Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

We all have them, whether or not we use them is another story. What is your favorite effect and why, or which one can't you live without? No need to limit it to one, but share with us your experiences with them, and how they help you achieve your sound.

I use a Vox Valvetronix AD-120VT amp, so I have a plethora of effects built in. I do use an external compressor (Boss CS-2) because I like to have compression all the time to smooth and sustain the tone, yet still have my bank of pedal effects in the amp at my disposal.

I use effects a lot, but I don't actually have one I can't live without - I use them as enhancements rather than a basic part of my sound, and I can actually play anything I do without any of them. I generally use them in a very 'textural' way, to emphasise certain parts and changes within a song, and I rarely have more than a couple on at any one time.

My small board, which I use for my 'general' sounds, playing in covers and backup-type bands has:

Dunlop CryBaby 535 (not the Q, the older one with only four settings and a boost)
Frantone Brooklyn Overdrive (actually more of a fuzz-boost than an overdrive really)
Boss DM-2 analog Delay
MXR Micro-Chorus
Boss PH-1R Phaser

My large board, which I use for my originals band and for a lot more specific sounds has:

ZVex Fuzz Factory
Dunlop CryBaby 535
DOD FX25 Envelope Filter (the older 2-knob version)
Boss OC-2 Octaver
Frantone Cream Puff fuzz-distortion
Boss DF-2 Distortion-Feedbacker
(then an insert point to go into the amp's preamp)
MXR Micro-Chorus
Boss DM-2
Boss PH-1R Phaser
Boss HF-2 Hi Band Flanger
Roger Mayer Voodoo Vibe with speed control pedal
(that lot in the amp's FX loop)

Sometimes: Vermona DAF-1 Dual Analog Filter (a rack unit that I rarely use now because it's my only remaining one, and it's a pain to carry a rack just for that); ZVex SeekWah (a truly brilliant box but very difficult to use live if you need to change settings)

Both these boards rely on using the amp (a Mesa Trem-o-verb, although other things work OK too) for my main overdrive sound, but if I don't have that I use a Mesa V-Twin pedal.

And failing all that, my 'one pedal in a pocket' impromptu jam or emergency-backup-if-everything-else-goes-down pedal is a spare Boss DF-2... so you might say that's my 'favorite', possibly. But not the one I use most normally.


For bass I also use pedals .

Frantone The Sweet distortion-fuzz
Frantone Lo-Tone Classic Fuzz (more of a fuzzy overdrive really)
Frantone Thunderhead bass booster
Boss CEB-3 Bass Chrous
Dunlop CryBaby 105Q
(+ space on board probably going to be filled by a bass synth pedal of some sort)

All boards also have a Boss TU-2 Tuner on.


Come to think of it I also have a Frantone Acoust-a-Boost which I use on my acoustic too...

I use precious little these days, but each one is absolutely indispensable:

Ibanez TS-9 Analogman-modded "Classic mod" - Got it several years back during an SRV phase, but its a very versatile pedal that I can't imagine being without. I keep it on almost all the time, with just a touch of drive.

MXR Carbon Copy delay - I use slapback delay a lot, and occasionally do the self-oscillation thing.

MXR Custom Audio Electronics MC-401 Boost Pedal - GREAT boost pedal; I use it for solos.

And of course, the venerable Boss TU-2.

After searching for years for the perfect distortion pedal I found it with the relatively new Sansamp VT Bass pedal; it offers a great range of clean to overdriven tones and does not alter the basic tone of my basses, unlike every other pedal I have tried.

Occasionally, I will use my Voodoo Labs Tremolo pedal, again a fantastic sounding pedal with lots of usable settings available.

For recording I always use my Aphex Punch Factory compressor, it is transparent sounding and works great for evening out the levels without getting too squishy.

Although not technically an effect, the Peterson Stroboflip is the best tuner I have found; it does take a bit of getting used to at first due to it's sensitivity , but once past that it is indispensable for all tuning needs, especially for intonation adjustments.

+1 on the Vox Vx amp Kris. I run the head and one or two AD212 cabs depending on the situation. Great gigging package. I also use a compressor up front for the same reasons you do. I use a Diamond compressor. I tried one at the Toronto mini-con along with a Keely (no one had a Jangle box there to try), and fell in love with the control features and feel of the Diamond.

If I only bring one, it's my Fulltone Fulldrive.
After that comes my Tubescreamer then Janglebox.
If I really feel like lugging four boxes, my Big muff gets dusted off.

Like others, I can accomplish most of what I want to do without too much in the way of effects. However, if there's one thing that I had to say I couldn't go without, it would be either my Danelectro Slap-Back echo or Vox Tonebender.