Anyone who ever bought a pedal or two, couple questions

A couple Q for the pedal guys, how do you become aware of new pedals? Internet, GC, other shops?

Does it matter to you what the pedal looks like? I think the Klon centaur is downright ugly but it was popular.

Do you prefer OD/distortion pedals with or without more than one tone control?

1. From places like the TDPRI, The Gear Page, and other forums. If I'm looking for say, an analog delay pedal, I'll do a search and read all the posts, people's experiences, etc.

2. Looks aren't a factor for me. Size is. I like the look of the Klon but it takes up a lot of space on a pedalboard. If I can find something similar in a smaller box I'll usually go for that.

3. My current/favorite OD right how is a Maxon OD-3. It only has one tone control.

Hope that helps.

1. (Read Dana's answer)

2. Don't care about looks.

3. I prefer them with at least two controls (volume and gain).

1. Usually, I'll see a new pedal in the store. Or maybe read about it in Guitar Player magazine.

2. Looks don't matter.

3. I don't care how many knobs there are. If it sounds good, that's what counts.

I'll play too!

1. Lotsa interweb demos. See Youtube. Forums. Lots. GC crap stuffed in my mailbox.
2. Not so much. I'm not into generic looking pedals like Boss, Hardwire, etc though.
3. You mean like a 3 knob tone stack? There aren't that many OD pedals w/ that really. Most have a single tone knob. No preference for me; sometimes I think keeping it simple is better. I mean yer guitar has a tone knob, amp has a tone stack, does the pedal really need one? Seems to clutter the tone

my first education as to what is available was from Musician Friend catalogs. Then I came here and started learning about what works for the working man. Then I went to the gear page, where they keep you very informed about the latest and greatest. I've also been checking out ProGuitarShop.com and Gearmanndudes videos. There are SO many pedals out there, I tend to buy the ones that have great videos showcasing what the pedal can do, and/or come with great reputations or I can try them in a store.

It makes me laugh when someone says they like the sound of a certain pedal, but wouldn't buy it because it's too ugly. -that sounds like someone who is in it for the trophies and fashion of it. I like them flamboyant and flashy though because it makes them easier to find on a darkened pedalboard. There was a great comment here some while ago:
poster A: check out this new guitar I just got.
Poster B: why did you buy a guitar with such an ugly headstock?
Poster A: I don't play the headstock.

I like as many tone controls as possible. I prefer a bass and treble over just a tone, but whatever it has it has. If I don't like the sounds I'm getting, I sell it reguardless.

There are so many billions of boutique overdrives that sound so similar that they definitely need something "extra" to find their way into anyone's hands.

For some people, it's buzz - like when the OCD was "the next big thing" and when everybody and their grandma bought one (hey, I wanted one too)

I think it boils down to why you started liking pedals in the first place. Hilarious camp factor (ie Way Huge) was a big deal when I started playing; I thought effects were ridiculous and outrageous and that's why I liked them.

Now I might not always go for outrageous-looking ones as a rule, but aesthetics are a big part of it for me. Pedals, like all products, are industrial designs, and there's more to a design than just what it does. The medium is the message, right Marshall? (not the Marshall you normally talk about on a guitar forum though...)

LOL - "like the tone but hate the looks" - reminds me of the old " I just won 17 million dollars in the Lotto.....but boy, I sure hate the color of the check!!!" :grin:

Try them out with your type of amp, both solo, removed from chain, and with a whole mess of other pedals to see if they are tone suckers. Too many are.

Next up, does it work like I want (be surprised how many don't actually do what you want of them), try it out.

Then, will is survive me jumping up and down on it, or the dog using it as a new chewy toy.

Oh, and will it fit on my little fx tray, some are weird shapes, or don't run on 9V.

How do you become aware of new pedals? - forums, videos

Does it matter to you what the pedal looks like? - no

With or without more than one tone control? - depends on the pedal this one has lots of knobs but they all do something useful... :cool:

Wampler Pedals: Triple Wreck Distortion

VBjfEkC2-qo

I hear about them on forums such as this, and the LPF. Also, I read gear reviews in Guitar Player and Vintage Guitar Magazine. Also, go here and sign up for the news letter. www.proguitarshop.com. They have hundreds of pedals on their site, most with demos so you can hear them. And usually, couple of times a month, something fm them shows up in my email with a notification of a new pedal or two.

How do you become aware of new pedals? Videos, forums. I won't buy any pedal based solely on this, though. I always try pedals before buying.

Does it matter to you what the pedal looks like? Not at all. Sound and performance are deciding factors for me. Same goes with amps, guitars are a different story though. I'd never buy a guitar that looks ugly to me.

Do you prefer OD/distortion pedals with or without more than one tone control? One tone control is enough for a decent OD / dist / fuzz pedal, but I insist on having this one tone control in most cases. A tone knob makes a pedal more versatile and useful to me.
More than one tone control is too much fuss for me. If you don't like the basic sound of your amp, stop looking for pedals and start looking for a new amp. Additionally, I can't be bothered to tweak dozens of EQ knobs in live situations to get my sound. Keep it simple.

Guitar Player reviews about 30 new pedals every other month or so and you can hear some on their online magazine. Also the Proguitar shop site has lots you can hear also.

I don't about ugly if it works in your line up and who cares what controls there are as long as you're getting the sound you want.

I find out about pedals from everywhere: forums, print media, youtube; in that order. Looks aren't that important: if it sounds great and I decide I need it, I'll buy it even if it's ugly.
Don't care either way how many knobs are on an OD pedal if they all do something I like.

I like the look of the Klon but it takes up a lot of space on a pedalboard. If I can find something similar in a smaller box I'll usually go for that.


For those that don't know, the current Klon is out of production. According to the site, a smaller box version is slated to be released sometime in 2010.

Worth the money? Well that's all relative.

I had one and foolishly sold it quite a few months ago. Best boost and stacking pedal I've ever had and I miss it dearly. It is magical. I will certainly be purchasing the new version (and patiently waiting), but won't pay the gouging prices for a used one.

http://www.whatsthatdudeplay.com/ puts up new pedals just about every day.

Unfortunately, I won't buy pedals that have the jacks on the sides anymore. So if there's something I absolutely must have then I have to rehouse it or build a functional equivalent from scratch.

I prefer 3 knob pedals but 4-5 knobs are OK, too.

A couple Q for the pedal guys, how do you become aware of new pedals? Internet, GC, other shops?

Does it matter to you what the pedal looks like? I think the Klon centaur is downright ugly but it was popular.

Do you prefer OD/distortion pedals with or without more than one tone control?
1. Heresay and recon.

2. Yes very much so. It needs to be interesting in some way.

3. Indifferent. W/0 tone control can beget some beautiful tones. But to be honest being able to control a bass cut from a pedal is downright handy.

i bought this one in 1982http://www.bossarea.com/images/OD1.jpg ... there was no internet and no GC ... soon i became a pedal addict ... i needed stronger and more powerful pedals in larger quantities ...