What Guitar Pedals Should I Get First?

We help you clear the FX confusion and get started with pedals

Life too short for long YouTube videos? Please see the ‘Interesting bits and go-to sections’ information below.

Welcome to the show! In this episode we return to basics and suggest some effects types to consider if you’re just getting started with guitar pedals.
Some context is probably in order. When Dan and I were starting out there was no internet. Woah. The pedals available to you were basically those that your local guitar store carried… and in both of our cases that amounted to a handful of classic Boss, Arion and MXR boxes. Probably less than 25 pedals all up.
Fast forward 35 years and the selection is simply vast, available from all corners of the globe. So how on this Earth do you know where to begin?
We go through the basics of an approach that incorporates one ‘gain’ pedal (overdrive), one time-based pedal (delay) and one modulation (tremolo). There are a great many more examples of each, but we’re starting here in the hope that it can steer you to a more relevant question for your own needs and situation. And if this seems too simplistic, make sure you check out next week’s video: Your Next Three Guitar Effects Pedals!

PLEASE NOTE: We like each of these pedals a great deal, but the specific pedals themselves is not the point. The point is about overdrive, delay and tremolo, so choose whatever brand and budget that appeals to you most!

And for everyone one who says your first pedal should be a tuner. No it shouldn't. Get a headstock tuner, but even better than that, please learn to tune by ear. You don't need a pedal tuner until you're doing gigs. Big love y'all!

Enjoy the video!

Pedals & stuff used in this video
• D'Addario XPND Pedalboard
UK & Europe: https://bit.ly/3zaTX5Z

• Nobels ODR-1 Overdrive
UK & Europe: https://bit.ly/3zaTX5Z
Australia: https://bit.ly/3BoLto6
USA Sweetwater: https://imp.i114863.net/vnk2oe

• JHS 3-Series Delay
UK & Europe: https://bit.ly/3zaTX5Z
Australia: https://bit.ly/3xZ9wKV

• Boss TR-2 Tremolo
UK & Europe: https://bit.ly/3zaTX5Z

Interesting bits and go-to sections…
0:00 Intro playing
1:20 What are we doing today?
2:10 Three effects types
3:20 Overdrive explanation
3:58 Today’s amp
4:45 Overdrive sounds
10:44 Delay & echo explanation
12:00 Delay sounds
14:35 Longer delays
16:00 Delay level tips
18:35 Self-oscillation
20:20 Dotted-eighth
21:55 Tremolo explanation
23:03 Tremolo sounds
24:17 Tremolo wave shape
26:15 Interesting combinations of all threeg

Guitars in this episode:
• Epiphone Casino – Mick’s video here    • Epiphone Casino Pickup Swap: Average To Aw...  
• 1965 Fender Telecaster – no video
• Supro Jamesport – no video
• Nik Huber Krautster II – Dan’s video here    • That Pedal Show – Our Guitars & Gear: Dan’...  

Amps & cabs in this episode:
• Fender ’65 Deluxe Reverb reissue with standard speaker

We hope you enjoy this episode. Please subscribe to our channel.

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Please visit our preferred retailers!
UK & Europe: Andertons Music https://bit.ly/3zaTX5Z
Australia: Pedal Empire http://bit.ly/2mWmJQf