Aphex Acoustic Xciter

Kind of hard to explain what this does. It adds harmonics above and below the guitar's frequency range, so it can sound even lower and higher than before. I always wondered how some acoustic guitarists got those beautiful low notes that didn't sound anything like an octave pedal. It works well, but you have to be playing through a rig that can amplify them. I really like how it adds some 'thump' and 'chimy-ness' to the sound. I want those low strings to sound like a grand piano...this gets me closer. While I love this pedal, at one point it developed an internal problem. Aphex was unresponsive to emails, and only slightly more responsive on the phone. While I like this pedal, I can't recommend the company at all.

Boss CE-3 Compression Sustainer

I only use this on acoustic guitar, to get the single notes to stand out. It sounds great on nylon or steel strings, and has a more 'hi-fi' sound than most guitar compressors. This must add to the appeal for acoustic applications. The trick is in setting it right so the squahing effect isn't as apparent.

Ibanez TS7 Tube Screamer

This cheap little pedal is the best way to get that Tube Screamer tone. Forget the reissues- I A/B'd mine with several reissues, and there are just tiny differences. The reissue always has a bit of distortion, even with the gain down- mine is totally clean, for a clean boost if I want it. That’s it. Ibanez cashed in on the whole vintage thing and charges 3x the price for the reissue. Don't fall for it, look for a used TS7. Yes, it is the exact same tone, for 1/3 the price. It overdrives the Blue Angel quite nicely, providing a dynamic distortion without being totally saturated. I set the distortion level around 3 o'clock, and vary the distortion with my guitar's volume knob. I use mine with the 'hot' switch on.

Tube Screamer Mods

This pedal is unmodded. I think it is crazy what Ibanez charges for the TS808, and what some people charge to mod TubeScreamers. But, people fall for it. Some think it needs to be modded even if they don't hear anything wrong with the tone. A few cents worth of parts and some fairy dust and you will sound just like SRVKingHendrix! Tons of web pages on how to do it, yet people pay like $50 to someone to do it for them. Save your money and either mod them yourself (and see how little difference it makes) or keep em stock. Don't fall for the whole mod revolution. Most of the tone is in your hands anyway, and that you can work on for free. I will say though, I don't mind modding them so the switch works better- but leave the tone alone!

DOD FX67 Stereo Turbo Chorus Pedal

This discontinued pedal may be the best chorus pedal DOD ever made. It is actually 2 chorus pedals in one, with 2 'rate' & 'depth' controls. This is the one pedal I have to use all the time when playing through a guitar amp. I got it used several years ago- a great find. 

Line6 DL4 Delay Modeler/Loop Sampler Pedal

This pedal is the best delay pedal I've found. It digitally models vintage delay pedals and includes a 14 second looper. The loops can even be reversed and played back at 1/2 speed. The delays can regenerate and feedback making all sorts of ‘devil noises’- just like the real ones. You can play with this thing for hours and still come up with new sounds. It runs on batteries too, so there are no adapter cords when I play live. With its tap-tempo feature (where I can tap in a delay time while playing), this pedal will always be in my 'guitar & amp' setup from now on. 
This pedal can also mimic an chorus, auto-wah, overdrive, and slow gear..

for a chorus, use mod delay...no repeats, no dry signal (or just a little) delay time 0...you can use exp pedal to sweep the speed (tweak)

for an auto wah, use sweep delay...no repeats, all wet signal, delay time 0..you can use exp pedal to sweep the speed (tweak).

for overdrive, use tube echo no repeats, all wet signal, delay time 0, turn tweeze (drive) all the way up.

for a slow gear, use Auto-Volume echo, no repeats, all wet signal, delay time 0..you can use exp pedal to sweep the speed (tweak).

The Pedalboard

Here it is, all velcroed together into a Rok Sak Gizmo bag. I use the same sort of bag to carry my mixer in. It is highly padded, and has 2 other compartments to hold cables, batteries, etc. It also has a great carry strap, which is a big help. The first pedal in line is the Aphex (the small green one), and the last in the chain is the Line 6 (the big green one), so cables come out of the left side. I only use the first 2 pedals with acoustic guitars. The top row of pedals is on a riser. I built this pretty much by myself (except for the bag), and the interior plywood I added was painted in bedliner paint. It is wired with a George L's pedalboard kit.

The volume pedal is replaced by an Ernie Ball 25k Volume Pedal Jr. The volume pedal in this picture is a Line 6 EX1, which controls the different delays and loop volume of the Line 6 DL4. I got mine used, and cheap on Ebay, because when bought new it is way overpriced. It is made in Italy by a company called Bespeco, and if you buy one of their low-impedance volume pedals (at about 1/3 the price of the Line 6) it will work the same. It is cheap, light plastic that creaks when you use it. No idea why Line6 charges so much for it.

The top row of pedals use Velcro on the bottom to hold them down. I can get to the battery compartments easily without taking them off. The bottom row uses velcr straps, since the batteries have to be changed more often, and it is hard to get to the compartments.

