Effects Bay

Hay! It’s Free Shirt Wednesday.. but on Thursday! Today, I get to model a shirt for pedalenclosures.com, who also happens to be sponsoring this month’s give away (if you don’t know about this month’s give away, pedalenclosures.com is giving away a FREE Prism 1 enclosure and t-shirt).

I actually I was first exposed to pedalenclosures.com by Matt Cheezem of Cheese Blocks Effects. His sCream Cheese Overdrive uses this enclosure, and our review of that pedal, I mentioned I was impressed with the enclosure. I was impressed on two levels. The first was the originality and look of the enclosure. It’s not the same standard enclosure look, and that was refreshing. Secondly, the enclosure is a tank and looked totally bomb proof.  The enclosure on the sCream Cheese was the YY enclosures, which is different than the Prism I or Prism II enclosures, but those also have the same originality and ‘cool’ factor.

Mike at pedalenclosures has been building enclosures since 2007, with the simple goal, and I quote “To provide the best enclosure specifically designed for the boutique industry”. I like it!

Please take a moment and check out pedalenclosures.com and check out these awesome pedal enclosures!!

Now, if you want to be featured on Free Shirt Wednesday.. it’s really quite simple. Send me a shirt, if it’s music related (ie: guitar builder, band, pedal builder, guitar shop, recording studio, etc) I’ll dedicate a blog post about your biz, band, etc. I’ll take a photo with my aging, slightly pudgy mug and post it. Great simple, cheap form of advertising. Still interested? Then check this page for more info

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The following is a guest post by Kevin Ian Common. If you are interested in guest posting, please contact me!

Hello Everyone!

This is a quick column and experiment. I wanted to try to add video so you can real-time applications of what I write about.

We’ll take the idea of droning/pedal tones and alternate fingerings of chords to the next level–actual use! Because while reading playing chord charts is fun, actually using them in your songwriting is where the fun and inspiration begins.

I took a very simple chord progression:

C#m, A, C#m, B

From here, I took the main dyads of each chord and use them against an open B and E string.

C#m – C# E

A – A C#

B – B D#

The chords operate in the key of E major, so adding a droning E and B string adds much character, especially when you have a non-chord tone in each chord strummed.

After playing the basic positions of the chords… I take it to the next level:

Low to High: E A D G B E

C#m – X X 11 9 0 0          A – X X 7 6 0 0          B – X X 9 8 0 0

After playing around here… I add the octave of the third of each chord in the high E string:

C#m – X X 11 9 0 12          A – X X 7 6 0 9          B – X X 9 8 0 11

What you will notice is the richness in high-end and the lush sounds you can get BEFORE you add any effects!

I take it a whole other level by adding the low E string. This is a bit tricky, but with some practice, you will find the end result to be rewarding!

I added some delay to the proceedings later. You can even add a little overdrive or full-on distortion. Adding effects give such progressions and droning notes a different kind of character… some work… some don’t.

Go ahead and play these progressions. If these finger positions are new to you, take your time. The benefits are priceless.

Here is the link to a modest demo video of what I did to those three chords:

I hope you have found this column interesting and educational!

Kevin Ian Common recently used a power drill for sound contrast and paid for it in blood. He plays guitar and sings in The Common Men, a Post-Punk trio from Northern California. They are on Facebook and Twitter, but you can find them @ www.myspace.com/thecommonmen for all updated information and sound files.

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So after looking at some of the responses from yesterday’s community question regarding compressor pedals, I noticed that the Pigtronix Philosopher’s Tone Compressor/Sustainer was mentioned a couple of times. I’ve heard of this pedal, but I wanted to take a closer look. At first glance, it seems like a versatile pedal allowing for sustain, treble boost/cut and diode clipping distortion. Pretty interesting!

