Music Accessories

Music Accessories / Effects

Here are the guitar accessories I own. Normally, I don't like a lot of effects swirling around - at the most some light chorus or wah when it's called for. And unless it's a wah, I try to keep the effect not overly obvious.

Carvin XP4 Effects Processor

This is part of my Quad X / T100 rack and sits in the effects loop of my Quad X preamp. Can be configured as 2 stereo pairs or 4 independent effects engines. Reverb, chorus, flanger, phaser, echo, delay, eq, and a cool rotary speaker effect.

Teese RMC3
Real McCoy Custom Three Wah-Wah Pedal

If there is a best wah pedal, this is it. All parameters are adjustable by internal switches and trimmer controls giving a range of vintage wah sounds from the 60's era Vox to the 70's Thomas organ circuit and any other wah sound you can imagine.

This one was hand made by wah master - Geoffrey Teese.

BOSS CE-2 Chorus

The CE-2 has one of the nicest sounding sine wave type chorus sounds ever.

Simple operation - very quiet and transparent.

This particular unit is an early 80's Japan manufacture.

BOSS GE-7 Equalizer

Nice tool to have to tweak your sound for the room or particular band when your amp is already dialed in.

Allows tone-shaping before the preamp section which gives some interesting options.

Also has a level control that can boost (or lessen) the input signal.

Voodoo Labs Sparkle Drive

I don't really get into distortion effects boxes. I've got 12AX7's for that.

I had my taste of "buzz boxes" with my Big Muff p that I had in the 70's, then later came the BOSS HM-1and DS-1 pedals which eventually found their new owners on eBay.

This one is different... there is a "clean mix" control that blends distortion with clean and also an output level. Placed in front of a dialed-in amp, it allows for an adjustable, uncolored boost and/or gain for solos.

Altair PW-5 Power Attenuator

This is a relic from the 70's. I don't use it much but it belongs on this page.

A power attenuator goes in-line between the poweramp and speakers and acts as a volume limiter. It allows the output tubes to "breathe" at cranked levels but dissipates the signal before it reaches the speakers so that the decibel level is reduced.

Power attenuators are used to get that saturated power tube sound without cracking the walls. Heavy attenuation will degrade the signal so it's best to use a low setting.