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Post subject: How Do You Buy Pedals?
Posted: Fri Sep 28, 2018 5:33 pm
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Okay fellas (and gals):

You need a stomp box, device, or processor; however, assuming you don’t have the preferred gear combination handy to test it out, do you have the opportunity to even try it out under simulated circumstances, do you buy only pedals with a try out and return policy, do you buy or keep a pedal with the idea that you’ll eventually get a rig that you hope will deliver, do you buy on impulse or recommendation (Face to face, YouTube, Web site, Ads and news letters, etc. ) or do you just roll the dice and collect pedals (some that collect dust), or . . . ?

Your thoughts.

FSB

I’ll add this question to the thread:

Do you have any pedals that you have fixed or would consider fixing, or is that pedal just going to the pedal grave yard”?

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Last edited by Fender Strat Brat on Sun Oct 14, 2018 10:42 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: How Do You Buy Pedals?
Posted: Fri Sep 28, 2018 5:41 pm
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I only buy from retailers with no-questions-asked return policies, which is pretty much all of the major retailers down here south of the border. I don't even bother testing them in the stores any more, I just check out demos on YT. At this point in time I have a pretty solid feel for how things are probably going to sound with my signal chain, so my current philosophy is usually just beat up the credit card with whoever has the best deal and get it here before the GAS makes me explode.

Holiday sales are the best time for buying gear, too.

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Post subject: Re: How Do You Buy Pedals?
Posted: Fri Sep 28, 2018 6:35 pm
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I should probably try them out. I have at least one fairly expensive pedal that I just never found useful (it was a Morley Wah. I'm no Kirk Hammett). But I usually just buy them and hope everything works out. :lol:


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Post subject: Re: How Do You Buy Pedals?
Posted: Fri Sep 28, 2018 6:53 pm
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spacewolf wrote:
I only buy from retailers with no-questions-asked return policies, which is pretty much all of the major retailers down here south of the border. I don't even bother testing them in the stores any more, I just check out demos on YT. . . .
Holiday sales are the best time for buying gear, too.
Pretty much the same here, spacewolf. Most, but not all music stores have that broad satisfaction guarantee return; but, I find that isn’t always the case or time to return is restrictive. Trying out in the store isn’t always possible anyhow. Sometimes the Mom and Pop smaller music stores are more helpful in this area, and it sure doesn’t hurt when you know and build a relationship.

YT is good for some things as are the manufacturers’ web sites; but, I find that varies.

On Black Friday I grabbed a great deal on a 7 drum mic kit. Try auditioning that in a store. :lol: YT to the rescue. Okay, they used different drums than I have but they were A/B tested several times against other kits and other mic’s (some of which I was familiar with) so I had a pretty good comparison along with comments. They proved to be pretty much as thought.

YT guitar related demos can be great, but the variations possible can, in my mind, be quite far away from one’s own result. IMHO. I think three basic tests are possible for comparison. Similar amp/settings, similar guitar and pups, and a reference that one can relate to. Pretty slim chance of that. Anything in the chain that won’t be familiar or used can cloud the demo.

On the other hand I also think trust in and history of the provider/maker goes a long way, Some brands are noted for certain products in their lineup so the odds are likely to be better I think. I believe that goes for cymbals, microphones, stomp boxes, and what have you. They all have duds or lesser desired products too. Once in awhile you get a Diamond in the ruff, and sometimes a newer version is worse or better than the original.

I do think the chase is part of the fun. :D

As for the Morley Wah/Kirk Hammett comparison I fully get it, Ghost. I have the same snare as Buddy Rich, and I can’t even tune it exactly the same. :lol: Fortunately, my Strat isn’t an artist model so I don’t have anything to prove there. :P
Thanks for posting.

FSB

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Post subject: Re: How Do You Buy Pedals?
Posted: Fri Sep 28, 2018 7:10 pm
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Fender Strat Brat wrote:
On Black Friday I grabbed a great deal on a 7 drum mic kit. Try auditioning that in a store. :lol:
:lol: Yeah they would love you forever in that store.

Fender Strat Brat wrote:
YT guitar related demos can be great, but the variations possible can, in my mind, be quite far away from one’s own result. IMHO. I think three basic tests are possible for comparison. Similar amp/settings, similar guitar and pups, and a reference that one can relate to. Pretty slim chance of that. Anything in the chain that won’t be familiar or used can cloud the demo.

