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The Boss PH-3 is a multi step phaser with a ton of versatility. It is an analog pedal and has a 1/4'' input and output. It is a traditional stomp box and is not rackable.
Like most Boss pedals, this couldn't be easier to use. From the minute I plugged in my guitar I was able to get some really cool phasing sounds - ranging from a nice light phase to some crazy sounds that are reminiscent of aliens. I haven't looked at the manual because I bought it used, but I never thought I would need it.
The phasing sounds on this pedal are some of the best I have heard. I use it with electric guitars and keyboards. The sounds are thick and convincing - I enjoy the step phase mode the best, but I have used all of the modes. The effects are definitely pretty spacey, but if you are looking for a phaser, this is one of the best of its kind.
I've had this pedal for about 4 years and the thing I like most about it is its ability to create some pretty nutty sounds. Like all Boss pedals, its built great and the price is very reasonable. I never checked out any other phaser pedals because this one caught my ear first and I haven't needed to look into any others. The Boss PH-3 continues to be a major part of my guitar rig.
Voodoo Lab Pedal Power 2 Plus
By rarson on 03/25/2008 at 23:07 Serious about music, want to make it your profession.
By rarson on 03/25/2008 at 23:07 Serious about music, want to make it your profession.
The Voodoo Lab Pedal Power 2 Plus is exactly what it sounds like: a power supply for multiple guitar pedals. Voodoo Labs states that each of the 8 9V outputs is completely isolated, short-circuit protected, and highly filtered and regulated to provide power that is free of hum and noise. I will venture to guess that most people using standard wall warts will probably benefit from lower noise by using this supply, as I did. Another benefit is actually ditching all those separate adapters and plugging everything in using one three-prong plug.
As stated previously, the Pedal Power 2 Plus features 8 outputs, which can be configured and used to supply power in several ways. The first four outputs can be used to supply Boss pedals that require ACA power adapters. Outputs 5 and 6 can be used to power Line6 modeling pedals, and outputs 7 and 8 allow voltage adjustments between 4V and 9V to simulate worn batteries. All outputs are configured for these options via a small set of DIP switches on the underside of the unit. There is also an AC auxiliary outlet with a max rating of 200W (they strongly warn not to plug your amplifier into it), which is nice for people with an oddball AC pedal like the Digitech Whammy which usually can't be supplied by a 9V pedal board supply.
This unit can even use two outputs together to power an 18V pedal, though the required connector is not included. And annoyingly enough, while there is a nice selection of connectors supplied, someone with a full pedal board is likely to require additional connectors. The 8 outputs can all be used as normal 9V, and since that is the most common means of powering pedals, it might seem likely that it would come with 8 connectors, but it only comes with 6. There are two additional connectors for Line6 modeling pedals that use a different barrel connector, a 9V battery snap that allows powering a pedal that doesn't have a jack, and 3.5mm mini-plug adaptor. For things like reverse-polarity barrel connectors and 18V connectors, the manual advises you to contact Voodoo Labs.
While it's nice to have a variety of connectors, to me it would make sense to include 8 of the standard connectors because they are the most common. On the plus side, even if you require a seventh connector, at the very least you can use the battery snap and still power the pedal, but this is a little less than elegant and probably not preferred by most people. In my case, I needed only 6, so I lucked out. I don't really plan on buying any Line6 modeling pedals, so the extra connectors for those are a bit useless to me, as is the mini-plug, but you never know.
I applaud Voodoo Labs for their excellent manual. It's short and to-the-point, but includes thorough instructions about setting up pedals and even safety warnings to prevent damage to any of your equipment, leaving no doubt as to whether you might be setting anything up incorrectly. It even includes advice about setting up the actual pedal board itself. Many manuals today are typically either incomplete or difficult to understand, and while there's not much to this unit, it outlines everything it has to and even goes a little beyond, and in my opinion it demonstrates a commitment to their customer that many companies lack. Voodoo's manual makes sure it has your back.
One of the nice touches about this product is that its height was kept short to allow it for fitting in a rack, if you so desire. And even though it only comes with certain connectors, Voodoo Labs can supply just about any connector you'd ever need, like if you wanted a longer length. I initially thought the lengths were a bit short, as I have my pedals sprawled out in a line, but they turned out to be plenty long enough (though I can imagine situations where a person might need longer).
