Howdy! I'm new to the forum.
I just bought a Strat - American Deluxe HSS and I'm a beginner.
What effects equipment do you think would keep a beginner interested in experimenting while he's learning to play? I generally like blues and rock. One of my favorite guitarists is David Gilmore.

Recommendations? Thanks all!
mas

Welcome to the forum! Go and look at this web site and look in the gear and effects section and you'll see what basic pedals you need for a Gilmour sound.
www.gilmourish.com The most important thing you need is his left hand!

Good luck, but I think you need at least a wah wah, tube screamer(TS-9/808),compressor, some sort of distortion/sustain (Big Muff-American and Russian models), chorus,delay, etc. on and on!

Congrats on your new guitar !!

Wow! I could lose myself for hours on that site!
Thanks for the input.

mas

Take a look at a line 6 floor pod. Its not the most stellar multi effects unit out there, but for the price ya get tons of buttons and knobs to play with.

_________________
"I started out with nothing, and still have most of it"

+1. Great multi-purpose unit.

_________________
-Classic 50's Strat.
-Std. Telecaster.
-Mike Dirnt P-bass.
-Custody of SE Strat.
-Peavey Predator/Dean Evo/Epiphone DR150/Gibson Slide (much older than me).

Rellik Productions Inc.

As a beginner, I would learn to get as much out of the Strat before you even worry about effects. If you have a tube amp, try using the natural distortion of the amp. Effects are used as a crutch by many beginners. Learn technique first, then expand with effects later.

I've been playing and gigging for over 40 years and still don't rely on too many effect pedals. A Cry Baby Wah and either a Tube Screamer or natural distortion is all I use.
Probably not what you want to hear. But you will become a better guitarist and not just a Wanker.

Yea, I agree. I don't need to many effects, just a good amp and a playable guitar. Get the guitar setup, and focus on your amp. My first amp had distortion and reverb built in, and those are still the only "effects" I use. I have no pedals, but I do have a multieffects unit now. But its Digitech 2101, and I use it for distortion, eq and reverb only

_________________
Guitars:
1. mid 70's Ventura MIJ Gibson l6-s clone (Pre-lawsuit) in Black with Rosewood FB and EMG 81 BR/ 85 Neck
2. ESP KH2 Neck Thru
3. 2008 Am Std Strat in 3 tone sunburst

For a fan of Gilmour, I'd recommend something that let's you fool with a lot of different effects, 'cause Dave really stacks 'em up.

But I have to disagree on the POD. That's not a multi effects unit, it's an amp simulator, and most of its horsepower is directed elsewhere.

The Boss multi boxes are great for producing that DG tone, IMO. The new ME-70 looks like the bomb for the price, but if you hurry up you can still snag an ME-50 for only $250 new (just a hair more than I sold mine for used last year). That's a pile of fun for the money.

Wanna blow more bucks? Better (for effects, that is) than the POD from Line 6 is the M-13 floorboard. I think it smokes the Boss, but it costs 5 bills, so....

Ha! Now I pass no judgement on The Edge's style. But comedian Bill Bailey does a very nice piece he calls "a catastrophic technical failure at a U2 gig"... Well worth 1:07 minutes of your time:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EDuK46ZqFM

Cheers - C

First I would ask what kind of amp do you have ? Solid state, tube, built in effects answers to these questions will help people with possible suggestions for you.

_________________
The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.

Thomas Jefferson

+1
I roll the same way, just a wah and an overdrive pedal. That being said, effects are fun, but they can also end up wasting time and taking the emphasis away from technique, style, speed etc.

Welcome!

NICE axe for a beginner!

Seeing that you are a beginner, I recommend against ANY effects. The problem with beginners using this stuff right away always creates crutches for them which may or may not last a lifetime. Get your playing technique together first before you start influencing it with 'toys'.

FWIW, I've been playing over 40 years and I can count on one hand, the times I've used them.

_________________
You dig?

Try finding a Marshall Regenerator. For a beginner it is a nice cheap pedal. Cheap in price, not construction it's built like a tank. I picked up on sale last month for $30.00 new.

It has the following, vintage chorus, modern chorus, flanger, phase, step phase & vintage vibe.

This pedal should cover you for some time.

I'm a beginner, and I got a used Pod XT live for fun. I don't use it for practicing, per se, but it's nice to switch from a blues song to a rock song and click in a different amp model as well as different effects. But a previous poster was wrong - the pod doesn't just simulate amps, you can just use effects into your amp. This is true even for the smaller versions.

From the website:
Pocket POD Effects:
Compressor Delay/Compressor
Tremolo Delay/Tremolo
Chorus 1 Delay/Chorus 1
Chorus 2 Delay/Chorus 2
Flanger 1 Delay/Flanger1
Flanger 2 Delay/Flanger2
Rotary Speaker

Delay/Swell
Delay

Reverb