Effect controller - where? what? who?

[deleted]

So I would like a contoller at the bottom of my pedal board.
This is a picture of what I would like my board to look like

My signal chain goes like this

Guitar (Strat or ES-335) -> Polytune -> Wah probe -> Rothwell LS -> RC Booster -> TS808HW -> Fuzzilla -> MojoVibe -> Lovepedal Trem -> Empress SD -> Neunaber Reverb -> Amp

I want to add a Volume pedal... Which one would I need? high or low impedance?
And then finally I want to add that silver switcher/contoller or similar, who makes that one? I just want a simple one, no need for any other features other than top quality, and to 'activate' a pedal.
would I need anything else?

Any suggestions are welcome! I am at a loss when it comes to electronics and the most efficient way to put it all together.

[deleted]

If that picture doesn't define a personality type, then I just don't know... ?

Brent, you sneaky so-and-so. Pulling together the world's most epic setup on the sly like that. You should be ashamed.

[deleted]

Stratisfear wrote If that picture doesn't define a personality type, then I just don't know... ?

Brent, you sneaky so-and-so. Pulling together the world's most epic setup on the sly like that. You should be ashamed.

what would make you think that? I just like it neat ?
If is see a cable, I will have an issue with it.

It's very decent took me quite a while to pick and choose, everything was well thought out and tested, tried and then scutinised (except the fuzz, taking achance on that, but so far only good things about it). I enjoy this setup, there are a few others that I wanted to add, but I couldn't find a fuction for them so those where purely wants, so they went out the window.
So this is it for me, I am happy with that, and its been like this for quite a while.
Other than adding the volume pedal, which I actually cant figure out which, due to conflicting reading or just my lack of understanding, it is done... finally

So help... Volume Pedal?
THAT contoller... help

Warren

Brent! Eish...

Where is your hand-wired TS? ?

PS: Your old Strat is in for a Graphtec upgrade ?

FruitarGeek

Well in terms of volume, it depends on your setup

Are you guitars active? Will the volume be before or after the other pedals? You would need a low Impedence volume if you have active guitars, or high Impedence if it's passive. Research tells me that the high Imp works well both ways as opposed to the low Imp that works great with active but not so great with passive.

Boss I believe is good. But if you looking for some serious tonal quality. Try looking at the brand Hilton, but you will pay a lot. So really not worth it.

Mr-M

On the volume pedal, for passive pedals check out the Ernie Ball VP Jnr or the Dunlop DVP1. Both will do the job, just with different treadle mechanisms and sweep/ feel. The Boss FV500 pedals and the regular Ernie Ball VPs are huge in size, but decent as well.

Personally I like the Visual Sound Visual Volume. It has a built in buffer (you can bypass it if you want to) that sounds great. You can also set the buffer to give you a great sounding clean volume boost if you want. It has stereo inputs and outputs and you can actually set the levels of the buffer on each side independently meaning you could conceivably have a volume boost on the left side and and leave it flat on the right if you wanted to (assuming you were running in stereo of course). The buffer sounds really transparent and IMO this is preferable to most passive volume pedals which will take away a little from your highs, whereas this can actually improve your bypassed tone if you don't have a good buffer in your chain. The LEDs on the side are also handy for telling where the pedal is set. With the VV's buffer it isn't affected by impedance, meaning you can place it anywhere you like in your chain and it doesn't matter if you use active or passive pickups - it just works and doesn't suck tone.

As for effects controllers, you can't get any simpler than a true bypass looper (like in the pic below). Have a look at the Road Rage Pro Gear loopers. I've got a 2-channel from them that has been great: http://www.roadrageprogear.com/

You can buy them from: http://www.tonefactor.com/

Aside from TB Loopers, you'd be looking at pedal switching systems which go up in terms of price and complication, but do add extra flexibility and features (which it looks like you won't need).

kayDUB

Apparently you should technically go active (low impedence) if you use active pickups (VP first in chain) or if the VP is after a buffered pedal. And go passive if you have passive pickups and VP is first in chain.
But like Fruitar says, a passive will work for both applications, the only thing is the sweep might not be the same if you use it after active pickups or a buffered pedal. Thats some info I've gathered on the topic.
I'm using two ernie ball passives after buffered pedals and have no probs.