I bought this from Musicians Friend for $170, and while the price is a bit steep, I think it's an invaluable piece of equipment, and is indispensable to my setup. It provides pure, clean power, simplifies the pedal setup, and makes for a much cleaner installation. Voodoo's manual suggests that their support is top-notch, and the unit oozes quality. I'm even more inclined to look into some of their effects pedals after owning the Pedal Power 2 Plus.
As stated previously, the Pedal Power 2 Plus features 8 outputs, which can be configured and used to supply power in several ways. The first four outputs can be used to supply Boss pedals that require ACA power adapters. Outputs 5 and 6 can be used to power Line6 modeling pedals, and outputs 7 and 8 allow voltage adjustments between 4V and 9V to simulate worn batteries. All outputs are configured for these options via a small set of DIP switches on the underside of the unit. There is also an AC auxiliary outlet with a max rating of 200W (they strongly warn not to plug your amplifier into it), which is nice for people with an oddball AC pedal like the Digitech Whammy which usually can't be supplied by a 9V pedal board supply.
This unit can even use two outputs together to power an 18V pedal, though the required connector is not included. And annoyingly enough, while there is a nice selection of connectors supplied, someone with a full pedal board is likely to require additional connectors. The 8 outputs can all be used as normal 9V, and since that is the most common means of powering pedals, it might seem likely that it would come with 8 connectors, but it only comes with 6. There are two additional connectors for Line6 modeling pedals that use a different barrel connector, a 9V battery snap that allows powering a pedal that doesn't have a jack, and 3.5mm mini-plug adaptor. For things like reverse-polarity barrel connectors and 18V connectors, the manual advises you to contact Voodoo Labs.
While it's nice to have a variety of connectors, to me it would make sense to include 8 of the standard connectors because they are the most common. On the plus side, even if you require a seventh connector, at the very least you can use the battery snap and still power the pedal, but this is a little less than elegant and probably not preferred by most people. In my case, I needed only 6, so I lucked out. I don't really plan on buying any Line6 modeling pedals, so the extra connectors for those are a bit useless to me, as is the mini-plug, but you never know.
I applaud Voodoo Labs for their excellent manual. It's short and to-the-point, but includes thorough instructions about setting up pedals and even safety warnings to prevent damage to any of your equipment, leaving no doubt as to whether you might be setting anything up incorrectly. It even includes advice about setting up the actual pedal board itself. Many manuals today are typically either incomplete or difficult to understand, and while there's not much to this unit, it outlines everything it has to and even goes a little beyond, and in my opinion it demonstrates a commitment to their customer that many companies lack. Voodoo's manual makes sure it has your back.
One of the nice touches about this product is that its height was kept short to allow it for fitting in a rack, if you so desire. And even though it only comes with certain connectors, Voodoo Labs can supply just about any connector you'd ever need, like if you wanted a longer length. I initially thought the lengths were a bit short, as I have my pedals sprawled out in a line, but they turned out to be plenty long enough (though I can imagine situations where a person might need longer).
I bought this from Musicians Friend for $170, and while the price is a bit steep, I think it's an invaluable piece of equipment, and is indispensable to my setup. It provides pure, clean power, simplifies the pedal setup, and makes for a much cleaner installation. Voodoo's manual suggests that their support is top-notch, and the unit oozes quality. I'm even more inclined to look into some of their effects pedals after owning the Pedal Power 2 Plus.
The E Bow plus is an extremely unique effect. You hold it up the LED light on a string where you would normally pick, and it sustains whatever note you are holding down on the frets. It has two modes - one for playing pitched sounds and one for feedback sounds. There are no connections, you simply just hold it up by the strings. It is an analog effect and is really unlike any other I have heard.
While it easy to get some sound out of it, it takes some time to switch strings quickly and to get a consistent sound from it. I had to look at the manual to see the techniques involved with it and it took a bit of time to get used to.
The work I put into figuring out the best techniques with the E Bow definitely paid off. Its a hard sound to describe, but it definitely sounds like you are using a bow and is great for sustaining notes and making a drone sort of sound. The feedback mode is also great for when you need to create some realistic feedback. I've only used it on guitar, but I imagine it would work with any stringed instrument that has a pickup.
I've had the E Bow for about six months. I took a chance on it and it paid off - I now have a really unique sounding effect that I use all the time for simple lead guitar parts. There aren't any models out there like this that I am aware about. While it maybe a bit pricey for the average guitar player, if you are interested in expanding your pallet of sounds, this is a great piece of equipment.
