Top 5 Pedal Pairs - The Best Pedal Combinations | Ultimate Tone Tips & Tricks

There are magical pedal combinations that exist, and in this video I show you 5 of my favorite pedal pairings.
🔴 James Santiago/Voodoo Lab: Fuzz Face into Giggity - • Eric Johnson Fuzz Face...
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#PedalPairs #GuitarPedals #Tone

[@RJRonquillo]

🔴 What are some of your other favorite pedal pairs??

[@fragtagninja1633]

My personal favorite is a trio. JHS Morning Glory, MXR carbon copy, mxr m300 reverb.

[@marksguitars5617]

compressor > overdrive, tried it the other way around and didn't like it. Also clean boost > overdrive been experimenting with mixed results. Been putting my rotovibe type pedals before all drives and leslie simulator after drive pedals. Reverb/Delay are my always on pedals

[@lueysixty-six7300]

I've found that the "moan" feature the Black Cat Moan Wah Wah pedal, which can be activated alone, without the wah, goes well with my red llamma overdrive. The moan is a fickle and fussy little monster! By itself, it is the most expressive and dynamic lead tone I've got - including amp overdrive. But....all alone it sounds like it needs just a little push. So, naturally a TS should be ideal, right? Wrong! The TS actually makes the moan get more muffled and disrant sounding. The same is true with a boost and the other overdrive I have on hand, an sd1. I have a host of dirt sounds, however, but the only one that di the Moan any justice at all But they don't just work kinda ok, they work magic. Has anyone else had any experience with the Black Cat Moan? I don't know, but I heard it's a germanium chip, and that that is why it is fickle,

[@samuelrutherford8107]

Wampler faux tape echo and catalinbread topanga

[@tinyb69]

Talent Booster + Blame Shifter. 😂

[@pauloing1pauloing167]

04:33 fuzz + overdrive 09:05 tone bender = wah 13:10 Voodoolab Micro Vibe + Fulltone Ultimate Octave 15:43 compressor + distortion 19:29 short delay + slap delay

[@chadgraziano5827]

Lpd 87 I live in Az can some one introduce me to this cat I wanna learn so bad!

[@tomcoryell]

I think Jimi would absolutely dig your combinations of pedals and be blown away by your chops.

[@EricMerrow]

Dude, that Octave Fuzz + vibe combo sounded incredible! The way you were playing made it sound like a keyboard or synth or something. Really cool!!

[@stipeur]

22min of RJ’s guitar wizardry??? Yes please!

[@AngusClarkGTR]

tones are awesome. And as always, the star of the show is the playing. The licks are so sweet!!

[@paulpantorilla6121]

And Subscribed! I cant tell your great at not just Guitar, but also the quality of videos your making. awesome lighting and camera work.

[@Prettynoise]

Amazing RJ!!!

[@painkilla1972]

Great content! Informative, demonstrative and fun. Hope this turns into a series... RJ's tone clinic, or something. Thanks

[@MichaelCoffin]

Great video, very helpful. The "Jimi stack" I find works best with my Strat is: Fuzzface into RC Booster into Catalinbread Belle Epoch into Gypsy Vibe into Catalinbread Dirty Little Secret (on Super Lead setting) into my '78 Deluxe Reverb with a 65W Jensen C12N. The amp tone controls are on 6 (noon) with a touch of reverb. The DLS pre-amp setting is pretty low, just barely past the point of break up. When I kick on the boost, the DLS goes into a smooth Marshall overdrive. I then dial the guitar volume down to 5, kick on the Fuzzface (FF vol and fuzz at 85% of max) and there it is -- that bitey clean Jimi tone, and I can have it at any room volume level I want by adjusting amp volume. With a band, I can dial in more upper mids using the tone controls on the DLS, which is acting as the preamp to the Deluxe Reverb's power amp. With this setup I can play all kinds of rock, blues rock, psychedelic rock, funk and soul and have authentic tones at the room volume I need. So much fun! I hope this helps others, and thanks for your great videos, RJ. Please keep them coming ...

[@kosmicwizard]

I have 4 favourite pairs. Treble booster into a fuzzface. Comp into a transparent od. Boost after octave vibe. And reverb into delay.