Just to clarify a little, when I'm checking out demos of pedals, I'm usually looking at demos of fuzz pedals. I know most of the major varieties of fuzz circuits well enough to get a feel for how it might sound for me. With modulation pedals, on the other hand, I just buy and hope for the best. But then I almost never buy modulation pedals because I almost never know what to do with them. The foundation of my tone is fuzz, reverb, and delay, so that's what I'm usually looking at on YT.

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Post subject: Re: How Do You Buy Pedals?
Posted: Fri Sep 28, 2018 7:27 pm
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All of the above.

I have a couple of local stores, but selection... and even availability on their demo boards is usually pretty limited... or if the stars mostly line up, then there's the problem of not being able to hear what it's really doing over the Junior Eddie Van Wannabes.

So if I can try one out and really get a good feel for it, wonderful. I can count the times that has happened since 1976 without removing my shoes.
Used to go by word of mouth, or what I saw on the pedalboard of a guitarist that I liked the sound of when I saw them live.
Now... pretty much the same thing, but YouTube has replaced word of mouth, and published gear lists have replaced sneaking a peak on stage.
I'll buy online, and if I don't like it, it goes in the box of "crap I shouldn't have bought" since I'm horrible about returning things.

BUT!.... If I am able to demo one at a local store, I will buy it from them. I'm not going to be one of these inconsiderate jerks that occupies an employee's time only to try and save 5% online.

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Post subject: Re: How Do You Buy Pedals?
Posted: Fri Sep 28, 2018 8:27 pm
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I agree with a lot of what you said, Rich. Especially, when you are in a store trying something out while someone else is auditioning for a garage band rehearsal. :lol:
I beat that problem by knowing the guys that outplay me, or know how to use the gears’ features, so I’m not so proud that I won’t ask them to show me their stuff. I can use that to my advantage. I can play and dicker when a better opportunity comes along, unless I feel a need to play it myself at the time.

I like that you mentioned a published gear list. I appreciate the interviews when gear is mentioned in a respected article or when a tech does a demo on a backstage interview. If I get impressed it goes on my go to list for future consideration and comparison.

I like to support local merchants too. It’s a pretty tight music community here. It’s only when I can’t get something I need or want or, perhaps, there is a huge difference in price that I will go elsewhere. Here it also benefits me with service and less hassle if I need.

I gotta say you have my respect for being the first to admit that you have a crap box! :lol:
FSB

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Post subject: Re: How Do You Buy Pedals?
Posted: Fri Sep 28, 2018 8:49 pm
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The last couple times that I've bought any sort of pedals, I researched various websites in relation to said pedal, then try to watch as many demo videos as possible to get a general idea of the sound and it's features, then I'll order it online, preferably through American Musical Supply (AMS,) which also has excellent customer service and return policies, which helps with any risk dealing with ordering something you can't try out in person. The one advantage of that, is the pedal is also brand new (unless otherwise stated, and discounted accordingly with AMS,) and not messed with by anyone else, straight from a warehouse.

The last time I recall even buying any pedals in a store, was a Sam Ash in White Plains, New York, which was a go to shop near where my girlfriend's mom and step dad lived, which we stayed at to play gigs in New York City. I suppose if there was a Sam Ash in Rhode Island, where I live, we'd probably be more apt to shop there, besides ordering from AMS, if the customer service is the same as the White Plains one was, of course.

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Post subject: Re: How Do You Buy Pedals?
Posted: Fri Sep 28, 2018 9:08 pm
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spacewolf wrote:
Fender Strat Brat wrote:
On Black Friday I grabbed a great deal on a 7 drum mic kit. Try auditioning that in a store. :lol:
:lol: Yeah they would love you forever in that store.
ROTFL. I wonder if they would accommodate me. Good thing I like these guys. If I didn’t I might test that customer service, and then walk away. :P
spacewolf wrote:
Just to clarify a little, when I'm checking out demos of pedals, I'm usually looking at demos of fuzz pedals. I know most of the major varieties of fuzz circuits well enough to get a feel for how it might sound for me. With modulation pedals, on the other hand, I just buy and hope for the best. But then I almost never buy modulation pedals because I almost never know what to do with them. The foundation of my tone is fuzz, reverb, and delay, so that's what I'm usually looking at on YT.
That makes sense. Fuzz would be a little harder for me; but, I am very familiar with various hands on analogue gear for reverb and delay and digital is endless.

The characteristics and purpose of these effects are unto themselves like tremelo. Modulation can be awesome and weird at the same time and, perhaps, it just comes down to remembering positions of trial and error or settings with variations of source. When the dinosaurs roamed I had the engineers help me with a dramatic dream sequence which gave a ripple effect to the video. Modulation strength with a low frequency introduced to the video signal did it. If I understand correctly a similar sine waveform method is introduced to the audio to change pitch and other effects.

