6 12-09-2017, 05:44 PM

Arc Klone and an MJM Sixties Vibe.

The Klone is a first rate replica of the fabled Klon Centaur. I had one in for repair after the owner plugged it into a 12V supply, and had the joy of plugging that in to my Super Reverb. Easily the best overdrive pedal I've used, ever.

The Sixties Vibe nails the original Univibe sound made famous by Robin Trower and David Gilmour. It wasn't cheap, but it makes me grin every time I have it switched on. It takes a fairly stout 18V supply to run, so I've got two outputs of my pedal power supply bridged to power it.

Dru Edwards · #7 12-09-2017, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steely Glen

Greer Amps Lightspeed. Bondi Effects Sick-As. Chase Bliss Brothers. Those are probably my favorite three boutique drives. For wet effects, I like the Strymon three (the Stryfecta, it’s called), Source Audio Nemesis and Ventris, and Empress Reverb.

I haven't heard of any of those first three you listed. Now that's what you call boutique

. You mentioned the Greer, Bondi and Chase are drive pedals. OD or distortion?

Steely Glen · #8 12-10-2017, 08:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dru Edwards

I haven't heard of any of those first three you listed. Now that's what you call boutique

. You mentioned the Greer, Bondi and Chase are drive pedals. OD or distortion?

All three are ODs. The Lightspeed is a Bluesbreaker-type OD. The Sick-As is a TS. The Brothers is a Swiss army knife of a thing. Boost and drive and can do fuzz too.

J Patrick · #9 12-10-2017, 10:22 AM

...i've had pedals made by Keeley, Analogman,Fulltone,Wampler,J Rockett,T Jauaenig, Lovepedal, Hermida,Mad Professor,Xotic,Paul Cochrane,Strymon,Barber,Mojo Hand,Voodoo Labs and several others i can't remember as well as the biggies like Boss MXR and Digitech...and i've owned multiple pedals by pretty much all the companies i've listed....

....i've found stuff to like about just about all of them...my current preferences right now are Barber for dirt and Strymon for reverbs and delays...

muscmp · #10 12-10-2017, 11:10 AM

i have the fulltone fulldrive3 that is an excellent overdrive/boost pedal. recently reincarnated is my bk butler real tube pedal that houses a 12ax7 inside. i have a bunch of great strymon pedals-the deco, which is my go to pedal as it covers a lot of bases being a flanger, chorus, delay, echo and tape saturation pedal. the timeline that is a great delay/loop pedal, the big sky reverb that sounds excellent and the mobius that is a modulation pedal with chorus, tremolo, etc.

fun stuff!

play music!

Dru Edwards · #11 12-10-2017, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J Patrick

...i've had pedals made by Keeley, Analogman,Fulltone,Wampler,J Rockett,T Jauaenig, Lovepedal, Hermida,Mad Professor,Xotic,Paul Cochrane,Strymon,Barber,Mojo Hand,Voodoo Labs and several others i can't remember as well as the biggies like Boss MXR and Digitech...and i've owned multiple pedals by pretty much all the companies i've listed....

....i've found stuff to like about just about all of them...my current preferences right now are Barber for dirt and Strymon for reverbs and delays...

You've had them all. When it comes to OD pedals do you find you're getting a lot more from a boutique pedal than a non-boutique pedal?

Paleolith54 · #12 12-10-2017, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dru Edwards

Lots of great input on the "Boutique Amps" thread. What about boutique electric guitar pedals? I don't have any and I'm not planning on getting any, although the Friedman Dirty Shirley pedal has me intrigued.

What boutique pedals have you tried, do you like, and do you own?

I have a Basic Audio Foxey Lady fuzz on my board; it's a pre-Muff circuit, I like it a lot. Sort of a cross between the sounds you typically get from a Fuzz Face and a heavy distortion pedal.

Had a Dr. Scientist The Elements, should have held onto it. Very versatile, well-built. Really cool clean boost capability especially if you like your sound "rounded out" for lack of a better term.

I have a J Rockett Blue Note, another really stellar pedal.

Steely Glen · #13 12-10-2017, 02:05 PM

Just curious to know how one defines “boutique”? Is it # of units produced? Or is it the # of people involved in the production? Or price tag?

Dru Edwards · #14 12-10-2017, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steely Glen

Just curious to know how one defines “boutique”? Is it # of units produced? Or is it the # of people involved in the production? Or price tag?

My definition of boutique pedals and amps are that they are built by a small manufacturer (can be a single person or just a few) and made with quality components. Skilled labour and quality parts costs $. I also see it as being made in a first world country although I'm not sure if everyone includes that in their definition.

J Patrick · #15 12-11-2017, 07:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dru Edwards

You've had them all. When it comes to OD pedals do you find you're getting a lot more from a boutique pedal than a non-boutique pedal?

...LOL...not even close to half of whats out there!!...no i don't think you get more per se...just a lot more variety...boutique pedal makers... (like their guitar and amp making counterparts)..are a tireless bunch and they're constantly bringing new twists to their circuits....

......add to that the video cyber-scene that now exists where top players like Pete Thorn and Mike Hermans can showcase these pedals and you have a thriving market where pedal GAS is rampant....head over to the Gear Page and check out how many used pedals are listed in a single day...its mind boggling...btw ...in the soft market with the holidaze upon us its a great time to pick some boutique dirt...dirt cheap...

...i'll only add that a Tube Screamer and a Deluxe Memory Man should be able to get any player just as much pedal driven goodness as anything that qualifies as "boutique"...