Help with pedal order

[malevolentsparkle]

I got a MXR super comp compressor the other day and now I am wondering what order I should put all my pedals in. I guess I want to know the most usable/standard order and maybe some fun things to try.

You can see my whole setup in my sig, but here's my pedals:

Carvin ME1 (EQ)
MXR Super Comp (compressor)
Bluesberry Hotcake (overdrive)
MXR Carbon Copy (analog delay)

I don't use the EQ very much but I would like to.

thanks.

[jeremyb]

I'd go comp->od->delay->EQ personally, some people like the OD after the delay tho'....

[sopachrga]

I'd move the EQ before the OD.
Behind the delay could give you some really odd side effects.
I tend to think you should have your sound right before it goes in to a delay, as the delay will change the sound a little bit on each repeat, applying the same eq to each repeat will be weird

[malevolentsparkle]

I'd move the EQ before the OD.
Behind the delay could give you some really odd side effects.
I tend to think you should have your sound right before it goes in to a delay, as the delay will change the sound a little bit on each repeat, applying the same eq to each repeat will be weird

so your thinking: comp->eq->od->delay?

[Slowy]

Try both and see if one suits you better. Definitely Comp first, then dirt followed by modulation. Never used EQ.

[sopachrga]

Yeah. The Eq could go either side of the Od. You'd need to see what works best.
I've found previously that using the Eq to take some low end out and boosting it back up with the od can help tighten up the bottom end. But if you find your od has a harsh high end or something, you may get more use with the eq after it.

[malevolentsparkle]

if you find your od has a harsh high end or something, you may get more use with the eq after it.

the bluesberry hotcake has a real nice big bottom end and my amp can be very bottom heavy too so I usually use the EQ to drop out some bass and boost the treble a bit.

[GrantB]

Againmst the grain, I say try also comp last...allow the drive pedal muances to be driven by string attack etc, then squash the signal...the ultimate is to place it discretely in the effects loop so the preamp stage also works with string pick attack better.

Better still, throw the comp in the bin

[malevolentsparkle]

Againmst the grain, I say try also comp last...allow the drive pedal muances to be driven by string attack etc, then squash the signal

you mean after the OD? right at the end after the delay would sound weird! I have thought about putting the comp after the od as the hotcake is very responsive, but that said if I want more dynamics I will turn off the compressor! putting the comp before the od gives me another od style.

i'm liking the idea of comp->eq->od->delay. it's a pity I can't put the EQ in an effects loop because that is what it is designed for, but the bassman don't have one so I will use the EQ to shape the od.

[Slowy]

Againmst the grain, I say try also comp last...allow the drive pedal muances to be driven by string attack etc, then squash the signal...the ultimate is to place it discretely in the effects loop so the preamp stage also works with string pick attack better.

Better still, throw the comp in the bin

Make sure you have a compressor and a Tele; then you can be picked on equally by everyone.
Comp after drives can be hellishly noisy. If you like to keep the pick attack, you need something like a Wampler compressor with an adjustable attack knob. Excellent addition to a comp pedal.

[malevolentsparkle]

If you like to keep the pick attack, you need something like a Wampler compressor with an adjustable attack knob. Excellent addition to a comp pedal.

the super comp has one. its great, I don't think I would use a compressor without one. I was never a fan of compressors, I like dynamics, but my whole setup is very dynamic and I don't have any 'natural' compression anywhere in the signal chain. So the super comp is prefect for me.

[Slowy]

If you like to keep the pick attack, you need something like a Wampler compressor with an adjustable attack knob. Excellent addition to a comp pedal.

the super comp has one. its great, I don't think I would use a compressor without one

You're all set then. You've only got 4 pedals so try all the combinations and trust your ears. Some will be better than others but you can't do any harm by experimenting.

[MogwaiBoy]

Comp last could work actually... as a signal linedriver and an always-on light compression. More extreme settings would just squash everything (no boost/volume dynamics from the Hotcake) and roll the chime off the tone too.

If you use the EQ to help tame some of the low end in the Hotcake, then definitely EQ after it. However, Carbon Copy's are super dark too so the EQ bass cut might help there aswell.

Into a mostly-clean amp I really like having drive at the end of the chain, like a pre-amp.

[mitch.twentyfive]

Better still, throw the comp in the bin

This.

[malevolentsparkle]

If you use the EQ to help tame some of the low end in the Hotcake, then definitely EQ after it. However, Carbon Copy's are super dark too so the EQ bass cut might help there aswell.

Into a mostly-clean amp I really like having drive at the end of the chain, like a pre-amp.

hmm these are good ideas too. So you think to tame the low end of the hotcake I should EQ AFTER it? maybe putting the EQ at the very end as a pre-amp might be a good idea.