Best lead pedal

No effects

No effects

New member
I use vintage tube amps with no master volume and literally use "no effects" (plug in and play man!). So the pedal I'm looking for has to be tranparent but also get me noticed when I step on it for a solo. I tried the Fat Boost at our last gig and didn't like it (not enough volume boost and muddies things up) and so I am in search of a better alternatrive.

I have an MXR Micro Amp on order as a pure volume boost but also want something with some transparent grit and thickness to it, so I'm considering the Fulldrive 2 and the OCD.

P.S. Other pedals I've tried and won't buy again: TS-5, TS-9, Tonebone Classic, Boss OD-1, Boss OD-3.
 
Re: Best lead pedal

i think you should try out a marshall bluesbreaker II, ignore the blues setting just use the boost setting, it doesnt change the tone just makes it louder, its very good.
 
Re: Best lead pedal

I have been thinking about the Pete Cornish boost pedal..... It is said to be really good
 
Re: Best lead pedal

WhoFan said:
I have been thinking about the Pete Cornish boost pedal..... It is said to be really good
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bit on the pricey side though, the bluesbreaker is cheap as chips, and does its job well, a clean volume boost with no change in tone, or the blues setting which gives a warm smooth overdrive.
 
Re: Best lead pedal

No effects said:
P.S. Other pedals I've tried and won't buy again: TS-5, TS-9, Tonebone Classic, Boss OD-1, Boss OD-3.
Click to expand...

Well, the Fulldrive 2 is a TS-9/808 clone, so you might as well look elsewhere.

Have you checked out the DOD FX-250?

tn1_909556.jpg
 
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Re: Best lead pedal

How about an Eq pedal? Do they work for this application? I'm looking for transparency, but also the ability to alter the tone, if needed.. I've thought about an EQ for mid boost to cut trough better..
 
Re: Best lead pedal

Pro Analog Dual Drive... that pedal makes for completely killer leads; I was never happy with a tubescreamer to boost my rhythm either.
 
Re: Best lead pedal

Breaking the law said:
How about an Eq pedal? Do they work for this application? I'm looking for transparency, but also the ability to alter the tone, if needed.. I've thought about an EQ for mid boost to cut trough better..
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All the eqs I've tried have sucked tone and generally ended up making my sound weird.

The new vox cooltron pedals sound very good. the two lower gain pedals may suit your needs very well.

Review:

http://www.guitarplayer.com/sectionhomepage.asp?navcode=12&mainone=1
 
Re: Best lead pedal

I'd suggest a ZVex SHO (1 channel of boost) or ZVex Super Duper 2in1 (2 channels of boost) for what you're looking for. With use of the 2in1's controls, you can make the unit itse'f produce Overdrive, or you can just use it as 2 separate channels of boost for your amp. In my opinion it's a very versatile pedal :)

Craig
 
Re: Best lead pedal

or why not try my method-Set your amp so it sounds good for rhythm while your guitar has its volume and tone down to 5. When it comes time to rip a lead, roll the volume up to 10 and throw it down, then return to 5 no sweat. It's the ultimate transparent OD!
 
Re: Best lead pedal

Gearjoneser said:
The Banzai Coldfusion is like a toothier sounding Klon Centaur. I think it sounds a little fatter than the Fireball. It's always rated in the top 5 of lead boost pedals. They look really cool too, and the knobs are situated so your foot doesn't overstep and accidentally turn them.

http://www.banzaieffects.com/products/coldfusion.htm
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GJ, what are the other pedals that are commonly found in the Top 5 of Boost Pedals?

Any article, in fact, like Top 5 Choruses, etc. would be highly appreciated!!
 
Re: Best lead pedal

Quencho092 said:
or why not try my method-Set your amp so it sounds good for rhythm while your guitar has its volume and tone down to 5. When it comes time to rip a lead, roll the volume up to 10 and throw it down, then return to 5 no sweat. It's the ultimate transparent OD!
Click to expand...
I've tried this but I really prefer to be able to step on something so I can keep my hands free. To respond to another suggestion made, the EQ route didn't work for me either, as it just didn't sound natural at all. A friend of mine just bought an OCD and finds it very transparent and thinks it may be the one for me - note that he has put his FD2 away. Back to the store later today...
 
Re: Best lead pedal

i think the best way is a volume pedal thru a footswitchable effects loop. set the vol. pedal at low,turn on the loop for rhythm and turn it off for lead/solo.
but this only works if you have a footswitchable effects loop. getting a volume boost is hard if you put it infront of the amp, specially if your amp is cranked already. the preamp will only compress the boost from the front.
 
Re: Best lead pedal

bryvincent said:
i think the best way is a volume pedal thru a footswitchable effects loop. set the vol. pedal at low,turn on the loop for rhythm and turn it off for lead/solo.
but this only works if you have a footswitchable effects loop. getting a volume boost is hard if you put it infront of the amp, specially if your amp is cranked already. the preamp will only compress the boost from the front.
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My amps are 1972 and 1973 Traynors, so no effects loop. So what's the best technique then? An OD pedal (à la OCD, FD2, TS-9) with drive rolled off to keep it clean and volume to max? I already know that'll give me enough volume; the Fat Boost certainly didn't though.
 
Re: Best lead pedal

how hard are you running your amps? if you are running them to the point of overdrive then like bry said itll be hard to get much of a volume boost. the fulldrive2 has a compcut setting that can be used as a fairly transparent clean boost.

im supprised that no one has mentioned the klon centaur, its about as transparent as ive found
 
Re: Best lead pedal

jeremy said:
how hard are you running your amps? if you are running them to the point of overdrive then like bry said itll be hard to get much of a volume boost. the fulldrive2 has a compcut setting that can be used as a fairly transparent clean boost.

im supprised that no one has mentioned the klon centaur, its about as transparent as ive found
Click to expand...
One of the amps I run at about 4 or 5 (EL 84s) and the other at around 2 (EL 34s - I get more gain from this one, actually), so both are giving me natural overdrive, but not tons of it. I just tried a few pedals at lunch, mind you not through my rig, and the OCD's definitely got too much drive at its starting point. The FD2 performed best, and I actually liked all 3 modes. The others I tried were the Time Machine Boost (not bad, but to pricey compared to the FD2 and I liked the FD2 better anyway), and the Super Duper, which again is no better than the FD2 and is more expensive. I'm going to get to try my bass player's FD2 at our next gig, so that'll be the true test! I can't access most he other pedals suggested here...
 
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