The Boss DS-1 is a distortion pedal, with adjustable tone, level and distortion. It is an analog pedal and has a 1/4'' input and output. It is not a rackable unit.
Like most of the Boss pedals, you can pretty much just plug this thing in and let it rip. All you have to do is plug in your guitar in the input and the amp to the output. I had no need to look at the manual as I just adjusted my tone by ear with the 3 knobs and had no troubles setting it up.
This produces a great heavy distortion sound. Its really thick and great for sustaining a power chord. The distortion can range from just a light overdrive to all out heavy metal. However, I am unable to get a real tube sounding overdrive with this. I have only used it with guitar, and it sounds great with my amp that has no built-in distortion.
I've had this pedal for about 5 years, it was my first pedal. I like this pedal for the specific heavier distortion in produces. I use it mostly for rhythm guitar but doesn't sound bad for lead. I also have a BK Butler overdrive pedal to satisfy that sort of overdriven sound. However, the reason this pedal is so popular is the price. Since it is so cheap, even the most beginner level guitar players should have it in their set up. While there are certainly a slew of better distortion pedals out there with more versatility, for the price this pedal cannot be beat.
Electro-Harmonix Little Big Muff Reissue
By rarson on 03/25/2008 at 22:08 Serious about music, want to make it your profession.
By rarson on 03/25/2008 at 22:08 Serious about music, want to make it your profession.
According to Electro-Harmonix, the Little Big Muff is identical to the Big Muff, only smaller. It's a rather basic, but seemingly sturdy stomp box fuzz pedal. One input, one output, three knobs (volume, tone, and sustain), and a foot switch.
I chose this pedal primarily as a compromise between the Big Muff and the Nano Muff. The Big Muff is just too... big, and I honestly don't understand why the pedal has to have such a large housing. The Nano Muff only has a volume control, and I wanted to be able to tweak the sound. But I really feel that the Little Big Muff is no compromise at all, more like the best of both pedals, and it seems deceptively flexible.
Some people have complained that it adds too much low-end. While I do tend to keep the tone above 12 o'clock, I feel there is plenty of room for adjustment, and it might be more about the amp they are playing out of; my tube Peavey Classic 50 makes this pedal sound a bit less bassy than my digital Peavey KB-60 keyboard amp (but surprisingly enough, I feel that this pedal sounds good through both of them).
I was inspired to try an EHX Muff pedal when I heard some of the gritty fuzz tones coming from Jack White's guitar on the DVD "Under Blackpool Lights." It's extremely easy to get a very similar sound with this pedal and variations on it. Perhaps this pedal IS a bit more bassy than the regular Muff, but someone searching for Jack's sound is probably better off with this one, because I feel some of his low end is probably coming from that hollow-body Res-o-Glass Airline guitar, as they tend to "growl" quite a bit. But most people don't have an Airline.
Anyway, to me this pedal sounds "full," so I'm not complaining at all about any perceived amount of low-end. It's got a sound that I like a lot.
I chose this pedal primarily as a compromise between the Big Muff and the Nano Muff. The Big Muff is just too... big, and I honestly don't understand why the pedal has to have such a large housing. The Nano Muff only has a volume control, and I wanted to be able to tweak the sound. But I really feel that the Little Big Muff is no compromise at all, more like the best of both pedals, and it seems deceptively flexible.
Some people have complained that it adds too much low-end. While I do tend to keep the tone above 12 o'clock, I feel there is plenty of room for adjustment, and it might be more about the amp they are playing out of; my tube Peavey Classic 50 makes this pedal sound a bit less bassy than my digital Peavey KB-60 keyboard amp (but surprisingly enough, I feel that this pedal sounds good through both of them).
I was inspired to try an EHX Muff pedal when I heard some of the gritty fuzz tones coming from Jack White's guitar on the DVD "Under Blackpool Lights." It's extremely easy to get a very similar sound with this pedal and variations on it. Perhaps this pedal IS a bit more bassy than the regular Muff, but someone searching for Jack's sound is probably better off with this one, because I feel some of his low end is probably coming from that hollow-body Res-o-Glass Airline guitar, as they tend to "growl" quite a bit. But most people don't have an Airline.
