Daniel-Ganfield wrote:

 

Ok, so tell us why you decided on these pedals?

Well, this is after years of being a modeling user and discovering what works for me both live and recorded.  So after research and trial, I picked what I perceived to be the best of each need.  I'm not a big "effects" user.  The most I go for is chorus, delay and sometimes wah.  I do like a little variety in the gain department.  And I also need some "utility" pedals.

Tuner: Korg Pitchblack.  The other choices were Boss TU-2, which is only accurate to +/- 3 cent, or the Digitech Hardwire Tuner.  I liked the compact format, display, price, tuning action, and >= 1 cent accuracy of the Pitchblack.

Noise Reduction:  ISP Decimator G-String.  This is what I was hoping for in an NR pedal:  2 stage reduction.   It goes both pre and post distortion in the chain.  I wanted this functionality, but not at the expense of buying the Pro Rack G.  It's pricey, but beats the competition soundly.  I had tried the regular Decimator and liked what it did before the amp and in the loop, but wished it had both of those together, not separately.  Plus, that original Decimator wasn't designed to be used in the loop.  The G-String contains the NR algorithms of the Pro Rack G in that department.

Wah: Dunlop 95Q.  Adjustable Q and switchless.  I am of the mind that a wah should engage in the low register, not the high.  I like switchless but didn't want to go for the larger format Morley.  This one sounds good with the SV too.

OD:  MXR GT-OD.  I wanted a simple OD pedal that sounds great.  And for the price (I got it for $61 new off eBay) this one is a steal.  Sounds like a plexi in a box at higher settings.  Way better than any Tube Screamer.

Distortion:  Blackstar HT-Dual x 2.  I started off wanting just a plain old distortion pedal that mimiced a JCM800 in a box.  But after finding this thing, I started to rethink my entire rig.  What if I could have a pedalboard that was self contained to the point of being able to use it direct to the board or recorder?  In other words, as a backup amp or direct rig?  The sheer variety of tones to be had and the tone quality of this pedal seems to offer that possibility.  And it's tube distortion.  Yes, I know, there are op-amps in there that boost the signal up to the point where the tube can really work magic, but the distortion itself comes from the tube.  The diode clipping stage comes after the tube and only functions as a kind of limiter.  Anway, these in my rig will let me get American clean and high gain in addition to British crunch and high gain.  And they interact with ODs well.  Add a cab emulator direct box (see below) after the whole board and it's direct time live.

EQ:  MXR 10-band.  Simply the best EQ pedal for guitar I've owned.  I love what it does with the SV.  This will be used to shape the distortion stages on the board or amp.

Chorus:  MXR Stereo Chorus.  Best analog chorus out there.  18 volt operation = high headroom.  Has that sound that I instantly identify with from so many recordings.  It's the chorus I've always wanted out of my PODs but can't seem to find.

Delay:  Digitech Hardwire DL-8 Delay/Looper x 2.  This pedal craps all over the Boss DD line.   Sounds fantastic.  Convincing tape and analog delay sounds.  Crystal clear digital delay.  Tap tempo in all modes.  True bypass switching or DSP bypass with trails.  18 volt operation.  And it has a 20 second looper with unlimited tracks.  Not that I'll use a looper much, but it's a great feature.  I chose two in order to have instant access to delay time/type for rhythm and leads.

Not pictured:

Power supply:  Dunlop DC Brick.  7 9V outputs and 3 18V outputs.  Meets my power requirements.  Only problem are the Blackstars.  Their 16V adapters will run off the AC feed to the brick.

Board:  Pedaltrain PT-2.  Cool device.  It's simple, and I like that.  Plus it has a nice hard case or carry bag.  I haven't decided which of those to get.  Depends on which bargain I find.

Direct box / Cab emulation:  Behringer Ultra-G GI100 DI.  I have tried this puppy and it is awesome for the $50.  Very convincing 412 cab emulation and direct box all in one little package.  Can be powered by phantom power or 9V.  Takes a wide variety of input levels from instrument up to speaker output from an amp.  I plan on using this between my SV and it's speakers as a direct send or as a means of just using the pedal board as a self contained solution.