This
article intends to help us all find our way with official, semi official
and non official
accessories made for the stick or either adapted to
use for the stick.
Patch
Of Shades
First of all is the
“classic” patch of shades made by Stick Enterprises
–not available for
few decades, very hard to find (especially in working
condition), but
still worth mentioning. Hard to describe, but it sounds
around the area
of Wah pedals family. Check out sound samples at :
Up next is the “Rane
SP-13” which is a dual preamp with 7 band eq for
each channel, also
made by Stick Enterprises-also not available for
quite a while, available
from time to time on Ebay.
Stepabout
The only pedal “Made
for stick players by a stick player”, which is still
available , is coming
from our dearest stick player and developer Greg
Howard – the “Stepabout”
(now available in version 2).
This is a dual channel
preamp with 3 eq bands for each channel
(sweepable mid)
and 2X2 matrix, which means you can run your bass
or melody channel
to your bass chain fx Or melody chain fx or both..go
crazy-it doubles
your fx options.
Also has dedicated
headphone jack & tuner (mono jack) – more options
to go-for example
:send your tuner out to a small room reverb pedal.
Available in the
USA at stick enterprises at :
2 channels mixer/preamp
a (very) “stripped” version of the stepabout.
simple 2 channel
mixer with 2 eq band for each input you will need TRS
cable on both sides
then you can connect the output to either mono amp
or stereo 2 channels
output
If you just need the switching functionality
of the “StepAbout” this may be
it – like they say: "it is A/B/Y box on
steroids" each stick channel can be
routed to any of 2 fx chains
I guess we all know that standard volume pedals
can’t handle the stick:
we need to decide whether we are swelling
the bass side or the melody
side. well..no more : this is the ultimate
volume pedal for the stick-2 input
and 2 outputs : a stickist dream ! but
it doesn’t end there : a small switch
under the pedal can switch between volume
pedal and panning pedal
rocking the pedal from left and right now acts as
panning pedal instead of a 2 channel volume pedal-you decide. also
the usual up/down rocking acts
as an expression pedal !! more volume
and more reverb /synth/drive/
(whatever you choose) –with one foot motion.
On the stick stands area here are the most
popular accessories:
The “Lapdawg”
Designed by Stick player Michal Johnstone.
Made for playing sitiing
down in which this stand is an integral
part of the stick.
I can’t recommend this enough.. completely
changed the way I play
the stick to much more ergonomic position.
Should be “standard” with any stick purchase
in my opinion.
Designed by Emmett Chapman, angineered by
Michael Johnstone is
another “official “ stand for sitting
position in which you actually sit on
the stand -can be adjusted in many ways.
Designed by John Taggart is your solution
for playing while you stand
without using belt or stick strap . not
available for few years , the Tagg
3.0 is under development (?)
Hopefully will be available soon . keep
in mind you will need to attach
it to any cymbal stand sold separately
at your local drum dealer.
Stick Stand
The Official stick stand-best place to put
your Stick while you are not playing
Originally designed by Dave Brosky this one
can be easily home made.
Some kind of early version of the Lapdawg
, but rather than attached to
the stick it just rest on your lap with
the stick sliding into it.
if you are not DIY kind of guy this is
now available at :
Designed and created by our truly Andy Prokopyk.
Ever need to adjust
your truss rod ? Now where did I put my
truss rod wrench? I’m sure it’s
here somewhere…
Enough looking around ! Andy got a simple
yet great solution-this small
gadget simply attached to your belt hook
(or lapdawg) holding your wrench
and make it always available. No more
searching! ( keep in mind that if you
use the Tagg holder you will need to take
the wrench out of the Truss-T.
no big deal ) take a look at
The golden FX solution for sound/small size/price
never truly understand
why did Line 6 came with this 2 inputs/2
outputs completely independent
channels (I guess they never thought about
stick players) –but this is it !
Use any of the 300+ effects available
for your stick (up to a total of 6 at
the same time: 3 melody /3 bass or either
2/4 1/5 6/0 ).
You can even connect other fx channels
via the insert jack and control
bypassing those external fx with the HX
stomp (this function will take 1
block/fx from your setup) for more functionality
you can use the Mission
Engineering SP1-L6H Line 6 switching expression
pedal.
If you’re into Looping I guess there are many
out there with 2 inputs to use
as a stick player , so I will point out
only 2 I would recommend:
The Boss Rc-300 Loop station 3
track looping :
How does this affect your stick sound ? not
at all (read on)
The reasons I got this into this list
is because it has 2 inputs and 2 outputs
you can connect your stick bass and melody
to the beat buddy and with
the Beat buddy volume knob add drums to
your playing, well although it
doesn’t do anything to your input sound
(which you don’t actually need to
connect it – you can just use it as standalone
drum machine connected
to your mixer)- it will affect your playing-it's
the closest you can get to a real
drummer without having one around.
It is by far the best drum machine out
there-no need to program. it’s ready
to play out of the box (although can be
programmed with your own midi files).
Non quantized drumming in many styles,
real drum samples.
The best machine that doesn’t sound like
a machine.
Need a spontaneous fill in the middle
of a song? just press the button, need
to go to different song section (chorus
, c part..) long press and you’re there.
Song end? Just Double tab for big fill
ending.
For more functionality add the Midi Maestro
(which can also be used for
many Midi Devices including the Aeros
Looper)
My personal view : don’t go with the very
limited BeatBuddy mini 2 – go for
the real deal: the Beatbuddy
This can be a huge section which can be shortened
to only those with
(at least) 2 independent channels I would
recommend those two amps :
.
Roland Cube street Ex: the ultimate
street solution can work on 8 AA
batteries 50W power output. Has bass/mic
input (with reverb) + guitar/mic
input (with reverb , chorus/Delay)+ Stereo
line in (keyboard drum machine
etc) input + stereo Link input (phone/mp3
player)
. Line 6 StageSource L2t 800W 2 Way
of power built like a tank.
2 independent inputs controlled with intenal
mixer. each channel has its
own 3 band eq (sweepable mids) ,reverb
and chorus plus aux stereo input
Not really for stick but since it was mention
a lot i decided to put it here.
This is a winner mixer that can be use
either as usb audio interface /
controller / mixer 8 in(2 of them
mic with phantom power) /10 out/3 aux /
internal reverb, compressor, Eq, gate
for each channel.
Can also be configured for surround sound
system.
If you need sepearte channels for your
gk pickup out / external reverb /
external delay etc. – this is it !
.
If you have a railboard and would like to
use it in active mode
This a great 2 channel preamp with phantom
power on both channels
(although you only need phantom on one
channel to make the railboard active)
Latest firmware let you configure the DD-500
to 2 independent delay units
each with its own setting. Off course
in this configuration it will work as two mono delays instead of one stereo.
