Anyone using an OD pedal to boost their gain channel?

[Nightburst]

GAS: I went to the store to buy some strings and picks and I got home with a Tubescreamer :yell:. Still it wasn't a 100% impulse buy because I've been thinking about boosting my amp's gain channel for quite some time to get that over the top distortion.

My first impression is that I like the transparancy of this pedal though it's quite noisy. I kinda expected more for the price I paid but maybe I'm too sceptical with too little experience with this pedal.

Anyone else who uses a OD pedal to boost their Distortion? I'd like to know how it works.

 

[Chi3f]

Re: Anyone using an OD pedal to boost their gain channel?

i've been thinking about it to nightburst. But i've spent so much money lately i'm kinda holding back on it

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Anyone using an OD pedal to boost their gain channel?

I've been doing it for years, and I know at least 2 other forum guys that are probably doing it with the at least the same about of gain that I'm using (Gearjoneser and Zerbus).
I think you may have the gain too high on your head ... it will be a bit noisier, of course, because you're adding another gain stage.

Start off with the gain on your amp anywhere from 2-5, depending on the head, and then turn on the OD with everything right about the middle or first 1/3.

Gradually bring up the gain on the OD until you have the amount of distortion you are looking for, then adjust the EQ or tone on the OD.

 

[Neeradj]

Re: Anyone using an OD pedal to boost their gain channel?

Doesn't your Bogner Ecstasy have enough gain?! :saeek:

 

[Shnook]

Re: Anyone using an OD pedal to boost their gain channel?

I use a Germanium Boy booster pedal with the Rhythm channel on my 5150 Combo. I've always found the lead channel to be a little too thin, so I just use the Rhythm with the Germanium Boy for a sweet lead boost. Awesome pedal that not only allows you to dial in the gain needed, but the frequency too.

 

[51501984]

Re: Anyone using an OD pedal to boost their gain channel?

I Use a Keeley modded Boss SD-1 in front of my Soldano Atomic 16. I`ve used a few Dist. pedals and the only one I liked was the Tonbone Hot British. The OD pushing the amp seems to work best for me.

 

[DeadSkinSlayer3]

Re: Anyone using an OD pedal to boost their gain channel?

Killswitch Engage, All That Remains, Shadows Fall, and Nevermore all have a secret when it comes to boosting gain channels with a tubescreamer .

Gain at 0, Level at 10.

 

[some_dude]

Re: Anyone using an OD pedal to boost their gain channel?

I've found that using an OD to boost a high gain amp usually just gives you a touch more treble and not much more. It's kinda like tossing a penny into a pot full of quarters.

Boosting a low to medium gain setup has worked much better for me. I tend to setup my clean channel as an overdriven crunch channel, and will use an OD to push it into a vintage style distortion.

 

[Shnook]

Re: Anyone using an OD pedal to boost their gain channel?

I've found that using an OD to boost a high gain amp usually just gives you a touch more treble and not much more. It's kinda like tossing a penny into a pot full of quarters.

Boostinoverdriven crunch channel, and will use an OD to push it into a vintage style distortiong a low to medium gain setup has worked much better for me. I tend to setup my clean channel as an .

True, unless your using a boost like the Germanium Boy that can boost any given frequency you may need. The GB has 12 different frequency's to work with.

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: Anyone using an OD pedal to boost their gain channel?

Killswitch Engage, All That Remains, Shadows Fall, and Nevermore all have a secret when it comes to boosting gain channels with a tubescreamer .

Gain at 0, Level at 10.

You saved me the trouble of posting this

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Anyone using an OD pedal to boost their gain channel?

Doesn't your Bogner Ecstasy have enough gain?! :saeek:

It's not a question of the amount of gain the head has. When you add that OD pedal, you get a thick, creamy distortion you simply will not get otherwise.

 

[Nightburst]

Re: Anyone using an OD pedal to boost their gain channel?

