Putting together a budget synth (+shoegaze) pedalboard

[Kacey Y]

I had a little gear fund stashed away since last year, to save as a little reward for myself if we managed to move across country on budget (we did!). So I bought myself a used Arturia Microbrute and I have $380 left to have fun with. I decided throw together a budget mod/reverb/delay based pedalboard to play around with the synth. Normally I mostly play bass and only with dirt pedals, so I already have a mountain of fuzz, overdrive, distortion and boost pedals. I have a spring reverb tank that I use for playing a little surf guitar and a EXH Small Stone phase pedal that I haven't used in years. So I decided to make some choices that I could also use for some shoegaze guitar fun too, if I want. After much mulling over, viewing of demo videos and price comparison across multiple websites (spreadsheets were involved), I decided to get a chorus, a flanger, two delays (one digital, one analog with modulation) and a reverb. I came up with two alternate lineups:

A: Boss CH-1, Boss BF-3, Boss DD-7, Boss RV-6, EHX Memory Boy

B: EHX Neo Clone, Boss BF-3, TC Electronic Flashback Mini, Boss RV-5, MXR Carbon Copy

I'd love some feedback on which lineup everything thinks would fit the bill best. Please don't say Strymon, I'm not buying it. Trying to keep things cheap, but not garbage and worth keeping long term. I might sub out a volume pedal for the chorus, haven't decided if I love or hate chorus in general ever.

[tremolo3]

How about a Zoom MS70? You can make custom chains with up to 5 different fx. It's what I use with my Monologue and it does the job. Spend the rest in beer.

[Kacey Y]

How about a Zoom MS70? You can make custom chains with up to 5 different fx. It's what I use with my Monologue and it does the job. Spend the rest in beer.

I thought about it previously, but if I'm using them with the synth, I want to be able to "perform" tweaking the settings somewhat. If I just had a static setup it might be a decent option.

[01010111]

If you're looking at the carbon copy, I'd recommend looking at the Malekko ekko delays. They have a few flavors in your price range, and I'd definitely recommend the Dark version.

[Kacey Y]

If you're looking at the carbon copy, I'd recommend looking at the Malekko ekko delays. They have a few flavors in your price range, and I'd definitely recommend the Dark version.

Good suggestion, I've compared them against the CC in the past, but that was a while ago. I have used some Carbon Copy pedals at jams before and liked them, only played the Malekko ones at shops, but they are also very cool and I definitely am ok with dark analog delay.

A TC Hall of Fame is in my budget against whatever reverb pedal I put in either list as well. I really liked the sound of the RV-6 compared to anything in a head to head demo I've heard, but the HOF was decent as well. Probably a little better than the RV-5, though I think I'd like any of them.

[tremolo3]

How about a Zoom MS70? You can make custom chains with up to 5 different fx. It's what I use with my Monologue and it does the job. Spend the rest in beer.

I thought about it previously, but if I'm using them with the synth, I want to be able to "perform" tweaking the settings somewhat. If I just had a static setup it might be a decent option.

Gotcha. You still can edit everything but that would be a PITA.

I'd go with A then, because it has more Boss in it.

If you want to keep it knobby then how about an EHX Hoax? Not super cheap but has shit tons of sounds and it might be all the modulation you need.

[01010111]

If you're looking at the carbon copy, I'd recommend looking at the Malekko ekko delays. They have a few flavors in your price range, and I'd definitely recommend the Dark version.

Good suggestion, I've compared them against the CC in the past, but that was a while ago. I have used some Carbon Copy pedals at jams before and liked them, only played the Malekko ones at shops, but they are also very cool and I definitely am ok with dark analog delay.

A TC Hall of Fame is in my budget against whatever reverb pedal I put in either list as well. I really liked the sound of the RV-6 compared to anything in a head to head demo I've heard, but the HOF was decent as well. Probably a little better than the RV-5, though I think I'd like any of them.

Basically, if you want a more hi-fi delay, then go with the CC. If you want a delay with character and more control over the modulation, then go with a Malekko Ekko.

If you're not set on a reverb yet, I love using a Mellowtone Dunk Tank with my volca FM? Synths get loud enough to drive the input on it in the BEST way possible! I made a video that shows that off:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q93W37eOxsM[/youtube]

[rfurtkamp]

If gunning for chorus, I'd scotch the CH-1 and just pony up for a CE-2W - both for the vibrato and the instant "I has Juno chorus" on tap. Then get delay you want, and flange, and done.

[frodog]

Yesterday at the jamspace we ran my synth (Yamaha CS01-II monosynth) and vocals through a visiting friend's pedals. All pretty cheap, the chain was more or less Boss BD-2>B'ringer Ultra Vibrato>Boss TR-2>Digitech Digidelay>WH Aquapuss>TC HOF (in stereo). Very cool setup which made me consider something similar for a vocals board. Definitely love the Digidelay's reverse setting on vocals (I only used that) with a little analog delay after, and then the lo-fi reverb on the HOF. BD-2 is good for a gritty preamp (but you have that covered), TR-2 for some movement, and I do agree with getting something that can do vibrato as well as/instead of chorus.

[worra]

if you're dying to cheap way out on reverb the behringer rv600 is about as low as you can go and honestly for 45 bucks it doesn't sound too bad. Dunk tank is another solid suggestion. I owned a Malekko 616 ekko delay, fantastic stuff - i'd probably look for the v2 as the mod range on the v1 I found to be a little odd, not a lot of territory between a nice warble and holy-shit-way-too-much modulation.

[Bartimaeus]

The Digidelay sounds pretty good on anything, so it's worth a shot even if you're just using it as an extra delay before your dirt.

[Kacey Y]

Thanks for the suggestions. I haven't found a better price that on anything I like better than the Boss chorus, flange and reverb I've been considering for the prices I found. I could get a Malekko 616 or something a little more pricey if I get a Digidelay or Hardwire DL-8 instead of a DD-7. They all kind of have similar feature sets. I think the only thing the DD-7 has the others don't is external tap tempo and expression capability. I definitely want something kind of dark, washy, with good modulation for an analog delay. Honestly, that seems like a pretty easy mark to hit, there's a few good reasonably priced used analog delays like that.

[(DEAD)fx]

if your looking for budget friendly and keeping it simple you could just combine a delay and reverb and grab a used EQD Dispatch Master. Simple, sounds great and you'll probably keep it forever even if you get some more versatile separate delay and reverb pedals later.

[Kacey Y]

Boss CH-1, BF-3 and RV-6 all purchased. I've got $180 left in my budget for delay. I can get a Boss DD-7 and EHX Memory Boy or a Digitech DL-8 or Digidelay and a Malekko 616 mk2, Carbon Copy or something even a little up in price from there. That or use the full amount on one pedal, but I think one digital and one analog with mod delay leaves a lot of opportunity for interesting sounds.

[dozicusmaximus]

The Digitech Obscura is pretty versatile, has tap tempo, trails and hold. Just another thought.
Or you can do a 616 and an older cheap Digitech like the DFX9, or an Ibanez DE7, maybe an Echo Park.