Robben Ford Discussion

[mike789]

I was at the Falls Church show last night and noticed, I believe, the Robben runs his guitar first through a Zendrive, next the Wah, and then thru a EB vol. pedal. This is different from "normal" pedal layout: vol --> wah -->distortion. Can anyone explain this? Thanks.

[Daved]

Mike,
Your "normal" layout is normal for those that use that layout, and "unnormal" for those that don't....

What I mean is, is that there really isn't a "normal" when it comes to F/X usage and/or pedal layout. The fun is trying different configurations till you find the one that works for you. Some folks prefer it all go thru an onboard F/X loop, while others prefer that the F/X finish processing before hitting the amp input.

A tall rack filled with series/parallel processors in an amp F/X loop is one way of getting your sound. A board on the floor with 12 small, odd-shaped pedals basically running in series is a whole different way to go... with different results.

Some folks like the way a distorted sound [overdrive pedal 1st] blossoms and stacks when you put some reverb [reverb pedal 2nd] on it. Someone else may prefer the cleaner, more controlled and natural sound of the guitar in a shower stall [reverb pedal 1st] before beefing it up [overdrive pedal 2nd].

Robben's "normal" is that he likes to boost or distort the guitar's clean signal [Zen pedal 1st], THEN process THAT resulting sound with a variable Q [wah pedal 2nd] before controlling the volume of the whole product [volume pedal 3rd] being sent to the amp.

What you display as a "normal" layout is... vol --> wah -->distortion.

That would indicate to me that you are taking a clean signal from the guitar and varying its gain [volume pedal] to the input of the wah. Then varying that changing signal with a sweeping Q [wah pedal]... and then sending that changing sound as input to your distortion pedal before sending the resulting, sonically-boiling, mix on to be amplified.

Seems like a lot of varying info being stewed about... and would seem to me to be very hard to control... but that doesn't mean it's not a good setup for someone who is looking for that looseness in their sound.
It's all valid... it's ALL music. How you want to use it is what makes you the artist.

Robben has a very specific way he hears his notes and how they should sound or respond when he uses the few, but specific, F/X processors that he does. His musical voice has a simple langauge that allows Robben to 'speak' volumes clearly and uniquely.

It generally doesn't hurt pedals to have their position in the chain be carefully and thoughtfully swapped around.
Mix them up a bit, to hear how different effects affect each other differently, especially when chained together.
_________________
B C-ing U!
( }:-Daved
"This boy's diseased with rhythm!" -Bing Crosby (Road To Rio, '49)

[FatTeleTom]

For what it's worth, I also usually put my volume pedal after overdrives but before my delay pedal. That way, I can control the signal going into the OD pedals (and therefore adjust the amount of OD/distortion) with the volume control on my guitar, and use the volume pedal to adjust the overall volume.

The wah before OD/OD before wah choice also seems to vary widely. I generally like having my wah pedal after my OD pedals, but it's all a matter of what kind of tone you want.

[spydermurphy]

Are you sure it was the Zendrive and not the mystery Mxr pedal that he was seen with last week?

[mike789]

Thanks Daved for the detail answer. It opened my eyes to looking at my signal chain differently and what I was doing.

Sypder: Yes it was a Zendrive. I could clearly see it. Along with the Louis Electric and Fender amps Robben was using that night.