What if I have two pedals that need to be first?

[Grandy]

Is there any way around this? Some digital pedals need to have clean signal to track properly and some old fuzzes want to be first too. Some kind of compromise could possibly be reached but it's still a compromise.

 

[stormsedge]

ABY switch might do the trick?

EDIT: sorry...only one sip into my first cup of coffee...it would take two ABYs which is cumbersome. So, I have nothing . Good Morning!

 

[brookdalebill]

Stack em’?
I’ll slink away now.

 

[Skyhook]

Is there any way around this? Some digital pedals need to have clean signal to track properly and some old fuzzes want to be first too. Some kind of compromise could possibly be reached but it's still a compromise.

Some kind of split cable where one output goes into wherever and the other goes into the finicky digi-thing?

 

[Rich_S]

If the fuzz has a true-bypass switch, it can go first and when it’s off then the next pedal in line is “first”. This only applies if you’re not trying to use them together.

If neither pedal is true bypass, or you want to use them at the same time, then you need to try it both ways and determine for yourself which way works better.

 

[Killing Floor]

You could try a loop manager pedal, basically a mini mixer.

You could bypass your tuner if you have a buffer tuner.

I've been getting fuzz pedals with buffer killers modded to work around this lately but you didn't ask about that.

Another way that sometimes works is to put one of the devices in an effects loop if your amp as that. But this is similar to the first thing I said.

 

[radiocaster]

Not really much to go on. Some pedals track o.k. even with fuzz before and many fuzzes work fine as the second pedal.

Have you actually tried this, or just posting to waste time? Are actual pedals involved?

 

[Edgar Allan Presley]

It seems every pedal wants to be first. Just try them and see how they do. Some really, really want to be first. If you have one, put that one first.

Example: I have an OCD distortion pedal that responds really nicely to pick dynamics if there isn't a buffer or active pedal between the guitar pickup and the OCD. So it should go first. But I have a Fuzz Factory that sounds crazier (it always sounds crazy) if there's anything running before it. A compressor needs to see a good clear signal to work best, so it should be first. And my envelope filter needs to be first because it also responds to picking dynamics, which a buffer or active pedal would mess with. My answer: First, if the pedal is true bypass and won't be run at the same time as another pedal, it doesn't count. Fuzz Factory is true bypass, and I won't run it at the same time as the OCD. So it can be before the OCD. Same for the compressor. I don't need it when the OCD is on, so it can go before the OCD, too. The envelope filter will run at the same time as the OCD sometimes, but when it does, the fine points of pick dynamics will matter more for the filter than the OCD, so it goes before the OCD. What I end up with is this order: Fuzz Factory (really, really needs to be first), envelope filter, compressor, OCD. This works fine even though all of these are pedals that want to be first.

 

[northernguitar]

Try setting them up in the traditional manner. If it’s actually a problem, get a loop switcher.

 

[jddub440]

Fuzz first. Fuzz is the most important.

 

[twangjeff]

You could run them in parallel.

 

[stevehollx]

Splitting before a fuzz (tuner, Y, etc.) or a buffer both aren’t what you want. The fuzz needs to see guitar impedance and any buffer or pedal would impact that. Germanium most picky, but silicone fuzz may also be best in front too. A couple fuzz circuits are designed to work with a buffer before it, but that’s more rare and is probably sacrificing some of the fuzz magic/chaos with an unbuffered signal.

If next pedal is sensing pitch, just dont expect it to work well with the fuzz on.

Of course you CAN put a fuzz after a buffer, but it usually sounds really harsh. You lose the sweetness, ability for volume knob interaction, etc. If you like the sound/feel that way though, go ahead. Some people (a minority) prefer a fuzz after a buffer.

 

[boxocrap]

Is there any way around this? Some digital pedals need to have clean signal to track properly and some old fuzzes want to be first too. Some kind of compromise could possibly be reached but it's still a compromise.

put em in the ring and let em duke it out? ok seriously..there are some digital patching floor pedal dealies out there that may allow you to do parallel routing if so and i think there are..they can both be 1st..would that work for you? i assume you are currently doing a series setup

 

[cyclopean]

Fuzz first. Fuzz is the most important.

Fuzz is fine anywhere in your chain.

 

[Tim S]

Maybe the digital pedals need a built-in buffer when in use like the wahs mentioned here?

https://www.thatpedalshow.com/TPS-videodatabase/That-Pedal-Show-–-Things-To-Know-About-Using-Wah-Wah,-Fuzz-&-Buffers

 

[northernguitar]

Fuzz is fine anywhere in your chain.

Some older fuzz definitely don’t like to be fed a buffered signal.

 

[Jupiter]

one must go

 

[drmordo]

Fuzz first. Fuzz is the most important.

This is the way.

 

[Edgar Allan Presley]

Fuzz is fine anywhere in your chain.

Depends on the fuzz. A lot of germanium fuzz pedals will oscillate or sound really weird and glitchy when fed a buffered signal. A lot of silicon fuzzes sound great boosted with something before it.

 

[cyclopean]

Depends on the fuzz. A lot of germanium fuzz pedals will oscillate or sound really weird and glitchy when fed a buffered signal. A lot of silicon fuzzes sound great boosted with something before it.

Oscillated and glitchy is great.