Thanks for adding clarification. That’s a good point for this topic. I’m sure others will be of the same camp.

FSB

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Post subject: Re: How Do You Buy Pedals?
Posted: Sat Sep 29, 2018 1:01 pm
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Like others I search YouTube first to find something suitable.
I narrow it down to as few options as I can and then I start researching reliability issues for all the candidates on my short list.
If I don't learn of any recurring reliability issues then I try them in a store if I can.
If I can't find one personally and it seems really good from the YouTube searches I may choose to order one online.
I prefer to do business with a bricks and mortar store when I can.

I was in the middle of this process right up until a couple of days ago.
I was actually pretty close to posting in the "Latest Gear" thread.
Some months back I tried a Strymon Riverside and was liking it.
I've had five Strymons over the years and still have two so I know they build great quality, great sounding units with no reliability issues.
I've been on a pedal purging mission lately because I have so many that I just never seem to use, particularly since I now have the Helix, so my search is limited to my alternate rig.
I've been reasonable happy with my #2 board but was thinking if I could find a more versatile pedal for overdrive I might be able to remove one and make room for something else.
Well, I've sold enough of them to finance the expense of a Strymon so I went and tried it again.
I also demoed the Sunset along side it.
I spent about a half hour with them and while I found them both to be quite competent I realized they provided me with nothing I didn't already have so I left the store empty-handed.
It was actually that experience that prompted me to start the "choose only one" thread.

Now I'm back to square one.

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Post subject: Re: How Do You Buy Pedals?
Posted: Sat Sep 29, 2018 8:49 pm
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Interesting post, Matt. I can see how you could collect Strymon and yet choose to have a bundle of effects in one place like with your Helix. Both good, but different for sure. As far as buying and selling goes I don’t see different approaches to pedals changing any time soon.

A one pedal approach reminds me of something. Some years back I turned down a great deal with Japan’s MacIntosh of preamps and amps. Not because it was unaffordable, but the upkeep could have been expensive (for me at least). I was tired of upgrading gear every few years to keep up with the latest greatest or to reach my preference. Along comes Accuphase to the rescue. Modular interchangeable inputs and outputs!

Don’t like what you have? No problem. Just like breadboards in a rack, simply pull a board and slide in another one, or a different one, or a duplicate one that you like (such as another phono or tape input and, perhaps later a CD) or put something where one didn’t exist. Maybe, you just want to update the quality. Anyhow, you get the idea. Change what you don’t like and keep the rest.

Now I know certain pedals can take digital updates and changes; but, has anyone seen interchangeable boards for analog pedals? That might be one way to choose one pedal for upgrading and choice. Maybe not. It would have to take some things into consideration like cost and benefit versus disadvantages. However, if you have a favourite pedal and just want to get it to your satisfaction this might be an alternative. It’s fine with digital, why not with analog? Maybe it is? I might buy that. In the store or online need be. :wink:
FSB

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Post subject: Re: How Do You Buy Pedals?
Posted: Sun Sep 30, 2018 8:07 am
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I read reviews in magazines and watch YT videos to decide on which pedals to by, sometimes I get them online but if a local shop has them in stock I prefer to buy them there.

I pretty much have all the pedals I need and don't even get to use them at the moment as my main amp is broken.

I also find that with some brands you know what to expect so sometimes will just go ahead and buy something without much research.

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Post subject: Re: How Do You Buy Pedals?
Posted: Sun Sep 30, 2018 9:31 am
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I usually buy pedals used and give them a trial run on my board. If I like the sound and think I'll have a use for it, I'll keep it. Otherwise, I'll put it back on Craigslist or Ebay and sell it back to someone else.


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Post subject: Re: How Do You Buy Pedals?
Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2018 12:13 pm
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I buy from retailers and some gear classifieds when I know what I want.

Sometimes I hear someone using a pedal and I go to a local shop and try one.

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Post subject: Re: How Do You Buy Pedals?
Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2018 12:44 pm
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Thanks, for chiming in gang.

Unfortunately, I recently missed out on a Bargain Attic Sale at the local dealer where used, clearance, and sale items were available, and a group a few weeks earlier set up a separate flea market at a local Legion just for guitar and related gear. You could buy the use of a table or two and sell or buy used items. Even if you didn’t take a table, you could participate with bringing one guitar or a certain amount of items. I’m told it was successful and fun, and may come around again. I’m also told that although some items sold for a fair or high price, most were low bids. There were probably some good pedal buys. :P
I’ll try to make it next year as it’s already being considered.

FSB

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