Series: Guitar Pedals

If you are looking to understand how to get the very best from your guitar pedals, then this is the series for you! GMI guitar tutor Gary Clinton shows you step by step how to squeeze every last bit of juicy goodness, or badness out of your stomp boxes! We cover a wide array of guitar effects boxes in this series so belt up and get ready for the ride!

Boss SD1 Distortion Pedal

Are you thinking about or already own a Boss SD1 pedal? This pedal, the SD stand for super overdrive, is one of Boss’s best selling guitar pedals of a time. It’s compact, rugged and it has controls that are easy to understand and use. Find out how to get the very best from this stalwart of an effects box by watching the video below.

The Boss super overdrive pedal is a huge seller. When people consider buying a pedal, this is one of the first ones that they will consider. It’s rugged, easy to use and understand. Or is it? GMI – Guitar & Music Instructor Gary Clinton puts the pedal through it’s paces here on GMI Premium.

So, why is this pedal so popular? It’s relatively cheap, it’s easy to use and it is capable of creating some great overdrive sounds. Many guitarists swear by it. The Boss Super Overdrive pedal has some heavy competition and we will be looking at a lot of them in our other Guitar Pedals Course.

WHAT’S DOES GARY COVER IN THE LESSON?

Gary will be looking at two areas. How to use the various controls individually. He will also explain how to use the controls together for best effect. The aim of this entire pedal course is to give you not just an overview, but an idea of how to best use one and many pedals in combination. That is why this course will also be considering guitar pedal order. Understanding guitar pedal order and how best to direct the signal is crucial to creating an amazing sound.

For now though, you are going to learn about the tone, level and drive knobs work together and Gary will demonstrate the various ways of combining the sounds together.

CONSIDERING BUYING THE BOSS SD-1?

Thinking about purchasing the Boss SD-1? It’s without doubt one of the biggest selling pedals in the world. Find out detailed information and pricing at Amazon by clicking the image below. GMI will receive a small affiliate fee for any purchases made by clicking the image below which helps with the running of this website.

Due to the nature of the guitar technology category, there are no downloads available for this video.

09/03/2022
Setting Up Your Pedalboard

Creating A Guitar Effects Pedals Signal Chain

One area that is often misunderstood and more than a little tricky is ensuring that the sound your guitar gets from all your pedals is optimised for the units you are using. It’s easy when you start out and you just have one pedal; but what happens when you start getting a whole range of pedals that you need to consider.

Don’t Think Setting Up Guitar Effects Pedals Signal Chain Is Easy

There is a lot to consider and think about. Today, guitarists have digital delays, chorus, distortion, wah wah pedals, overdrive and a whole lot more besides. This is where proper planning and understanding what a guitar signal is and does really matters.

CONSIDERING BUYING A PEDALBOARD?

Thinking about purchasing a pedalboard? Clean up your pedal act and take the stress out of creating great sounds with this amazing pro pedalboard. Find out detailed information and pricing at Amazon by clicking the image below. GMI will receive a small affiliate fee for any purchases made by clicking the image below which helps with the running of this website.

Due to the nature of the guitar technology category, there are no downloads available for this video.

29/04/2022
Buy Or Build A Pedalboard?

The Pedaltrain Terra 42 – It’s A Bit Of A Beast

The Pedaltrain Terra 42 is a BIG pedalboard. It’s also pretty expensive. This article is all about why you should consider buying a pre-built pedalboard rather than building your own. It’s often very tempting to consider building your own pedalboard. For most people, they consider what a pedalboard is and it’s just basically a board for your pedals. Hopefully this video will help you to reconsider if you’re wanting a board for your pedals and you think you can solve your problems by building your own.

We had a few audio issues when recording this video as we were trying out a shotgun microphone that did not give us the results we hoped for. Everything is understandable, it’s just not as clear as our other videos.

CONSIDERING BUYING A Pedaltrain Terra 42?

If you have liked what you see as Gary Clinton took you through the features of the Terra 42, then click Pedaltrain to see a range of their products or click the image below to view at their Amazon store.. GMI will receive a small affiliate fee for any purchases made by clicking the image below which helps with the running of this website.

Due to the nature of the guitar technology category, there are no downloads available for this video.

13/05/2022
TurboRAT Distortion Pedal

Turbo Rat Delivers A Truly Massive Sound

Gary Clinton is as enthusiastic a guitar player as you’ll meet. Even we were surprised, however, when he was demonstrating and playing with the Pro Co Turbo Rat. When he starts opening up this little beauty of a stomp box, the smile is all over his face. If you’ve never heard of the Turbo Rat before then you are in for a treat. This small effects pedal really does pack a powerful punch in the field of sonic smashups.