Re the loopers, check out This1smyne (http://www.this1smyne.com/product_list/custom/looper/), you can pretty much choose exactly what you want, price is decent too IMO.

[deleted]

Warren wrote Brent! Eish...

Where is your hand-wired TS? ?

PS: Your old Strat is in for a Graphtec upgrade ?

It is still there, still my favorite overdrive pedal ?

+1 on the grpahtechs, that is the best upgrade anyone can make on a strat

Thanks to all the other inputs.
I like the Road Rage Pro Gear loopers, think I shall order the 10-channel one, but will keep looking around. But that is exactly, what I am looking for.
This1smyne also look really good.

I am quite certain I only have passive pickups? right?
Sheptone PAFs in the ES and BKP Mothermilk single coils in the Strat.

So I need the http://www.tonefactor.com/ernie-ball-6180-vp-jr-passive-volume-pedal.html correct?

I have no buffered pedals right?
and it would go last in my signal chain or before the delay and reverb?
or as kaydub says. first in the chain because I have passive pickups?

:sorry: OMG...

This VP is just giving me a headache, I suppose I must get the right one and then play around with the position in the chain.

kayDUB

If there's no battery in the guitar, then its passive pickups.
If you have all true bypass the passive VP can go anywhere (I put mine anywhere anyway with buffered pedals too).
First in chain to be an extension off guitar volume control.
After drives before delay/mod effects if you don't want the amount of drive influenced by the volume pedal level.
End of chain if you want to control overall volume, including delay/reverb trails.

So, yip, I would say EB VPJr passive would be the way to go! I have the same one. Just beware the apparent tone suck from using the tuner out documented in other threads here. I've yet to notice a significant difference, but me ears are still developing into tone freak territory :-[

Hope this helps ?

Mr-M

Having owned gear from from both Road Rage and this1smyne, I'd say they both make great gear. The advantage of Road Rage is you can buy it straight away, whereas with this1smyne he builds them to order so it takes longer before he ships it. If you need something custom made or tap tempo switches, he's the right guy.

Yeah, you pickups are passive. The VP Jnr will work perfectly in that setup. I would put it just after the delay but before the reverb. Make volume swells sound the most natural IMO. Before the delay does also work well too though. Try both to see what you prefer.

On another note, your tone might benefit (especially with a 10-channel looper) from having a single buffer at the beginning of the chain. With all the cable involved between the pedals and inside the looper you will tend to lose some highs, especially with all the pedals bypassed playing clean (if you ever do that). Of course if you always have a pedal or two engaged, you probably wouldn't notice much difference. Usually it just helps you retain the sparkle and clarity that you get plugging directly into the amp, but running through multiple true bypass pedals. Personally I always prefer 1 buffer before a chain of more than 5 true bypass pedals.

[deleted]

kayDUB wrote If there's no battery in the guitar, then its passive pickups.
If you have all true bypass the passive VP can go anywhere (I put mine anywhere anyway with buffered pedals too).
First in chain to be an extension off guitar volume control.
After drives before delay/mod effects if you don't want the amount of drive influenced by the volume pedal level.
End of chain if you want to control overall volume, including delay/reverb trails.

So, yip, I would say EB VPJr passive would be the way to go! I have the same one. Just beware the apparent tone suck from using the tuner out documented in other threads here. I've yet to notice a significant difference, but me ears are still developing into tone freak territory :-[

Hope this helps ?

No batteries!!! = Passive! Got it.
Thats me...

Im leaning towards after my drive pedals
That cleared it up for me nicely.

Will do somemore looking, there are not many VP makers are there. Seems very limited...

Mr T wrote Usually it just helps you retain the sparkle and clarity that you get plugging directly into the amp, but running through multiple true bypass pedals. Personally I always prefer 1 buffer before a chain of more than 5 true bypass pedals.

