Pedals you used to swear by - and now no longer use

I took my Voodoo Lab Sparkle Drive off my board last night, replaced it with a Diamond EQ/Boost instead. I used to swear by the Sparkle Drive, I called it my "if I could only have 1 pedal on a desert island"... Alas times change and I realized I was only using the Sparkle as a clean boost, never on the Gain side. And for clean boosts, nothing has come close to what I want as the Diamond EQ/Boost pedal. Its magic I tell ya, helps me make ANY amp sound just like I want it to. Love the Diamond!

But I'm still surprised I'm parting ways with the Sparkle Drive. All good tho.

Any pedals you no longer use that you thought would be on your board forever?

My love affair with the EP Booster is wearing thin now that my speaker is breaking in nicely. It'll probably get dropped in favor of a Sex Drive.

I have the opposite situation with a phaser - dropped my old Phase 90, but am strongly considering picking up another pahser to put back on the board.

Catalinbread Formula No5 now off my board, because Menatone WMB just have more pleasant tweed-style saggy tone.
Catalinbread SCOD. Still think, that it's great, but I realized, that I use too much gain. But if I would go to heavier stuff, it would be on my board again.

My old Memory Man. It's broke.

MXR Dyna Comp, Dunlop Rotovibe.

MXR Classic distortion...Will be replaced with a Hermida Audio Tiki Drive (whenever it decides to arrive*sigh*)

DOD FX-53 Classic Tube... for a long, long time, I'd found it to be my perfect lead boost (paired with my TS-5, even better) but one day, it was like a switch flipped in my head and I couldn't use it anymore. Change is good... I guess.

Some more: Ts9, Wah.

MXR Classic distortion...Will be replaced with a Hermida Audio Tiki Drive (whenever it decides to arrive*sigh*)

NOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

* Just don't get rid of it:wink:

edit: I do feel like I don't have but maybe one OD that works great for both of my main amps, guitars, and all styles of music I may play. For ex, my Biyang "Mad Driver" (Tube Screamer) or my MXR Classic D rock and play blues tuff just fine, but I don't like (or use) them when I want a little OD for classic country...My Blues Driver is great for me (at low Gain) for classic country and swing blues kind of stuff with my BJ amp, not so much with my DR...thank God (or whomever) for variety:wink:

NOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

* Just don't get rid of it:wink:

Oh I will be keeping it, I put too much hard work and burnt fingers into it modding it lol.

sparkle/TODv1/TS9 - rotate in and out

they are all out right now..

I no longer use any pedals...they're all built into my Spider IV 75w. Now I just use the virtual Tube Screamer on one of the clean presets, and the thing sings like crazy.

I took my Voodoo Lab Sparkle Drive off my board last night, replaced it with a Diamond EQ/Boost instead. I used to swear by the Sparkle Drive, I called it my "if I could only have 1 pedal on a desert island"... Alas times change and I realized I was only using the Sparkle as a clean boost, never on the Gain side. And for clean boosts, nothing has come close to what I want as the Diamond EQ/Boost pedal. Its magic I tell ya, helps me make ANY amp sound just like I want it to. Love the Diamond!

But I'm still surprised I'm parting ways with the Sparkle Drive. All good tho.

Any pedals you no longer use that you thought would be on your board forever?

Rotovibe and Tubescreamer...

For years, I was always building the best "hybrid" of a silicon and germanium Fuzz Face as I possibly could.

I never could really bond 100% with the sound of strictly one, as they each had some really serious limitations, either sonically or technology-wise.

I THOUGHT I finally had the answer after tweaking a Fuzz Central Axis Face project for the past 2 odd years or so...

...Then Dunlop had the stones to come out with their Eric Johnson FF. Some guys have been peeking under the hood and noting things - really peculiar and specific just to that sig series Fuzz Face.

I had to build my own derivative, but changed a whole bunch of things (even my transistor choices are different). I also NEVER liked how abrupt the cleanup with the volume knob is on a silicon FF, so I added some tweaks to make the cleanup nice and gradual.

