Conceptual pedalboards comprising cheap pedals only

[Ro_S]

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I like to play around with conceptual and thematic pedalboard ideas.

Below are the results of a hypothetical pedalboard idea I recently worked on. The concept was to devise a pedalboard feauturing a wide range of effect types but consisting exclusively of cheap pedals only.


I set myself the following requirements and limitations:-

• The pedals must cost less than £30 each, either new or used. I made a concession permitting £35 for digital delay and reverb pedals.
  
  They must have a sonic quality superior to that indicated by their price range.
  
  They must be readily available to buy.
  
  The pedalboard selection must consist of 12 pedals.
  
  A total budget of £300 maximum.
  
  The selection must feature the following types of effects:-
  • • THREE fuzz pedals (including at least one ’normal’ fuzz and at least one nasty/buzzy fuzz)
    And one of each of the following:-
    • a Tubescreamer-style overdrive
      a ‘dirty’ overdrive or Marshall-sound type overdrive
      a transparent overdrive or clean(ish) boost with good EQ, or alternatively, a graphic equaliser.
      a phaser or vibe, ideally analogue
      a chorus (or flanger), ideally analogue
      a tremolo
      a delay
      a reverb
  In addition to the above, I permitted a further budget of £100 maximum for the following three items:
  • a wah wah
    a tuner
    a Behringer US600 pitchshifter (Boss PS-5 knockoff)
  
  CHEAP PEDALBOARD # 'A'
  
  
  
  (signal chain: top row then bottom row, from right to left)
  
  Comprising:
  • Daphon Overdrive [Tubescreamer or Boss SD-1 clone]
    Danelectro Daddy-O [Marshall Guvnor variant]
    Guyatone FZ2 fuzz [Univox Superfuzz clone]
    Ibanez FZ7 fuzz (including broken speaker mode)
    Danelectro French Toast v1 [Frantone PeachFuzz clone (Big Muff based?)]
    Danelectro Transparent Overdrive v1 [Timmy clone]
    Visual Sound (Garagetone series) Oil Can analogue phaser
    Behringer VD400 analogue delay [Boss DM-2/DM-3 knockoff]
    Danelectro Chorus
    Nobels TR-X Tremolo
    Marshall Echohead delay (multiple modes, including tape and reverse)
    GLX RV100 reverb [Boss RV5 knockoff]

CHEAP PEDALBOARD # 'B'



(signal chain: top row then bottom row, from right to left)

Comprising:

• Visual Sound (Garagetone series) Drivetrain Overdrive [Reverend Drivetrain II reissue (Tubescreamer variant)]
  Behringer VT911 real tube overdrive
  Danelectro French Toast octave fuzz [Foxx Tone Machine clone]
  Seymour Duncan Tweak Fuzz [Fuzz Face variant]
  Danelectro Drive v1 [Fulltone OCD clone]
  Behringer SF300 fuzz (3 modes: Univox Superfuzz ?; Big Muff like ?; and boost) [Boss FZ-2 knockoff ]
  GLX graphic equaliser [Boss GE-7 knockoff]
  Danelectro Vibe [univibe type. i.e. bulb/photocell circuit]
  Akai analogue Chorus (rebranded Biyang CH8) [Boss CE-2 clone]
  Danelectro Tremolo
  Ibanez DE7 delay
  Marshall Reflector reverb (multiple modes, including reverse)

Both of the above selections amounted to just under £300 each.


With the additional £100 allowance in respect of the three other items, for both boards I selected a Vox V847 wah (c. £40, used) and an F-Zone PT-01 tuner [a rebranded Modtone MT-PT1] (£20, new), to accompany the Behringer US600 pitchshifter [Boss PS-5 knockoff] (c. £25, used).



Any thoughts/comments?

[rfurtkamp]

That much stuff plus that budget limit, I'd just go used rack gear and a cheap MIDI floorboard, plus whatever OD/distortion/fuzz floats your boat.

[contraterrene]

i like the idea. ive bought a few cheapies just for fun, and end up using them occasionally

bonus points cuz your pedalboard appears to be a bodybag