Thank you all. I'll follow your advice tomorrow and see what method will work for me.
Of course I should post some soundclips.
I'm curious about the secret though, how does that work exactly?
The amp has plenty of gain but I'd like it to be fatter, darker and dirtier, IMHO it stays very bright and clean at all times.

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Anyone using an OD pedal to boost their gain channel?

You might want to check out the Rivera clips I posted at http://twilightsongs2.tripod.com
The last one is the gain channel + distortion pedal. You can hear, when comparing it, that it's not buzzing or humming, but has a great midrange compression, tonal complexity, and warmth.

 

[Nightburst]

Re: Anyone using an OD pedal to boost their gain channel?

You might want to check out the Rivera clips I posted at http://twilightsongs2.tripod.com
The last one is the gain channel + distortion pedal. You can hear, when comparing it, that it's not buzzing or humming, but has a great midrange compression, tonal complexity, and warmth.

Listened to your clips: Nice! Thanks for posting this, the clip with the od sounds like the kind of thing I'm looking for and then a tad heavier :burnout:.

I wonder how using an od pedal would have to be used live if you still want clean cleans? Tapdancing?

 

[DeadSkinSlayer3]

Re: Anyone using an OD pedal to boost their gain channel?

The secret is just level maxed and gain as low as possible.

Tightens up the sound, gets better harmonics, more crunch, but YMMV.

Live, you'd have to put the pedal right next to the footswitch as to hit both at once. not too hard if the footswitch isn't gigantic.

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Anyone using an OD pedal to boost their gain channel?

I wonder how using an od pedal would have to be used live if you still want clean cleans? Tapdancing?

Yes, tapdancing, OR, you will have to ride the volume of your guitar. I usually do the tap dance thing.

 

[hacker]

Re: Anyone using an OD pedal to boost their gain channel?

An extremely popular combo in the 1980s for metal was a boss OD-1 into a Marshall JCM 800. As noted above, the pedal is set to boost level, with gain on 0. Zakk Wylde still uses the boss SD-1, which is very similar to the OD-1 into his gain channel. Vai and Satriani do similar tricks with the DS-1.

Coincidentally, SRV used his tubescreamers the same way-gain 0, level maxed, but into relatively clean amps.

What you are doing is boosting your guitar signal and adding some nice tonal characteristics (i.e. mids), courtesy of the tubescreamer, or whatever pedal you are using. This pushes your tubes to nice, singing distortion.

Once you start turning up the gain on the pedals, you can get some pretty harsh, uncontrollable distortion, because the clipping of the amp and pedal have different wave shapes. Then again, you may be able to make that sound good.

 

[Nightburst]

Re: Anyone using an OD pedal to boost their gain channel?

Just wanted to say, I did what you guys suggested and I got it to work!!! I turned up the level all the way, tone at 3 o'clock and kept the drive at 11 o'clock. I use it over the red channel with gain at 2 o'clock= :headbang:
Amazing tone! This is probably close to how an Ubershall sounds?
The Distortion is FAT and CREAMY and has UNHOLY CRUNCH, it's just scary!
The downside is that it's noisy and I'm not to fond on the tapdancing. Anyone who has found a way around this? I'm thinking about either modding the pedal myself or sending it to Keeley.

 

[Grandor]

Re: Anyone using an OD pedal to boost their gain channel?

Just wanted to say, I did what you guys suggested and I got it to work!!! I turned up the level all the way, tone at 3 o'clock and kept the drive at 11 o'clock. I use it over the red channel with gain at 2 o'clock= :headbang:
Amazing tone! This is probably close to how an Ubershall sounds?
The Distortion is FAT and CREAMY and has UNHOLY CRUNCH, it's just scary!
The downside is that it's noisy and I'm not to fond on the tapdancing. Anyone who has found a way around this? I'm thinking about either modding the pedal myself or sending it to Keeley.

clips... :dance:

 

[Nightburst]

Re: Anyone using an OD pedal to boost their gain channel?

clips... :dance:

Yeah, ASAP :burnout: