Years ago (like, 30 years ago) a was a guitar->cord->amp guy, but then guys like Pat Travers, Alex Liefson, and Andy Summers got me intersted in effects, and it kinda snowballed since then.
My chain starts with a pair of Tele's - a Nashville w. Duncan Stacks for "Fender" sounds, and a mutt Schecter goldtop PT w. MIM maple neck and Duncan 59s for "Gibson" sounds.
Then, my homemade pedalboard:
- Boss DS-1 (modded to approximately Monte Allums Recto specs) for it buffer, and special high-gain needs
- MXR 74 RI Phase 90
- Madbean Nutrino (for my main overdrive/solo tone)
- Boss CE-2
- Boss BF-2 (MIJ)
- Boss DD-3
- Boss TR-2 (w. volume mod)
I'll be replacing the DS-1 soon with a redish/pinkish Slow Lorus called Rosie the Rat. Also, I plan to build my incoming Fat Pants board into an old Cry Baby shell and put it in front of the board as a boost/volume pedal. Finally, I'm thinking about filling the one remaining spot on my board with a Memory Toy or some other delay, just to give me another "preset" delay sound.
That all drives my amp, a DIY Marshall 18 Watter clone, built into an old Bogen PA chassis, and housed in a homemade 1-12 combo patterned after the old Univox "Group B" amplifiers - those two-tone blue mutants from the early 70s.
My "sound" is basically late 70s/early 80s new wave/brit pop kinda stuff - Andy Summers, James Honeyman-Scott, Robbie McIntosh, Johnny Marr, etc. It's taken years to get where I am, but I love my rig.
Fortunately, "gear ho" is apparently genetic, and it's time to start working on building my 13-year-old son a killer bass rig. DIY GAS is never-ending.