Guitar Essentials Archives

Modulation- vs. Time-based guitar effects

2 March 2026/0 Comments/in Guitar Essentials/by chickenp

Modulation- vs. Time-based guitar effects

Explore the world of modulation- and time-based effects to transform your guitar sound into a rich and dynamic sonic experience.

Modulation- and time-based effects are essential for any guitarist looking to add texture and depth to their playing.
From subtle chorus tones to mind-blowing phasers and from delays to reverb and more.

Modulation effects explained

Modulation guitar effects create movement, depth, and spatial character in the sound by constantly varying the guitar signal.

Virtually all guitar modulation effects rely on an oscillator, specifically a Low-Frequency Oscillator (LFO). This is the “engine” behind the effect.
They work by copying the original, dry guitar signal, manipulating this copy (pitch, time, or phase), and then mixing it with the original sound.

Modulation effects are used to add movement and dimension to your guitar sound. They can create everything from subtle shifts in tone to dramatic, swirling sonic landscapes, enhancing both live performances and studio recordings.

Time-based effects explained

Time-based guitar effects manipulate the time of the guitar signal by storing it and playing it back later. They create echoes, spaciousness, and repetition, making the guitar sound fuller, wider, or more atmospheric.

Overview of common Modulation Effects:

Chorus: Copies the signal and delays it slightly, creating the sound of multiple guitars playing together.

Phaser: Creates a swirling or rotating effect by shifting portions of the signal out of phase.

Flanger: Similar to phaser, but with a shorter delay and repetitive, jet-like sweeps.

Tremolo: Quickly and rhythmically varies the volume of the signal.

Vibrato: Varies the pitch of the signal for an undulating sound. Rotary: Simulates the rotating effect of a classic Leslie speaker cabinet.

Graphics for modulation effects

Graphic wise you could show how modulation effects work. Below you will see the situation of completely “in phase” and this means that you will hear a nice clear sound without any out of phase sounds.

Slightly out of phase it may look like this below:

Completely out of phase should be look like this here below

Important aspects:

Placement: For best results, place modulation effects after distortion (overdrive), but often before delay and reverb, known as time-based effects. Read about the right effects pedal order for the best sound out of your FX-pedals.

Overview of common time-based effects

Delay (or echo) is an essential effect in every guitarist’s toolkit. It adds echo to your sound.
Think of it as Tone-Tone-Tone-Tone-Tone… And you can adjust the length between the “Tones” and how many there are in the chain.

Reverb: An effects pedal that adds spaciousness, depth, and ambiance to the sound. It simulates the natural reverberation of sound in a physical space. Many guitar amps provide a reverb channel within the, whether it’s a Tube- or Solid-State amp.

Reverb works by creating hundreds (or thousands) of small, rapid reflections of the original sound, which slowly decay.

FX-loop / Send & Return

Time-based effects do their job even better when connected through a so-called FX-loop on your amp. You may recognize this on your amp with the words “Send & Return”.

Effects pedals overview

Although this special mainly is about modulation- and time-based effects pedals, there is more in the world of guitar effects pedals. Globally these are classified in 4 different groups.

Modulation pedals (chorus, phaser, and flanger)
Time-based effects pedals (reverb, delay), and volume-based effects.
Gain effect pedals (distortion, compressor, booster etc.)
Multi-effects pedals. These are pedals with multiple effects. We won’t discuss the multi-effect pedal not here.

Gain pedals explained

Gain pedals like overdrive, distortion, fuzz distort the guitar signal by increasing the volume above the “headroom,” creating harmonic overtones, compression, and a rougher sound.

The core function of these pedals is to “flatten” the signal waveform, resulting in a distorted sound.
These pedals may be a perfect way to make your guitar sound better.

Wah-Wah pedal

While technically a movable filter or “envelope filter,” the “sweeping” tone change places it within the broader category of modulating effects.

The pedal alters the frequency response (tone) of your guitar, resulting in a sound similar to a human voice saying “wah-wah.”

Learn more about the frequency spectrum where the guitar does its job best.

Delay pedals explained

Different delay pedals use different parameters to modify their sound, but there are generally 4 essential parameters used by all delay effects:

Time – The time it takes for the repeat to occur. This is also called “frequency.”

Feedback – How many repeats are played? This is sometimes referred to as “regen.”

