Boutique Killer.

[thiswaythatway]

So what's your piece of gear that's cheap and readily available that you feel does as good a job as the overpriced boutique gear the snobs hold up to such high esteem?

Well tonight for me it's got to be the Digitech Bad Monkey. Not that Xotic effects are Boutique....are they? But I'm going back and fourth between an Xotic BB Preamp MB with a Bad Monkey I just got for 25 bucks And stick a fork in my eye but on an already overdriven amp there's really not much difference at all. And the BB has outlasted several other pedals I've tried over the years. Maybe it's time to get another cheap SD-1 and one of those 20 dollar mod kits?

 

[Badronald]

The BB will work MUCH better as a stand alone drive.

Core tone.

 

[Devilinside]

Marshall DSL

 

[Kelly]

Fryette Deliverance.

 

[thiswaythatway]

The BB will work MUCH better as a stand alone drive.

Core tone.

Yeah, but I never use a dirt pedal like that. I always get most of the dirt and tone from my amp then use a pedal for the extra shot in the arm.

 

[Given To Fly]

My Levy guitar strap. It cost $7 but raise the guitar to most comfortable height...and yes, I where it high!

 

[Deleted member 16554]

"A boutique is a place where women buy their underwear, not a place where a man goes to buy their guitar amplifier" - Big Bob

Always enjoyed my zw44 pedal into my valvestate marshall, held me over for well over a decade until GAS came running along

 

[Purpleibby]

Splawn amps, incredible tone for awesome prices.

 

[angelspade]

 

[jsp]

Marshall MS-2

 

[R45VT]

Agreed. 5150/6505-5150II/6505+ and even the 5153's are pretty damn good. Just not the value a used 5150 is.

 

[Shiny_Surface]

Well tonight for me it's got to be the Digitech Bad Monkey. Not that Xotic effects are Boutique....are they? But I'm going back and fourth between an Xotic BB Preamp MB with a Bad Monkey I just got for 25 bucks And stick a fork in my eye but on an already overdriven amp there's really not much difference at all. And the BB has outlasted several other pedals I've tried over the years. Maybe it's time to get another cheap SD-1 and one of those 20 dollar mod kits?

Agree about the Bad Monkey, I rotate it on and off my board but it's so cheap even when I'm not using it it's handy to keep around.

I like the fact that it has a bass control so I can cut bass to tighten things up. Used it to boost Uberschall's back in the early 00's.

SD-1 is terrific as well, I don't even think it's needs to be modded imo.

 

[metalsoup]

Shure SM57 (or Beta 57A). Well positioned, it's simply got THAT sound. Bang for buck ratio makes it a must have.

 

[glip22]

The BB will work MUCH better as a stand alone drive.

Core tone.

Yeah, but I never use a dirt pedal like that. I always get most of the dirt and tone from my amp then use a pedal for the extra shot in the arm.

This. Its very key for the pedal to have a low noise floor since I am mostly going into an already driven amp or deliver the goods at lower volume and gain/tone settings on the pedal. I went through bunches of pedals when I get on my cant buy amps, guitar kicks. The BM is not a bad one. Try the mod. I liked it with the mod. It was easy but can't remember it. Changing a cap I think. After many pedals I setlled on a Klon type circuit and went through several of those. The deliver at lower settings but they are about average noise. The Koko has a low noise floor. I have a Caroline Icarus boost and the JHS Prestige buffer/boost/enhancer on the way to try. Generally an OD type is better but I like to try new pedals. I like what TS types do but not the loss of lows, mid humps, etc. Some are better than others.

 

[kasperjensen]

Some of the Mexican Tele's. They are seriously good guitars.

 

[Shizzeldizzel]

I love my Traynor YCS-50 combo that I converted to a head. It cost me $500 and I've kept it longer than any other amp I've owned. It just works for me but sadly its developed an issue lately that I can seem to diagnose so it may have to be retired.

 

[fishyfishfish]

Mesa boogie mark 111 red stripe.

 

[electrophonic.tonic]

Peavey Classic Series. I'm rather new to these amps, and I'm beginning to love the way EL84's track.
Normal channel has warm, fat cleans that can be dialed in bright or dark without too much mud. It has a wonderful cranked spank that makes for an excellent pedal platform. I'm currently using an MI Crunchbox for hotrodded Marshall tones.
The only drawback, in my opinion, is the lead channel, which I never use.
Very inexpensive used, too.

 

[boost]

Crate V30/V32 series amps. These first two series of amps were the best Crate ever made (V33 was shit). Not that the bar was ever set too high, but still, good amps.

 

[Jofipe]

"A boutique is a place where women buy their underwear, not a place where a man goes to buy their guitar amplifier" - Big Bob

This