I second the delay recommendation.

TGM

well, you’ve got a lot of options for the amp-like overdrive. On the less expensive side, there’s the Muff OD and the Germanium OD, as well as the G4 Big Muff and the Hot Tubes. Actually the G4 OD could probably nail your distortion and OD needs. the Flanger, I’d look into the Deluxe Electric Mistress and the mod for the Holy Stain [which would also give you your tremolo], although the Pulsar is really quite nice for tremolo as well.

Some other interesting options for modulation would be the ‘flerb’ setting for the Holy Grail, as well as the Memory Toy/Boy, the Tube Zipper, the Flanger Hoax, and the Ring Thing. For non-ehx stuff, maybe look into the Moogerfooger MuRF, the Boss PS-3 or PS-6 [the best chorus i’ve ever heard came from a PS-6], or the Alesis MODFX line [can usually find these for under $50 on ebay].

edit: 333 posts? I’m half metal!

The Cathedral is amazing. Apparently that new TC Electronics Hall of Fame is pretty great too. Otherwise the EHX Holy Grail is great as is the EHX Holy Stain. As far as used goes, I’d keep your eyes peeled for an Alesis Microverb [a rack unit which you can use a tip-sleeve footswitch on] or a Boss RV-3 [the RV-5 is really only usable on the Gate and Mod ‘Verb settings, everything else sounds hospital-grade].

Also apparently the new Muza FD900 [delay + verb] fixed a lot of the issues that plagued the FD90’s. Might be the way to go if you’re looking for cheap.

The Phase 90 and Small Stone are both 4-stage phasers so they’re going to sound similar, but the small stone has the feedback switch, which provides a more pronounced phasing effect [by sending the effected signal back into itself].

what’s the difference?
as far as i’m concerned, they’re different approaches to the same goal. Also, it really depends which big muff you’re talking about. I’d say the G4BMP is closer to an overdrive than either.