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Greetings to all in guitarland. A quick reminder to mark your calendar for next week's WEBCAST. We are going to blow
the speakers on your computer, so don't be the guy saying, "Oh yeah, I forgot to tune in. How was it!?". Info at the
bottom of this page....
This month's column will feature some of my favorite vintage pedals and effects. These choices will be from my point
of view and experience, and as I cannot with expertise speak about effects that I cannot use in the type of music I
play (which is blues, old school country, classic rock and 50's and 60's R&B). I again welcome all suggestions for
your favorite effects.
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#1 MXR Micro Amp
This is by far the most useful pedal I have ever used/seen. What this pedal does is so simple yet so valuable to
any guitarist playing any kind of music. What it does is makes your sound either a bit louder or much louder.
Don't sound like much, but think about it, how many times were you playing and thought gee I would like to be a
bit louder without changing my sound.
So before I get all excited, let me tell you what this pedal actually does. The Micro-Amp is an FET preamp with a
0 to 20+ db gain structure that does not color your sound at all (aside from the fact that you are pushing your preamp
section of your amp harder which usually causes your sound to be a bit darker). In my effects chain it is my last in
line (btw I only use 4 pedals). Over the twenty-five plus years I have owned one I have used it not only as a boost
but have also used it to boost line levels when using long cable runs to isolation booths when recording. I have also
used it in a pinch when amplifying an acoustic guitar with a piezo pickup and no onboard preamp. One other comment
about this pedal, the battery life (especially the early versions with no LED) is extremely long. Yipee!!! Check one
out you will not be sorry.
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#2 Uni-Vibe
Yeah I know Jimi Hendrix used one, and after he died Robin Trower used one on his post Procal Harum albums. There
is a reason these cats used one, I think the reason is that there is a magic to the Uni-Vibe that you can't put a
finger on. The best way I can describe it is that it's thick yet lets the guitars dynamics come through. I have also
always believed that it works best with single coil guitars, again I believe this is due to its fatness. IMHO if you
want a similar vibe (pun) for your Les Paul or SG use a flanger.
I recommend the original of course, they are not cheap and not too road worthy but they sound unreal. The Dunlop
reissues sound okay but I believe the Line 6 Modulation POD Uni-Vibe sound is better and cleaner. I also recommend
the FulltoneDeja-Vibe.
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#3 Ibanez (Maxon) AD9 analog delay
The AD9 is a great sounding analog delay, with three controls, feedback (repeats), delay time, and mix. These pedals
were made in the late 80's if my memory serves me correct. Before my brief analysis of this pedal let me proudly say
that back in the late 80's when we all got sucked into the idea that "digital delay was so much cleaner" mentality, I
remember saying to my friend Jimmy Agnello "I dunno I like analog delays alot better". Well now I think we all know
that if it's a toss up between sounding like Chet Atkins or Big Country.... well you get the picture.
When comparing the AD9 to its predecessor the AD909 I think the AD9 sounds more guitar friendly and less
science-fictionary. I think that the AD9 sounds more Echoplexy than the Boss DC-2, and lets face it isn't that
what we want.
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#4 Musictronics Mutron Micro V Envelope Follower
I bought one of these little buggers back in the early 80's when I was playing bass and wanted to funk up my sound
a bit. It worked pretty good on the bass, but when I shifted over to guitar and finally got the nerve to plug it in
it really started speaking in funky tongues. Although all it had was one button, dude that's all it needed. It also
sported a switch that went from high to low, which accentuated the higher or lower frequencies. I can't say for sure
whether Frank Zappa used the MicroV or the full sized Mutron for his auto-wah effect but this pedal cops his signature
auto-wah effect perfectly.
I also love the Ibanez offering from their early small button series, but this one sounds even better. Another aspect
of this pedal that I like is that it is a bit more touch sensitive than any other Envelope follower I have tried.
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#5 Ibanez TS808 Tube Screamer
What can you say about a pedal that sells for ten times its initial price only 20 years later. The 808 in its original
form had a small square on/off button on top, three knobs (distortion/tone and volume) and an LED light.. For most of
us that have used this pedal the best way to describe it is its warm sounding even at its most trebly setting and it
compliments the sound of any guitar and amp combination it is used with.
