[amerikangod]

Null

[Sonic Youth 37]

Big Muff (I prefere Russian)
MXR Blue Box
Strings (Ernie Ball are good. Go with 10s)

that's $125ish right there.

[SpectralJulianIsNotDead]

Personally, I'd try to get a better amp. Don't worry too much about wattage, remember, you can always mic your amp at shows. You don't want something too low. Try out some in your price range. Tube amps are nice, but not necessary (plus they require more care.) I bet you could get some store credit for your current amp.

As far as pedals, try out whatever Big Muffs they have, try out some other EHX stuff, and try out a Proco Rat.

Any other fuzzes they have for sale, try out.

Guitar pedals are cool, but everyone needs a good amp.

[atari 2600]

Same thing I was thinking. Sounds like his Strat is new. Look, man I'll take the Stratocaster over all others. Electric guitars are covered for now. I'll also say maybe go for putting it towards a better amp. Some Behringer amps are mid-priced. I would lean towards a more expensive Fender one if you have the extra extra. (2 extras there)

And also, you are both right on to mention the Big Muff pedal. Got the Crybaby already. I also really like the plain 'ol Rat. Just what I was thinking.

[king_buzzo]

I'd go for a better amp or adapters for your other pedals because batteries are a bitch. Whenever I have a smaller ammount of money I try to get either cables, adapters or strings because i need them more than pedals.

[deflinus]

get $250 worth of maracas

[max]

there's lots of things to get. a pedal board. a one spot power supply + multi plug cable. lotsa picks. lotsa new strings. a fast fret. and yeah, a new amp would be fine. check out the used shit and maybe you could really trade in your current amp. make sure it sounds fine for you. try 'em all before you buy.

[Silent Dan Speaks]

Well, the Big Muff Pi is my favorite pedal ever, so I'd get one of those.

[EVOLghost]

Big Muff Pi (russian) is a fair investment. I tested the DD-7 the other day...it was sweet. OR! Get a Korg mini synth.....those fuckin' rocked.

[SpectralJulianIsNotDead]

There are 4 flavors of muff from EHX, there is a 5th one coming out later this year that sounds cool, and Dunlop/MXR is putting out a fancy one under the brand name Way Huge called the Swollen pickle. But those 5th and 6th options probably won't be available at GC immediately.

NYC Big Muff

 

Black Russian Big Muff

 

The Little Big Muff

 

The Bass Big Muff

 

I have a little big muff. Really fat and mean sounding. I've played the black and the NYC muffs- they're both a little bit tamer, the black muff is aggressive sounding but not as full, and the NYC muff is full but not aggressive sounding. Little Big Muff is sort of inbetween.

Bass Big Muff is based on the old green russian big muff that bassists really seem to like (and guitarists, I believe thurston uses a green muff), but with an added bass boost and wet/dry blend mode (so that you have more definition.) I keep hearing that this one is really awesome and better than the little big muff. I'm going to get one myself.

One last thing about the little big muff and bass big muff- they're smaller, and they have normal power connectors, which is nice and convenient.

The Way Huge Swollen Pickle and Big Muff Pi with Tone Wicker are going to be really cool. Both of them have extra features to give the Big Muff tone more flexibility. I want to get both. I'm a muffaholic.

[SpectralJulianIsNotDead]

As for strings- I don't like ernie balls.

Look for 10-52 gauge nickel strings. Dean Markley makes them, D'addario makes them. I think they're good.

[SpectralJulianIsNotDead]

Originally Posted by amerikangod

Yes, the Strat is new. It's actually pretty hysterical... it's a promotional Strat from Lifetime's 4th Annual 'Women Rock!' series. There's totally a Lifetime logo on it and then some. I'm not sure if I want to get it sanded down and refinished, or if I should keep all of the hysterical 'Women Rock!" text and maybe slap a 'No Fat Chicks' sticker on it.

I know that I definitely need a better amp, but I'm not planning on performing any time soon. Right now it's just playing in my apartment... I figured if I ever made the transition to live performance, I'd buy a better amp then. Or do you guys still recommend I get something better now?

"Strings (Ernie Ball are good. Go with 10s)" Anything else you think I should experiment with or try out?

A Big Muff Pi it is. I've always wanted one, you all want me to have one. I will have one.

I had forgotten about the Proco Rat, I'll check that one out. I've been recommended the MXR Blue Box before as well, I'll also try that one out.

How do you guys feel about the EHX Frequency Analyzer?

http://www.ehx.com/products/frequency-analyzer

What about the Boss PS-5 Super Shifter?

The frequency analyzer is one of my favorite pedals ever.

Makes your guitar make whacked out sounds. It's a lot of fun. Especially plugged into a muff.

PS-5 super shifters cool, can make some cool sounds.

[SpectralJulianIsNotDead]

I prefer the sound of em, and the feel.

Best pitch shifter out there is the Electro-Harmonix HOG. It is fucking amazing. But also expensive and big. I got one used for 300. Look it up sometime, it is so awesome.

[shentov]

+1 on a variation of the big muff.

[Sonic Youth 37]

Originally Posted by amerikangod

And does anyone recommend a different pitch shifter over the PS-5?

The Holy Stain by EHX might be a good bet for you, it's fuzz/multi-effect. The fuzz is pretty much like the Big Muff sounds. The OD mode is good as well. Plus, it has 4 effects, Hall Reverb, Room reverb, Tremelo, and Pitch shift. all that pretty good. The main drawback is you're limited to single effect at a time (can't have verb/trem at once, for example), but other than that it's solid and can function as two pedals at once. Also, it's only $99.

[scott v]

whatever you buy don't get ripped off... because in general guitar center sucks as in corporate chain store that runs over and drives the neighborhood ma and pa shops out of business.

[atsonicpark]

I have a Behringer amp that's pretty cool, it only cost $200.. it's all I'll ever need, it has 100 built in effects.. it's pretty cool, though it seems like it's always falling apart.

I'd definitely like to get a lot of pitch shifter pedals... I'm curious about them though... if you have a lot of pitch shifter pedals hooked up and have them all set to "octave down 2" or whatever, wouldn't it eventually be so low it'd blow your amp up or not be audible at all?...

[SpectralJulianIsNotDead]

I think the latter would happen. That's what tends to happen when it goes that low or high.