Spec. Perfect You / Never to be without Effect Pedals.

I probably have not had either of these longer to commit, but of all the pedals that have gone across my board, here are two that I would not want to change:






Just about the perfect wah and perfect compressor for me.

 

I have been using a tube screamer and an ibanez stereo chorus since the first day I found them. Broke my TS about ten years ago and tried a couple of other drive pedals. I liked them okay but I came back. Still rotate a few other drives on and off the board but the TS stays.
The only chorus that I like better than the Ibanez is a Motion Sound SRV 112 cab.

 

MXR Phase 90, the fancy script version with the LED and external power. It's been so good to me, I don't have any other modulation effects on my board. I've eliminated all the fluff from by pedal collection over the years, and those that remain are all great devices with a distinct purpose. I go Tuner>Boss SD-1>MXR Phaser>Ethos Clean

 

It’s non-negotiable that I have a killer clean boost, and a non-transparent OD. I’m not going to say it absolutely has to be one brand and model. I’ve tried a lot that I like and there are many that work just fine for me. Currently I’m using a TC Spark mini for clean boost, and I like it better than every other clean boost I’ve ever used. That’s not to say I won’t find one some day that I like better still. Second place would go to the BBE Boosta Grande.

As for OD? I’m not that picky. I love the SD1, but I also love a TS9. Pretty much any quality pedal in that vein will probably work fine for me.

Those are the only two pedals I can actually say I “need” to do what I do. After that, I’d go with a comp. Something with a mix knob.

 

Well, I’m going through a re-pedaling phase right now, so it might be the wrong time to say, but the one thing that hasn’t moved an inch is my Danelectro Cool Cat Tremolo. For me, trem is an “almost always on” kind of thing. My favourite trem was the one in my Peavey DB 210 amp, but that’s sold. I couldn’t justify keeping a big amp I didn’t need just for the trem. I didn’t try too many trem pedals, because I found the Dano and it just sounded right. I’m hoping some of my new additions fit the “never-to-be-without” description, because I really don’t want to go down too many rabbit holes. (I only play for my own satisfaction, so I don’t have to care what anyone else thinks of my tone.)

 

The Timmy for sure. Just for that semi-clean transparent overdrive. The Boss BD-2 is close, but nothing works as well as a Timmy for that.

I'm with @Jakedog on a solid clean boost also. The Spark Mini is perfect. It is the ultimate no-nonsense boost, and it's tiny.

Since you mentioned chorus, I've got an old Boss CE-2. It's a great sounding pedal, and if I were a chorus guy, it would certainly be on my board.

 

MXR Microamp... had one decades and the only pedal I have ever replaced with the exact same.

Just essential for live use... volume lift, push an amp or pedal into crunch distortion, match pickups, stick it in fx loop to add the loud, and the big rubber knob lets me adjust it with the side of my foot mid song/gig. Versatile tool.

i use it a lot with my 3 channel mesa as it essentially doubles the channels to 6.

 

I mean it's pretty hard to kill a Phase 90...so if you have two of them you are probably set for life...

 

I have to have a Rat an EP-3 style delay and a good digital hall or plate verb.

 

It's easy to go down that rabbit hole....This a hand made one. Its amazing and the blues crab next to is just as amazing.

 

Still trying to parse the thread title...

Boss DM-2w

 

Clean boost, overdrive, trem and delay.

I can do without any/all these things, but I'm most comfortable if I've got them all at my disposal

 

I am most comfortable with some gentle compression in my signal path. My compression arsenal is going to be a big old snooze fest for pedal maniacs: a pawnshop DOD FX82 bass compressor, an Ibanez CP-5 Soundtank someone gave me and, more recently, the compressor in my Zoom B2, which is a little aggressive some of the time. But I object to the dynamic feel and step adjustment more than the actual sound and generally opt to use it rather than add one more thing inline.

For several years an always-on Pro Co Rat 2 was a core element of my thing. I was quite happy with it, but my approach started skewing lower gain/cleaner and eventually I sold it. I still like that sound, but not enough to regret selling it or to search out a replacement. It suited a particular band I was in to a T for awhile though.

 

TC Spark Mini Boost. It's a boring little one-knob make-you-louder box, just exactly what I need for the job I need it for.

 

The original Barber Direct Drive and the Reverend Drivetrain II.

 

No, none I couldn't live without. I like to have a trem, delay, and midrangey overdrive like OCD. On almost every electric gig I have either a Prince of Tone or OCD. The rest vary depending on the situation.

 

I can't imagine not having trem available. In terms of personal preference, I'd never turn it off, but I realize it doesn't work on some songs. It can be in the amp or I can use a pedal, but I don't think I'll ever buy an amp without trem again. I've got the Boss TR-2. While I could imagine having a different trem pedal, I don't know why I'd bother. This one works great.

Every other effect is negotiable depending on (1) what guitar I'm playing through what amp; and (2) the set list.

 

None for me so far. I'm probably better off just plugging straight into an amp, maybe with a boost. I'm just exploring the world of pedals recently to see if anything sticks.