[@kellyvaughnofficial]

Awesome video! Thanks for sharing. 🎸

[@tekkau2]

OMG , this video helps so much . Thanks for sharing this amazing experience man :D

[@KHfilmin]

Megagood video. Thx!

[@robb4340]

Cool Pedals and Great Tones! Love Your T-Shirt too.

[@marksguitars5617]

excellent, great information here! thank you!

[@harleyhexxe9806]

R.J., This was a VERY helpful video! Thanks for posting!

[@Terry3Gs]

great video as always R.J sir !!

[@JeffreyTheTaylor]

Super, super point on rolling off the Vol to create a fat, usable tone in the Fuzz into overdrive pairing. But to be clear, if you are rolling off the Treb on the bridge in your Eric Johnson example that means you have the Jimmy Vaughan mod which moves the Treb control from the middle PUP (standard Strat wiring) to the bridge. I am a huge fan of this wiring, especially if your are running a hot bridge or humbucker in the bridge.

[@billtice5057]

Good stuff RJ!

[@jeffcomeau4680]

R.J. thanks for the slap back info in this video. I feel it’s an ingredient that is my base tone. Just enough, like you mentioned, to add a liveliness and body. I’m hoping you can venture down the slap back, compression, overdrive thing on going. Always a fan. !!! Thanks

[@LogicGusGus]

J-fet boost/od and fuzz face in clean amp. Reverb into vertex Steel string. Delay Before vibrato. Some favorites. Thank you for being a inspiration. 🙌🎸

[@BenCoombs]

Ha now I see what you were alluding to last night!! I like fuzz into low gain like a Klon style, also stacking low to mid overdrives, some times three at a time!! Cheers my friend!!

[@rockinchango]

I really enjoyed this style of demo video. Informative and fun without sounding like a "my way or the highway" snob.

[@gergemall]

Love you HENDIX tips, I had an old 60’s with a battery . Inconsistent’tones , you’re correct . You’re clean Strat sound is great. Great video with explanations. Thank you.

[@midnightstorm4290]

4:04 That sizzle that mentioned is basically how many garage bands used their fuzz pedals. With Hendrix he really did make it sound different but I still like the bacon sizzling fuzz when it is going through a clean amp.

[@nikolaki]

That last pedal pair I came across first on my roland bass cube 30! With a telecaster clone plugged into it, compressor knob turned up a bit, the delay turned up a bit (to get that very early reflection) and using the bassman cosm amp model. It really makes each note feel alive - a very addictive sound!

[@lueysixty-six7300]

RJ dishing out the gold again. Thanks Buddy!

[@JM-wm6bn]

The best duo imo is Korg Miku and Metalzone. Sounds awesome!! #changemymind

[@brianbowen295]

J Mark only butterscotch Tele ok?

[@williskrn]

I like it

[@bojangles6444]

When I hear metal zone I start convulsing

[@mattcampbell5941]

Blocked and reported

[@hearpalhere]

Some nice combinations for sure RJ! It was fun watching this after seeing your Sweetwater guest spot because you got to play a lot more here :-) I think the compressor in front of your drive sounded great! It seems to get you the feel of an amp being played loud but without having too much gain/distortion. As for pedal pairings, I really like my Phase 90 together with some distortion. Great for soloing, rhythms, funky stuff... lots of things. I also love the big rubber coated nob on there because you can turn it easily with your foot while playing.

[@PauloNunoTeixeira]

Very good work :)

[@utai4571]

let me be the weird one here if you please, my favorites are whammy octave up>delay>reverb>super choppy tremolo>shimmer reverb another one is any fuzz into the tc sub n up on the analog octave setting fully cranked except for the octave 2 and the one, and it sounds stupid, but as soon as it is warm outside and the sun goes down in the summer, i only play a strat into a springer reverb and tremolo with a bit dirty amp and i dream about the desert! i said i was gonna be the weird one haha!

