Board Games
If you’re new to the world of pedals, then figure out your tonal goals before you buy, says Adrian Thorpe
RALPH CORLEONE, YORKSHIRE via email
I’ve recently got back into effects pedals after a 20-year hiatus. However, the landscape seems to have changed massively in that time and, to be honest, I’ve been a bit lost. To get over this I’ve just been buying as many different types of pedals I can and experimenting as much as possible. Unfortunately, I seem to have a load of pedals that either don’t seem to work with my rig, add unnecessary ‘artefacts’ or just plain don’t work. Is this the wrong approach? Are there large amounts of poor-quality products on the market? Is there a better way to experiment? The reason for this ‘hunt’ is to find inspirational sounds for some advertising soundtracks I’m writing.
Ralph, welcome back to the pedal age. It’s a brave new world out there and a lot of fun to be a part of, either as a customer or a manufacturer. While it’s probably not the best idea financially to buy all the pedals ever, it does keep the industry going, so far be it for me to deter you. Anyway, now for a more helpful answer…
A scattergun approach is good if you’re trying to get a general feel for what is available out there, but not if you’re trying to achieve the goal of building a pedalboard. Assuming you do want to build a pedalboard, I think the best approach is to follow a wellknown military adage: failing to plan is planning to fail. With that in mind, take the time to work out what you want to achieve with your advertising work. For instance, separate your needs by musical genre/influence and ensure that the pedals you choose can cover those either individually or when stacked together. Where it gets harder is when you’re looking for a more eccentric sonic palette for specific soundscapes… In this regard, magazine reviews and YouTube should be your first point of call.
Absolutely not: the effects world really has improved and even the cheapest of effects are built much better than they ever were 20 years ago. I think you may have just come across a situation whereby some of the pedals you own just don’t work well together. Follow my step-by-step in point 3 and you may find things you like from the pedals you’ve dismissed.
It can be tempting to assemble a big pro-style ’board such as this when you’re starting out on your pedal journey, but it pays to build things up slowly
The best way to experiment with effects is firstly to try the new thing in isolation through a familiar amp with a familiar guitar and with cables that are known 100 per cent to work. If you like the pedal then introduce it into your pedalboard. Next, move it around the ’board to find the location you like it best. In this manner, you’re asking the pedal to work with more and more things as you become familiar with it.
I hope that’s not all too patronising. I do feel, however, that we often jump into the deep end with effects because we’re excited. A more measured approach often yields better results and will save you money.