Here is the official description of the compressor:

The Philosopher’s Tone Compressor/Sustainer is an ideal front end to any guitar player’s pedalboard. It can also serve as the perfect companion to the Pigtronix Mothership Guitar Synthesizer or any other pitch-tracking musical equipment, delivering more accurate tracking and increased note duration. As a bonus, the Grit control mixes a layer of smooth, diode-clipping distortion into the effect.

Unlike the many compressor clones and their variations that have become so popular in the past 10 years, the Pigtronix Philosopher’s Tone is not based on a CA3080 chip. The result is more sustain and less noise. The dynamic range, touch sensitivity, overall transparency, and outright sustain of the Philosopher’s Tone is unparalleled in the crowded world of compressor pedals.

Pigtronix Philospher’s Tone Compressor/Sustainer Guitar Effects Pedal Features:

* Adjustable threshold and ratio controls
* Blend control for parallel compression
* Smooth, diode-clipping distortion
* Treble boost/cut
* Ultracompact design
* Circuit design by Howard Davis
* Pigtronix 15VDC adapter included
* True bypass

I found a couple of great videos. This first one is by premiereguitar at the 2009 Winter NAMM

This next one is by gearwire, and also from the 2009 Winter NAMM show:

You can pick up the Pigtronix Philospher’s Tone Compressor/Sustainer for $169.00 at Musican’s Friend.

Remember, if you like reading about pedals and seeing videos reviews from others, please subscribe to the RSS feed and get notified via email when there are new postings!

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Mark let me know about a fun little shootout he did. Mark has been a friend of EffectsBay.com for a while now, so I was happy to post this for him! In this video, Mark laid out 5 great gain pedals.

EWS Fuzzy Drive
Keeley FuzzHead
Xotic AC Booster
Catalinbread Dirty Little Secret
Rockbox Boiling Point

He’s playing a Gibson CD356 through a Carvin 2×12 tube combo amp.  Please check out his new band – Everything’s On Fire (@EOFmusic) and follow Mark at @markgrundhoefer.

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Yesterday, @4ntwaan asked what I thought was the best compressor. Since I don’t use compressors very often, I thought this would be a great question to ask the community. I particularly think this question is a tough one. Compression is used in so many different applications for varying expected results. From country twang picking to tightening up mid range on leads to adding additional sustain to notes. One compressor might be better than the other depending on the requirement, so the ‘why’ portion of this question is pretty vital. I hope this helps shed some light on this question. Thanks to all that responded!

Twitter

christopherJR @effectsbay barber tone press… Why? Cuz it is awesome!
LeeChavez @Effectsbay I’m not real big on compressors. So not sure. I hear the Keely compresser is amazing.
CaptainVictory @effectsbay Best compressor for guitar rigs is MXR Dyna-Comp. Why? Because I say so and because its smooth squish is just unparalleled.
chaddbrooks @effectsbay cloned Ross
crunchyguitar1 @effectsbay The MXR-132 Super Comp,It doesn’t cut out with my active pickups.And the tone is remarkable+MXR is a very reliable product.
seanmbrage @effectsbay Strymon makes a darn good comp…more transparent than anything I’ve ever heard! Barber Tone Press is a sure shot as well!
nogoodguitarpkr @effectsbay Although I haven’t played it yet, just *hearing* the Rothwell Love Squeeze makes me want one! Also good: TonePress and CS3.

