Suggestions for a classic rock pedalboard?

bluesroom · Jan 13, 2022

Hi all. I’m putting together a pedalboard for a classic rock sound.
As it stands I have a
EP3 echoplex,
an mxr phaser,
a TS 9 Ibanez tube screamer,
A memory boy deluxe
and a boss tb -2w ( a modern copy of the macari tone bender).
Any ideas for anything else?
I’m also interested in having a few stages of gain. Any of you guys stack the tube screamer with another classic overdrive? Thanks for your ideas ahead of time !

El Gringo · Jan 13, 2022

A Flanger and maybe a Chorus and a Octave pedal and maybe a distortion pedal ?

Midnight Blues · Jan 13, 2022

Definitely a Wah and a Fuzz, although an Octave pedal as EG suggests will have a Fuzz too, but since I don't have an Octave, I'm not sure the Fuzz will be dedicated?

metropolis · Jan 14, 2022

I would have some sort of boost or OD to stack as you say - big fan of the Klon sound but depending on your amp a clean boost could also work. Depending on material I'd have an analog chorus too. Also a volume pedal is a must for me!

I play a Kemper so have all of those options at the press of a button but from my pedal collection I'd add my Archer Ikon (Klon copy), JAM Tonemaster (Tone Bender MkII and Rangemaster Treble boost with sweepable EQ in one box) and my TC Electronic Corona chorus, along with my Ernie Ball VP Jr (modded with a buffer).

Edit: I also recently built a really cheap and easy Echoplex boost circuit so that could replace the Tonemaster and might complement your EP-3 nicely.

jrgtr42 · Jan 15, 2022

I like it as it sits - depending on the amp.
I personally am not a fuzz guy; I'd go for a different, higher-gain distortion instead, maybe a Rat (which depending on the settings can double as a fuzz) or something like that. I have a Bixonic Expandora that stacks well with a Tube Screamer, as does a Klone I have.
I would also suggest a wah - straight Crybaby or Vox will do fine.

Mustardc Caps · Jan 16, 2022

Roger Mayer Concorde+ Treble Booster
Wah Pedal
Roger Mayer Voodoovibe+
Roger Mayer Axis Fuzz

Mr. Papa · Jan 21, 2022

jrgtr42 said:
I like it as it sits - depending on the amp.
I personally am not a fuzz guy; I'd go for a different, higher-gain distortion instead, maybe a Rat (which depending on the settings can double as a fuzz) or something like that. I have a Bixonic Expandora that stacks well with a Tube Screamer, as does a Klone I have.
I would also suggest a wah - straight Crybaby or Vox will do fine.

Expandora is a great pedal, I had and lost one that I miss. Rat is a good suggestion, I have a Tru-Fi Rat Pack that has three modes that all rock. Or find a vintage MXR Distortion+ or Boss Mega Distortion.

jrgtr42 · Jan 21, 2022

Mr. Papa said:
Expandora is a great pedal, I had and lost one that I miss. Rat is a good suggestion, I have a Tru-Fi Rat Pack that has three modes that all rock. Or find a vintage MXR Distortion+ or Boss Mega Distortion.

Yeah, I grabbed an Expandora years ago off Ebay, before their prices went wild. But have you seen that they're bringing them back? A new version in a square box, and a vintage style in the tuna can. Haven't played them to see how they stack up with my original, but I'm keeping my eyes open to see them in the wild.
Same thing with my Rats. I've had my #1 for almost 25 years. I've had a lot of pedals over the years, but I have never found anything that beats it for the sound I have in my head. Even my second one doesn't sound quite as good. It's there as a backup, or I keep it at a lower gain that it does sound good at.
I do like the idea of the Distortion + for this application. The Mega is a bit bassier, IIRC. Don't know if it would fit in.

garagemonkey · Feb 5, 2022

Nice choices. Maybe toss in a Univibe

I have as many drive pedals as socks so I can probably only add more diffused confusion rather than pinpointed help, but depending on the amp I've really been liking:
RC Booster < Nordland ORD-C (basically a Nobels ORD-1) < Greer Lightspeed
RC Booster < Prince of Tone (boost mode) < Archer Ikon.
Prince of Tone (boost mode) < Nordland ODR-C < Archer Ikon < Analogman-modded GE-7

In any of those boost combos I rarely run all three drives together. Usually the first stage is on all the time and I'll kick in one of the others as needed.

That said, 90-percent of the time when I was gigging in a classic rock band I just used a UK-made original Marshall Guv Nor and a modded Dunlop Crybaby straight into a Marshall half-stack. The JHS Angry Charlie is pretty close to the Guv'Nor at reasonable money. And I haven't test-driven one yet, but the JHS Rat Pack looks intriguing.

Pedals...such a fun rabbit hole.

Elmore · Feb 5, 2022

Reverb unit and a compressor. Compressor is good for clean, or when you need a volume boost.

DonnRowe · Feb 6, 2022

It depends on the amp and situation. Classic Rock is such a wide conversation. Perhaps a wha pedal, like a Crybaby, etc.

Suggestions for a classic rock pedalboard?

bluesroom

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El Gringo

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Midnight Blues

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metropolis

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jrgtr42

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Mustardc Caps

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Mr. Papa

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jrgtr42

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garagemonkey

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Elmore

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DonnRowe

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