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Effects Pedals - Are They Worth the Trouble?
Monday, 18 January 2010 08:49 | Written by R. S. Rasnick
Guitar effects pedals (or "stompboxes") have been a backbone in guitarists' sound-palettes since the early 1960's when engineer Roger Mayer is proposed to have built the first guitar effects pedals, the "fuzz" pedal (the precurser of the modern overdrive and distortion pedal) and the wah-pedal.
Guitar effects pedals (or "stompboxes") have been a backbone in guitarists' sound-palettes since the early 1960's when engineer Roger Mayer is proposed to have built the first guitar effects pedals, the "fuzz" pedal (the precurser of the modern overdrive and distortion pedal) and the wah-pedal.
Mayer's clients included such celebrated rock n' rollers as Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck, and Jimi Hendrix. Purportedly, Mayer created the first effects pedal for his friend in the early 1960's. Now, countless effects pedals are used by guitar players every day.
Guitarists use effects pedals to give themselves a wider variety of sound choices to use during recording or live performances.
While distinct amplifiers can offer some of the alternatives, not many amplifiers have built-in effects. Besides, guitar players would have to go to their amplifiers every time they needed to make a change. Effects pedals are much more convenient, especially since guitarists often change tones in the middle of a song.
Not unlike the electric guitar and amplifier itself, effects pedals contribute to guitarists having a broad range of tonal expression.
Today, even some acoustic guitar players and classical guitar players use effects pedals although the distortion and wah pedals used by electric guitar players aren't usually part of their tonal palette.
After effects pedals became hot, rack-mounted effects saw more wide use amongst guitar players, especially during the 1980's. The Yamaha SPX-90 and Eventide Ultra Harmonizer were two of the most popular rack effects that guitarists used at this time.
However, guitar players soon realized that effects pedals were far more convenient and useful than rack gear, especially since the sound quality of digital pedals increased dramatically and eliminated the need for much rack equipment.
When they have their effects selected, most guitarists will mount their pedals on a pedalboard to facilitate transport and storage of their effects. This system makes it much easier to trigger the pedals as well, since they are contained in a relatively modest space.
The wah-wah pedal and volume pedal are a little different than the others in that the player "rocks" the pedal back and forth to adjust the sound.
Most pedals, though, have a simple on-off feature. For instance, the omnipresent distortion tone of hard rock and metal guitar players can be instantly switched off and the guitar's "clean channel" allowed to be played, to give a different feel to different sections of a song. Another simple stomp, and the distorted tone comes roaring back.
Guitar Players often spend a great deal of time adjusting their effects, amps, and guitars just to get the "perfect" sound that they've been looking for.
There are many different types of effects for players to chose from today: delay, vibrato, tremolo, chorus, pitch-shifting, flanger, overdrive, distortion, and the list goes on and on. Such effects can have noteworthy changes on a guitarist's sound, which explains their ever-increasing popularity.
If you are curious in broadening your sound or just trying something different, then you should give some of the above effects a try. Who knows? They may inspire your next amazing solo!
by R.S.Rasnick
Guitar effects pedals (or "stompboxes") have been a backbone in guitarists' sound-palettes since the early 1960's when engineer Roger Mayer is proposed to have built the first guitar effects pedals, the "fuzz" pedal (the precurser of the modern overdrive and distortion pedal) and the wah-pedal.
Mayer's clients included such celebrated rock n' rollers as Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck, and Jimi Hendrix. Purportedly, Mayer created the first effects pedal for his friend in the early 1960's. Now, countless effects pedals are used by guitar players every day.
Guitarists use effects pedals to give themselves a wider variety of sound choices to use during recording or live performances.
While distinct amplifiers can offer some of the alternatives, not many amplifiers have built-in effects. Besides, guitar players would have to go to their amplifiers every time they needed to make a change. Effects pedals are much more convenient, especially since guitarists often change tones in the middle of a song.
Not unlike the electric guitar and amplifier itself, effects pedals contribute to guitarists having a broad range of tonal expression.
Today, even some acoustic guitar players and classical guitar players use effects pedals although the distortion and wah pedals used by electric guitar players aren't usually part of their tonal palette.
After effects pedals became hot, rack-mounted effects saw more wide use amongst guitar players, especially during the 1980's. The Yamaha SPX-90 and Eventide Ultra Harmonizer were two of the most popular rack effects that guitarists used at this time.
However, guitar players soon realized that effects pedals were far more convenient and useful than rack gear, especially since the sound quality of digital pedals increased dramatically and eliminated the need for much rack equipment.
When they have their effects selected, most guitarists will mount their pedals on a pedalboard to facilitate transport and storage of their effects. This system makes it much easier to trigger the pedals as well, since they are contained in a relatively modest space.
The wah-wah pedal and volume pedal are a little different than the others in that the player "rocks" the pedal back and forth to adjust the sound.
Most pedals, though, have a simple on-off feature. For instance, the omnipresent distortion tone of hard rock and metal guitar players can be instantly switched off and the guitar's "clean channel" allowed to be played, to give a different feel to different sections of a song. Another simple stomp, and the distorted tone comes roaring back.
Guitar Players often spend a great deal of time adjusting their effects, amps, and guitars just to get the "perfect" sound that they've been looking for.
There are many different types of effects for players to chose from today: delay, vibrato, tremolo, chorus, pitch-shifting, flanger, overdrive, distortion, and the list goes on and on. Such effects can have noteworthy changes on a guitarist's sound, which explains their ever-increasing popularity.
If you are curious in broadening your sound or just trying something different, then you should give some of the above effects a try. Who knows? They may inspire your next amazing solo!
About the Author:
If you are a guitar player who is seeking to broaden your tone using Effects Pedals, then you need to visit Just Effects Pedals today. We have the widest selection of effects pedals available on the Internet. It doesn't matter if you're looking for the perfect distortion, flanger, or delay pedal, we've got what you're looking for. Visit our site today!