For years rock stars and studio players alike have relied on guitar pedals just as much as their actual guitars to create their ‘signature’ sound. You can never quite tell what guitar pedal a guitarist is using, as they obviously aren’t as on show and as noticeable as a guitar. Their use is absolutely integral to many bands and musicians sounds.
2011 was a disappointing year for indie rock, many media outlets pronounced it the death of indie. All the great indie bands of the resurgence in the 2000s seem to have been and gone, with the remaining fizzling out as sales and relevance nosedive. Those spearheading the resurgence last decade – The Libertines and The Strokes – are not the bands on anyone’s lips currently. The Libertines imploded and the Strokes are making records less frequently and to less critical acclaim. Has indie rock’s time passed for now? Music is very cyclical and at the moment rock music seems to have simmered down in popularity. However, one credible band that have currently risen to the top of the heap – both critically and in popularity – are The Black Keys. Their breed of bluesy, alternative rock definitely has roots in the indie resurgence. Their music is stamped (or should I say stomped) with their own signature sound, created through heavy use of guitar pedals.
Famous guitarists and their guitar pedals
Want to see a master at work with a guitar pedal? One of the most iconic uses of a guitar pedal can be seen by the great one himself, Jimi Hendrix. He was very fond of a Wah-Wah pedal as so were many of his contemporaries such as Eric Clapton. The tone bending ability of a Wah-Wah pedal was a popular sound back in that era. Hendrix and Clapton were fond of the Jim Dunlop Cry Baby Wah Wah pedal. The absolute classic. There are a lot more Wah-Wah guitar pedals available though from brands such as Boss guitar pedals, Behringer, Morley, IK Media. Check out www.soundsliveshop.com for an exhaustive list of the best Wah-Wah pedals available. They are a specialist music store that know their stuff when it comes to the best guitar pedals.
Oasis have been known to use a guitar pedal or two, especially with some of the more psychedelic tracks found on Standing on the Shoulders of Giants. This album is like a showreel for some mind bending guitar pedal effects and the Line 6 DL4 Delay Modeler Effects Processor guitar pedal especially. This guitar pedal by Line 6 has been a favourite of Noel Gallagher’s for some time. Capable of delay, some mega echo, reverse, fade and much much more, if you buy this guitar pedal you will feel like a child who has just been let loose in Toys R Us!
Boss guitar pedals and Line 6 guitar pedals get two thumbs up from me. Guitar pedals from such quality manufacturers you cannot go wrong, the real seal of approval comes from the legends that use them on stage. If they are good enough for rock royalty, then that’s good enough for me.