[@markferguson3745]

The Fuzz Face is the thing to mix and stack with just about anything, - one of my faves is hitting it with the EHX Germanium OD.Behind is more tame, up front/ into, - nastier, broken.It's a lot like just extending the Fuzz circuit with another gain stage and a bias,- it's a NKT 275 Red Dot, - just like the FF. Basically, you don't know sh#t until you try it, - it's on you. Ronson on Alladin Sane, - gold.The PDF is an outstanding replacement for a Wah, especially with the Expression pedal. Great video.

[@kellyvaughnofficial]

Awesome! 🎸

[@maxwellharmon4172]

you are a GENIUS!! thank you for making this video!

[@raynj728]

Great video!

[@jacobcourseymusic6414]

all time best pair imo is a Klon Centaur (real or copy) and a Tube Screamer.

[@almostliterally593]

Try a klon into a sansamp GT2

[@yakshrajsingh8121]

Better use a tumnus with a ts. Or only use the gladio dual overdrive no need of stacking . Or use the crossfire overdrive with a super phat mod

[@choplass]

Brilliant!

[@AlbusBand]

That expresso is 🔥. Well, actually they all are, but you’re playing them, so I’ll argue the real pairing is the mind and hands of the Ronchameleon. 👏👏👏

[@jamesrobinson529]

These are all incredible tones and I've learned a lot in about 20 minutes. Much appreciated R.J..

[@OgamiItto70]

In order to simulate the sag of a wicked-up tube amp, I have added a compressor after the overdrive. It has to be a compressor with an "attack" control. The trick is to keep the effect subtle and barely noticeable. Hit the sweet spot and suddenly you're playing a spongy JTM-45 instead of a supertight metalface Model 1987. I've also used that "slapback after overdrive," but for a different purpose: I was trying to get as close as possible to a doubled guitar effect with just one guitar. It was for crunching rhythm tones. A slapback that's just barely out of comb filter territory with one repeat and the level set to close-to-inaudible (but still audible) puts a bit of "thickness" to the tone that's almost like a double-tracked part.

[@jupitermoongauge4055]

What an awesomely informative video

[@mintzmia]

Awesome pairings. #2 put my over the edge on deciding that I do in fact need a wah pedal on my board.

[@son-of-a-schmidt]

hey rob, try out the following paring: octave fuzz -> whammy 1 octave up -> delay -> bad stone from EHX. sounds really great and psychedelic. cheers !

[@marvinbrando5408]

This is useful. Thanks.

[@MusicTherapyLaz]

Love that slap delay! Got to check out that Sus Mariosa pedal! Soinds killer! 😎🎸🐦🤘

[@dimitrispolyzois4425]

What an awesome video R.J.! Really helped me a lot... I also have a question... I am usually torn between my Strat and my Les Paul, due to my preference on Humbuckers. In fact, my Strat has an HSS configuration. I tried using my Fuzz Face with a Marshall style Overdrive, but I get too much Low end. Any tips on using a Fuzz like pedal with an overdrive on Humbuckers on top? Thank you in advance!

[@JusticeChrist]

Here are three of my favorites: 1) Light, transparent overdrive -> pitch vibrato set moderately fast and shallow -> splashy spring reverb. This simple modification of the traditional surf sound brings a psychedelic element to the sound without hiding the guitar tone and melody. That said, this is best played on slower, simple single note harmonies somewhat in the background. 2) Octaver (best choice I've found, Danelectro Chili Dog set to sub 2: 11 o'clock, sub 1: 1 o'clock, dry: 1 o'clock) -> silicon fuzz. This sounds MASSIVE. The Chili Dog octaver is a magical piece of plastic and sounds better for this than any other octaver I've tried. Which fuzz you use will obviously determine how it sounds, but I've had consistently better results with silicon fuzzes than germanium. I used this on an old demo using a Devi Ever Disaster Fuzz, and my friend complimented me on my awesome synth tone. 3) Gated silicon fuzz -> digital detune, set -10 to -20 cents. Another robot sound, for this one I like using a Midvalley FX Secret Weapon fuzz into the detune function in the cheap, otherwise kinda crappy Coolmusic multimod pedal I got for $40 on Amazon. It helps to have a glitchy, overly digital detune for this one.

