Paul GilbertPedalboard, 2011
Paul Gilbert's 2011 Mr. Big rig splits after four shared pedals — a Boss TU-2, a CS-3, his Ibanez Airplane Flanger and a script Phase 90 — into a compressed monitor feed and an amp branch with a Fuzz Universe, a Green Rhino and a Fulltone Choralflange.
Mr. Big split touring rig
Order evidence: A source states the sequence
Inside the rig · 9 units
Pedal roles & evidence
How each unit fits Paul Gilbert's 2011 setup. Board-specific roles and the evidence behind each identification and position.
Source-described orderIdentity and position are evidenced separately. Reconstructed positions are not observed connections.
Tuner
Boss TU-2
Shared path
Role in this rig
Tunes and mutes immediately after the wireless receiver.
- Identity
- Documented
- Position
- Documented
Dynamics
Boss CS-3 Compression Sustainer
Shared path
Role in this rig
Evens dynamics before flanging and phasing.
- Identity
- Documented
- Position
- Documented
Modulation
Ibanez Paul Gilbert Airplane Flanger
Shared path
Role in this rig
Provides Gilbert's signature normal and takeoff flanging modes.
- Identity
- Documented
- Position
- Documented
Modulation
MXR Script Phase 90
Shared path
Role in this rig
Adds single-knob phasing before the signal split.
- Identity
- Documented
- Position
- Documented
Routing & Control
Lehle P-Split
Shared path
Role in this rig
Splits the path between the monitor DI branch and the main amplifier branch.
- Identity
- Documented
- Position
- Documented
Dynamics
HomeBrew Electronics CPR Compressor
Clean branch
Role in this rig
Compresses the split monitor-feed branch before its DI.
- Identity
- Documented
- Position
- Documented
Gain
Majik Box Fuzz Universe
Drive branch
Role in this rig
Starts the main post-split gain branch with Gilbert's signature fuzz.
- Identity
- Documented
- Position
- Documented
Gain
Way Huge Green Rhino
Drive branch
Role in this rig
Adds a mid-focused overdrive after the Fuzz Universe.
- Identity
- Documented
- Position
- Documented
Modulation
Fulltone Choralflange
Drive branch
Role in this rig
Finishes the main branch with switchable chorus or flanger.
- Identity
- Documented
- Position
- Documented
Documented equipment · Documented order · Split output path
Premier Guitar describes the split and each branch. The DI box at the end of the monitor branch is routing hardware and is described rather than rendered as a tonal pedal. BOSS independently corroborates Gilbert's long-term TU-2 and compression/delay vocabulary without importing a different board era.
Cited sources
MethodologyQuestions about Paul Gilbert's 2011 pedalboard
- What pedals did Paul Gilbert use in 2011?
- This dated entry lists 9 units: Boss TU-2, Boss CS-3 Compression Sustainer, Ibanez Paul Gilbert Airplane Flanger, MXR Script Phase 90, Lehle P-Split, HomeBrew Electronics CPR Compressor, Majik Box Fuzz Universe, Way Huge Green Rhino, Fulltone Choralflange. This is the recorded inventory, not a claim that every connection or model identification is confirmed; see the evidence and routing notes.
- What order were Paul Gilbert's pedals in?
- A cited source states the order. See the diagram and routing notes for the separate paths and any unconfirmed connections.
- Is this Paul Gilbert's full guitar rig?
- No. This dated entry covers 9 units in the effects path, not every piece of gear Paul Gilbert owned or used. Floor pedals, rack units and routing devices are included only where recorded; omitted equipment and uncertain connections are explained in the notes. It is not a complete or current rig inventory.
- When and where was this pedalboard used?
- November 9, 2011. Premier Guitar Rig Rundown. This is the rig documented for that touring period, not a career-wide gear list.
- How does the archive know what was on this pedalboard?
- 2 cited sources, listed above with the date each was read, including Premier Guitar, BOSS. Among them a rig rundown and an interview. The units are recorded as documented equipment, and the page was last audited on 2026-08-03.