Unusual Effect Pedal Buyers Guide
Most guitar effects pedals fit into one of the categories we discussed previously in this guide.
But there are several pedals in high demand that don’t fall into any of the familiar categories:
Boss AC-3 Acoustic Guitar Simulator Pedal
Using Roland’s proprietary COSM modeling
technology, the Boss AC-3 pedal can make any electric guitar sound exactly like an amplified
electric guitar. It includes four basic acoustic guitar models, Standard, Jumbo, Enhanced, and
Piezo-equipped. These can be further altered by the Top and Body controls allowing you to
create the perfect acoustic guitar sound. Then you can enhance it all with the AC-3’s built in
digital reverb.
Electro Harmonix Ravish Sitar Pedal
In a similar vein to the Guitar Simulator, Electro
Harmonix has a Sitar effect pedal. The Ravish Sitar Pedal turns your electric guitar into the
ultimate electric sitar, with full control over the lead voice, sympathetic string drones, tuning,
and scales. You can use your favorite expression pedal (an M-Audio EX-P, Roland EV-5, or Boss
FV500L will do nicely) to control pitch bending.
Electro Harmonix Freeze Sound Retainer Pedal
I suppose this belongs somewhere in the delay
or looper category, but the Freeze Sound Retainer Pedal uses delay in a very different manner. Step
on the pedal and hold any note or chord as long as you like or choose a fast or slow decay to
release the sound.
Morley FXB FX Blender Effect Pedal
It looks like a Wah Wah or Expression Pedal, but the
Morley FX Blender Pedal is actually a variable outboard effects loop controller. Hook up your
guitar and your favorite effects unit, the FXB will let you blend the original guitar signal with
the effect modified signal in proportions determined by the foot pedal. The range of
possibilities is unlimited.
