Using Guitar Pedal And Effects to Create an Original Sound

guitar pedals

Choosing the right combination of vintage and new guitar pedals and effects can really create an original and unique sound that will set you apart from the crowd. For every superstar guitarist, the types of FX pedals they use often contribute greatly to their signature sound. It’s ironic in a way that pro guitarists will spend many thousands of dollars on state-of-the-art guitars and amplifiers, but the humble FX box will usually have more of an impact on your guitar sound, and the sound of your band, than any of these other elements.

Besides the so-called boutique pedals, you can also find a lot of the old 60’s and 70’s vintage effects for sale, or up for auction online. Buying vintage pedals can be a good deal, and when you consider how much sturdier things were built in the 60’s and 70’s, they are likely to last another 30 or 40 years. When searching for your own unique sound as a guitarist, remember, modern mass-produced guitar pedals can be reliable and a good value, but you will sacrifice originality and uniqueness of tone by using these mainstream FX.

Lining Up Your Guitar Pedals

Guitar effects pedals, also called stomp boxes, get their name because of the “stomping” action needed to make the effect work. When the pedals are off, you are playing with the guitars clean (unaffected signal) sound coming out of your amp. When you step on it to turn it on, the signal that goes to the pedals are changed creating the desired effect. You can connect more that one effects pedal to your guitar using patch cables (short cables).

You should place your gain and tone based effects at the beginning of your line of pedals. Gain and tone based effects include distortion, volume, wah and EQ. Next you should put the pedals that change the pitch or color of your sound. Then at the end of your chain, you can put the pedals that affect your timing such as delay, reverb and flanger.

Pedals can be organized and protected by using a pedal board, a flat board that all of your pedals can be placed on all connected together.

One thing to be aware of is that connecting too many pedals together can cause a lot of humming and unwanted noise, not to mention loss of frequency