Mix – The degree to which the effect signal is mixed with the original signal.

Level – This determines the overall output level of the mix of dry (normal instrument) and wet (delayed) signals.

Tempo

The tempo, or beats per minute (BPM), of a song is crucial for the timing of echo and delay effects. You want your delay to be in sync with the song.

Tap Tempo

Some delay pedals provide a Tap Tempo knob, which you may vary the time of the delay per different song. This is very useful when you use pronounced delay sounds.

Slap-back delay

In country- and rockabilly music guitar players mainly use a very subtle and extremely short delay with just 1 repeat.
This is called a slap-back delay and the time varies somewhere between 80 – 140 BPM.
The repeat is fairly loud, but not “too much”.

With rotary knob delays it can be quite an advantage to find the right BPM for your needs.

There is more to gain pedals

Think of the distortion/overdrive, equalization (EQ), compressor, clean booster and octaver. These are gain pedals as well, as they’re pumping up the volume of the whole signal before entering the amplifier. Normally they increase the volume within the “headroom” limits.

Learn more about what headroom means in guitar sound.

Internal amplifier

As said before, there are many so called gain pedals and these all have a built-in amplifier. So, it is possible to pump up the volume to higher levels than the volume of your guitar amp alone.

Increasing the input gain btw may distort the clean sound of your amplifier though, so cranking up the volume would be best by turning up the amplifier volume.

Buffered- vs. True Bypass pedals

Most guitar players prefer a combination of both Buffered- and True Bypass pedals to avoid “Tone suck”.

Whereas True Bypass pedals basically do not color the sound, they may cause tone suck with large cable set ups.
Along the whole FX-pedal chain there may be loss of the original guitar signal.
Buffered pedals have some sort of mini amplifier to boost the signal along the whole cable length.

Guitar Pedal Accessories

Almost all pedals can be powered with a guitar effects power adapter. Some pedals also run on 9-volt batteries.
There are power adapters that can power multiple pedals simultaneously.

When looking for a cheaper option, you should check a so called “Daisy Chain” power cable, which you can find under $10.00.
Most (9V) Daisy chain cables provide several sockets to mostly run 5 – 6 pedals.

What more would you need to know about guitar playing

While there’s a lot to tell about all aspects of guitar playing, we try to provide you with the most important things.
That said, we will explain in a very accessible explanation.

We have written several specials including technical aspects about the guitar itself like the radius of the fret board as well as the difference between humbuckers and single coil pickups and the type of frets your guitar is equipped with.
Even the lacquer on your guitar influences the sound of your guitar.
Some specific effects pedals were described as well as learning about the FX-loop on your Tube- or Solid-State amp and how to mic your amp for the best results.

There are also lessons on specific styles of guitar playing that you might like.

The best ROI for great guitar sound may be something totally different

Many people buy expensive gear like guitars, amps and FX-pedals etc. But the guitar pick is something less important.
And while maybe spending a few thousands of Dollars on gear, the guitar pick may not cost more than let’s say $1.00.

It’s like driving a Porsche 911 or a Ferrari SF90 Stradale on cheap and small $ 55.00 tyres.

Material, thickness and shape really make a huge difference

Guitar picks can be made out of different materials, but most of them are made a cheap standard quality of plastic.

It was around 1985 and I was making guitar picks out of different materials because I wondered what would be the difference. And I wasn’t happy with my flimsy 0.60 Scotty’s (now Dunlop) Nylon pick.

So, there it was… a piece of thermosetting plastic that I managed to file in the shape of a 2.6mm thick guitar pick.

My first words were… WHAT THE…. is this…!! The sound was great and the thickness seemed to be perfect for me. The playability is outrageous and everything seemed to be much easier to play. Much less pick noise due to the material and beveled edges.

My own personal pick

Since then I made my own picks and only played these, while friends asked me to make them for them as well.

It was the time that there only were thin flexible picks, which I did not like at all. I needed a thicker pick for better sound and better balance

The only heavy picks on the market were the Dunlop 2.0mm Delrin purple picks. With these I missed a certain balance in my picking hand that I needed.

Now world renowned for its quality

In 2010 my wife Jolanda and I tried to sell the picks as a hobby, while we both had a good job at a large bank in The Netherlands.
Long story short, now we sell worldwide to more than 100 countries.

