The Ultimate Always-On Dirt Pedal (for me)?

[jeremy]

the ethos sounded good in the clips but ya really need to use it with your rig before you know for sure. i love timmy, its my favorite od but id doesnt really change the character of what you have going on, which is why i love it. again, the dls is a very marshally thing if you are still going down that road.

[Mincer]

Have you considered the Zen Drive (or clone)? There are also a couple Dumble In Box pedals that might give you something different than what you already have.

Also, I recently discovered a company called Dirty Haggard Audio. They make a pedal called the "797" which is a modified, finely tuned variation on the DOD 250 circuit. The 797 is handwired in the US, sounds fantastic through the whole gain range and costs about $70.00 new. Game changer pedal for me and I really like that it has a different character than the typical TS, Klon or Blusebreaker pedals many people use for low gain OD.

The Zen is next on my list. I like what the Zen models sound like in my Fractal and HX Effects..a little like a fatter Klon. It certainly is touch sensitive, and a different sound from most TS-based pedals.

[alex1fly]

Rat and TS both tickle my fancy for this purpose. I'm not very adventurous with pedals... but these work.

[Mincer]

Right now, I am experimenting with models...a Timmy model and a King of Tone model, both which do a really good job. Next thing is to compare these to the actual pedals. I tried an OCD (real and model) and it was a little heavier than I like.

[stevie_bees]

I haven't had the extensive experience with MIAB pedals that a lot of had, but I usually find they have far too much gain for me. I used a Plexitone prototype that Niels sent me, and I had to have to gain set really low, but it was a glorious sound with a really effective volume boost for solos. For me, it's a fabulous 'grab-and-go' pedal if I can't take a pedalboard, and gives that great Marshall sound no matter what I put it through.

[jeremy]

i love the kot clean setting, its very open and uncompressed but to sound its best, imnsho, it needs the output and gain up a fair amount. as an always on thing, thats not an issue though. not super marshally but a great dynamic dirty tone.

[Masta' C]

Just tossing this out there, but Caline has a nice budget-oriented KOT clone...

https://www.amazon.com/Caline-CP-70-.../dp/B0823J84XZ

[Mincer]

Just tossing this out there, but Caline has a nice budget-oriented KOT clone...

https://www.amazon.com/Caline-CP-70-.../dp/B0823J84XZ

That's what I am lookin' for! A cheap way to get into the boutique sounds. I'll see if there are any kits out there, too.

[JohnnyBsurfin]

That's what I am lookin' for! A cheap way to get into the boutique sounds. I'll see if there are any kits out there, too.

That whole lineup looks interesting.

[ErikH]

I did. My initial thought is that it *does* clean up well. The base tone isn't significantly different than what I already have access to, though. In other words, it is a good overdrive pedal, but not transformative. I haven't decided if I am going to keep it yet.

I'm in the same boat with the Xotic SL Drive. I like it but it's not overwhelming for me so I think I'm gonna send it back and get an EP Booster for leads if my DIY Mosfet Booster doesn't do the trick (but it should).

Edit: My DIY booster has a flaky switch so I'll be looking at a few other options. The Wamper db+ is one along with the EP Booster.

[Flores_68]

EHX Glove

[LLL]

Revisiting this and looking (again) at the descriptors, I would look for a JTM45 type pedal.

When my amp was a '66 JTM45 (modded to), it was very touch-sensitive, super chimey with the requisite Marshall bite. Turn down and you get some of the best tube amp cleans ever; rivals Fender.

Cranked JTM45 tones? Try Clapton with Cream. Of course, don't need to crank it.

JHS Charlie Brown (not the Angry Charlie) - the yellow colored one, is supposed to be a JTM45 in a box; but I've never tried it.

J Rockett .45

ZVex Box Of Rock, too.

There are several others...

[NegativeEase]

For me, the always on dirt is a Klon style because you always have an element of the clean mixed in with the Hard Clipping

But if your looking plexi-ish - maybe try the Tonebone British with a 12AX7 -Radial Engineering tends to get things very right and you can get one for 60-90 bucks used.

plus theres way more voicing/tone sculpting on this to mess with

Ive never tried one BTW

[LLL]

Thought this sounded PDG (J Rockett .45)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhfHvciPYkU

[NegativeEase]

Thought this sounded PDG (J Rockett .45)



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhfHvciPYkU

Excellent small company -they answer the phone BTW -that counts a lot in my book