...The BEST part is that part of the EJ sig has this uncanny ability (I'm guessing, based on my derivative) to blend some of that sweet octave-y stuff like you get with a great Tonebender MkII.

Long story short - I never thought I would bail on my "Hybrid Face," especially after all the tweaking. But after building this EJ FF derivative, it has in (VERY) short order kicked the HF off my (main) fuzz pedal board.

I'm kinda stupefied, and didn't see this coming. Kudos to Tripps (Mr. Way Huge) for laying the groundwork, even if my new YAEJFF doesn't truly resemble the EJ sig beyond some basic technical specifications (that took analysis to produce!).

Mine was also the Sparkle Drive w/ Keeley Mod - thought it was amazing when I got it. Then slowly got to where I couldn't stand it.

Tube Screamers, TC Chorus, Boss DM2, Crybaby, and Boss Tremelo.
Great stuff, but never touch it now.

Used my orange DS-1 boss distortion since 1985, until about a year ago. Replaced with a boss overdrive instead. Just dont rock as much as i used to, and still only use the od for 2 of my bands 20+ songs. This all went down when I got a tele, which is my main axe now. My usa strat with hot rails is suffering neglect, but it looks great hanging on the wall of my music room.

My usa strat with hot rails is suffering neglect, but it looks great hanging on the wall of my music room.

Slap a 'guard on it with coil taps (if the one on it is precious). I used a split HR for quite a few years, and now have a HH tele with PAF-sized rail things in it, but they mainly only get used in split mode (there's a few gonzo moments here and there with both coils on, but it's like engaging a blowtorch :shock:).

It's not a traditional single coil sound, but it lends itself to certain types of things IMO. The trick is having a single blade that has enough output, and the HR is one such bugger. Many others are too weak (like splitting a traditional output PAF).

We get tired/bored with what we have and move on to the next new thing swearing we found the end all, beat all of od pedals, until the next one comes along...

We get tired/bored with what we have and move on to the next new thing swearing we found the end all, beat all of od pedals, until the next one comes along...

Yep, much like that other thing we men like to chase after...

Yep, much like that other thing we men like to chase after...

Cars?:mrgreen: NO!:confused:

Cars?:mrgreen: NO!:confused:

Lol, the other thing that always gives trouble eventually...:roll:

Almost all of them. Used to leave a compressor on ALL the time, now its just for special things. Pedal board now consists of a Route 66 and a Voodoo Trem...

Last couple gigs the effects consisted of a pick and a cord

All of them except my Fulltone Tube Tape Echo. I just can't...

Compressor for anything other than a Rickenbacker 12 string.

I have 10 comps but my favorite was a Line 6 constrictor. It just sounded great to my ears. Then I decided to have a 2 comp board one before and one after dirt and I ended up with a Carl Martin for a transparent comp and a HBE Retro comp for squish. Think I'll use this setup for a long time. The Line 6 is sitting on a shelf some where....

Swore by my Boss ME-50! The be all and end all to a pedal board. Boy was I wrong! Ditched it and now gone back to the "singles" life! I was sooo foolish..

Cool cat drive...
"Oh it's so awesome sounding and cheap, I'll never get rid of it!!"
Bought an OCD V3 and sold the danelectro, never missed it since...

We get tired/bored with what we have and move on to the next new thing swearing we found the end all, beat all of od pedals, until the next one comes along...

I dunno...either the sound is there with an OD or it isn't. I certainly know "close enough" when I hear it, and I will tweak from there as needed.

The only thing that will get me to try another OD is if I think there is really something new about the hardwired voicing or gain structure. There are now a zillion pedals with "extra" knobs and toggles you can throw to get "any" OD sound, but I don't want "any" OD sound - there is a really clear concept in my head of how it should be, even if it is a subjective thing.

And 99% of the time, when we "move on" to the next great OD, do we have any idea what it is derived from (i.e. TS, BB V1, etc.)? Because if it sounds "familiar with a twist," it can't be that new, now can it?

I KNOW a great new OD when I play it or hear it, because it has a sort of "other-ness" that I have not experienced before. Again, no hard and fast formula, but if you can't stop playing the daggone thing, you've probably found your "new and improved" pedal...

