Bounce Chord’s Spooky Pedalboard: A Halloween Rig That’ll Make Your Amp Scream

Haunted House on a Pedaltrain

Bounce Chord kicks things off faster than a possum in a bin, launching right into a look at the infamous spooky pedalboard. This isn’t your stock-standard gig setup; it’s a pedal train classic junior loaded for spectral warfare. Power’s sorted by a Strymon Zuma, giving the whole shebang enough juice to survive a long night of ghostly jams.

The real twist? This beast was cobbled together for a mate’s Halloween studio session — no time for faffing about. The junction box from Smokin’ Amp Co is the gateway in and out, setting the stage for a collection of effects that are as odd and unpredictable as Melbourne weather. If you think this is just another pedal chain, you’re in for a rude shock.

Fuzz, Filters, and Freakouts

First up, the Seeker Supa Fuzz brings tones that bloom and snarl like a haunted didgeridoo. It’s germanium, it’s gnarly, and it’s the sort of sound that could raise the dead at a bush doof. Roll through next to the Electro-Harmonix Talking Machine—so goofy it’s genius, with a readout that’ll save you from those classic “forgot to plug in” facepalms. Bounce Chord admits it’s a pedal for the bold and the brave.

Overdrive gets handled by the Boss OD-3, set to a mellow drive, before getting punched in the guts by the Keeley Super Phat Mod for a bit of extra grunt. From there, it’s off to the Guptech VD Vibe – a univibe with a volume control to avoid the dreaded volume cliff-dive mid-set. Rounding out the top row are the Strymon Deco and Meris Polymoon, delivering flanger, delay, and more weirdness than a kangaroo on a sugar high. Don’t even try to suss out all the alternate settings from text – watch the video for the full sonic mayhem.

"Nothing has come out that's this level of weird mixed with this level of great sounding."

© Screenshot/Quote: Bouncechord (YouTube)

Ghostly Tones in the Studio

The heart of the haunted session was all about layering up those chilling textures. The OD-3, Polymoon, and Deco did most of the heavy lifting, providing arpeggiated, shimmery bits that would fit right in at a midnight séance. There’s a stack of doubling and dirty chord work, with the Supa Fuzz roaring in for those moments when the track needed a bit of extra bite.

Sometimes, the univibe and flanger were dialled in for spectral swirl, and the Strymon Flint’s spring reverb made the whole thing feel like you’re jamming in an abandoned surf shack. It’s the kind of pedalboard that’ll keep you up at night hearing echoes even after the song’s done. Trust me, the full creep factor’s best experienced in the video – headphones recommended.

Live Gremlins and Spooky Sound Schemes

"60s mode is much of a looser spring sound, like a vintage Fender amp."

© Screenshot/Quote: Bouncechord (YouTube)

Pulling off a live stream with these eerie tones has been trickier than keeping flies off your snag at a summer BBQ. Bounce Chord reckons the algorithms keep crunching the guitar audio, making studio-only demos the current go. Still, he’s keen to cook up a longer, blab-free version of the spooky sounds — if only he can wrangle the tech gremlins first.

A few tweaks to the Strymon Flint, like switching to 60s mode for a splashier spring, added a dash of vintage horror to the mix. The Talking Machine, despite some resistance from the session’s songwriter, nearly stole the show with goblin-like vocal tones. It’s a pedal you either worship or hide from under the doona.

Balancing Function and Fear Factor

Building this pedalboard wasn’t just about chasing chills — it’s got to work like a charm when the lights go out. Bounce Chord only added a couple of key pedals for this session, keeping the board lean but lethal. The end result? A lineup that’s as functional as it is freaky, with controls simple enough to tweak mid-scream.

This setup’s sticking around for a while, and who can blame him? It’s a songwriting board that’s now got a bit of extra bite, spookier than a midnight trip to the servo. If you fancy a rig that’s as ready for Halloween as it is for your next shed jam, Bounce Chord’s got you sorted – and the best bits, as always, are the ones you have to hear for yourself.

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Tags BOSS OD-3, Electro-Harmonix Talking Machine, Guptech V.D. Vibe, Keeley Super Phat Mod, Meris Polymoon, Pedaltrain Classic Junior, Seeker Supa Fuzz, Smokin' Amp Co In/Out Junction Box, Strymon Deco V1, Strymon Flint, Strymon Zuma