9 reasons why these are the best picks on the planet

People love the playability, because due to the beveled edges, the picks slide on and off the strings very easily.
The sound produced by these picks has more low-end and mids, which gives you a fuller sound, even when playing near the bridge. Not those annoying high frequencies.

We collected opinions why people have chosen for ChickenPicks guitar picks, so find out why these are the best picks available.

More than 1 year with just 1 pick

The thermosetting plastic is extremely hard, so the wear is reduced to a minimum even with steel strings.
Also due to the beveled edges ChickenPicks guitar picks stay in shape, even with rough guitar playing styles.

Read the whole story on our “About” page.

Better picks, better tone, better playing.

What others say about ChickenPicks guitar picks

Musikhaus Thomann
Chicago Music Exchange
Guitarpickreviews.com
Anatomy of guitar tone

Product descriptions:

Bermuda XL:
Bermuda III-P:
Badazz III:
Bermuda III:
Light:
Regular:
Shredder:

Guitar essentials:

In guitar essentials we write about interesting things every guitarist should know a bit of, especially when you’re new to (electric) guitar.
We definitely don’t dig deep into theories or technical aspects.
You will find many scientific documents about anything somewhere on the internet

About the author

Hi, my name is Eppo Franken and I started to make my own picks in the mid ’80’s.
In 2010 my wife Jolanda and I started ChickenPicks guitar picks, because we’d like to see if others would enjoy them as well.

I play guitar since 1980 and my favorite style is country chicken picking and some kinds of rockabilly and americana.
Send us an e-mail and let’s talk about guitar tone and picks.

Which frets are best for you?

24 February 2026/0 Comments/in Guitar Essentials/by chickenp

Which frets are best for you?

Are you refretting your guitar or bass? Or even when you are looking for a new guitar; ask yourself “which kind of frets are best for me?”

Choosing fret wire can seem daunting. There are many different types of wire on the market, and they all differ slightly.
It’s a personal choice and some guitarists prefer certain frets because they play better.

Jumbo frets are ideal for fast, modern playing and easy bending, while medium or low/narrow ones offer a traditional feel, better intonation, and warmer tone.

Terms

Choosing the best fret wire for you is easy if you know what to look for.
There are a few terms you should understand before choosing wire.

Crown Width and Crown Height

The crown is the head of the fret. The image below shows a cross-section of it. The width and height of the crown are important factors in choosing frets.

Crown Thickness/Width, what is the best of size

Narrow Frets

Narrow frets are primarily used on ukuleles and banjos etc. And on guitars made before World War II.
These are no longer common on guitars today.

Narrow frets have a crown thickness between 1.35mm and 2.0mm.

Medium Frets

Medium frets are the ideal choice for many guitarists. They provide a comfortable playing feel and have sufficient mass for good sustain.

Mediumshave a crown thickness between 2.0mm and 2.4mm.

Wide Frets

If you’re a heavy metal shredder or rock player, you’ll probably get the most out of wide frets. They provide plenty of sustain and are ideal for string bending and tapping.

Wide frets (also Jumbos) are often used on electric guitars and basses. When flattened properly, the intonation with new frets should be just as good as with medium frets.

Mediums have a crown thickness between 2.55mm and 3.0mm.

I

Crown Height

Low Frets

Low frets are generally used when replacing old ones. In most cases where the existing frets are already worn and need to be leveled with the new.

These may be perfect for those whose don’t bend their strings too much. In this case think of jazz guitarists, who in most cases, use extremely thick guitar strings; 0.13” and up.

Usually low ones have a crown height of 0.9mm or lower.

In between or Medium Frets

For many guitarists, medium-height frets are the ideal choice. They provide enough material for several polishings and allow for comfortable playing. They are high enough that your fingers don’t touch the fretboard when pressing down on strings.

Medium frets have a crown height between 1mm and 1.15mm.

High Frets

High frets are higher and therefore offer the most material for leveling and polishing. Some guitarists prefer higher because they believe it requires less pressure to produce a clear tone, as their fingers touch the fretboard less.

Highs have a crown height of 1.15mm or higher.

Tang (and stud)

The tang is the part of the fret wire that is inserted into the slots in the fretboard. It should fit snugly in the fret slot and not easily pull out. The tang consists of the tang itself and the “studs” to grab into the fretboard.