Is The Pedal Hard To Use?

The simple and straightforward answer to that question is a definite no. As you can see on the initial thumbnail of the video it’s more or less idiot proof. Many guitarist just like to turn it up and let it melt the faces of the audience. Despite this temptation, Gary does take time to show you some subtle uses of the controls and what they can achieve. The Turbo Rat may not be the most well known effects pedal in the world, but it surely has to be one of the loudest!

CONSIDERING BUYING A TurboRAT?

Since we recorded this video, TurboRAT has gone through a few changes. Here is one of their latest iterations of the TurboRAT sound. Find out detailed information and pricing at Amazon by clicking the image below. GMI will receive a small affiliate fee for any purchases made by clicking the image below which helps with the running of this website.

Due to the nature of the guitar technology category, there are no downloads available for this video.

26/05/2022
Nova Reverb NR1

Consider the Nova Reverb NR 1 reverb pedal.

It’s a crowded market place out there when it comes to guitar pedals. The truth is, though, that the pedals that most people buy early on are distortion, digital delay and probably a reverb pedal and that’s where the Nova Reverb NR 1 comes in.

Reverb Is A Matter Of Taste

When it comes down to it, reverb really is about “what you like”. Some people swear by a certain type of reverb sound and others will totally disagree. This is where actually hearing how a reverb effects a given guitar signal really comes to the fore.

Gary Clinton helps you through this process by ensuring that you hear a wide range of sounds in many different musical scenarios. He also let’s you hear how the pedal effects sound from right across the guitar neck.

Many Shrink Wrapped Options Within The Box

For people who like to get into the guts of a pedal’s sounds there is plenty to keep you happy. Probably the biggest amount of guitar players just want to get in and hear what the sounds are without any editing. This is just one of this pedals great strengths as it has a huge range of excellent reverb’s that are not only good for playing live, but in the studio as well. The company behind this reverb stomp box, T.C. Electronics originally just created effects for the studio, but by moving into the live arena, you’ll find that this beauty offers you some sounds and ways of doing things that you don’t find in many other pedals

CONSIDERING BUYING THE NOVA REVERB NR1?

You no doubt get the idea that Gary finds this piece of kit, despite is age, a brilliant buy and it’s still out there for sale. Find out detailed information and pricing at Amazon by clicking the image below. GMI will receive a small affiliate fee for any purchases made by clicking the image below which helps with the running of this website.

Due to the nature of the guitar technology category, there are no downloads available for this video.

18/04/2022
Marshall Vibratrem

The Marshall Vibratrem – It’s Time To Vib Again!

You may think that the vibrato pedal has really had it’s day and the Marshall Vibratrem is for yesteryear. Yes, it was great in the sixties but times have moved on and it’s just not in anymore. If you think like this, then you are sadly cutting yourself of from some amazing sounds. There are a lot of bands today who are rediscovering the vibrato effect and mixing and matching it with other pedals to create new and exciting sounds. Gary Clinton takes the Vibratrem through it’s paces.

How Good Does The Vibratrem sound?

In a word – amazing! It’s a pedal that comes with a huge amount of control and it offers two modes; vibrato and tremolo. As well as this it also has controls for speed and depth as well as a very powerful shape control. Gary Clinton goes into depth about all of these effects in the HD video guitar lesson on this page. He demonstrates the wide variety of sounds that evoke both old and new sounds and takes the pedal through it’s paces.

CONSIDERING BUYING A Marshall Vibratrem?

Marshall still sell the Vibratrem, however, you can buy one for not a lot of money on Ebay, so if you like the sound of this pedal, pick up a bargain!

Due to the nature of the guitar technology category, there are no downloads available for this video.

09/06/2022
Marshall Bluesbreaker 2

Learning To Use The Marshall Bluesbreaker

The Marshall Bluesbreaker 2 is a simple pedal to use but you need to know what it’s real forte is and where best to use it. If you thought Marshall just made amplification, then think again. With a retro styling, this pedal is a thing of beauty. Well it is at the start, but guitarists like clicking this stomp box so much, it soon takes some heavy punishment. If you think that the pedal was just an overdrive you’d be wrong. The Marshall Bluesbreaker 2 is two pedals in one. It offers overdrive and it offers boost. In this HD video lesson, Gary Clinton from GMI – Guitar & Music Institute, will discuss the second ability of the pedal; boost.

