What are the most recommended guitar pedals for stoner rock? How can guitarists achieve a combination of heavy, dirty and intoxicating psychedelic sound of bands such as Kyuss, Masters of Reality and Monster Magnet?
Throughout the history of modern music, innovation has always been the main fuel behind the ascension of rock and roll. The invention of electric instruments gave rise to a plethora of subgenres that were defined by their lyrical themes, melodic motifs, prevalent rhythmic patterns and choice of music equipment.
Just like most rock and metal subcategories, stoner rock (also referred to as “stoner metal” or “stoner doom”) also possesses some unique characteristics that can be attributed to the preferred stompboxes of guitar players like Josh Homme and Woody Weatherman.
Even though it is possible to create great music on any kind of gear, there are musicians who have opted to maximize the capabilities of their gadgets instead. Consequently, new styles of music and subcultures have emerged as a result of these bold guitar pedal experimentations. This shows that although great artists can make something out of nothing, providing them with the right tools, will surely lead to the conception of fresh new ideas.
In the case of stoner rock, chorus, delay and wah-wah pedals are effective in producing heady chords and stimulating riffs. However, it is the fuzz pedal that can be considered the centerpiece of the genre, as it is present in every stoner rocker’s pedalboard. The over-the-top distorted sounds of a fuzz pedal drenches the listeners in a thick, dark atmosphere, leaving them inebriated and wanting for more.
A brief history of stoner rock/stoner metal
The emergence of stoner rock as a genre and a movement was given a clearer definition in the early ‘90s when the “Palm Desert Scene” gained prominence in the music industry. Consisting of related musicians based in Palm Desert, California, the scene also nurtured the band Kyuss, which helped propel stoner rock into the mainstream.
Along with San Jose band Sleep, Kyuss injected some groovy psychedelic rock into their regular doom metal songs and established what we know today as “stoner rock.” The style eventually spread like fire, giving rise to other stoner groups such as Acid King, Acrimony, Corrosion of Conformity and Sons of Otis, to name a few.
The roots of stoner rock however, can be traced way back to heavy-sounding ‘60s bands such as Blue Cheer and even MC5. This template would later on be taken to another level when metal pioneer Black Sabbath slowed things down, giving birth to a new brand of powerful, monolithic variant of rock music. Moreover, early ‘70s bands such as Leaf Hound and Sir Lord Baltimore, are also cited as the source of inspiration for bands belonging to the stoner rock movement of the ‘90s.
Good guitar pedals for stoner rock/stoner metal
Although stoner rock bands usually incorporate a number of gadgets, the fuzz pedals are the mainstay and are one of the primary factors that constitute stoner rock guitar.
A fuzz pedal makes your signal clip real hard at the circuit’s transistor stage, instead of relying on gain. The sound that fuzz pedals produce is compressed and heavily-saturated, with lots of low-end and sustain, making them the ultimate effects for the gloomy mood of stoner rock.
Any stoner rock guitar player’s set up won’t be complete without fuzz pedals. Here are some of the most commonly used fuzz guitar pedals for stoner rock and metal guitarists:
- Boss FZ-2 Hyper Fuzz
Although Boss ceased production of the FZ-2, the Boss Hyper Fuzz is still one of the most beloved guitar pedals in stoner rock. The man responsible for the FZ-2’s popularity is Electric Wizard’s guitarist Jus Oborn, due to his usage of the stompbox on their album “Dopethrone.”
- Earthbound Audio Supercollider
If you are looking for some modern-sounding, bottom-heavy sounds, you might want to check out Earthbound Audio’s Supercollider. The versatile Supercollider is perfect for thick, low-end rich tones that even bass players will love.
- Electro-Harmonix Big Muff
The beefy sound and ample gain of the Big Muff makes it one of the cornerstones of stoner rock, as well as doom and sludge metal. If you are aiming to create a loud wall of sound, the EHX Big Muff can help you obtain that massive tone.
- Faustone Valve Klipper
Inspired by the distortion circuit of Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi’s Laney Klipp amps, the Faustone Valve Klipper is a hand-wired, tube-based pedal. Built in Spain by Fausto Perez, the 300v, power-devouring Valve Klipper is no longer in production and is quite difficult to find in the second-hand market.
- Greenhouse FX Sludgehammer Fuzzstortion
Israeli guitar pedal company Greenhouse FX delivers a mammoth-sized sound with their Sludgehammer Fuzzstortion, an effects pedal that doomsters will definitely love. A crossover between fuzz and distortion, the Sludgehammer will bring forth a dark, jarring tone that is a requisite in stoner rock and stoner metal.
However, the vintage setting on the Sludgehammer offers vast possibilities beyond the aforementioned subgenres of music.
- ProCo RAT
ProCo RAT is one of the late ‘70s guitar pedals that has captured the interest of stoner rock guitar players. The original RAT is quite expensive but if you wish to experience one, you can easily purchase newer variations that are being manufactured today.
A legitimate guitar pedal for stoner rock, the ProCo RAT was also an essential part of Melvins axeman Buzz Osbourne’s pedal setup.
- Univox Super-Fuzz
Although the Univox Super-Fuzz will always be synonymous with stoner rock guitarist Scott Hill of the band Fu Manchu (another Palm Desert Scene luminary in the ‘80s), the Super-Fuzz is actually a prominent pedal that was manufactured from 1968 until the late ‘70s.
While the original Univox is one of the most sought-after guitar pedals for stoner rock, prepare to shell out at least $600 for one unit if you really are serious about acquiring vintage gear.