Anyway, to me this pedal sounds "full," so I'm not complaining at all about any perceived amount of low-end. It's got a sound that I like a lot.
There's no real manual to speak of. The instructions that come with it give a basic overview, and the gist here is that if you plug in an AC adapter, it must be outer-ring positive (like most pedals). EHX didn't supply an adapter with it, but they did include a battery. I've got mine plugged into a Voodoo Labs Pedal Power 2 Plus.
It's simple to use by just adjusting the three knobs. The volume, tone, and sustain all seem to have the ability to affect the sound, which is a good thing, because it gives the pedal quite a bit of versatility. I just love the sound I get from it, and it's hard to come up with a combination of settings that doesn't sound good. It does seem to get a bit too bottom-heavy with the tone control set low, but if you like fuzz, it'll be easy to get a satisfying sound out of this pedal.
In my opinion, it's a perfect combination of simplicity and versatility. Very easy to use.
It's simple to use by just adjusting the three knobs. The volume, tone, and sustain all seem to have the ability to affect the sound, which is a good thing, because it gives the pedal quite a bit of versatility. I just love the sound I get from it, and it's hard to come up with a combination of settings that doesn't sound good. It does seem to get a bit too bottom-heavy with the tone control set low, but if you like fuzz, it'll be easy to get a satisfying sound out of this pedal.
In my opinion, it's a perfect combination of simplicity and versatility. Very easy to use.
"Sound quality" is an interesting metric for a fuzz pedal. As I said before, I love the sounds from this pedal. It trashes up the signal very nicely, though inevitably there will be people who do not like it for one reason or another. I was actually a bit shocked by how much I liked the pedal. It sounds a lot fuller than the overdrive box I have. I thought maybe the pedal would be redundant seeing as how I had two other fuzz pedals as well. But this pedal seems to have its own character, and a significantly different fuzz sound than the two Effector 13 pedals.
I play a Switch Wild One (single bridge humbucker with coil tap), an Eastwood Corona (SG clone, with excellent Eastwood humbuckers), and a modified Squier Strat through this and the rest of my pedals, and each guitar has some subtle differences that can be heard. It sounds good with all of them. It even cleans up a bit if you put an overdrive after it, but I'm not really liking much of the sounds I'm getting from my overdrive. A Boss DS-1 would probably be more to my taste than the AMT Du Hast pedal that I have now. But that's not the Muff's fault.
My favorite guitar, as far as sound from the Muff is concerned, is the Eastwood Corona, and it sounds so good that I often leave the other pedals turned off. However, a new addition to my pedals is a BBE Sonic Maximizer, and this makes the Muff sound even fuller. You can almost sort of adjust the tone of the Muff even further with this pedal. So while I liked the sound of the Muff by itself, I tend to leave the BBE on at all times.
I play a Switch Wild One (single bridge humbucker with coil tap), an Eastwood Corona (SG clone, with excellent Eastwood humbuckers), and a modified Squier Strat through this and the rest of my pedals, and each guitar has some subtle differences that can be heard. It sounds good with all of them. It even cleans up a bit if you put an overdrive after it, but I'm not really liking much of the sounds I'm getting from my overdrive. A Boss DS-1 would probably be more to my taste than the AMT Du Hast pedal that I have now. But that's not the Muff's fault.
My favorite guitar, as far as sound from the Muff is concerned, is the Eastwood Corona, and it sounds so good that I often leave the other pedals turned off. However, a new addition to my pedals is a BBE Sonic Maximizer, and this makes the Muff sound even fuller. You can almost sort of adjust the tone of the Muff even further with this pedal. So while I liked the sound of the Muff by itself, I tend to leave the BBE on at all times.
I've been using this pedal for a while, mostly playing with the settings and jamming with it. I like to adjust it because of the many variations it can produce. It's fairly quiet, even with the sustain turned up, but adding distortion behind it can highlight some of the background noise (one of the reasons I like using it by itself). The only real problem with this pedal is it can sometimes create such a wall of sound that it loses clarity in chords and such. I think this pedal shines best when played with 3 strings or less, which helps the individual notes come through. But I'm not complaining.
I think I paid $65 for this pedal brand new, and for my satisfaction of the sounds I'm getting, it's a ridiculously good value. I wouldn't hesitate to make the same purchase if I had to. There will always be people complaining that they can't get an exact sound out of a pedal, and for those of you looking to chase a sound of a particular artist, that may very well be the case. I don't know, because I'm not much on chasing a particular sound. I bought this pedal because I wanted something similar to what I heard Jack White playing. I'd say I got it, and I'm more than satisfied with the sounds it can make.