[@druwk]

Stacking with a Fuzzface is great! I run a EQD Hoof Reaper > JHS Pollinator (Fuzzface style) > EHX JHS modded SoulFood a la Doyle B. SoulFood stays on all the time as a mild boost. I bring in the other pedals for varying degrees tone mayhem. I roll the guitar volume off to give myself a thousand different tones. Add a Wah after and there a lot of possibilities. Still struggling with adding the right modulation after all this ? Right now I’m just using the modulation from my Dunlop EP-03, as a slap back.

[@50Something]

Killer ways to spice up a fuzz! Thanks!

[@scottallen9556]

I like to have at least one solo per night with drive/fuzz + Phaser. From The Isley Brothers and Funkadelic to Eddie Van Halen there's something about that spacey movement. Also, you must be readin my mail cuz I completely agree with your pedal design and opinion on Slap+ drive. T-Rex comes to the front for me with that sound.

[@SSRT_JubyDuby8742]

I love slap back, nice post 😎🎸✅

[@nickkelly6834]

I love my tube screamer under a blues driver. sounds awesome!!

[@jasonkaram1034]

Useful video, but the coolest part is the Tyler Bryant and the Shakedown shirt!!

[@davidg4726]

Cool combos! I like to add an Xotix SL OD after a Hendrix fuzz face and/or Octavio.😎

[@Starch1b2c3d4a]

bro, nice playing!

[@NoCoverCharge]

solid Gold Lysis - EQD Palisades- EGD HUmmingbird- MXR Carbon Copy-Topanga spring reverb...out to two amps...OMG sounds like God Talking

[@littlebert79]

Damn!!! That micro vibe with that octave is amazing!

[@matthewzakszewski2105]

I had pretty fun today with my flat iron fuzz and boss Overdrive but I was also trying to achieve the Clapton woman tone. Came pretty close.

[@edwinpringle7342]

Try the fuzz face with a compressor in front of it. Works really good especially at low volume when you can't turn your amp up to loud. I use it loud too. It's not for everybody but I like it in front of the 3699.

[@brianyarbrough1720]

Greer Lightspeed set at noon or 1:00 with the tone around 11:00 into an Xotic BB, JRockett Dude or Archer. Gives a great big grind to them. Seems to even out any harsh tones.

[@tonymarinelli7304]

If you haven’t already, I’d love to see your amp settings. Great job and turned my 14 yr. old onto you. Trying to convince him to University of Miami music program like you.

[@bluesyjazzcat31]

This is the secret! I have fond memories of blending a fuzz face with a tube screamer. Just got a les lius and I can’t wait to test out blending it with by fuzz face and my veteran fuzz

[@luclou8636]

Hi R.J, Eric Johnson style course would be great . Rhythmic patterns , open triads. Etc. Looking forward to this lessons .

[@albertarguelles3262]

I like your signature pedal sounds great

[@PooNinja]

Fuzz and octave 😋 mmm 🤘🏽

[@paulcowart3174]

I've always enjoyed vibe with echo for a clean tone Single repeat way back to fatten the vibe up

[@luclou8636]

Hi R.J, More of this Pedal pair vidéo.s With Pedal pairing Would be gréât ´ Also enjoy Fuzz & OD sounds and fat boost Fulltone in front to give it extra punch and sound shaping. Keep going ..

[@tinyb69]

Man! That Ultimate Octave + MicroVibe, has Ernie Isley, (or Eddie Hazel), all over it.

[@dominicmcmahon4798]

I hoped the video thumbnail was a fuzz and a tuner. Lol love your videos.

[@JediAxis]

I like a Phaser into an overdrive or distortion. Usually the phaser set pretty slow. Overdrive wise I have a Wampler Tumnus into a Tube Screamer Mini into a Fulltone OCD. Any combination of 2 of those sounds killer in different situations.

[@jakollee]

I also do the TS Mini into an OCD, but I have my Wampler Tumnus near the end of my signal chain mainly for a volume boost when I'm soloing but my drummer is drowning me out!

[@hansneervoort6167]

I recently bought a Kangra Fuzz for the filter, not the fuzz. I hated the fuzz. Sounds like an angry duck that's been smoking six packs of cigarettes a day. But then I found out when I paired it with an overdrive or distortion, it sounds fantastic! I enjoyed this video. Learned a lot. Thanks!