What are the most recommended guitar pedals for stoner rock? How can guitarists achieve a combination of heavy, dirty and intoxicating psychedelic sound of bands such as Kyuss, Masters of Reality and Monster Magnet?
Throughout the history of modern music, innovation has always been the main fuel behind the ascension of rock and roll. The invention of electric instruments gave rise to a plethora of subgenres that were defined by their lyrical themes, melodic motifs, prevalent rhythmic patterns and choice of music equipment.
Just like most rock and metal subcategories, stoner rock (also referred to as “stoner metal” or “stoner doom”) also possesses some unique characteristics that can be attributed to the preferred stompboxes of guitar players like Josh Homme and Woody Weatherman.
Even though it is possible to create great music on any kind of gear, there are musicians who have opted to maximize the capabilities of their gadgets instead. Consequently, new styles of music and subcultures have emerged as a result of these bold guitar pedal experimentations. This shows that although great artists can make something out of nothing, providing them with the right tools, will surely lead to the conception of fresh new ideas.
In the case of stoner rock, chorus, delay and wah-wah pedals are effective in producing heady chords and stimulating riffs. However, it is the fuzz pedal that can be considered the centerpiece of the genre, as it is present in every stoner rocker’s pedalboard. The over-the-top distorted sounds of a fuzz pedal drenches the listeners in a thick, dark atmosphere, leaving them inebriated and wanting for more.
A brief history of stoner rock/stoner metal
The emergence of stoner rock as a genre and a movement was given a clearer definition in the early ‘90s when the “Palm Desert Scene” gained prominence in the music industry. Consisting of related musicians based in Palm Desert, California, the scene also nurtured the band Kyuss, which helped propel stoner rock into the mainstream.
Along with San Jose band Sleep, Kyuss injected some groovy psychedelic rock into their regular doom metal songs and established what we know today as “stoner rock.” The style eventually spread like fire, giving rise to other stoner groups such as Acid King, Acrimony, Corrosion of Conformity and Sons of Otis, to name a few.
The roots of stoner rock however, can be traced way back to heavy-sounding ‘60s bands such as Blue Cheer and even MC5. This template would later on be taken to another level when metal pioneer Black Sabbath slowed things down, giving birth to a new brand of powerful, monolithic variant of rock music. Moreover, early ‘70s bands such as Leaf Hound and Sir Lord Baltimore, are also cited as the source of inspiration for bands belonging to the stoner rock movement of the ‘90s.
Good guitar pedals for stoner rock/stoner metal
Although stoner rock bands usually incorporate a number of gadgets, the fuzz pedals are the mainstay and are one of the primary factors that constitute stoner rock guitar.
A fuzz pedal makes your signal clip real hard at the circuit’s transistor stage, instead of relying on gain. The sound that fuzz pedals produce is compressed and heavily-saturated, with lots of low-end and sustain, making them the ultimate effects for the gloomy mood of stoner rock.
Any stoner rock guitar player’s set up won’t be complete without fuzz pedals. Here are some of the most commonly used fuzz guitar pedals for stoner rock and metal guitarists:
- Boss FZ-2 Hyper Fuzz
Although Boss ceased production of the FZ-2, the Boss Hyper Fuzz is still one of the most beloved guitar pedals in stoner rock. The man responsible for the FZ-2’s popularity is Electric Wizard’s guitarist Jus Oborn, due to his usage of the stompbox on their album “Dopethrone.”
- Earthbound Audio Supercollider
If you are looking for some modern-sounding, bottom-heavy sounds, you might want to check out Earthbound Audio’s Supercollider. The versatile Supercollider is perfect for thick, low-end rich tones that even bass players will love.
- Electro-Harmonix Big Muff
The beefy sound and ample gain of the Big Muff makes it one of the cornerstones of stoner rock, as well as doom and sludge metal. If you are aiming to create a loud wall of sound, the EHX Big Muff can help you obtain that massive tone.
- Faustone Valve Klipper
Inspired by the distortion circuit of Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi’s Laney Klipp amps, the Faustone Valve Klipper is a hand-wired, tube-based pedal. Built in Spain by Fausto Perez, the 300v, power-devouring Valve Klipper is no longer in production and is quite difficult to find in the second-hand market.
- Greenhouse FX Sludgehammer Fuzzstortion
Israeli guitar pedal company Greenhouse FX delivers a mammoth-sized sound with their Sludgehammer Fuzzstortion, an effects pedal that doomsters will definitely love. A crossover between fuzz and distortion, the Sludgehammer will bring forth a dark, jarring tone that is a requisite in stoner rock and stoner metal.
However, the vintage setting on the Sludgehammer offers vast possibilities beyond the aforementioned subgenres of music.
- ProCo RAT
ProCo RAT is one of the late ‘70s guitar pedals that has captured the interest of stoner rock guitar players. The original RAT is quite expensive but if you wish to experience one, you can easily purchase newer variations that are being manufactured today.
A legitimate guitar pedal for stoner rock, the ProCo RAT was also an essential part of Melvins axeman Buzz Osbourne’s pedal setup.
- Univox Super-Fuzz
Although the Univox Super-Fuzz will always be synonymous with stoner rock guitarist Scott Hill of the band Fu Manchu (another Palm Desert Scene luminary in the ‘80s), the Super-Fuzz is actually a prominent pedal that was manufactured from 1968 until the late ‘70s.
While the original Univox is one of the most sought-after guitar pedals for stoner rock, prepare to shell out at least $600 for one unit if you really are serious about acquiring vintage gear.
