If you’re unhappy with your tone or simply want to try something different, your first instinct may be to reach for a different guitar or go amp shopping. If that’s the case, it’s totally understandable - those are the two most obvious components of your rig. However, next time you find yourself looking to make a change, consider adding some new pedals to your arsenal, or if you’ve already amassed a good number of pedals, try some new ones. There are a few reasons for this:
- Cost. Pedals aren’t cheap, but they are generally less expensive than amplifiers (except if you opt for the boutique options). As such, you can add some new tools to your setup without having to shell out too much cash, and even try numerous pedals at a time for the same money that you would otherwise spend on a new amplifier. In doing so, you may find that a particular pedal or set of pedals brings your amp to a place that you like more, be it by adding more tonal options, gain structuring, etc.
- Portability. Due to their small size, pedals take up much less space in your studio or rehearsal room, while still allowing you access to a myriad of different tones and effects. If you jump between different musical projects often or your playing covers a lot of stylistic ground, you may enjoy assembling different sets of pedals to achieve particular tonal options, for instance, having a stripped down live pedalboard but having a more extensive pedal setup for recording.
And let’s face it, most musicians are constantly buying and selling gear. In addition to local classifieds, online marketplaces are a great way to get rid of the gear you no longer need - though shipping is necessary. As such, it is often cheaper and easier to sell or trade a pedal online as it is much more compact than an amp or speaker cabinet. If you’re finicky about gear and tend to sell equipment often, pedals may be a better fit for you.
- Experimentation. Trying different combinations of pedals, stacking one into another, or adjusting pedal orders are great ways to find the perfect tone. If you’re a tinkerer or enjoy using different types of effects in your playing, you may find more satisfaction in using pedals as building blocks, rather than simply fiddling with amp controls. Considering how many pedals there are out there, from overdrive to modulation, the journey is endless.
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