[@moelester6479]

THE SHIRT🔥🔥🔥

[@JasonQuackenbushonGoogle]

that steel string sultan is pretty magic in its own right. is that the 6V6 version?

[@SidBonkers51]

Good info, cheers. I love an EQ after pretty much any overdrive, works for me.

[@bojangles6444]

How about before?

[@SidBonkers51]

@@bojangles6444 why not, whatever works for you :)

[@bojangles6444]

@@SidBonkers51 yeah I feel like it works pretty similarly to a boost especially if I push my mids up. I think I will try a boost in the front eq in the back next. Using a boost pedal or an overdrive to boost has a very similar effect to the way I use the eq.

[@jhvuvnik65s24]

Chorus/phaser Fuzz/Octave Hall reverb/reverse delay Hall reverb/Chorus Vibrato/wave

[@grahamkelly8299]

Hi,What pedal did you use as your rhythm sound when you were pairing the od with a compressor? Sounded killer man

[@pacodelux7]

Lollar pick up..which model?? Best regards from italy amazing ronquillo!!

[@domands]

lintek yung susmaryosep! :D

[@dahmc59]

i love my microvibe. i agree w Josh @ JHS, it goes first before the others in line.

[@mr.j1400]

Can I get one of those the SUSMSEP or something like that Excellent video

[@scottt9382]

Octave + Phaser (me: TC Electronic Sub n Up + MXR Phase 95) for funk, etc.

[@justjono9638]

Hey RJ, what Guitar is that ES335 type guitar with the Filtertrons in it ? it sounds amazing

[@PedroBernardiGuitarra]

I've gotta give the slapback effect a try. All these years and I simply haven't got around to try it for real.

[@tjjohnson7666]

Fuckin same lol

[@jackjohn3035]

hey R.J. what cabinet and speaker combination are you using with the steel string sultan?

[@antonioroman4895]

I love your videos. You are an awesome player. BTW my Wife has a Guitar pick you threw at Her in Dallas during a Ricky Martin " Black and White " tour concert !

[@RJRonquillo]

Oh wow!

[@mistermojo1969]

Jimmy Page did the overdrive/slap back combo a lot (or just the delay into a Marshall).

[@strat0871]

Beginning of the video: Man, you understood everything of Eric Johnson's licks !

[@Mcchicken1366]

Sweet

[@joegar7002]

Wha wha parings please!! I love to learn about it

[@icu469]

The ultimate octave pedal sounds wicked.

[@hailmaryrecordings8255]

Very good guitar player 👆🏻

[@AnodyneHipsterInfluencer]

Awesome video... but this is why I use Tone Benders, lol. 🙆‍♂️❤👍🎶 Btw, Giggity is an awesome tool.

[@jeanfrancoisethier7608]

1.MXR fet driver + MXR disto+ 2. Malekko A.D. + TC flashback (reverse) 3. adding analog delay when your sound is too digitalized 4. Using a Ibanez Ge 601 rather than a TS 5. Volume pedal + digital delay

[@Chucksguitargeekery]

I have a few combinations, but my favorite is a Dunlop EP101 (or Xotic EP or Mosky XP) as an always on AFTER all the gain pedals. Just makes any pedal sound smooth and full, even a DS-1. Set it pretty much to unity gain and leave it on.

[@mobydick3895]

Ron, off topic maybe, but do you know a practical way to get that Gary Glitter Rock and Roll Part II fuzz tone, with the octaves and delays on it? The Hey Song!

[@UnboundOdysseus]

I'm a little late to the party, but let me say I love this channel and your playing. I would humbly suggest that the Eric Johnson "violin tone" doesn't describe his Fuzz Face tone (e.g. Camel's Night Out) but rather it describes his Tube Driver into a cranked Marshall Plexi lead tone (e.g. Cliffs of Dover). Just my 2 cents. Great playing and great videos nonetheless.

[@1dkappe]

Maybe a little tone shaping going on with that .45?

[@farrelldesign4621]

Audio Kitchen the big trees in the effects loop of a Hughes and Kettner tubemeister 18.

[@jorgeosuna1450]

I like the combination KING OF TONE + KTR