Pedals that are great tools on a board to shape your sound?

[sylnau]

Other than EQ.

[Inconuucl]

Lets put distortions aside here, as they are too obvious, but a compressor is really really important to get the sound I go for. I use a lot of tapping and rhythmic delays to create textures and such, and without a compressor I can lose a lot of the roundness and precision (not as in technique) my style requires. When I'm not doing that, however, a really really slow and subtle chorus thickens my sound, giving it a double tracked feel.

[Iommic Pope]

I use a Black Forest to fatten my gain sound. Turn the dirt down, volume up, use the FAC to widen the bottom end and EQ to taste.
I also have a Henretta Emerald Prince on at the start of the chain. It was initially to help bring vibe out in heavy fuzz, but it adds a little something, but not too dramatic.

I used to use a touch of verb to give depth to stuff, but I find it turns to slosh a bit.

I've been toying with the idea of getting a comp back on there as well. They can do a lot.
Also, stereo pitch shifting by a few cents wither side, if you run a stereo rig can sound really thick, works the same as Inconuucl mentioned.
I used to do that when I had rack stuff. Works good for more technical things.

[Chankgeez]

Do filters count as EQ?

[backwardsvoyager]

Yeah i love using subtle chorus/doubling as an always-on kinda thing. The IE Polytope kills for that.

Although the gain range is huge, i love using the LAL Angel Ring as a slight clean booster just to make lower output guitars push pedals and amps more nicely, fixes most things sounding 'weak'.

[bigchiefbc]

Compressor and wah are two big ones I use all the time for tone-shaping. I've really been getting into using my Freaker Wah for cocked-wah sounds. Even on bass, it sounds fucking awesome. Compression is big for bringing out harmonics and things like that.

[jrmy]

My always-on pedals these days are my MXR Bass Compressor, and my EQD Talons running at 18v.

[Chankgeez]

Who knew there were so many "I LOVE COMPRESSORS" dudes here?

[Iommic Pope]

It's all about that thickness.

[goroth]

Radio Deluxe dude - you know it!

[neonblack]

Ive been toying with the idea of getting a compressor. Maybe something small like the accountant.

[UglyCasanova]

I've been running a compressor on relatively low settings at the front of my chain for some time now. Really dig it, especially for droney/ambient stuff it's nice to cut off just a little bit on the attack and boost the sustain a touch. I would recommend the Deep Six or others that have a blend/mix-knob. I hate being able to hear a compressor really squashing/squeezing the signal, but that knob makes it so much more usefull and musical in my book. Up untill noon it doesn't change the characteristics of your bypassed signal too much, but you still get that smooth attack and those long-lasting notes. Good stuff.

[neonblack]

I want one to make my clean tone as thick and punchy as my dirty tones.

[UglyCasanova]

That's what the blend will do for you. Give this demo a listen and see what you think. I think it would work for you too.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjhnG4nSrLE[/youtube]

Around 8:40 he has it at the setting I use. He then goes on to show it with blend/mix at 100% and then back to about 50%. You can tell how fat it sounds without sounding overly compressed.

[coldbrightsunlight]

Yeah compressor for me too. I use mine as both a teeny bit of compression, and also as a bright boost which helps because my amp sounds dark at the low volumes I'm forced to play at most of the time. I turn up the compression if I'm gonna do a lot of tapping.