Since I first plugged an electric guitar into an amplifier (just over six years ago) I’d compulsively tried to pollute the sound with whatever devices I could lay my hands on. It started with an old Tokai chorus pedal, which had more dials and switches than I knew how to use, and grew into somewhat of an obsession.
I was lucky enough to have band mates who share the same mentality. We all (including the drummer) appreciate the same things when it comes to equipment: clean and powerful 80’s transistor amps, quirky and cheap effects pedals, and almost everything to do with Fender guitars. We’d get more excited about a really odd sounding guitar than we would an entire song. I liked that.
When you have been using effects for a while you begin to use them all the time, without even thinking about it, and I personally associate each song we played with a certain guitar, a certain tuning, and a certain combination of effects pedals - more so than I do the chords or vocal. Inevitably you end up relying on certain bits of equipment for certain songs which I know all too well ends up with soldering irons and multi-meters five minutes before your set.
I’m pleased to say that I’ve cleaned up my act (no pun intended), and I’ve opted for a more modest setup for my new band, The Bohomofos.
It’s a bold step for me, but there are a few very good reasons:
1. As I previously mentioned, I wouldn’t trust some of my favourite hardware live. Given Caroline’s temperamental laptop/MIDI setup I really want to minimise the risk.
2. We are a two-peice. We have computers and hardware to handle a lot of our sound (drum machines, keyboards, samples, etc) but these devices need triggering and monitoring by us, whilst playing guitar/synth and singing. Whilst it isn’t too difficult to play along to a set of pre-recorded instruments there is no place for a hiccup, and unlike live drummers, MIDI wont help you out. Getting rid of a lot of “timed” effects (phasers, tremolos, etc) from the pedal board really helps keep things on track.
3. The other difference with this band is that it’s deliberately sparse. We want to see what can be done by two people on very limited equipment. Having this very intricate electronic drum sound isn’t going to mix well with a really effects-drenched guitar sound.
So, if you must know, this is what’s going after my guitar: an Ibanez DL-5 digital delay (something I couldn’t live without), an Ibanez SD-9 distortion (very clean/cuts through anything) and an Electro Harmonix Big Muff fuzz (for any lead). Plus, a sort of optional pedal, due to it’s high noise levels, the DOD 280 compressor, to give the guitar a bit more kick. Erm, that is into Peavey then a Vox, however.
It’s a lot like being fourteen again, and having a world of guitar to discover - and learning how to play a certain way (I was clearly listening to too much Sonic Youth back then). Getting interesting sounds by playing chords in strange positions, strumming a certain way, or using a different time signature. In fact, I have found myself writing some of my best stuff without anything bit a (large) splash of reverb.
I will record the results and put them on our MySpace profile.