Facebook

Kevin Ian Common i’d really like to know this… because i have yet to play one i actually like
Lionel Oberto Mxr dyna comp, or dbx (rack)
Jomar Findlay can’t really say with 100% certainty that one is better than the other…
Joe Harley for my own needs it’s the Barber Tone Press. i don’t like alot of “squish”, or want my tone affected at all, and the barber is perfect for that. it gives me control over my volume, keeps my funk and reggae skanks tight, and lets me really cut loose with my hollow body for some big leads…without changing any of the charecter of my sound. that blend knob is the key. and at$150?? it’s a steal
Justin Vigeant I’ve given up on compressor pedals…
Kevin Ian Common …i think it’s the squish that i cannot stand. also, i’m a very dynamic player–in regards that i play with dynamics and picking attack often… and the squish tends to kill most of that
Kevin Ian Common i also use a BBE sonic maximizer… and i haven’t found a compressor that plays nice with it (i’m not giving up the bbe )
Michael Jason Sammut I use the compressor on my Nova System in the loop and it is magical.
Matt Drozdeck philosophers tone
Mark Grundhoefer I like my Keeley Two Knob Compressor and a little dirt on the channel for slide stuff. Plus it works well during solos to get that epic big sustain.
Alexandre Stortregn For my bass I use the one on the ashdown amps(mag evo II 600), quite amazing. And for guitar any expensive tube compressor from EHX is great.
Ben Howard I use a Pigtronix Philosopher’s Tone. It has it all for me, plenty of control to go from subtle compression that just stops heavy strumming sections from jumping out and also the ability to crank it and get a Chili Peppers vibe going with a strat. The grit knob is a great little extra that let’s you blend in a touch of distortion so it sounds like … See Moreyou have two amps running. ProGuitarShop has a great demo of it on their Website. It’s also really small, so great for crammed pedal boards. Runs on 9-18v (no battery) so there’s also plenty of headroom.
Dominic Rippel Hartman … 2 knobs, Ross circuit, school desk blue.. Clean as a whistle!

Please feel to continue the discussion by commenting below!

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I’ve talked to a few people in the past about the MXR Dyna Comp pedal, but this morning I came across a demo of the MXR ‘76 Vintage Dyna Comp pedal, where MXR built it to specs (including the CA3080 Integrated circuit). I think it’s cool that they’re reissuing these older style pedals (like the ‘74 vintage phase 90 aka script 90).

Here is the official description of the pedal:

In the quest for ultimate tone, a compressor is an indispensable ally. And the MXR Dyna Comp that was produced in 1976 has long been regarded as the ultimate stomp box compressor. There’s something inherently musical in the way it “tightens up” a guitar signal, raising the volume of quiet notes and leveling off peaks to create rich, full bodied sustain. From country twangers to metal monsters, guitarists have long relied on the MXR Dyna Comp to make their riffs stand tall in any live or studio mix. Now the MXR Custom Shop brings back that highly sought-after sound with the ‘76 Vintage Dyna Comp. Meticulously researched and superbly crafted, it features the exact same circuitry used in the original 1976 Dyna Comp, identical in its component layout, silkscreen and handmade wire harness. The key component is the old school CA3080 “metal can” integrated circuit (IC), which yields quieter operation, greater transparency and increased dynamic range. These ICs have been out of production since the ‘80s, but MXR has tracked down a stash of them—enough to produce a limited run of these little red boxes of compression bliss. With supplies limited, the MXR ‘76 Vintage Dyna Comp is destined to quickly become as ultra collectible as its noble ancestor.

Here is a demo by jimdunlopusa:

According to their site, this pedal is only available via their Custom Shop, but you can purchase the MXR ‘76 Vintage Dyna Comp pedal at Amazon for a $175.00 (which includes FREE shipping).

Remember, if you like reading about pedals and seeing videos reviews from others, please subscribe to the RSS feed and get notified via email when there are new postings!

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Dunlop just announced that they are re-releasing two classic 80’s pedals – the MXR Micro Flanger and the MXR Micro Chorus!

Here is partial quote from their announcement:

Since the 1970’s MXR has produced the best effects available with their tradition of tough, rugged and tonally tasty stomp boxes. We’re bringing back some of the classics with the re-release of the MXR Micro Chorus and Micro Flanger.

