First Pedal?

Donahueghs · #1 4 Weeks Ago

Hey

I'm a beginner and as Christmas is coming up my parents asked me to look out and see if there is anything I'd like as present as Christmas. I want something to do with guitar and I thought maybe a pedal?

I listen to indie/rock music the most and will be learning to play those kinds of music most. So my question is: what is the most used/best pedal to have as a first pedal?

Also, please tell me if there's anything else that would be good to have for a beginner.

Thanks

CirrusPilot · #2 4 Weeks Ago

Good question. I'm posting so I can subscribe to this thread. I play my acoustic a lot more than my electric for the fact that I can't get any different sounds from my electric than I can from acoustic. And the acoustic is just handier to play. I play more country type of music and would like a recommendation for a pedal as well.

mantablueraider · #3 4 Weeks Ago

this may be a bit off topic but this thing has all the pedals, amps and effects i'll ever need plus a good external soundcard with mic and electric guitar inputs. also a great recording device with a good daw like reaper. if you intend to just jam at home and maybe record a few check it out....Line 6 - POD Studio UX1 - USB Audio Interface for Computer Recording

ChadHydro · #4 4 Weeks Ago

I myself play a lot of indie music. I'm a big fan of Modest Mouse, especially their "Lonesome Crowded West" album. Turns out the pedal they used a lot in that album is the Boss Blues Driver BD-2. I picked one up a while ago and I've loved it ever since. It's great and I'd highly recommend it

fly135 · #5 4 Weeks Ago

My first FX was a GuitarPort. Well worth the money. Basically the Pod Studio Kenneth (Manta) posted is a new version of the same thing. I would recommend a multifx. Any of them in your budget (around pedal cost) is probably good enough to give you a bunch of Distortion and other FX to play with.

pHGTRSpider · #6 4 Weeks Ago

As technology has improved and later models come out, multi effect pedals have really dropped in price. I've seen lots of great gtr pedals on eBay for one-third the price of when they first came out and they are still excellent pedals. I like Boss and Zoom. So latest Boss is GT-10 but GT6 or 8 would be fantastic. Zoom g7 are now really cheap but sound great. Good luck deciding and Merry Xmas.

Donahueghs · #7 3 Weeks Ago

Has anyone had any experience with the Zoom G2.1?

Any other suggestions welcome! =D

carol m · #8 3 Weeks Ago

I have an RP 150 which is a usb connected multi-fx pedal and it has plenty of options. The usb connection is good for me because I don't have (or need) an amp. I got it cheap on ebay. I don't play much electric but I find it has way too many choices for me, plus a built in variable tempo drum machine for practicing and building up speed. Some multi-fx pedals have this included.

Donahueghs · #9 3 Weeks Ago

I was actually looking at the DigiTech R90. I thought the RP150 would be newer but according to the website the RP150 is a discontinued product.

I'm probably going to go for the DigiTech R90, the reviews are very good for it, no-one has said a bad thing about it yet (that I've read).

Carol M - I don't use my amp for practising either, only for recording for fun, through a microphone, so the USB connection will be great. =D

carol m · #10 3 Weeks Ago

If you want a USB connection you should check that the RP90 works like that - when I was checking, only the RPx50 models had usb eg RP150, RP250. RP350. I'm not sure how the non-usb pedals connect with the computer, probably through your amp but make sure your connections are what you want before you buy.

Also the higher number models just have more ' pedal voices' to choose from as far as I know, and don't follow a progression of time.

If you don't get your pedal, you can always use the many fx options (equiv of pedals) supplied in the free software recording interface called Reaper. Reaper can be quite daunting at first if you have no experience with a simpler recording interface, but the basics are all the same for all those programs like Audacity (also free but not really any pedal type effects in the program itself).

With Reaper you can plug your guitar into your computer link, change the Reaper effect (fx) you have chosen and hear the result in real time. There are tutorial videos for it online and there are some others provided on this site by Tekker in the Lessons from Members section of the free lessons.

Donahueghs · #11 3 Weeks Ago

I will have at look at the R90 connecting device soon. Thanks for reminding me of that. =)

I have a program called 'Mixcraft' and one called 'EnergyXT' for recording, but I can't get my guitar to connect. I have a wire that fits into the speaker jack, with 2 ends for guitars. But nothing registers it's plugged in, the computer still tries to record through the built in microphone. Here is a picture: Any ideas how to make this recording work?

fly135 · #12 3 Weeks Ago

It surely does not go into the speaker jack. It goes into the line in. If your connectors are colored then the standard for line in is blue (green=speaker, pink=mic). After plugging into the line in you need to select line in as the recording input.

If your built in mic is a different sound device (like a web cam), then you need to go to the audio control panel and select the sound card as the default recording device. Or your recording program may let you set the record device. This is different than the record input. You need to select the correct device before you can select the input.

SteveHowe · #13 3 Weeks Ago

Has to be a cry baby wah wah pedal!
Steve

Donahueghs · #14 3 Weeks Ago

Has anyone used/own the Line 6 Pod 2.0 and what do you think of it?

Cheers

fly135 · #15 2 Weeks Ago

The Pods are pretty good. I've never used a 2.0, but my first FX was a GuitarPort and it was a nice piece of equipment. The 2.0 doesn't have the USB and it's a bit old. I just picked up a Pod XT from Craigslist today for $80.