Pedal Line Friday :: Woody S.

I’ve spent most of my time in studios and on stages bouncing back and forth between playing guitar and bass…whatever the band needs, put me in coach! It’s fun and keeps you on your toes, but TWO constant bouts of G.A.S.? That’s rough; you can even ask an ex-wife or two. It got to the point where, in one project, I would have a guitar gig earlier in the week and round out the weekend on the low end. It got out of hand on the last regional tour I did. Had to pack ALL my gear because the bass player had to bow out halfway through and I’d end the trek on bass.

Enough was enough, but I had all this GEAR. I’m pretty much always looking to at least PLAY the latest or this vintage noise box, but I’d also never been in a straight cover band before. Versatility!  But my TONE. Eh, so I shut up and here’s how I play my (bass) guitar.

Starting with a Pedaltrain Classic 2 SIZED board. It’s been painted, and I’ve no clue what it is. I took it as a partial trade, but I can use it, so I do. Starting top right, the signal comes into a Line 6 Relay G50, which feeds into the Digitech Drop (Soon to be a Solar Chug), which forwards to my Morley Bass Wah, admittedly looking at the Morley Trey. Part of the reason you’re seeing some less-than-tidy housekeeping is that, on top of tinkering with pedals, sometimes it’s the placement that keeps me up at night. Currently I flow into the Joyo Double Thruster distortion, which feeds into the Caline Wine Cellar for a little always-on dirt and some additional EQ shaping. Some days I prefer the Wine Cellar up front for a little of the mid push that I have set so strong to mellow a bit and sit with the sound and less on top of it; some days I use both and let Jaco and Cliff sort em out. I used to have a mini compressor before the dirt, and I think I’m gonna add it back, but I need to do another Rattlesnake order! Next up is a Chinese knockoff of a Phase 90 but with a slightly more aggressive Vintage approach. That leads us to the Visual Sounds Liquid Chorus, which I love love LOVE for guitar but only like like like for bass. I have a killer T. Rex Sweeper bass chorus, but it needs some love. We end up with my tuner backwards to most, with my must-have Korg Pitchblack. Could be an original, a mini, or a limited edition as I swap out to loan out if I need a tuner for a weekend jam thing, etc but always a Pitchblack. I have it last to ensure my pitch shifting is always spot on. Kind of my final QC check.

All cables of the patch variety need a huge shout-out to Rattlesnake Cables. And yes, another order will be incoming within days if not hours. Larger stages get a Line 6 Relay G90 with that G50 on the board as backup. 

Basses are all Stingray Ray4s with Hipshot Extenders. Sound reinforcement, unless a large venue or on silent stages, the signal goes to a Carvin BX250 head feeding a four-ohm Carvin 210 cabinet.  And before you puppy tilt as to why so small, of course I have several heads and cabs that can rival almost any stage setup, but I’m over lugging seventy-pound-plus racks and an 810 cabinet I don’t need with in-ears. Age does have the privilege of experience. 

Bands / Projects

Four on the Floor

Social Links

Submit Your Pedal Line!

About a million years ago, I used to run a blog called EffectsBay. On that blog, the most popular feature I would run was Pedal Line Friday. This is where readers of the site would send pics of their pedalboard and a short (sometimes long) write-up of routing and thoughts about specific pedals and the reasoning why they liked it, etc. Readers. loved this. It was a great way to learn about new applications or techniques regarding pedals. It also brought a little inspiration and knowledge about pedals you were not familiar with. It also brought a great sense of community - people like sharing and absorbing cool things, right? It was a super popular feature, and I loved putting them together.

All you have to do is send a pic of your pedalboard (or pedal line - it doesn't have to be on a board) along with a short (or long) write-up of the board. We want a list of pedals (manufacturer/model), routing would be great, and, most importantly, why you use those particular pedals. Also, this is a great way to promote your band or musical project - include that information as well!

You can send the pic and the write-up to pedalline@rattlesnakecables.com.