That has been at the back of my mind the whole time. I wont know I suppose until I put it all together, but it probably will.
Hence I asked would I need anything else in my original post, I was referring to a buffer, but didn't want to ask out right ?

Im loving the idea of the Hilton VP ( No Pot = nothing to go wrong or break ? I like )

FruitarGeek

Whilst on the topic of VP

I have 2 guitars, an active fender and a passive epiphone.

Now the fender is my main guitar, but will using a Low Imp VP seriously make the epiphone sound crap?

kayDUB

FruitarGeek wrote Whilst on the topic of VP

I have 2 guitars, an active fender and a passive epiphone.

Now the fender is my main guitar, but will using a Low Imp VP seriously make the epiphone sound crap?

Well, I can't remember the exact science, but you can expect to lose some top end with the passive epi into the low impedance VP. There a great thread on the ernie ball forum about it. Give it a search ?

[deleted]

With regards to a buffer.

Before the effect loop, after the effect loop, or I see you get some that you can put before and after?

Explain to me please :-\

Mr-M

Are you talking about your amp's effects loop? If so, a buffer doesn't matter as the amp's effects loop will usually be buffered (on some amps via a tube buffer).

If you're talking about your effects chain, place the buffer (or buffered pedal) as near as possible to the beginning of your chain, but after any fuzzes (fuzz pedals don't usually work well with buffered signal). Think of it as pushing/ or forcing the tone through your effects chain, so it needs to be at the front of the chain.

Some players also like a second buffer at the end of the chain, but I've ever found it makes any difference. At the front of your chain, you will notice a difference, especially with all your pedals bypassed.

[deleted]

Mr T wrote Are you talking about your amp's effects loop? If so, a buffer doesn't matter as the amp's effects loop will usually be buffered (on some amps via a tube buffer).

If you're talking about your effects chain, place the buffer (or buffered pedal) as near as possible to the beginning of your chain, but after any fuzzes (fuzz pedals don't usually work well with buffered signal). Think of it as pushing/ or forcing the tone through your effects chain, so it needs to be at the front of the chain.

Some players also like a second buffer at the end of the chain, but I've ever found it makes any difference. At the front of your chain, you will notice a difference, especially with all your pedals bypassed.

Sorry yes the effect chain. (Don't have one on my amp, so its a non-issue for me) Okay so a single buffer should suffice then

Any specific buffers? Road Rage seem to make a decent one, then I can order than together with the 10 channel controller.

Okay... Almost done...

Mr-M

Yeah, you'll be fine with the Road Rage. You also try the this1smyne mini buffer. Or, if you're feeling rich, the Fryette Valvulator.

Or if you have a Boss pedal of some kind, put that at the front of your chain. The buffers in those are actually quite good. When you start to use multiple buffers from multiple Boss pedals that you have some tone change and/ or degradation.

[deleted]

Okay so the Hilton VP is on it's way...

Still waiting a bit on the Roadrage controller... Till I can source 10 George L square jacks... No point in having the controller and nothing to plug into it :-\
Any one know of a store that HAS stock?

Mr-M

No local store will have George L's. Andy McGibbon's are the importers, but they haven't brought in any appreciable amounts in for a good 3 years AFAIK.

[deleted]

Mr T wrote No local store will have George L's. Andy McGibbon's were the importers, but they haven't brought any in for a good 3 years AFAIK.

Oh my goodness... Every time I ask them tho they say they have on order ?
They did have a handful the last time I was there. bought a couple, but there was not enough.

time to support the USA market, AGAIN...

Ok so a few things have changed...

The Fryette Valvulator will be here in about 6 weeks, coming from the UK, no stock currently ?
That gave me the time and chance to contact Daniel from this1smyne and order a totally custom cut and drilled looper, with pretty colours and LED lights.
By the time that all arrives.. in around 2 months. I can finally finally be done...

It's been a long time to put this together almost 2 years now of sourcing/testing... :yup:
Final stretch...