MXR Micro Flanger $89.99

Based on the benchmark sounds of the MXR M117 Flanger, the MXR Micro Flanger guitar pedal features many of the same flanging effects of its big brother, but in a smaller and more convenient size. Originally released in the ’80s, this faithful recreation features the same 2 critical controls—a Speed knob to control the rate of cycling, and a Regeneration knob to manage the overall intensity—and stays true to its 100% analog bucket brigade technology for the ultimate in warm and organic tone. The MXR Micro Flanger pedal has been updated with a true bypass switch so you don’t lose any tone during bypass. Go from jet plane like sweeps to cool outer space type effects with the MXR Micro Flanger guitar effect pedal.

The MXR Micro Flanger pedal can be powered by one 9V battery (accessed by removing the effect pedal’s bottom plate), a Dunlop DC810DC brick, or MC403 Power system (sold separately).

MXR Micro Chorus $79.99

With its simple operation and stellar analog tone, the MXR Micro Chorus guitar pedal joins the ranks of MXR Classics such as the Phase 90, Dyna Comp and Micro Amp. This ’80s reissue delivers a stunning range of rich chorus textures, from sparkly watery shimmers to intense rotating speaker simulation with a twist of the Rate control. The MXR Micro Chorus pedal is designed with old-school bucket brigade technology for warm analog tone and features true bypass for pure guitar tone when the guitar effects pedal is off. Its roadworthy hardware and components are housed in a space saving Phase 90-sized box.

The MXR Micro Chorus pedal can be powered by one 9V battery (accessed by removing the effect pedal’s bottom plate), a Dunlop DC810DC brick, or MC403 Power system (sold separately).

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Hello Everyone!

I received my Devi Ever LP in the mail. I know many of you are familiar with Devi Ever. I have fallen in love with these pedals. I discovered Devi Ever whilst looking for noise pedals and interesting pedals to add to my rig.

You can look up www.deviever.com to read the full description about the LP. I thought I would give you my own take:

The Devi Ever LP is an overdrive with a broken record skipping effect. It’s skipping effect is pretty random, but it gets more intense when you mess with the “control” knob. Then again, this pedal only has two knobs: volume and control.

Most of the demos on DeviEver’s YouTube seem to be done direct, with no amp. This is a problem to me because I know direct-in recording is completely different compared to speakers. I kind of bought this one out of faith, but I was not disappointed

The thing you notice right away is the overdrive. It’s a very unique sounding overdrive. I haven’t really heard it before, so I cannot compare it to anything. If anyone can, by all means, comment! It’s not too fuzzy, but it’s not one-dimensional like so many other overdrives I’ve heard before. It has a unique body… almost like it relies on texture to make it’s point.

However, if you are like me, and you turn your controls all the way up before striking a single note, you would have noticed the skipping first. The effect really is like that of a broken record. I’ve also noticed that along with the control knob, the skipping effect is very touch-sensitive. I lightly picked a few chords without hearing anything, but as soon as I layed into an open chord, you immediately hear skipping and glitches thrown into the mix. It’s delicious.

Devi Ever recommends you play around with it until you find a setting you like. I personally have found every setting wonderful.

Writing this review has finally given me the perfect analogy of the Devi Ever LP–and quite possibly ever Devi Ever pedal ever made: these pedals are the equivalent of putting potato chips in sandwiches. Sure, you have your meat (or meatless patties), tomatoes, lettuce, pickles, and condiments, but ever now and then you want to throw in some real contrast when it comes to texture. The crunch of the potato chip perfectly compliments everything. The LP is a pedal of overdrive texture and texture by way of a skipping signal.

I have included a modest video demo, but a search on YouTube can yield Devi Ever’s demo as well.

I love it, and you should too

Kevin Ian Common recently used a power drill for sound contrast and paid for it in blood. He plays guitar and sings in The Common Men, a Post-Punk trio from Northern California. They are on Facebook and Twitter, but you can find them @ www.myspace.com/thecommonmen for all updated information and sound files.

You can pick up the Devi Ever LP at Tone Factor for $97.50

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Sunday morning coffee and nerd-surfing led me to the Pigtronix PolySaturator Distortion. I was corresponding with the winner of the Trumpet Fuzz, and we started talking about some Pigtronix pedals so I definitely have it on the brain lately. I’ve see the PolySaturator on a few boards, but wanted to take a closer look this morning.