Tang height

Anchorage

The tang has studs (also barbs) that attach to the wood. The height partly determines how firmly the fret sits in the slot.

Depth of the slot

The depth of the fretboard slot should be greater than the height of the tang to prevent it from “bouncing” (not sitting properly on the fingerboard).

Glue clearance

The slot is usually slightly deeper than the tang, allowing room for excess glue under the fret, which helps ensure a tight fit.

Important about the tang

Always use the exact same wire tang as before, because you can really damage your guitar when using a different thickness or height.

Different Fret Wire Materials

Nickel (Silver)

Nickel (also called nickel silver) is a popular choice for guitarists because of their durability and sound quality. Most guitars and basses come standard with nickel frets. They are prone to pitting and denting, so it’s important to be careful when playing and perform regular maintenance. These frets are easiest to maintain with a fret polishing kit or fret polishing rubbers.

Some guitarists prefer nickel silver over other materials like stainless steel because of their more “vintage” look and traditional playing feel. Nickel silver frets are a reliable and popular choice for guitarists seeking a bright tone and durability.

These are made of 18% nickel alloy that delivers a clear tone. No real silver involved anyway.

Stainless Steel

Stainless steel frets are becoming increasingly popular among guitarists because of their durability and bright tone. These are made of a steel and chrome alloy, making them resistant to wear and corrosion.

The main advantage of stainless-steel is that they last much longer than other materials.

Phosphor bronze

Phosphor bronze fret wire is known for its durability and resistance to wear and corrosion.

They also offer a balance between sustain and brightness.

Phosphor bronze is generally harder and more durable than traditional nickel-silver, which can make it more difficult to work with when installing or leveling frets.

EVO Gold

Actually, there’s no gold at all involved in these. It’s a tin copper-, titanium- and iron alloy. These are perfect for people with nickel allergy. The material is harder than nickel btw. So the sound may be somewhere between nickel- and stainless-steel frets

True temperament frets

True Temperament frets are designed to solve intonation problems. Recognizable by their “snaky” or wavy appearance.

The main advantages of True Temperament (TT) are:

Superior intonation (better tuning): The biggest advantage is that the guitar sounds much clearer across the entire neck. The TT correct the inherent inaccuracies of traditional straight frets, making chords and notes sound much more harmonious, similar to a piano or orchestral instrument.

With TT intonation is correct, because each fret’s position is calculated per string. Not only at the 12th position, but anywhere.

True Temperament frets are often made of stainless steel. These are more durable because they’re mostly made out of stainless-steel.

What should a refret with True Temperament cost?

A refret of TT is significant more expensive that a “standard” refret.
Where a standard refret may be between let’s say $ 300 – $500, a refret of a True Temperament guitar may easily cost $ 800 or more.

Thanks to Thatguitarlover.com for the beautiful image of this Strandberg True Temperament fret guitar.
For deeper diving into TT, please visit their website.

What more to look after for creating great sound

Please note that many things are important for creating your favorite guitar sounds. We cannot mention everything, but besides a good guitar with the right frets and lacquer it could be as follows;

What guitar amp do you need?

A good guitar amp, whether it is a solid-state or tube amplifier and why an attenuator can help you in certain situations.
Want to know more about how tube amps work? And when you always wanted to know what “headroom” means, please read the Headroom special.

Guitar effects pedals explained

Not only the brand or type of pedals (buffered pedal or true-bypass), but the way you place them in the guitar effects pedals chain is important as well. As an example; Did you know this about compressor pedals?

Open- or closed back guitar speaker

Read about the advantages of those 2 types of guitar speakers. Both have a huge impact on guitar sound, whether it’s an FRFR or analog speaker cabinet system.

The right guitar picks

Many people think that a guitar pick is just a simple piece of plastic; the thinner & cheaper the better.
I thought exactly the same for probably 10 years since I started playing guitar. Until a certain moment I went experimenting with different materials and thicknesses.

Well, guitar picks make a huge difference on your sound and on your playing style.
Thicker picks have more mass and definitely sound different than thin flexible picks.
When using extra thick picks, you might want beveled edges for gliding on and off strings with less effort.

You may read the story of ChickenPicks guitar picks at the About page on our website and there you will also find information on all of our different models.

What others say about ChickenPicks guitar picks

Musikhaus Thomann
Chicago Music Exchange
Guitarpickreviews.com
Anatomy of guitar tone