the rig

I've observed a number of guitar players blogs that outline their music rig, so I figure I should post my stuff.

I use what I guess could be considered a pretty simple setup. I plug my guitar into a Morley Classic Wah pedal. The pedal then runs into a BOSS GT-3 multi-effects processor. Sometimes I'll run a stompbox tuner in between the guitar and the wah pedal. I like the Classic wah, even though its a little indiscernible when things are really dirty; I like the subtleness of it. I use it occasionally on solos and more recently I've been using it as a supplemental EQ to get some nice low-end sounds.

On the GT-3, I generally use a Mesa Boogie preamp model with a nice, manly amount of gain. That's the first thing on the chain within the processor. After the preamp, I run a little bit of compression and sustain. I then run the external overdrive/distortion loop, then delay. I use delay, um, a lot. Most of the music at WEC requires a nice bit of The Edge-flavored delay. When I'm not using delay rhythmically, I use it in lieu of reverb, because I think it gives a bit more organic feel to the sound, and reverb seems to sound make things sound processed. I use the CTL pedal to active various effects that I don't use as much, like

I plug an Ernie Ball 500K Stereo/Pan Volume into the external overdrive/distortion loop. I use that as a master volume for everything. I put it before the delay in the loop so that the delay will fade a bit after everything is muted; again, this placement seems to make it a bit more organic and less processed. I use this for fades, and false sustains, and also just for a bit more control over volume.

If I'm playing at WEC, the output of the volume pedal goes straight to a DI box and then straight into the PA. If I get to use an amp, I play through a 120 watt Randall RX120RH amp head and then throught a Randall Rx412 4 x 12 cab. I alternate a bit between two different ways of using the amp. Sometimes, plugging straight into the amp from the GT-3 and using the clean channel is more than enough; I generally do this to practice for WEC, since I don't use an amp there. However, I also enjoy turning the preamp off on the GT-3 and running the whole rig through the effects loop on the RX120RH, taking advantage the nice metal overdrive channel.

I've been using this for a while now, and there's not a whole lot I'd do to change things. I would add a permanent tuner stompbox, rather than borrowing one from people, and maybe a more versatile delay unit, but other than that I am quite satisfied.