Circuits You Just Can't Use

[Derelict78]

Auto wahs and muffs.
I wish I could make them sound good.

[dase]

backing anything shimmer and tube screamers. Hate the midrange hump of the latter and the former just sounds like the 2010s version of what chorus was in the 80s to me. I also just sold my pog2 because while the novelty of it was fun and I really thought I could hang with that low pass filter, every time I tried to work it in to something I was just like 'this is stupid'.

[Fuzz_Pi]

Fuzzes that sound "saturated" like the Megalith instead of more "direct"

Yes yes, yes. This has been my struggle in finding the perfect fuzz. So hard to find the balance. It's like I want a fuzz-stortion but those never have enough of the interesting artifacts of a fuzz.

[friendship]

Definitely wah. Never have I used one and subsequently thought "Yes, I'm glad I'm using this. This brings something interesting and unique to the table."

I hear you. I've kept a wah despite having not used it in maybe 5 years. My fear is that the minute I get rid of it I'll need to do some wackachoo shit. I used to be so into wah but now I can't imagine a use for it other than a static filter which I could just use EQ for.

As for modulation like flange or chorus, I think they're generally best used in a stereo recording environment and I honestly don't understand why they're marketed to guitarists when they tend to sound not great in a mono guitarist rig scenario. Sometimes you want a super washed-out, unfocused guitar sound though I guess.

[Fuzz_Pi]

Also +1000000 on pitch shifters. Hated Rage Against the Machine when I was 10 and I couldn't figure out why for the longest time. A number of years later I heard a whammy in person for the first time, burst out laughing at how bad I thought it sounded, then I put 2 n 2 together.

[Iommic Pope]

[quote="dase"I also just sold my pog2 because while the novelty of it was fun and I really thought I could hang with that low pass filter, every time I tried to work it in to something I was just like 'this is stupid'.[/quote]
I was jamming with a guitarist a couple of years ago who wouldn't turn his off. His guitar tone was fine, great in fact, but he would just not take the fucking -2o off for whatever reason.
I've wanted one, but that whole thing made me think, "Nahhhh".

[bigchiefbc]

clean blend
bassy, indistinct fuzz
overdrive that just sounds like bees over your normal signal

[odontophobia]

Can't use Wahs. Also do not like Flange. Can't really place them into any of the music I make.

[grindonomicon]

Rats for me too. Love some bands that use them, just never worked for me. I am willing to buy a Blower Box and give that a try though.

Autowah to me has two sounds; 70's funk and Unsane / crazy messed up noise rock guitar. I keep thinking about getting one again when I see them on CL, but never quite pull the trigger. I just use a wah for those type of sounds, and hardly ever use the one I've had for over 20 years.

I like muffs and tube screamers, but they seem to get sold or traded more than any other pedal types I've had, and I've yet to use one for more than one jam or in a band. Tube screamers are sweet for pop-punk guitar, bumping the gain without bringing heavy to the table. Been without one for a few years now though.

[UnicornTrap]

i don't have it on the board currently, but i don't understand the rat hate. i rolled with a mid 90s big box rat and a sovtek green russian for many, many years happily through a loud fender. Maybe I just have a sweet one?

I would have to say distortion+ i have been really disappointed with after standing right in front of a few amazing guitar players rocking one. I haven't gotten along well with a lot of pitch shifting either (although I love my particle).

I also can't seem to handle any regular styled wah with an antenna in it because I live too close to my city's radio and tv towers. the radio noise IFM coming out of my amp gets beyond ridiculous.

[greyscales]

Envelope filters, most muffs, and ring mods.

Never got them to work for me.

[Pugie]

I'm not really sure if it was the circuit or the specific pedal/pedals I had that didn't really work for me but;

Meathead
Darkglass Microtubes b3k (never seem to find the sound I'm looking for on it with my bass, I like it on synth and drums though)
Big Muff (only tried little big muff so I guess that one might have been the pedal)
Chorus (only tried cheap ones)

And the Tech 21 XXL bass was probably the worst dirt pedal i've had. Don't know what kind of circuit that was.

[goosekevin]

Tech 21 Liverpool was awful for me
Trems, ring mods and bit crushers sound bad when I use them

[DarkAxel]

clean blend
Fulldrive 2 (because it has wimpy headroom and can't handle my attack)

[Iommic Pope]

i don't have it on the board currently, but i don't understand the rat hate.

I don't hate em, I just can't get em to play nice with me.
I am probably Rat-tarded, though.

Envelope filters

Ugh, fuck envelope filters.