I don't sell pedals because I did once and then I regretted it. My needs change constantly and I have a big rotation of pedals, dirtboxes mainly, that I take off and on my main board at any given time. I like to mix it up as I get bored super easy and I'm insatiable.

This is my setup as it is today:

http://i1117.photobucket.com/albums/k590/gibsonguitar1988/Gear/board.jpg

These are the alternatives:

http://i40.tinypic.com/jjs41k.jpg

I like to mix it up. Somedays it's just fun to dig into the toybox and try something new. Keeps it exciting. And I'm always adding stuff to the mix (buying new pedals).

Yesterday's perfect tone is boring today, so lets change it up. And repeat. And repeat. Obviously that's exaggerating a bit but it is true.

My handwired menatones seem to be collecting dust since My Tim and Durham Sex Drive came on the scene.

Proco RAT. Thought it was the last word in distorted tone. Then I got a tube amp...

+1 with Telerocker1988. I don't sell my pedals.I like to experiment a lot. I never allow myself to get bored. I like to rotate amps, and what amp I'm using at the time determines what pedals I may use. Also the situation sometimes determines determines what amp I'll use. Right now I'm playing in a place where setup space is limited, so I play my Fender Cyber Deluxe. Which means right now I'm not using any pedals at all.
In hindsight, I did sell a T-Rex Alberta once. I'm still kicking myself for that one!

I like to mix it up.

Yep - good point. More than one board can allow for some of that, too. I have 3 boards, with not all having a practical pedal selection for all things, but it allows me to mix it up.

We get tired/bored with what we have and move on to the next new thing swearing we found the end all, beat all of od pedals, until the next one comes along...

Wait a minute. Just got the MXR Custom Badass Modified OD. It Rocks! THIS is the end all, beat all... I swear... seriously... I won't ever, ever need another one... Yeah right. It is pretty good, though. The 100hz control knob makes it.

TS9, CS3 and Catalinbread Pareidolia are all off the board... and a few others I don't use.

On the board is TU3, Boosta Grande, Formula No5, Bad Monkey and AD9.

I've kinda gone full circle. Had one of the first BD-2's back in 1995, loved it, etc, sold it for some unknown reason around 1998. Then spent the next dozen or so years trying every OD pedal known to man or beast, finally ending up with another BD-2 about a year and a half ago. Had it modded, although I do like the stock BD-2 as well. Been on my 3-pedal board ever since.

Yep - good point. More than one board can allow for some of that, too. I have 3 boards, with not all having a practical pedal selection for all things, but it allows me to mix it up.

Yep! I'm working on building another board. I have a fly board I just throw stuff on as needed but I want to build a medium sized board. I actually have the board done, just need a couple more pedals (delay, compressor) and a PS.

Wait a minute. Just got the MXR Custom Badass Modified OD. It Rocks! THIS is the end all, beat all... I swear... seriously... I won't ever, ever need another one... Yeah right. It is pretty good, though. The 100hz control knob makes it.

Killer pedal!! As you can see above, it's on my board. Very versatile. I love what Dunlop is doing with Tripps working on that stuff. I have more of their pedals (including MXR and Way Huge which they own) than any other brand. And I'm a boutique nut.

The Modified OD sounds like my Way Huge Green Rhino MkII when in bump mode, and sounds more like my Tim when not.

My Fulltone Fulldrive 2 MOSFET. It cuts out the low end. Drives me nuts. Replaced it with a Green Rhino that has the 100Hz knob that is crucial...no low end loss. Probably is similar to the MXR Custom BA Modified OD.

Killer pedal!! As you can see above, it's on my board. Very versatile. I love what Dunlop is doing with Tripps working on that stuff. I have more of their pedals (including MXR and Way Huge which they own) than any other brand. And I'm a boutique nut.

The Modified OD sounds like my Way Huge Green Rhino MkII when in bump mode, and sounds more like my Tim when not.

Ha ha, great minds think alike!

The Modified OD sounds like my Way Huge Green Rhino MkII when in bump mode, and sounds more like my Tim when not.

