Pedals! (newb edition)

[chrisharbin]

So it looks like this Friedman IR-D is a thing, which means I'm kind analog, which means the possibility of pedals!

Now, this thing has plenty of gain (really more than I use) BUT a good OD for flavor might be in order. I thing the UAD offerings here are too expensive, so I'm looking at these:

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/ODR-1--nobels-odr-1-natural-overdrive-pedal

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/SoulFood--electro-harmonix-soul-food-distortion-overdrive-pedal

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/SpruceGoose--electro-harmonix-spruce-goose-overdrive-effects-pedal

My goal is "flavor" vs. gain. But I want opinions of anything else as well

For delay, I am interested in the "Orion" UAD offering. The other option is the "Carbon Copy" but the Orion seems like a better overall pedal. This would be going through the FX send on the Friedman.

Thoughts, I'm new to this.

 

[klasaine]

As for delay, the Carbon Copy is fine as a short delay with one or a couple of repeats. At longer times with multiple repeats, you’ll get better results with software.
The UAFX Orion is much better quality and way more versatile.
If you want a really really versatile delay/echo unit, either the UAFX ‘Starlight’ or one of the many Strymon or Walrus offerings.

Overdrive for tone/flavor/color/texture …
Anything in the TS camp is fine for tightening up low-end.
The ODR-1 has a fair amount of lows but it will sound good going into a cleanish amp tone.
For me, going into a Marshall type amp (which the Friedmans are), I like fuzz. Fuzz Face and Tonebender style pedals are the thing. Also, a Big Muff will take you to a very different place. The trick or secret with fuzz into a Marshall is to not push the fuzz control too much. Push the output of the pedal to push the input of the amp and then bring up the gain/fuzz of the fuzz pedal.
If the Friedman really responds like an amp, a Treble Booster will get you a lot of tonal variation. Don’t let the name fool you, they’re more like high midrange boosters and bass tighteners.

The EH spruce goose is a Marshall blues breaker clone. Probably redundant going into a Marshall style amp.
EH soul food is a klon clone. These are more suited into Fender type amps.
*That’s all very general and YMMV.
You’re probably just gonna have to try a few to find what works best for your particular needs.

 

[chrisharbin]

Well said, and yes, I'll have to try a few. Been watching vids but of course, that is with "those" amps so hard to judge.

 

[chrisharbin]

Oh yeah, the "timmy" might be a possible one.

 

[chrisharbin]

And one other thing, the reason I'd like something like the Orion is that plug delays always seem so pristine, I want something a little on the dirty/"tape" side. Of course the Strymon Deca is great if you don't want more feedback.

 

[klasaine]

The Deco is great, but 2 repeats max and 500 ms is its longest option.
If you dig the Strymon gear, look into the Flint.
The UAFX Starlight is probably the dirtiest delay out there with a ton of flavor options.
Im sure Orion is great.

 

[chrisharbin]

I don't think I'm up to 400 clams for just a delay right now, looks great though (starlight)

 

[chrisharbin]

Gonna try this:

It has a mid switch which is what I really want. Plus it doesn't break the bank. It's a start I think the Orion is a thing, but I'll wait for that and make absolutely certain.

 

[Eric Dahlberg]

Timmy or Duke of Tone would be perfect places to start. A Klon clone would probably work great with the IR-D but there are better ones out there than the Soul Food (I make one that I'll sell you for cheaper). ODR-1 and Spark are better with low gain amps, they don't mesh as well with high gain preamps as a Klon does.

 

[chrisharbin]

Oh yeah, the Duke, forgot about that. Loved hearing others use it. Well, we'll see how the Spark goes, I have a feeling I'm really going to like it with the mid setting. That's more what I'm going for, not too much gain.

The Friedman is mostly being used at about mid gain. The hi gain is really over the top "Marshall" ish. Not really my taste. The mid to low gain is fantastic. The Spark should just bring a little mid gain to the picture. I'm a newb for sure. Remember, I haven't done this since I was a kid, it's a much different game now of course.

