The art of Pedal Stacking?

Discussion in 'Effects, Pedals, Strings & Things' started by Melodic Dreamer, Dec 27, 2005.

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  1. Dec 27, 2005 #1
    Melodic Dreamer

    Melodic Dreamer Member

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    Yea, this is about pedal stacking and all of it's glory.

    For the longest period of time I didn't like to use dirt boxes. Something always sound cheap or fake you could say. Playing with poweramp gain is sometimes hard for me to do because of volume issues, so the whole idea of pedals has came back to me.
    I am a guy who has been relying on the beautiful Poweramp distortion, but after talking with Ed at THD, I thought I would give stacking a go. At the moment I'm using an Ac Booster and a Timmy pedal for medium volume situations. I was curious if you guys could give tips on stacking two or more pedals to achieve a decent lead tone? I'm not ashamed to speak out and ask questions in an area that I'm not familuar with. I'm really wanting to learn some of the common things to look for, and maybe some options to try. I really like what I have, but I know it will take a lot of fiddleing with to really master this style of gain. My tone isn't where I want it to be while using these two pedals, but I'm hoping it can get there.

    I'm hoping that the new Mi Audio Crunch Box with the AC and the Timmy will be able to create a great sonic evolution in tone for me.

    Thanx for the help guys!:)
     
    Melodic Dreamer, Dec 27, 2005
    Melodic Dreamer, Dec 27, 2005
    #1
  2. Dec 27, 2005 #2
    HHB

    HHB Member

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    I've been pedal stacking for the last few years , very happy w/ the tone , I need to get off my butt and record our next original CD, I'll really let the stacked tone fly! I started using a Maxon OD808 in front of a RAT II, the RAT is now a Barber Direct Drive. The biggest thing you have to watch is the output balance,but it is all fairly intuitive when your setting em up
     
    HHB, Dec 27, 2005
    HHB, Dec 27, 2005
    #2
  3. Dec 27, 2005 #3
    Dr Rico

    Dr Rico Member

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    Darn right, Bill! Sign me up for a copy, too.

    And for them of your that haven't heard Bil play, click on his links and do so. Then thank me.

    Back to you, Chet!
     
    Dr Rico, Dec 27, 2005
    Dr Rico, Dec 27, 2005
    #3
  4. Dec 27, 2005 #4
    Scott Peterson

    Scott Peterson Administrator Staff Member

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    My entire experience with stacking pedals is completely trial and error.

    It depends on the music, the song, the pedals, the settings on the pedals, the amps, the guitars, etc, etc.

    Generally what I have learned for me on this topic is that a little gain goes a LONG way when stacking.

    Combos I dig are: Tim/Timmy with any of the Xotic pedals; the AC comes alive with a Timmy in front of it. Add other flavors to the mix, but for me I almost always reach for the Timmy with other pedals.
     
    Scott Peterson, Dec 27, 2005
    Scott Peterson, Dec 27, 2005
    #4
  5. Dec 27, 2005 #5
    Matt Gordon

    Matt Gordon Senior Member

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    I like boost last, overdrive and fuzz first, the Cornish way. Never got along with boost first. FWIW
     
    Matt Gordon, Dec 27, 2005
    Matt Gordon, Dec 27, 2005
    #5
  6. Dec 27, 2005 #6
    drbob1

    drbob1 Silver Supporting Member

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    It's very much trial an error. I've got about 20 OD/Gain boxes of various sorts and I've been looking for a combination that works with my AC30. I'd been using a chain for a Reverend or Fender BF amps that was: SHO-Dredgetone-Sparkledrive-Burn Unit. That sounded awful with the vox-way too noisy and kind of harsh. After trying out a lot of combinations I've settled on Dynaross-FDII-Timmy-Burn Unit, but Klon-Sansamp-Timmy was a close second. The DFTB setup sounds wierd into a blond Bandmaster (which loves Tubescreamers), but the Klon first improves it a lot. Basically, you gotta try all the combinations... It helps to have some good sounding pedals to work with.
     
    drbob1, Dec 27, 2005
    drbob1, Dec 27, 2005
    #6
  7. Dec 27, 2005 #7
    Melodic Dreamer

    Melodic Dreamer Member

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    Thanx for the replies guys. Guess I'll just have to play around with it until I find what I like.
     
    Melodic Dreamer, Dec 27, 2005
    Melodic Dreamer, Dec 27, 2005
    #7
  8. Dec 27, 2005 #8
    zadiqof

    zadiqof Member

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    I dunno how it happened but I reversed my signal chain yesterday after playing with it a specific way for over a year, and Im actually satisfied.
     
    zadiqof, Dec 27, 2005
    zadiqof, Dec 27, 2005
    #8
  9. Dec 27, 2005 #9
    LouRossi

    LouRossi Member

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    I started using a TS in front of an early RAT but lately I've been using a Nobels overdrive into the Tech21 doubledrive (using just gain A). Cheers. L
     
    LouRossi, Dec 27, 2005
    LouRossi, Dec 27, 2005
    #9
  10. Dec 27, 2005 #10
    westex

    westex Disgruntled Optimist Silver Supporting Member

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    I find that I leave the Zendrive on most of the time; it stacks very well. Really dig that pedal; it adds a fatness to the signal that is hard to turn off.

    Wes
     
    westex, Dec 27, 2005
    westex, Dec 27, 2005
    #10
  11. Dec 27, 2005 #11
    waxnsteel

    waxnsteel Member

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    I like Timmy, OCD and SHO. You can put the SHO after just about anything, and it sounds great. OCD is crunchier where Timmy is smoother. I've been running OCD into timmy, both with drive/gain a little past halfway, no volume boost, and it's really thick, but retained definition. Kick on SHO after for a boost and it's killer. And if you're into that sort of thing, even with all three of those pedals going, it cleans up really well. It may work other ways, but I tried this first and liked it a lot.
     
    waxnsteel, Dec 27, 2005
    waxnsteel, Dec 27, 2005
    #11
  12. Dec 27, 2005 #12
    Blues Wail

    Blues Wail Member

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    i love pushing the eternity with the COT 50:)
     
    Blues Wail, Dec 27, 2005
    Blues Wail, Dec 27, 2005
    #12
  13. Dec 27, 2005 #13
    Don Rusk

    Don Rusk Biggus Bearfootus Vendor

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    Don Rusk, Dec 27, 2005
    Don Rusk, Dec 27, 2005
    #13
  14. Dec 28, 2005 #14
    mrbluetone

    mrbluetone Member

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    One of my favorite's for lead work is a Ibanez Tube King and Boss OD-3
     
    mrbluetone, Dec 28, 2005
    mrbluetone, Dec 28, 2005
    #14
  15. Dec 28, 2005 #15
    Deaj

    Deaj Silver Supporting Member

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    +1 on the COT-50 -> Eternity combo :dude

    The COT-50 souonds great pushing the CJOD and Fulltone OCD as well.
     
    Deaj, Dec 28, 2005
    Deaj, Dec 28, 2005
    #15
  16. Dec 28, 2005 #16
    Last Nerve

    Last Nerve Supporting Member

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    cot50 > Eternity > twin60 = VERY NICE!
     
    Last Nerve, Dec 28, 2005
    Last Nerve, Dec 28, 2005
    #16
  17. Dec 28, 2005 #17
    rewog

    rewog Member

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    +1

    I always use an SHO after an overdrive. It makes any overdrive sound better.
     
    rewog, Dec 28, 2005
    rewog, Dec 28, 2005
    #17
  18. Dec 28, 2005 #18
    Telecaster

    Telecaster Member

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    Red Snapper after a Blues Pro is very very nice.
     
    Telecaster, Dec 28, 2005
    Telecaster, Dec 28, 2005
    #18
  19. Dec 28, 2005 #19
    newstrat60

    newstrat60 Member

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    I recently discovered that when the 1st pedal is used to push its follower, the volume of the "pusher" has to be quite high... (ex : Fuzz Factory pushing a mild OD pedal) :jo
     
    newstrat60, Dec 28, 2005
    newstrat60, Dec 28, 2005
    #19
  20. Dec 28, 2005 #20
    BillyK

    BillyK Supporting Member

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    Zen ---> Mos4

    Very beautiful.
     
    BillyK, Dec 28, 2005
    BillyK, Dec 28, 2005
    #20
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