How do you feel about the Rhino/Modified OD/Tim Pedal? What are the differences/commonalities? How does the Tim pedal treat the low end? Does it compare to the 100Hz knobs on the rhino/modified od?

How do you feel about the Rhino/Modified OD/Tim Pedal? What are the differences/commonalities? How does the Tim pedal treat the low end? Does it compare to the 100Hz knobs on the rhino/modified od?

Tim is a great pedal. Low end is no issue. It's very transparent and amplike and retains your base tone. The EQ is backwards from a normal pedal (the higher the setting, the less bass/treble/etc)

Swore by my Boss ME-50! The be all and end all to a pedal board. Boy was I wrong! Ditched it and now gone back to the "singles" life! I was sooo foolish..
Yup, I think the ME-50 is the best candidate I have/had for this thread as well. I still remember it fondly and would probably use it if I hadn't sold it off, but so it goes.

Come to think of it, my Tech 21 Sansamp GT2 may very well be coming the end of its life cycle for me as well, and I was incredibly devoted to that pedal at one time.

I really wanted to contribute to this thread, but no matter how hard I think about it, I haven't ditched a pedal -- Ever. For many years, I only used a flanger; then I added a TS-808 (only for use in the studio); then I added a couple of more pedals over the course of twenty or so years.

Today, I have eight pedals on my board, each of which was the result of some sort of necessity, but extensively researched, tried out over many rehearsals and gigs, and finally earning a place on my board.

I guess what I'm saying is that I never added anything unless I really felt that it contributed to my sound in a useful way. The ones that are my "go to" pedals have been for many, many years and aren't likely to go anywhere anytime soon.

The only pedals I've ever parted with were ones that I just didn't use, for example my old Electro Hamonix Muff Fuzz Crying Tone pedal. In my opinion, it was a bad fuzz, a bad wah, too big, the switches were poorly placed, and the pedal rocked in the wrong direction. But, it was (apparently) a "vintage, holy grail"-type pedal to someone, as I sold it on eBay for $485! (I wouldn't have given you twenty bucks for it, seriously!)

^^( comment on Eric 71's post) A friend of mine plays a Tech 21 SansAmp into a Fender Vibro- King, and gets just a phenomenal fusion tone with his Strat (he is in a 'jam band'). It has just a great, smooth distortion with a ton of sustain, but never crosses into what I would call hard-rock/metal tone, just sounds perfect. Plus the volume and EQ is always well balance with the amp's clean tone, when switching in/out with the Sans Amp- kinda wish I had one!

not to sound like a broken record, but pretty much all fuzz in general.
I used to always have 3 or 4 fuzzes on my board, and now they're all phased out for the most part.

I used to love my Paisley Drive but now it's just meh to me. I'm looking for its replacement now.

Killer pedal!! As you can see above, it's on my board. Very versatile. I love what Dunlop is doing with Tripps working on that stuff. I have more of their pedals (including MXR and Way Huge which they own) than any other brand. And I'm a boutique nut.

The Modified OD sounds like my Way Huge Green Rhino MkII when in bump mode, and sounds more like my Tim when not.

Lots of cool pedals on your board! I've been interested in the Xotic preamp, but haven't been able to pry open my wallet for the $169 bucks it costs. Is it worth it?

I used to use a Barcus Berry preamp as a line driver/clean boost on my pedal board. It's been in my mic bag for years now just in case someone needs a preamp for an acoustic guitar.

Visual Sound - Liquid Chorus/Delay was a great pedal for me but the Chorus side just wasn' cutting it anymore.

Fulltone OCD then Keeler Designs Push - both outstanding pedals, then I picked up the Wampler Plexi-Drive and never looked back.

Durham Sex Drive. Great boost, but I got a Bad Bob in a trade which did what it did only better.

I used to swear by the OCD pedal. And it is a Good pedal. But, I have a Carl Martin Plexitone that just rules out other distortions.l

I have to completely unplug the pedal board from time to time and play straight into the amp to clear the pallet for a new picture. After a week or 2 I'll add effects one at a time.