There have been a few posts going around about amp distortion or pedal distortion. I happen to use pedal distortion and I am going to tell you all why.
Well let's begin with the first issue here, I am poor so I can't afford amps with great distortion build right in.
I have a Crate all tube vfx5212. it has distortion but I think that it sucks compared to what I have acheived with the Jeckyll and Hyde Pedal thru the clean channel (which is actually really nice), it gives me a much more clear, responsive and just better sound. And my setup sounds better to me than all amps in the price range (with built in distortion).
Here are the pros to doing this. (for me)
1. If you have a decent clean amp, you don't have to buy another amp but can get a great distortion pedal or two. So Cheaper.
2. You can get a great sound at much lower volumes: if you also play at home a lot, just turn down the level on the pedal and you still have the same sound.So home recording is a little easier. Usually to get the most out of amp distortion, you have to crank it.
3. You can actually get louder (especially because the clean channel can get louder than the distortion channel) so put a pedal in front of it and bam, volume!
4. It simplifies your pedal board (well unless you don't use one). No need for an effects loop. I can run a Wah infront of the pedal and delay after and can get a great sound without using an effects loop. Also run a booster after the distortion and you can get a massive clear volume boost...so all your pedals can be on one pedal board all in front of your amp
5. Your sound can be portable.....if your amp breaks down or you are playing somewhere that has a good tube amp...just run your pedal board into that amp and there is your sound.
6. Much easier to use a looper. If you use a looper, just put it at the end of the line before the amp. No need to put it in your effects loop.
7. Alot more options....with so many different kind of pedals you have a huge variety to choose from that is if you have a good clean amp. It is much easier to try out a new pedal than a new amp (shipping is much less let alone the price)
Okay so that is all I can think of right now. Now realize that I already have a good clean amp. If I didn't already have a clean amp, I am not sure if I would go out and buy a clean amp and then distortion pedals or just and amp with distortion. But I am comfortable doing it the way I do.
My advice is to at least consider the pros of using a pedal for distortion rather than assuming that amp distortion is always better.
Well let's begin with the first issue here, I am poor so I can't afford amps with great distortion build right in.
I have a Crate all tube vfx5212. it has distortion but I think that it sucks compared to what I have acheived with the Jeckyll and Hyde Pedal thru the clean channel (which is actually really nice), it gives me a much more clear, responsive and just better sound. And my setup sounds better to me than all amps in the price range (with built in distortion).
Here are the pros to doing this. (for me)
1. If you have a decent clean amp, you don't have to buy another amp but can get a great distortion pedal or two. So Cheaper.
2. You can get a great sound at much lower volumes: if you also play at home a lot, just turn down the level on the pedal and you still have the same sound.So home recording is a little easier. Usually to get the most out of amp distortion, you have to crank it.
3. You can actually get louder (especially because the clean channel can get louder than the distortion channel) so put a pedal in front of it and bam, volume!
4. It simplifies your pedal board (well unless you don't use one). No need for an effects loop. I can run a Wah infront of the pedal and delay after and can get a great sound without using an effects loop. Also run a booster after the distortion and you can get a massive clear volume boost...so all your pedals can be on one pedal board all in front of your amp
5. Your sound can be portable.....if your amp breaks down or you are playing somewhere that has a good tube amp...just run your pedal board into that amp and there is your sound.
6. Much easier to use a looper. If you use a looper, just put it at the end of the line before the amp. No need to put it in your effects loop.
7. Alot more options....with so many different kind of pedals you have a huge variety to choose from that is if you have a good clean amp. It is much easier to try out a new pedal than a new amp (shipping is much less let alone the price)
Okay so that is all I can think of right now. Now realize that I already have a good clean amp. If I didn't already have a clean amp, I am not sure if I would go out and buy a clean amp and then distortion pedals or just and amp with distortion. But I am comfortable doing it the way I do.
My advice is to at least consider the pros of using a pedal for distortion rather than assuming that amp distortion is always better.
