Going down the mega-distortion rabbit hole...

[Hiwatts and Gibsons]

OK, that AMT box is evil. And I mean that in a good way...

Agreed. I have to say even the more vintage high gain marketed SS11 is capable of some straight up wicked metal grind.

[80's_Thrash_Metal]

OK - I appreciate all of the "less gain is better" comments - but to be clear:

I just want stupid gain levels for playing solo in the music room, just for $#!ts and giggles because insane gain.

You might should just buy an ENGL Fireball or Powerball

[solspirit]

In my experience, trying to get a lot of gain from one source often leads to a fizzy sound. Gain staging, however, tightens and compresses the signal while keeping it wide and full, avoiding those over-compressed, thin guitar tones reminiscent of the '80s.

Let's build a pyramid.

[Aceman]

OK, that AMT box is evil. And I mean that in a good way...

[Hiwatts and Gibsons]

I think you could do far worse than this. While it is primarily designed for use with power amps or into an FX return it sounds fantastic into the front end a high headroom clean amp too.

https://youtu.be/ADhbnOuhXTM?feature=shared

The Soldano SLO Pedal is likewise an amazing option with great tone.

https://youtu.be/n0Ep68p9yqQ?feature=shared

[Securb]

So dirt and then boost for solo. Cool. That's what I do with a serious dirt box.

I always have the boost on to help shape the overdrive. You know I love my gain staging. I use a VOL pedal, so I just rock forward when I want to come up in the mix.

[Aceman]

It is fixed post-overdrive, which is how I typically use a boost and dirt stomp.

So dirt and then boost for solo. Cool. That's what I do with a serious dirt box.

[Securb]

Is that boost pre or boost or switchable?

It is fixed post-overdrive, which is how I typically use a boost and dirt stomp.

[Aceman]

Is that boost pre or boost or switchable?

[Securb]

I plugged in the BOSS Mega Distortion yesterday. It is a bit grainier than I remember but in a good way. Lot of EQ on tap and plenty of room for gain. Trying to find a new flavor for the next recording session I am getting ready to play around with my CAE today

[beaubrummels]

In my experience, trying to get a lot of gain from one source often leads to a fizzy sound. Gain staging, however, tightens and compresses the signal while keeping it wide and full, avoiding those over-compressed, thin guitar tones reminiscent of the '80s.

QFT


FWIW same principle applies to compression as well. Two 4:1 compressors in series sounds way more transparent and natural than one 8:1 slamming compressor where you hear the one box working.

[ErikH]

Almost put it on the original list. I do love 5150 tones...I guess I consider a preamp model in a box.

It is a preamp in a box and it isn't. I've ran it in to the effects loop of my amps and it honestly sounds way better going to the front end input. That's what it was made for.

[Aceman]

Have you looked at the MXR 5150 Overdrive? It may say overdrive on it but it can chug with the best of them. There's a serious level of gain on tap. Plus BMT tone stack and a noise gate.

Almost put it on the original list. I do love 5150 tones...I guess I consider a preamp model in a box.

[ErikH]

Have you looked at the MXR 5150 Overdrive? It may say overdrive on it but it can chug with the best of them. There's a serious level of gain on tap. Plus BMT tone stack and a noise gate.

[Supernautilus]

Well, I got my MD-2 in yesterday and so far, I really like it. It's like a beefier DS-1 with more chug. The 2-stage distortion/gain boost thing is pretty interesting. I don't think I've ever seen that on a pedal before. Boss has some clever people for sure.

I tried running it into an IR loader to see if it does the preamp thing, but it does not. Not nearly enough output for that. I had to a put a separate preamp in between to get it to sound right. I tried running the MD-2 into a JHS Clover preamp, then into the IR loader, and it sounded great that way.

Overall, a fine addition to my collection.