Acoustic Pedal board? what must have.. give me 5 .

moga · #1 06-21-2016, 09:04 AM

I want to use some pedal to my acoustic gig.

Solo & band.

here are some list I have

Red/eye DI
fender ABY pedal
Boss Reverb
Boss Chorus
Korg tuner.

what do you have? and what's the essential ones that you recommend?

thanks!!

briggleman · #2 06-21-2016, 10:56 AM

Lets see, my present setup is:

Guitar: Taylor GA8 (2007 ver ES1.2)

Pedals:
Pigtronix Keymaster (preamp/DI/blender/mixer/effects loop)

In the Keymaster effects loop: Hardwire Pedal tuner, EHX Octave Polophonic pedal (Pitchfork), MESA Toneburst EQ, Hardwire Chorus, Hardwire Phaser, SD Vapor Trail Analog Delay

Amp: Quilter Mach II 8" with HD cab. (Reverb and Tremolo built in)

I am too fickle (constantly trying new pedals) to recommend anything other than a good tuner and having fun.

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fazool · #3 06-21-2016, 11:04 AM

depends upon your amp. If your amp has built-in chorus or built-in reverb your pedal board will be different.

I think the acoustic essentials would be:

1) chorus (or judicious use of a phase-90 can give beautiful results on an acoustic, especially 12-string)

2) acoustic simulator/tone "fixer" depending upon your pickup but mandatory if quacking through a piezo
such as a TC Bodyrez Acoustic Enhancer or even an MXR acoustic simulator

3) EQ

4) compressor will be very helpful

5) looper

Kalani · #4 06-21-2016, 12:57 PM

I think my most essential pedal is my Fishman Platinum Pro DI to control feedback, phase problems, resonances inherent in acoustic guitars and to help shape/EQ my overall sound in different rooms. I have the Red Eye but I found it didn't give me enough control for most of my normal gigs where I bring my own sound. But I really like it if I'm on stage for larger events with a soundman; in that situation it's a great plug-n-play DI.

The second pedal I can't live without for amplified gigs is my TC Polytune mini---big, bright LED display and latches on to notes quickly which really helps as I will often run thru up to 4 different tunings in a single gig. The Platinum Pro built-in tuner doesn't come close to the Polytune.

All of my other pedals---reverb, delay, looper and harmonizer---are just my toys!!

Petty1818 · #5 06-21-2016, 02:25 PM

The best thing to do is a play a set and see if you need any of those effects. I would say that it's nice to have a preamp/di, tuner and boost but once you start talking about reverb, delay, chorus etc., it all comes down to personal taste. A lot of guitar players, including myself, tend to make larger boards at first because every effect seems cool and we think we need them all. Over time, you start realizing that some effects are just taking up space. Chorus for example is an effect that gets over used in acoustic music.

Paultergeist · #6 06-21-2016, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Petty1818

....Chorus for example is an effect that gets over used in acoustic music.

Like.....cowbell. MORE COWBELL!

Paultergeist · #7 06-21-2016, 03:00 PM

For my set-up -- which involves a transducer with no guitar-mounted pre-amp, the first thing my guitar signal needs to hit on my pedal-board is the pre-amp. If I limit it to (5) pedals, as you suggest:

1. Pre-amp.
2. Tuner.
3. Chorus.
4. Delay.
5. Reverb.

But if I really had to limit it even more, I would go:

1. Pre-amp.
2. Tuner.
3. Reverb.

rockabilly69 · #8 06-21-2016, 03:07 PM

Tuner (out of the signal path), volume, EQ, compression, reverb. I could do any gig with these pedals. An added luxury would be a delay.

rockabilly69 · #9 06-21-2016, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Petty1818

Chorus for example is an effect that gets over used in acoustic music.

Soon as I hear chorus i get seasick, I'm not definately not a fan.

As for pedals, I go for ones that help make the presentation easier (ie volume, compression, tuner), and pedals that help make up for bad room characteristics (EQ, reverb, etc).

Petty1818 · #10 06-21-2016, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rockabilly69

Soon as I hear chorus i get seasick, I'm not definately not a fan.

As for pedals, I go for ones that help make the presentation easier (ie volume, compression, tuner), and pedals that help make up for bad room characteristics (EQ, reverb, etc).

I actually do love chorus on an electric guitar, if done right. The guitar on Paul Simon's Graceland or Eric Johnson's clean guitar tones are amazing. With acoustic, it just sounds wrong. I think the reason I feel that way is due to the fact that so many open mic or amateur acoustic performers will buy a chorus pedal and absolutely crank it in the mix. It's to the point where the acoustic tone is buried underneath a swirly, 80's driven tone.

#11 06-21-2016, 03:15 PM

I like having all that stuff. I don't want to carry/set up any of it. Mostly it's just a PADI and a volume pedal, reverb from the mixer.

6L6 · #12 06-21-2016, 04:11 PM

All of my acoustics are equipped with K&K Pure Mini pups. I play them through one of the following depending upon the venue:

* 2006 Fender Acoustasonic Jr DSP
* Fishman Mini Loudbox
* Fishman Performer Loudbox

My pedals are all stored in a BOSS BCB-6 case for easy carry and instant setup.

The pedals are (L to R)

* BOSS GE-7 EQ
* BOSS RV-3 Digital Reverb/Delay
* BOSS CH-1 Super Chorus
* BOSS DM-2 Analog Delay
* BOSS TR-2 Tremolo
* BOSS TU-3 Tuner/Power supply for the other pedals

rockabilly69 · #13 06-21-2016, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Petty1818

I think the reason I feel that way is due to the fact that so many open mic or amateur acoustic performers will buy a chorus pedal and absolutely crank it in the mix. It's to the point where the acoustic tone is buried underneath a swirly, 80's driven tone.

This exactly why I hate it! Along that many players use it to cover up otherwise crappy tone and bad technique. As for the electric I'm 50/50 with ya

I'm not a fan of Eric Johnson's chorus tone, although I LOVE his dirty tones, but, I LOVE the Graceland stuff! Actually I'm a fan of anything Paul Simon or usually anything his stellar musicians come up with!

Spook · #14 06-21-2016, 05:04 PM

Rockabilly - Curious how you apply compression. As a limiter to allow more detail to come out?

I'm in the middle of changing my board. Now that I have a Grace Designs Felix I don't need a preamp/DI and mostly don't need additional EQ. The Felix isn't as good as an Empress ParaEQ in that area but it's good enough.

Don't 'need' anything else but various toys can sometimes inspire new ideas and fun to play with.

The Kid! · #15 06-21-2016, 05:05 PM

I have two idential boards. One in a suitcase with my mixer and cables for a gig where I bring PA, and one in a pedaltrain soft case for places that have a PA, fly dates, and dual location setups for weddings.

I took the tuners off both boards since the photo because my pickup (Fishman Prefix Premium Blend has an onboard tuner. Thinking about adding a reverb pedal in the guitar signal chain.