EFFECTS PROCESSORS I've picked up a bunch of effects processors over the years. Here's the stuff that still gets regular use: Line 6 POD 2.0 amp modeler: The ubiquitous kidney bean. I used this for live shows for several years. Currently I have it hooked up to the computer so I can get a rough tone quickly while working on song ideas. It does a pretty good job on single note leads, and when it can be pushed back into the mix. It doesn't sound very convincing on chord work, and doesn't have the feel of a good amplifier for performing or recording. Ibanez DM10 modulation delay: This is the second stompbox I ever bought, back in 1988 from my guitar teacher. I never used it much until recently - now it's the only effects box in my current live rig. I've got it set up in the parallel effects loop of the Engl Powerball, just giving a light single delay to fatten up the sound so it's not totally dry. The output of the Powerball effects send is a touch hot and very bright, so I built a special cable for use with the DM10 that attenuates about 7dB and rolls off the signal above 3.5kHz. It ends up giving a very nice analog feel to the delay. TC Electronics M3000 reverb: This is my studio reverb. If you've never heard a real pro-quality reverb, you're definitely missing out. This reverb is able to actually make instruments run thru it sound clearer and more present, without changing EQ or adding compression or "aural excitement", just a very subtle reverberation. None of the sub $1000 effects boxes can do that, same with low-end plug-in reverbs. Alesis Quadraverb 2 rack effects: A good all-around hardware effects processor. Very nice choruses, delays, and pitch effects. Pretty good reverb as well. Digitech GNX2 pedal amp sim/effects: I used this live for several years as well. It has very mediocre tone, but amazing flexibility. Routing several different effects parameters to the footpedal, with some increasing and others decreasing, is lots of fun. Ibanez TS5 tubescreamer: your basic distortion pedal. Not one of the fancy, expensive TS9 reissues, but it does the job. Set it fairly undistorted, with a big volume boost, then drive the front of a medium gain tube amp with it to see what all the fuss is about. Discrete Class A JFET preamp: This is my own homemade preamp based on the design for the JFET mic pre by Scott Hampton in Tape Op magazine. Basically two stages of class A JFET amplification with current buffers, and a very basic Baxandall treble/bass tone control section in between the two. The first stage has a stepped control to change to gain by increasingly bypassing the source feedback resistor. There's also a direct output from the first stage, when I just need a clean boost. This preamp gives a nice thickness and growl to the bass tone when turned up - really nice on 5-string bass. Compared with some other bass DI boxes I've tried, it compares favorably with some very high end competition, including the Tube-Tech MP1A and the all-tube Juice Box.