Now, this blog is about building effects pedals. Ive been playing guitar for a fair while now (since I was 13) and have been into FX since I could afford to buy them.I thought it would be cool (and a good memory exercise for me) to delve into my FX past and try to recall the movers and shakers. Some of this will be brief, but I’ll make more time and effort for the classic, most loved or simply nostalgia inducing ones…Im going to start with the cheaper ones first. Without further ado >>>
My first effects pedal was a Zoom 1010 Multieffects. I was so excited to get it. At the time, most people we buying the Zoom 505, a cheap, entry level device. It has two push switches to move you through patches, and a multitude of effects. However, the 1010 was the next jump up, with 4 push switches, so you could jump between 4 “tones” (I use the term loosely in retrospect) on the fly.
I received this for Xmas when I was 14, shortly after I had got my first electric guitar, a Squier Standard Korean built telecaster. Unfortunately, my parents didnt realise you needed another guitar cord, and I only had one. Therefore, I had to rock through headphones. I remember listing to a jet flanger type sound and thinking it was the coolest thing ever. Even my Dad was impressed.
I no longer have the unit, so for nostalgias sake, here is a stock image:
Some time after this I got into the idea of standalone pedals (some call them analog stompboxes, whatever) you know the ones: DOD, Boss, MXR, Digitech whatever. I cant recall the exact order I got stuff in, so Ill list the earliest I can remember first.
I got a DOD Vibro Thang pretty early on, and still have it. Its a curious blend of a 3 or 4 stage phaser, with and fairly standard tremolo. Pretty ahead of its time in its thinking, and I reckon its kinda similar to Lovetone pedals (and Ill get to those later). Two effects in one that are blendable. For comparisons sake, the Lovetone ?Flange with no Name is a flanger and tremolo in one, the Doppelganger is a dual phaser/vibtrato, the Ringstinger is a Germanium Octave Fuzz with Ring Modulator …you get the idea.
Anyway, being a DOD its pretty lacklustre – the bypass isnt up to much, the effect levels jump when you engage the effect, but gosh darn its a cool effect with lots of variations.
Here is a pic of my actual unit 🙂 Note the manual, with someones head in a cememt mixer. awesome.
Another one from years back is a Danelectro Tuna Melt. Nowadays these are around £20 each I think, I paid a whopping £35. As you can see it is in LNIB nick even with the Guitar player award sticker on. FWIW this is a fantastic tremolo with square wave option, gives many of the big guys a run for their money.
Moving along, I used to frequent the North West guitar show in Manchester. This is where I sourced the next two cheapo bargains, second hand. First up is a RAT2, standard affair. Its a RAT, simple as. The switch could do with replacing, I might do that, as its a dirty I think (cuts out for a split second when engaging). The other is a Boss Bass Synthesizer. This thing is awesome. I paid £30 for the synth, what a bargain (these run £150 new).
Along the path of FX history, I picked up a couple of Wah pedals. First up was a George Dennis optical wah. This thing was fantastic, and regrettably it got traded away later. Really smooth, no pot to get crackly, LED indicator. I still have my other one, a standared Crybaby I think its the 95 model.
Phew. This is taking ages to write up. I might need a few parts to this. I might close this part one with a selection of effects which many people recognise as 1 – fantastic value 2 – great sound and 3 – highly under rated. The Zoom Analog series. I guess its fitting I make this first installment go full circle. I own three of the Zoom analog series pedals. I have the Ultra Fuzz, Hyper Lead and Tri Metal.
The Ultra Fuzz is afaik a crazy take on a zvex fuzz factory. There are guyshots around the net. All these pedals are an SMD minefield, so I doubt anyone would want to recreate it. However, it does sound awesome, and does the guitar-pot-controllable tunable feedback goodness of the zvex. Id guess its all silicon. Its purportedly all analog too, with true bypass “mechanical” switching. As you can see from the pics this is well used, as it was on a few iterations of my live pedal board for a long time. Suprisingly, this does a great low gain boost.
Next up, the Ultra Lead. This is pure 80s hair rock/metal. Super cool lead pedal. Unfortunately I bought this off eBay, it was without a picture. Think I paid around £20. Anyway, the tool sent it in a jiffy bag, and the knobs got bent. It still works 100%. the guy was also responsible for the “artwork” on the front. Anyway, awesome recording pedal, as is the one above.
Ill end this installment on the last one I have. This pedal, for me, kicks most metal pedals ass. Its an absolute monster. Has loads of subs. Is very load. Can scoop the hell outta the mids. Amazing pedal. No need for an EQ pedal with this one. This is the best kept of the bunch.
I highly recommend people check these out second hand. I wanna check out the other one in the series, a 4 knob overdrive in silver called the Power Drive.
Ill be back later for part 2.