The pedal has its own sound no doubt, but part of that sound is its ability to not color your sound so much. To me it's
the perfect distortion pedal if you are prone to go back and forth from a cleaner sound to a slightly dirtier sound.
The 808 is virtually indestructible and its battery life is pretty good.
Now onto the reissues and clones, first I will say that I like the reissue Ibanez TS808 that is currently available.
I have A/b'ed it with a few of my original 808's and they sound almost identical. I wish the lED was briter as on the
originals you could gauge your battery life with it. The Maxon version which is in a smaller, flimsier case is not
roadworthy at all. It sounds similar but not as close as the Ibanez reissue. The on/off switch is noisy and the pots
are too close together for that foot adjustment we all have gotten used to with the original 808.
I must also mention a fellow Vermonter and electronics whiz Mr. Denny Coleman make a great version of this pedal under
the name Musicians Junkyard Screamer this pedal is very close to the original, although I will say that it has a texture
that my 808 does not, a kind of barely audible octave overtone that I like very much. Check it out.
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#6 The Vox Clyde McCoy wahwah pedal (model V848)
Yes my friends I know that there are many wahwahs that are classics and similar (Cry Baby's etc.). I owned and used
an original "Clyde" for years without knowing what a classic and valuable pedal it was. During this time I was using
a Cry Baby also and was easily able to hear the difference between the two pedals.
Now I will also say that over the years I have had many guitar players complain about their wahs, and most of their
complaints were based on the pedals not being setup right. The "throw" or the aperture (opening) needs to be set to
your own taste, and that usually rights whatever problems you might have. (That adjustment is easily made by loosening
the retainer screw which holds a plastic piece that comes down from the pedal and once this screw is loose you can
adjust the throw on the potentiometer that controls the wah effect.
As far as the sound is concerned, I think that what separates the Clyde from the CryBaby is that it sounds a bit fatter
in the low end and a bit less harsh in the open position. I also think that is has a nicer notch in the middle which
helps for that wahwah sustain that Jimi used so well. I have never been a fan of the Morley pedals as their throw is
too big and I can't use them comfortably while standing.
Vox has reissued the Clyde with a true bypass and I own four of them and they are great, maybe even a bit cleaner than
the originals which is a 50/50 aspect, some might like it, some won't. I like these so much that I did sell my original
Clyde for an insane amount of money.
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#7 Dan Armstrong Purple Peaker Plug-in effects
These very cool little pedals were designed by Dan himself. They plugged right in the guitars output, which makes
them IMHO a more studio friendly effect, but with a very simple reverse wiring you can plug them into the amp, and
you're good to go. The real winners of the line were the Orange Squeezer and Purple Peaker. Both of these add-ons
were used by RyCooder, and David Lindley, and Mark Mothersbaugh of Devo used the Blue Clipper Fuzz duct taped to his
guitar.
Here's some really good news, after some really poor quality Korean copies of these high quality units were made
back in the 90's, these great little units are being handmade again in the USA using the original designs, and they
sound great!!! Rumor has it that there will be some stomp box versions out soon too!
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Now here's some quickies....
VoxTonebender - classic 60's fuzz box
Boss pitch shifting delay pedal - very cool pedal for that quick harmony
Ibanez Phase Tone..early script lettering one button, one pot, not the most versatile phaser but a great one
MXR Dyna Comp - great compressor, can be very subtle as well as a real scwelcher. Also a great combo with any
Chorus/phaser/flanger
Boss Distortion - (Orange Box) - great direct into the board distortion effect, used it many times in the studio
always with a shocked look from the engineer.
Boss CE-3 Chorus "the" chorus pedal as far as I can tell, it has the sound. It's versatile, not very noisy and sturdy
as a Tonka Toy.
DeArmond Volume Pedal..until the Morley volume pedal strolled onto the scene this was the only show in town. The DeArmond
was the industry standard throughout my formative years in this business. Keyboard players used it as well as horn
players as well, but as a guitar player it affords you the luxury of leaving your guitar full out taking advantage of
its full tonal voice.
MXR Phase 90..another industry standard, sturdy, sounds great how can you look yourself in the mirror knowing you don't
have one kicking around your effects bag.
Sam Ash fuzz box - red box probably made by Unicord, anyway old school fuzz box and ugly as a monkey's rear end.
Some many effects so little time....
Please send me your favorite effects and I will add them in future columns.
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