Effect Boxes For Electric Guitars

The remarkable range of electronic possibilities has(the Roland Bee Baa of Roland Corporation)
reached music to incredible levels of melody,Chorus If the delay time is cycled, very short and
tunes and harmony. The devices that make allvaried, the ensuing echo is not clear or distinct.
this possible are versatile and diverse. DevicesInstead, a swirling sound is heard. . If it sounds like
called Effect Boxes bring about singular effects inmany instruments played simultaneously, then it is
guitar sounds.called a "chorus" effect. Examples of the chorus
Octavizereffect pedals are Ibanez CF-7 of the Ibanez
An input music signal is mixed with a tone that isCompany and BOSS CE-1 of Roland Corporation)
synthesized. This tone is an octave higher orWah-Wah This pedal does not allow all the
lower than the input. This is produced what theincoming frequency to pass. By operating the
octavizer does. The octavizer pedals are availablepedal back and forth you can allow only the higher
as the following models - Green Ringer, Ampegfrequency notes or only the lower frequency
Scrambler and Tycobrahe Octavia, and manynotes to pass through.
many more.The effect thus created makes you think you
Phase shiftercan hera a person saying "wow". In the 1960s
This effect created by this device is the sound ofWah-Wah effect and fuzz box effect were
a jet flying just above you! It was much soughtcombined to create a "fuzz-wah" effect! Some of
after in the '70s by piano players and bassthe available brands of Wah-Wah pedals are
guitarists. Electro-Harmonix Small Stone, DunlopDunlop Cry Baby and Vox Wah-Wah.
Univibe and BOSS PH-3 are apt examples. TheseCompressor
pedals allow you to change the pitch of a musicalThe device is more of an automatic volume
instrument, usually allowing for a smooth tone.control. When input sound increases in volume, the
Pitch Shiftercompressor reflexively decreases the output
The pitch shifter enables two musicians to play atvolume . And for the reverse effect, the volume
different pitches, without altering the tuning ofof the output is increased when the music played
either instrument. Digitech Whammy Pedal anddecreases in loudness.
Boss CS-5 are two popular Pitch Shifter PedalThe uniform volume level maintained gives the
products.impression of a greater sustain effect for the
Distortion pedalsguitar . A compressor can help vary other effects
This pedal can bring in newer harmonics into alike distortion. Some popular brands of
normal electric guitar signal. This will distort theCompressor Pedals are ToadWorks Mr.Squishy,
signal and the output is a more varied sound thatBOSS CS-3, and MXR Dynacomp.
cannot be accomplished by an electric guitar, justMulti Effect Pedals
like that. Some of these can produce overdrive.These pedals allow you to have a number of
These pedals can eithereffects by using one setting. Some multi effect
- Increase amplification greatlypedals have a provision for the player creating
- Reduce amplification to create a harsh soundsome effects and and combining them with those
Distortion pedals canavailable within the pedal.
- Convert input sound into a very warm outputThe pedal may have a provision programming a
(The Ibanez Tube Screamer )variety of effects and storing them separately on
- Convert the input music into a harsh, abruptdifferent pedals. (Just like you can define user
output (The Gibson Maestro Fuzz is an examplekeys on the computer keypad). While playing, you
of such a fuzz box)can choose from a desired range of effects for
- Convert input to an overdriven and harsh outputcreating a the sound effect you want exactly,
(The BOSS DS-1 of Roland Corporation createswhenever you want!
this effect)Because of the complexity of handling them, the
- Sound is copied and then transmitted as output,multi effect pedals are generally used seasoned
after a delay. The sound can be output as a singleand professional guitarists rather than the novice
or multiple repetitionsplayer. Available brands of this device are Digitech
- The latter sounds like an echo (BOSS DD-6 ofRP200A, Line 6 POD XT Live and Boss ME-50.
Roland Corporation, Pod2.0 of Line 6, andA good number guitarists use effect boxes to
ToadWorks Redux are some examples of delaycreate distinctive music. Prominent among them
pedals)are David Gilmour, Daniel Ash, Brian May,
- Produce a little bit of upper octave harmonicsThurston Moore, and Steve Jones.