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A good isolated power supply can make all the difference
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YOU GOT THE POWER?
I read with interest last month’s feature on the 30 best new pedals [issue 524]. I would like to add my own experiences, in the hope of saving other readers some heartache.
I have played in cover bands for over 20 years, initially as a rhythm guitarist, but for the last three years as a lead guitarist. As I made the step up to lead guitarist I was forced to confront the murky waters of effects pedals.
As I proceeded I noticed my tone had become muddy and bassy, whether pedals were engaged or not. It was not so apparent at practice, probably due to a concrete floor and reduced volume. At gigs it got so bad, in the end I was just using a Telecaster for all gigs, on the cleanest channel with all of the bass EQ’d out of the equation. I put new valves in my Marshall head, had it serviced, renewed my leads and patch cables, all to no avail…
One day at rehearsal my trusty power supply began to buzz. It was one of those inexpensive daisy chain affairs, feeding five nine-volt pedals. I persevered, but like most things it did not cure itself. I decided to invest in an affordable Harley Benton ISO power supply. What a difference! All of the muddiness was gone – it was like someone had taken the 20-tog duvet off the speaker cab, and all of my pedals were doing their jobs better than ever. God knows what the old power supply had been up to!