It is all powered on batteries if I want, or the Visual Sound One-Spot.This device powers everything here, and doesn't cost a lot. It has a durable long cord too. Don't spend $200 on a power supply, the One-Spot does a great job for a lot less!

Behringer FCB1010 Midi Pedal

Here is the the Behringer FCB-1010, which replaced the famed Digitech PMC-10. The Digitech can send any midi message you want. From program change, to note on, to CC, to raw sysex, it does it all. However, the Digitech had some bad flaws. The pedals were positioned on top of one another, so it was difficult to press the top one without pressing the bottom one. Also, when sending midi note on messages, there was about a 40ms delay until I heard the note, which threw me off big time. The Behringer, in the same midi system, didn't have this. I also like the Behringer's pedals better, although I hate the display.

The Behringer FCB-1010 Midi Pedal, is a great pedal for the money. If you need some basic program changes, and a few CCs, this rocks. There are, of course a few serious design errors. Hopefully, those looking for one may read this (Behringer might too) so you can decide if this pedal does what you want.
Channels for note-on and expression pedals are set globally instead of per preset. This is a horrible shortcut which made me stop using it. I could've stopped using my Echoplex footcontroller, but I can't control the Echoplex and play bass notes at the same time. I can't use the expression pedals to control synth volume, loop feedback and a wah..I gotta pick only 2. Behringer also wrote the internal eprom so theres not much room for improvement. They don't listen to customer requests, and rely on an excellent (but not Behringer supported) FCB Yahoo Group to support this product. Someone in the group even wrote a PC editor, which I am grateful for. However, it is Behringer's job. They took a great idea, didn't do their research, and don't consult with real people who use (and would like to improve) their products. I mean, you have to undo like 30 screws just to see what version eprom it is. OK, enough ranting, I sold it. I've moved on to something better (and 15 years older), the Digitech PMC-10.

I got this pedal to replace the Digital Music Ground Control. It allows me to switch synth sounds, guitar sounds, control my Echoplex, and trigger bass notes with my feet, all from a $120 pedal.

Comparing the FCB to the Ground Control, the FCB:

• comes with expression pedals

• can send up to 5 program changes, 2 CC, 2 switching changes, send a note-on message & have 2 expression pedals per patch

• software updates are free

• you can save patches via sysex dump

• is 1/2 the price of the GC

• is built much better

The Ground Control:

• a lot more expensive for what you get

• has plastic switches

• you have to buy expression pedals separately

• cost a ridiculous $50 to update

• the LED screen is not bright enough and doesn't use no-glare LEDs.

• has no way to back up patches; when they are gone you start over.

• i was constantly tighening up screws inside, and had to replace at least 2 buttons on the PC board over 5 years.

The FCB is not a perfect pedal, but as close as it comes right now, for what is currently in production. There is a Yahoo Group that is a user forum for the FCB, and it is quite active. Some people complain about the programming part of the FCB, but really it is not that bad, although the manual assumes you understand basic midi terms. If all you need is to switch patches and do not understand midi, than this is not the right pedal- you will get frustrated.

UPDATE!

No less than 3 software editors were developed independently of Behringer. You can download them at the FCB1010 Yahoo Group website. Not only that, but some thoughtful people worked very hard on reverse engineering the code of the FCB allowing most of the wishes I had for this pedal, making it a sure winner for me. These are the most important to me, but there are a lot more.

• CC Messages can be momentaty (and there are now 4 per preset)

• The display shows the exp value when moved.

• Note on velocity can be set globally to anything I want.

Apparent;y. the original design of this pedal has some limited memory. For just a few cents more, Behringer could have extended the memory of this thing allowng many more banks, as well as per preset control over CC, note on, and more.

Also, there is no way to update the firmware except by ordering a chip. There are vendor links at the Yahoo Group. Again, for a few cents more, they could have used some sort of midi flashable ROM, like Roland does.

This UnOfficial firmware was developed with no help from Behringer (suprise). In fact, they repeatedly said they couldn't add any functions to this pedal. There is simply no way. Well, the designers are wrong. I really hate that they dropped the ball on this. It is great when the users take charge. Congrats to not only the firmware, but the software editor (Ripwerx) that supports it. This pedal is about the only thing from this company I would recommend. They have no-existant user support and generally make cheaply made products.

Jim Dunlop GCB-95 Original Crybaby Pedal

Don't be fooled into thinking all 'Original Wah's are the same. Mine is from the early 80's, and sounds vastly different from the newer ones (I have a newer one too). The older ones (without the PC board) seem to have a larger sweep, and therefore a bigger 'wah' sound. I don't use it as much anymore, because it is too easy to use it for every solo. 

Digital Music Ground Control

Lets just say I don't regret selling this one. I don't miss replacing switches and tightening up washers every week either. Another great idea not executed well. Worse still, is their so-called Ground Control Pro, which is essentially this device with better switches. They copied the way a Rocktron All Access (a stupidly expensive midi pedal) looks, with none of the programability. For serious control, pass on any Ground Control (hey, I rhymed!).