Grateful Dead Music Forum

Greetings.... For a guy who's gone w/o pedals for 50 yrs of his semi-charmed professional career, I need some common sense advise on what a 'proper' order should be.... Exactly where on my small pedalboard should my Thick Air go? From my Tuner, I have an Xotic Ep Booster, then my Envelope Filter, into an OD, then Delay, & finally the Reverb. Brian White seemed to think the TA should be last, thus making the it last thing before the amp... Any thoughts or experiences?
Thnx, Kenny ॐ

It depends what you want from it. It's basically a double clean boost. Such pedals can work first in your chain (or second after your compressor), last in your chain (after your modulation and time-based effects), or even (I often like this approach) in your amp's effects loop after the amp's preamp/before the power section. It's like the sound of one hand clapping: just do it. Take a half hour to an hour, try it all of these ways, and trust your own ears more than random internet advice. Although, I know, I do it, too, it can be helpful to get opinions as baselines. Assuming it's pure Jerry tones you're after, others can be more helpful than me because I'm not wedded to Jerry tone. Good luck and please return to let us know what you find and what you prefer!

I have my EP Booster last in my chain, set at unity gain, and always on. When I got a Thick Air, it replaced the EP as last in the chain. I eventually swapped the EP back in. For me, they were serving a similar purpose. The EP won out due to its smaller size.

Bill, tgo

Thanks folks. I'm not necessarily after that 'Jerry tone', but i seek the preservation of the signal. I have an Xotic Super Sweet after my tuner & Envelope Filter, then an OD, and finally a Phaser, Delay & Reverb.... THEN the TA at the very end, right before the amp. I just want to get the most out of the TA... Sounding or playing like Jerry is not my goal,,, just the integrity of the signal.
Thnx, Kenny ॐ

What amp(s) are you using? Does it/they have an effect loop?

Jon, neither of my Morgans have a loop,, maybe my Egnater Rebel 30 and THD Bivalve do, but they're not my top picks for a gig (maybe the Egnater),, all else are early 60's N.J. made Hilgens, Sanos, & Ampegs,,, old but most with trem & verb, but Plexi killers that use 2-7591's. They blow away any of my late 50 Gibsons & Fenders..... They're true rockers!! & ALL 1x12 combos..
No shredding or metal, just old school rockers that Jerry would surely approve of!!
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zozoe wrote: ↑Mon Nov 03, 2025 12:46 pm No shredding or metal, just old school rockers that Jerry would surely approve of!!
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I always liked the differences between Jerry's set lists with the JGB versus the GD, especially the what I'd call love songs he played with the former that were definitely not Hunter's or Barlow's style of lyricism.

I asked about the effect loops because, for my amps that have them, sometimes a clean boost in the loop can sound great. Another possible option is, as with Milkman's pedals, placing the boost in between the preamp tube's triodes (not a realistic option if you're not yourself building the amp, though).