Here is the official description:

The PolySaturator distortion pedal from Pigtronix takes the original design even further, adding a Class A J-FET booster stage to the front end and re-voicing the gain structure to provide an even wider range of sounds. The PolySaturator produces everything from subtle grit to blue velvet sustain inspired by our favorite tube amp lead channel.

The PolySaturator excels at gritty, edge-of-overdrive tones, but crank up the gain and you will be assaulted by face-melting ultra-high gain sounds that will please shredders and shoegazers alike with impressive string to string clarity and F.A.T. tube sound. Our JRC4558D powered EQ circuits provide 12 db / octave active filtering over three distinct audio bands. This powerful EQ structure combined with a state-of-the-art approach to tube emulation, allows the musician to dial up wildly diverse and satisfying textures of analog distortion. Unprecedented touch sensitivity and overall range of distortion tones is achieved through multiple gain stages, and active EQ, perfectly balanced to give the musician enhanced control and expression using picking dynamics alone.

The PolySaturator guitar pedal presents a flexible and affordable alternative that will outperform any other boutique or mass production distortion effect available.

I found another great video by gearmanndude demo’ing this pedal. Seems like the pedal definitely has wide range of tones, and has the ability to compress or get “flappy”.

You can pick up the Pigtronix PolySaturator distortion pedal for $169.00 at Musician’s Friend.

Remember, if you like reading about pedals and seeing videos reviews from others, please subscribe to the RSS feed and get notified via email when there are new postings!

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Today, I’m excited to announce a new give-away, but this time, it’s a little different. Since doing this site, it’s been cool talking to pedal builders / hackers / tweakers / DIYers out there. People that get excited about solder, LEDs and 3pDT switches. If you fall in this group, this give-away should get you excited.  Do you have a broken pedal enclosure, or are interested in changing the look of an existing pedal in your line, well this will be for you as well.

This give-away, I’m not giving away a pedal, but a great pedal enclosure. This enclosure is the Prism I Pedal enclosure by the great company pedalenclosures. Some awesome builders have been using pedalenclosures pedals for years (ie: Cheese Blocks, Dwarfcraft Devices, EarthQuaker Devices, Black Cat Pedals and more).

This enclosure will be in a Silver Vein finish (pictured). The silver vein finish Prism I normally sells for $23.49 and looks absolutely awesome. As their slogan says, “make all the other pedals jealous”

Along with the pedal enclosure, Mike from pedalenclosures is giving away a T-Shirt as well. The winner will need to give me their shirt size. Here is a shot of the shirt:

Here is some info about pedalenclosures:

pedalenclosures went on line in December of 2007 with a simple goal.  To provide the best enclosure specifically designed for the boutique industry!

With sales worldwide to builders big and small, pedalenclosures provides the pro-image enclosure to go with your killer design!

So this is a little different, I want to include various aspects of guitar effects, from completed products, to DIY give-aways, etc.

First, be sure to follow EffectsBay on Twitter and/or Facebook to keep up to date with this give-away along with new give-aways.

Fill out the form below, in two weeks  (March 20th) I’ll randomly pick 3 entries as finalists. I’ll email the 3 finalists and the first one out of the 3 that emails me back will be the winner.You must enter a ‘valid’ email address, bounce back emails will be rejected. One entry per person. After the winner has been notified and all is good (I’ve retrieved mailing address, etc), I’ll coordinate with Mike at pedalenclosures to get the enclosure and t-shirt shipped to the winner.

To enter fill out the form below. I’m asking the question “If you had to pick one.. what would it be? Distortion, Modulation or Delay”.

Remember to also retweet this post and help spread the word! If we continue to have success with these give-aways, I’ll be able to offer more and more… and we all love free stuff right?

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