Fender Effects Pedals and Amp
Today’s guitar players have an almost infinite array of electric guitar effects pedals available, creating effects at the touch or ‘stomp’ of a button; hence they are often referred to as ‘stomp boxes’. You’re not limited to a single pedal. Several can be connected at once using patch cables. Alternately, you may want to connect your effects pedals together onto a patch board. This allows you to collect all your effects into one place to facilitate transportation and streamline the organization.
It’s worth noting that if you have too many pedals connected together, this can result in an irritating hum or buzz. This can be corrected by the use of a noise gate pedal.
Here are a few of the more popular effects pedals available today:-
Distortion
As its name implies, it clips the signal, affording it a distorted sound which has been extensively adopted by players of Heavy Metal and Hard Rock.
Chorus
A chorus medal duplicates the signal and mixes it back in with the original sound, creating a lush and fuller chorus effect.
Flanger
A flanger copies the signal like the chorus pedal but adds a delay but with a series of repeats. These repeats are alternately longer and shorter, producing a still thicker effect.
Wah Wah
Made famous by Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton, the wah wah pedal modifies the signal by allowing higher and lower frequencies through as the pedal is rocked, much like the accelerator pedal of a car. The name is onomatopoeic.
Reverb
As in ‘reverberation’, this adds an echo to the original signal.
Talk Box
A Talk Box incorporates a speaker with an air-tight plastic tube attached to it. The end is taped to the microphone, extending far enough for the player to put it into their mouth. By changing the shape of the mouth, it is possible to modify the sound produced. For a good example of its use, listen to Peter Frampton’s classic ‘Show me the way’.
Boost
At the flick of a switch, this simply turns up the volume, or, alternately, takes it down. It may be used in preparation for a guitar solo, or to let a quieter instrument through.
Overdrive
Overdrive offers a form of ‘smoother’ distortion. It seeks to emulate the sound made by an amp pushed beyond its recommended limitations.
Distortion
This is the gear above Overdrive. Listen to Van Halen if you don’t know what I’m talking about.
Fuzz
Dave Davies of the Kinks achieved this effect by slashing the internal walls of his speaker cabinet. Ike Turner, reputedly, did it by simply dropping the thing. The effect is a hard, gritty form of distortion. Listen to the Kinks’ ‘You Really Got Me’ or ‘All day and All of the Night’.
Compressor
Very popular in Country and Western music, the Compressor seeks to maintain a middling volume level. It makes the loud parts quieter and the quiet parts louder.
Delay
As its name implies, it copies the signal, enabling you to have a sound repeated once or several times. Think Roy Harper or, perish the thought, U2.
There are a host of other effects available to today’s electric guitarists. Most stores will allow you to try their electric guitar effects pedals at your leisure. So shop around and experiment and don’t forget to look online for some of the best deals available.