An effects pedal (or stomp box) is an electronic effects unit housed in a small metal or plastic chassis used by musicians, usually electric guitar players, to modify their instrument sound. Musicians playing electronic keyboards, electromechanical organs, the electric bass, or electric violin also use effects pedals. These devices alter the sound quality or timbre of the input signal, adding effects such as distortion, fuzz, overdrive, chorus, reverberation, wah-wah, flanging, phaser or pitch shifting. The sound of a guitar or other instrument that is played without an effects pedal is described as "clean", "straight" or "dry."
The TS9 Tubescreamer from Ibanez, a widely-imitated pedal adding a vacuum tube-like overdrive sound using op-amps.
Users refer to them as pedals because they sit on the floor and have large on/off switches on top that are activated using the foot. Some pedals, such as wah-wah or volume pedals, employ what is known as an expression pedal. Expression pedals are manipulated while in operation by rocking a large foot-activated potentiometer (pot) back and forth.[1] The relative position of the expression pedal changes some parameter of the effect, such as a filter response in a wah pedal.
Effects pedals permit the musician to activate and deactivate effects while playing an instrument. Some musicians use rack-mounted effects processors controlled using MIDI instead of or in addition to effects pedals, since the greater size of the rack form factor usually allows more flexibility and processing power. Others prefer only using a few analog effects pedals, to avoid sending the instrument signal through multiple stages of analog-to-digital conversion, as occurs in more compli
cated and powerful
The TS9 Tubescreamer from Ibanez, a widely-imitated pedal adding a vacuum tube-like overdrive sound using op-amps.
Users refer to them as pedals because they sit on the floor and have large on/off switches on top that are activated using the foot. Some pedals, such as wah-wah or volume pedals, employ what is known as an expression pedal. Expression pedals are manipulated while in operation by rocking a large foot-activated potentiometer (pot) back and forth.[1] The relative position of the expression pedal changes some parameter of the effect, such as a filter response in a wah pedal.
Effects pedals permit the musician to activate and deactivate effects while playing an instrument. Some musicians use rack-mounted effects processors controlled using MIDI instead of or in addition to effects pedals, since the greater size of the rack form factor usually allows more flexibility and processing power. Others prefer only using a few analog effects pedals, to avoid sending the instrument signal through multiple stages of analog-to-digital conversion, as occurs in more compli
cated and powerful A guitar pedalboard is a flat board or panel which serves as a container, patch bay and power supply for effects pedals. Some pedalboards contain their own power supply, in order to power many different pedals. Pedalboards assist the player in managing multiple pedals. The entire pedalboard can be packed up and transported to the next location without the need for disassembly.
Pedalboards often have a cover or case which protects the effects pedals during transportation. Some boards use soft cases or gig bags, and some use hard-shell or ATA cases. Hard shell pedalboard-cases have foam padding, reinforced corners, and locking latches which protect the pedals during transport. Like the pedals they carry, pedalboards can be self-assembled, or purchased from manufacturers such as Gator, SKB, and Pedaltrain. Many major touring musicians employ a technician or contractor to custom-build a pedalboard to suit their needs, such as the elaborate custom pedalboards Pete Cornish built for David Gilmour and other artists
Pedalboards often have a cover or case which protects the effects pedals during transportation. Some boards use soft cases or gig bags, and some use hard-shell or ATA cases. Hard shell pedalboard-cases have foam padding, reinforced corners, and locking latches which protect the pedals during transport. Like the pedals they carry, pedalboards can be self-assembled, or purchased from manufacturers such as Gator, SKB, and Pedaltrain. Many major touring musicians employ a technician or contractor to custom-build a pedalboard to suit their needs, such as the elaborate custom pedalboards Pete Cornish built for David Gilmour and other artists
Many other musical instruments, among them the piano, pipe organ, drums, and harp, also make use of pedals to achieve tonal, dynamic, or other effects. The piano's mechanical sustain pedal is one well-known example. Pipe organs and electromechanical Hammond organs have one or more expression pedals and sometimes a crescendo pedal, which the organist can use to achieve dynamic (or "expressive") changes. Some large church and theater organs also have push-buttons for the feet, so that the player can activate different stops. These are neither considered nor called effects pedals. Pipe organs and Hammond organs also use another type of pedals on their bass pedal keyboard, which is a 20- to 32-note keyboard operated with the feet.
One major exception appears on modern electronic organs and synthesizers, which usually include a volume pedal similar to that of a guitar. The electronic organ pioneered this kind of pedal, not the guitar. Some advanced models also include an additional effects pedal that may be programmed to serve several of the functions described in the preceding section. The operation of each is similar to those on guitars; the organist places an entire foot on the pedal and, while playing, gently pumps up and down with heel and toe pressure to achieve the desired effects. Because the organist is usually seated and thus has better balance than the guitarist, the pedals are designed to have a wider range of motion. The organist can thus bring about more pronounced changes than the guitarist with only slight changes in foot pressure.
Some pedals, in fact also have switches on the end that enable still other effects by "scrunching" the toes to the left or right on the pedal, either in isolation or while pumping the pedal up and down, leading to far more flexibility than most guitar pedals.
Another stompbox found in solo music is the foot drum-style stompbox. These are small wooden boxes that the musician taps with the foot to create a percussive sound. The unit will commonly connect to a Public Address system via an XLR jack or guitar jack and provide the main "Front of House" speakers with a kick or bass drum sound which can add rhythm to solo acoustic music. Some musicians use homemade stomp boxes which consist of a wooden box and a microphone. Wooden stomp boxes are often used in folk-related genres and by "one man bands".
One major exception appears on modern electronic organs and synthesizers, which usually include a volume pedal similar to that of a guitar. The electronic organ pioneered this kind of pedal, not the guitar. Some advanced models also include an additional effects pedal that may be programmed to serve several of the functions described in the preceding section. The operation of each is similar to those on guitars; the organist places an entire foot on the pedal and, while playing, gently pumps up and down with heel and toe pressure to achieve the desired effects. Because the organist is usually seated and thus has better balance than the guitarist, the pedals are designed to have a wider range of motion. The organist can thus bring about more pronounced changes than the guitarist with only slight changes in foot pressure.
Some pedals, in fact also have switches on the end that enable still other effects by "scrunching" the toes to the left or right on the pedal, either in isolation or while pumping the pedal up and down, leading to far more flexibility than most guitar pedals.
Another stompbox found in solo music is the foot drum-style stompbox. These are small wooden boxes that the musician taps with the foot to create a percussive sound. The unit will commonly connect to a Public Address system via an XLR jack or guitar jack and provide the main "Front of House" speakers with a kick or bass drum sound which can add rhythm to solo acoustic music. Some musicians use homemade stomp boxes which consist of a wooden box and a microphone. Wooden stomp boxes are often used in folk-related genres and by "one man bands".
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