Article: My First Worship Rig

 



My First Worship Rig

Today, I pulled some pedals out of my closet that I no longer use. Looking at my Boss DD-20 and Ibanez TS9DX, I felt fond nostalgia over my first Praise & Worship rig. Building it was a process that took time, money, and feedback from my fellow praise team peers. I worked with a team that was as good as a group of volunteers could get- many were professional players in former metalcore bands- so it was a great learning experience. I started working on this board in 2010, and finished in 2014.

My process was straightforward- identify the needs of the worship leader, observe peers’ boards and equipment, and engage in trial and error. At first, the gear felt forced- just a copy of my peers’ rigs. This worked well for a time, as it helped me fit into the vision of the team. Eventually, I wanted add my own touch-pedals that were familiar, fit into the team’s sound, and most importantly, I enjoyed playing. It involved a lot of experimentation- my knowledge base was grunge and ‘70s hard rock- so I had to learn what effects to avoid in this unit (Pink Floyd-esque echo and delay; heavy Big Muff distortion), and what complemented the team’s vision (light-to-medium overdrive, Holy Grail reverb). I learned why some players spend a lot of time buying, selling, and swapping gear. As a now “serious” guitarist, I wanted to improve my sound, and find a good fit.

The next paragraph is a detour, and a word of caution to experienced players. During this time, a lead guitarist approached me about my gear, and what he wanted me to play as the rhythm player. This person was not in a position of authority, or a formal leadership role. He told me that my Visual Sound Jekyll & Hyde gain pedal, recommended by the worship leader, was “a crummy pedal”, and to cut off my rhythm playing at certain sections of the songs. When I asked for more information, in order to learn, he responded aggressively - “don’t worry about what I’m doing”. By the end of the set, he asked, “how long have you been playing guitar, about six months?” It was pretty insulting, as I formally applied for the team, and was selected based on having intermediate guitar skills. I do not believe that he intentionally meant to be a jerk, but I immediately rejected his opinion due to his rude behavior. If you are an experienced member of a worship team, please do not approach new players with a condescending, know-it-all attitude. It is a major turn-off, and discourages others from supporting your viewpoint, even if it is worthwhile.

After much effort, and untold hours researching Reverb, swapping pedals, and changing cables, I settled on the following rig.

This starter board covered everything I needed for my Praise & Worship team.

Here are the specific pedals and amp, in order.

  1. Boss TS-3 Tuner. I put this first in the chain so the signal path was clear, and the tuner more accurate.
  2. BBE Boosta Grande Boost. This thickened the clean tone, and paired well with the overdrive pedal for crunch.
  3. Ibanez TS9 Overdrive. (I used a TS9DX, but kept it on the TS9 setting.) This pedal cut through the mix, but stayed soft for texture parts.
  4. Ernie Ball Jr. Volume. Used for swells, and to silence the guitar when not playing. Placed before the time-based effects to allow for a delay and reverb trail.
  5. Boss DD-20 Delay. This had a lot of options, and a built-in tap tempo.
  6. EHX Holy Grail Reverb. I used the hall setting exclusively. It was great for rhythm and volume swells.
  7. Vox AC15C1. I could push this amp into medium overdrive or keep it relatively clean. It plays really well with gain pedals.

Including the board, cables, and power supply, this setup cost about $1,200 used. It took about four years of managing money well to get it right. Many of these pedals have less expensive clones or comparable alternatives available.

Eventually, I wanted to plug directly into a PA, so I switched to a Headrush MX5 multi-effects unit. I am happy with the MX5 because it is much simpler (and less heavy) than a full rig. However, I still look back on my first worship board with warmth and gratitude.