madbeanpedals::forum

General => Open Discussion => Topic started by: keysandguitars on December 03, 2011, 10:55:49 PM

Title: Signal Chain - Wah and Fuzz questions
Post by: keysandguitars on December 03, 2011, 10:55:49 PM
So I've built 10-15 pedals now and am finishing up a couple more and I thought I'd better get around to actually playing guitar and rigging up a pedal board. I threw some scrap 1x2's I had laying around and cut it to fit into an old case I had laying around used for a GT-10...long gone now.

I've been reading about the wah/fuzz dilemma and thought I'd bounce my proposed chain off you guys.
I'm thinking of going like this:

Guitar - Compressor - Mangler FF - CAE MC-404 Wah - Qtron - Low Rider Octave - Overdrive Pedals - Distortion Pedals - Pork Barrel - Phase 45 clone - Treumulus lune - Styrmon Timeline - Amp.

It's mainly the front end of the chain that I'm concerned with as I've never owned a comp, fuzz, or octave pedal. The rest of the chain seems pretty standard. I'll try it a few ways and see what sounds best to my ears, but thought I'd ask you guys.

I'm hoping the Timeline's buffer will be sufficient, but I can build one to put at the front if needed. I've read that a buffer in front of the FF isn't good though. I'll do some A/B to see how the tone holds up without a buffer in the front. Assuming it needs it, where would you put it? I'm planning on having 15-20 pedals on my board. I'll get it all wired up and take a pic if anyone's interested.
Title: Re: Signal Chain - Wah and Fuzz questions
Post by: keysandguitars on December 03, 2011, 11:04:30 PM
One follow up question. I love the boost in the Krankasaurus and assume that I should place that near the front of the signal chain. I'm not sure how best to incorporate that seeing how it's got the distortion attached. Saw it in half maybe? ;D THoughts?
Title: Re: Signal Chain - Wah and Fuzz questions
Post by: nzCdog on December 03, 2011, 11:48:07 PM
Trial and error is the key.  

I read somewhere that putting a buffer near the front of your chain and at the end works well if your pedals are mostly true bypass.  I put my fuzz pedals first because they sound totally different after a buffered bypass pedal...  so my board is:
Guitar>Fuzz>Volume>Wah(buffered)>OD>Dist>Mods>Delay(Buffered)
Works for me,YMMV

I built the Krankosaurus and loved it.  Sounded good in the Overdrive/Distortion section to me.  Great pedal, really thick useful sound.  You could build a SHO clone or Echoplex booster if you wanted to try another clean boost somewhere else in your chain.

PS. Woot! You have Timeline! 8) 8) 8)
Title: Re: Signal Chain - Wah and Fuzz questions
Post by: jkokura on December 04, 2011, 04:12:38 AM
You can also put a buffer into your wah to solve that problem. It's actually a pretty easy mod and easily reversible. I highly recommend it, and there's going to be a a layout available very shortly, being verified currently.

Jacob

P.s. I also have my timeline now. I wish I had more time in on it.
Title: Re: Signal Chain - Wah and Fuzz questions
Post by: bigmufffuzzwizz on December 05, 2011, 05:14:30 PM
Looks pretty good to me but I'd agree with Corey that it's really a trial and error. You'll find some pedals really seem to work differently depending on where they are placed. I put my octave (micro POG) first since I consider it an EQ pedal. After I do the same with a Big Muff into my wah to get the crazy wah sweeps. Then I add distortion after into my modulation pedals. I usually set them up chorus>phaser>flanger and of course delay last. For some reason I put my BYOC reverb after my tremolo but before my phaser and it works well. Just try different stuff..move em around until you get something you like!