I wish UAD had just a boost/OD instead of the all in one offerings.

 

[klasaine]

+1 to what Eric says about the Timmy.
Get his Janice pedal. It's killer. I have one as well as a Timmy and they're the same (other than the price).

 

[chrisharbin]

Might, let's try this one I ordered first. That mid boost is "allegedly" right up my ally.

 

[chrisharbin]

Man, my local GC blows when it comes to pedals! I forgot to order a cable to hook up the new pedal and looked at what they had. a for the most part.

BTW, am I the only one who doesn't want "Boss" stuff because it's aesthetically not pleasing? Am I just weird?

 

[Eric Dahlberg]

PM me your address, I'll put a cable in the mail for you.

 

[klong]

I have the Friedman IR-X and I like the channel 1 sound of it a lot, but the IR-D would probably suit me a lot better as I don't really do a lot of heavy distortion. That said, as a bedroom player I'm probably most enjoying Neural Amp Modeler, which is free.

 

[MaxTwang]

Man, my local GC blows when it comes to pedals! I forgot to order a cable to hook up the new pedal and looked at what they had. a for the most part.

BTW, am I the only one who doesn't want "Boss" stuff because it's aesthetically not pleasing? Am I just weird?

This will change your mind about Boss.

 

[BeingHumans]

As for delay, the Carbon Copy is fine as a short delay with one or a couple of repeats. At longer times with multiple repeats, you’ll get better results with software.
The UAFX Orion is much better quality and way more versatile.
If you want a really really versatile delay/echo unit, either the UAFX ‘Starlight’ or one of the many Strymon or Walrus offerings.

Overdrive for tone/flavor/color/texture …
Anything in the TS camp is fine for tightening up low-end.
The ODR-1 has a fair amount of lows but it will sound good going into a cleanish amp tone.
For me, going into a Marshall type amp (which the Friedmans are), I like fuzz. Fuzz Face and Tonebender style pedals are the thing. Also, a Big Muff will take you to a very different place. The trick or secret with fuzz into a Marshall is to not push the fuzz control too much. Push the output of the pedal to push the input of the amp and then bring up the gain/fuzz of the fuzz pedal.
If the Friedman really responds like an amp, a Treble Booster will get you a lot of tonal variation. Don’t let the name fool you, they’re more like high midrange boosters and bass tighteners.

The EH spruce goose is a Marshall blues breaker clone. Probably redundant going into a Marshall style amp.
EH soul food is a klon clone. These are more suited into Fender type amps.
*That’s all very general and YMMV.
You’re probably just gonna have to try a few to find what works best for your particular needs.

I have a few friends where I suggested to them, “You might want to try a treble booster.” To which they all look at me funny, until they try one and then the smiles arrive.

& always yes to the fuzz,
Cheers!

 

[chrisharbin]

So my good friend across the street has a BUTTLOAD of pedals. The "Blues Driver" is all kinds of f...ed up. Noisy pots, cutting out, blah blah. BUT the OS-2 and the OD-3 work perfectly! MAN, what a difference they make, and even with an amp sim, it's like "HOLY f.....ck". Very encouraged about the TC "Spark" I'm getting, but these would do the trick nicely.

@treble booster........not so sure. I mean, I only know "plugs" for decades, but they are usually thin and wispy.

 

[jaeger28]

There are so many OD variants and styles. I found a pedal that does the TS boost "thing" as well as the Fuzz clean up "thing" is the SD9 used as a boost. But it wasn't quite there so it wend off and on my pedal board over the years. Wenn Scott Henderson and TWA released a high end version of it (TWA SH9), I got curious and grabbed one, despite the high price.

And I have to say, into cleanish or already quite gainy Marshallish style Crunch, this gets the crown for me. It's really in a different league with regards to clarity while being fat and cleaning up amazingly with the guitar volume.

 

[chrisharbin]

Well, even with THU these work well. More presence than the plug versions. But then again, I have a tendency to get all excited about something and it lose favor over time.