I think I paid $65 for this pedal brand new, and for my satisfaction of the sounds I'm getting, it's a ridiculously good value. I wouldn't hesitate to make the same purchase if I had to. There will always be people complaining that they can't get an exact sound out of a pedal, and for those of you looking to chase a sound of a particular artist, that may very well be the case. I don't know, because I'm not much on chasing a particular sound. I bought this pedal because I wanted something similar to what I heard Jack White playing. I'd say I got it, and I'm more than satisfied with the sounds it can make.
The Boss RV5 is a digital reverb pedal with 6 different types of reverb, each have different adjustable settings. It has most mono and stereo 1/4'' inputs and outputs. It is a traditional stompbox and is not a rackable effect.
The pedal is extermely easy to use - you pretty much just plug it in and go with it. The sounds are very easy to manipulate, 3 simple knobs for each setting - time, tone and level. I never looked at a manual because I bought mine used and never got one.
I love the reverb that this produces. I usually keep it on the 'modulation' setting and it is really a beautiful sound. The release and the sustain of the sound makes for a great pad-like sound when the level is up high enough. I don't use the spring setting much because I have spring reverb on my amp. The other settings are quite realistic as well, but I have a great liking for the 'modulation' setting.
I've had this pedal for about 2 years now and I've not had a desire to get rid of it. Whether you are looking for spacey sounds or just a dash of reverb, this pedal does what you will need in terms of reverb. I've also used some of the Electro Harmonix and Line 6 reverbs and I like the RV5 more because of its versatility. The only downfall of this pedal is the price, as its got a heavy tag for such a small pedal. However, it is a mainstay in my set up and I see myself holding onto it for awhile.
The Line 6 DL4 is delay pedal with 16 different settings, all based on other delay pedals. It also has a 14 second loop sampler. There are 1/4'' mono and stereo inputs and outputs and has 3 spaces for making your own presets and also has a tempo tap feature.
The pedal is very easy to use, although it takes some time to master it and to reach its full potential. Each knob has a different use for each setting and I would recommend looking at the manual for the full information on that, just because there is so much information and so much you can do with the pedal. Overall, its really easy to get some great sounds out of this though.
The effects on this are impeccable. While some are better than others, all of the sounds are very realistic and they don't sound too 'digital' at all. I use this mostly on electric guitar but I have used it on keyboards as well, and it works great with both. My favorite settings are the sweep delay and the reverse delay. I used the looper constantly, most of the time I just lay a chord progression down and make up lead parts over it - its a really great writing tool as well.
I've had this pedal for about 3 years now and it really suits all of my delay needs. Its convenient to have so many different types of delays in one box, and I love having the option of making my own settings. While it does cost a bit for a single pedal, its worth it for me because I use delay all of the time. Anyone who is looking for a wide variety of delays and echoes without having 5 or 6 different delay pedals needs to try this out. I've used some of the Boss and Electro Harmonix delay pedals and although those are great as well, they don't have as many settings, they don't have the looper and they don't have preset options. Overall, I say this pedal is worth its hype and the price.
My Martin DX-1R was made in the USA and has 21 frets and is not an electric-acoustic.
I have loved this guitar since the first time I played it...the neck is unfinished and goes so easy on the fingers, one of the nicest necks I have played and I couldn't believe it for the price. It is very light and is extremely easy to get a nice sound of. I would say the sound is definitely on the brighter, tinnier side, but it does have some nice bottom and fullness as well.
I'm a singer/songwriter and play a lot of shows by myself with this guitar and it always delivers, whether its with or without the external pick up I purchased. I'm into a lot of acoustic guitar orientated music (Bob Dylan, etc) and this has suited me great for playing those kinds of songs.
I've had this guitar for about a year and half now and I've been converted to a Martin lover. If I ever upgrade I will upgrade to a higher grade Martin guitar. I was looking at some Taylors and I decided to go with this one because it just played so nice and sounded so great for the price. I would hate to lose this guitar and I recommend it to anyone looking for mid-level priced guitar with great sound and feel. I would probably just purchase a higher end Martin guitar if I were to break of lose it.