HOW WILL BOOST HELP ME

Gary will explain and demonstrate how a booster will help you in your soloing. First of all, he talks about what boost does. In effect, a boost or booster pedal does not effect the actual sound signal that is emanated from your guitar. This is an important point to understand. You are only using the pedal to increase the overall gain of the signal, not change it. Gary will also go over the various knobs found on the Bluesbreaker 2 and show you how best to mix the sounds together.

CONSIDERING BUYING THE MARSHALL BLUESBREAKER 2?

This pedal is not currently available to buy on Amazon, however, there are plenty Marshall Bluesbreaker 2 pedals on Ebay and at really low prices, so check them out.

Due to the nature of the guitar technology category, there are no downloads available for this video.

22/04/2022
Line 6 FM4 Guitar Synthesis

Getting The Most From The Line 6 FM4

Synthesis, let’s be honest is not for every guitarist. It’s for many a strange and weird world and a million miles away from distortion, digital delay or chorus. The sounds created through the use of synthesis and guitar pedals such as the Line 6 FM4 are for a special breed of guitar player. This is a pedal for players who are interested in sound and it’s use. In this lesson Gary Clinton demonstrates just some of the sounds that the Line 6 FM4 is capable of as well as helping you understand how the controls of the unit actually work.

What Does The Lesson Cover?

Gary covers all the bases with regards to the settings, knobs and capabilities of the pedal. He shows how the pedal knobs change as different modes are used. As well as this, he demonstrates a wide range of sounds from the extensive list of possibilities the the effects box has within it. The main point to remember about this lesson which is nearly fourteen minutes in length is that this lesson covers just a small part of what is capable with this effects box.

CONSIDERING BUYING A Line 6 FM4?

This is a legacy pedal, but you can still pick one up on Ebay, so if you like the sound of this pedal, grab yourself a bargain!

Due to the nature of the guitar technology category, there are no downloads available for this video.

10/06/2022
Line 6 DL4 Delay Modeler

Sound Modelling With The Line 6 DL4

If you don’t have much of an idea about what sound modelling is all about then this lesson will open your eyes to the amazing soundscapes possible and specifically with the Line 6 DL4.

For many guitarists, sound modelling is a cloudy and perhaps mystical area. Most people just want the shrink wrapped sounds that come with the pedals they buy. Plug in and boom, you’re there. For those who are a little more inquisitive and are looking to play with sound textures, then this is definitely an area you should be looking into.

What Does The Lesson Cover?

Gary covers all the bases with regards to the settings, knobs and capabilities of the pedal. He shows how the pedal knobs change as different modes are used. As well as this, he demonstrates a wide range of sounds from the extensive list of possibilities the the effects box has within it. The main point to remember about this lesson which is nearly fourteen minutes in length is that this lesson covers just a small part of what is capable with this effects box.

CONSIDERING BUYING A Line 6 DL4?

This is a legacy pedal, but you can still pick one up on Ebay, so if you like the sound of this pedal, grab yourself a bargain!

Due to the nature of the guitar technology category, there are no downloads available for this video.

10/06/2022
Korg DT10 Tuner

Using The Korg Tuner DT 10

If you find tuning the guitar a real problem then the korg tuner we’d like you to check out is the Korg DT 10. Learning to tune the guitar without electronic aids is a great skill to have, there’s no doubt about it. In many occasions, though, it helps to have some help in the form of a stomp box. The Korg DT 10 is a low cost solution that is incredibly easy to use. It’s more or less a plug and play guitar effects box. However, there are a couple of things you should also know about guitar tuning devices.

The Korg DT 10 is a Chromatic Tuner

One thing that you need to watch out with when buying or using a guitar tuner is if it’s chromatic or not. Cheaper units are actually tuned into the guitar strings as set E-A-D-G-B-E. This is fine for most musical scenarios, but it can be limiting. For example, what about a drop D tuning? Or, what if you want to play with altered tuning. There can also be problems with non chromatic tuners if for example, you are closer to one note than the other. It will give a false reading to a note that you are not actually trying to tune.

GMI – Guitar & Music Institute guitarist Gary Clinton demonstrates exactly how to use this Korg DT 10 tuner. He gives you plenty of advice about using the device as well as some insights on how to get the most from it.

CONSIDERING BUYING A Korg DT10?

This is a legacy pedal, but you can still pick one up on Ebay, so if you like the sound of this pedal, grab yourself a bargain!

Due to the nature of the guitar technology category, there are no downloads available for this video.

24/04/2022