Cheapest distortion pedal that can plausibly replace amp gain?

[Dave Locher]

I have been using amp gain for a couple decades now. I recently saw a friend play live and he got all of his gain from a pedal, an OCD. I tried one but did not bond. But I cannot get past the idea that distortion pedals are much better than they were in the 1980s when I last used one. So...any suggestions for the least expensive pedals that could plausibly convince me to go clean amp/pedal? Not too compressed, not too grainy or tinny.
I play punk rock and roll; Social Distortion, Foo Fighters, Ramones, Smithereens, etc. I run a 1978 Randall head into a 2x12 cabinet and play Gibson-type guitars with Super Distortion or similar bridge humbuckers.

 

[Guitaraxz]

Re: Cheapest distortion pedal that can plausibly replace amp gain?

Right now I’m using EHX Pocket Metal Muff into a Strymon Blue Sky reverb and into Seymour Power Stage 170. It’s a portable set-up and sounds great. The Pocket Metal Muff is cheap and has a great distorted tone, I justset up the gain and volume level and leave the EQ switch off (all the EQ comes from the Power Stage). Simple and efective.

As for overdrive I like EHX Crayon and Seymours 805.

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: Cheapest distortion pedal that can plausibly replace amp gain?

I'm using a RambleFX Marvel Drive instead of amp gain. I'm using the amp mainly as a P.A. for my pedal sounds and to warm up the overall sound. It was like $175 or something, used, off a forum bro.

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: Cheapest distortion pedal that can plausibly replace amp gain?

Joyo US Dream...dirt cheap and can get all the gain you need (think a Plexi on steroids.)

 

[Dave Locher]

Re: Cheapest distortion pedal that can plausibly replace amp gain?

Joyo US Dream...dirt cheap and can get all the gain you need (think a Plexi on steroids.)

I was wondering more about the amp simulator ones (California something or other, etc.)?

My thinking is, go in really cheap and if it seems like I'm onto something then spring for a better, more expensive but similar pedal but if I hate it they are easy to flip because they're so cheap, and sometimes I keep a failed cheapy around just for the occasional messing around.
Living in a small town sucks - I have to buy pedals in order to try them, although I noticed the last time I was in one of the only two music stores in town they have a wider selection than they used to so maybe I can actually try out a couple before I buy for a change!

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: Cheapest distortion pedal that can plausibly replace amp gain?

Hmm, well I really love the Boss Fender Stuff--the FRD-1 and the FBM-1. But those prices seem really high now compared to what I paid for mine.

Not sure if you are interested in a service like Pedal Genie, but that might help you out.

 

[Demanic]

Re: Cheapest distortion pedal that can plausibly replace amp gain?

AMT pedals seem to have a decent sound. You can run them straight into the power section of an amp, bypassing the preamp (if there is one). Or into something like the Powerstage. In the $200 range, so I don't know if that's inexpensive enough.
I also have a Keeley Metalzone and an SD Twin Tube Mayhem, either of which I can use into a clean amp, but once again, don't know if $200 is in your price range.

Sent from my MotoE2(4G-LTE) using Tapatalk

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: Cheapest distortion pedal that can plausibly replace amp gain?

Hmm, well I really love the Boss Fender Stuff--the FRD-1 and the FBM-1. But those prices seem really high now compared to what I paid for mine.

Have those BOSS/Fender pedals been discontinued?

 

[Diego]

Re: Cheapest distortion pedal that can plausibly replace amp gain?

Joyo US Dream...dirt cheap and can get all the gain you need (think a Plexi on steroids.)

+1. That's a fine sounding box.
I think it's more hotrodded JCM800 than straight-up Plexi though, isn't it a bit too gainy and tight on the bass for a Plexi?

I'd personally avoid any pedal with "Metal" on it's name, too. Those tend to sound the most "like pedals".

 

[Gtrjunior]

Re: Cheapest distortion pedal that can plausibly replace amp gain?

My question is what type of tone are you looking for?
For me, I use the amp Distortion for my full out gain tones and use a couple of pedals for lower gain stuff. I have a BB Preamp for a classic rock tone and a Caveman Drive for a different flavor of drive. But with the Caveman, a dimed gain setting “almost” gets into fuzz territory. Now, I’m not at all a fuzz type but I do like how that pedal sort of farts out at high gain settings.

 

[Securb]

Re: Cheapest distortion pedal that can plausibly replace amp gain?

What type of Randell? I used a DOD 250 with my 100w Randell SS and it sounded amazing.

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: Cheapest distortion pedal that can plausibly replace amp gain?

Have those BOSS/Fender pedals been discontinued?

I believe so...think they stopped making those in 2013. Great pedals IMO.

+1. That's a fine sounding box.

I think it's more hotrodded JCM800 than straight-up Plexi though, isn't it a bit too gainy and tight on the bass for a Plexi?

I'm not an expert on Marshalls and I most likely wouldn't be able to tell the difference between the two if I were blindfounded.

To rephrase...think a Marshall tone with the capability to crank the gain with steroids. I thought it and the Suhr Riot (what the Joyo copied/cloned) were great for getting Marshall tones out of a Fender.

 

[Dave Locher]

Re: Cheapest distortion pedal that can plausibly replace amp gain?

What type of Randell? I used a DOD 250 with my 100w Randell SS and it sounded amazing.

RG 100 ES. It sounds great all by itself, but I am just looking to dip my toes into the dirtbox waters out of curiosity. I tried a bunch of boost and OD pedals last year but that was all about boosting my gain. I have never tried a pedal into the amp running clean until a couple weeks ago with the OCD. It didn't do it for me but I'm willing to try another one or two before I go back to the way I have been doing it since 1988 or so.

Did you use the DOD as a boost into the amp gain, or were you running it at higher distortion with the amp clean?

 

[SweetClyde99]

Re: Cheapest distortion pedal that can plausibly replace amp gain?

Cheap distortion pedals I’ve liked:
Joyo - US Dream—the Crunch Box clone is probably good too.
Danelectro - Daddy-O—mine has a Monte Allums mod, can’t vouch for the unmodded pedal
Behringer - Vintage Tube Monster—A little raspy, but sound better boosted by a TS-type pedal
Mooer - Black Secret—pretty cool Rat clone. I only like it boosted by a TS-type pedal because the low end gets a little flabby at high gain settings otherwise.

 

[Demanic]

Re: Cheapest distortion pedal that can plausibly replace amp gain?

RG 100 ES. It sounds great all by itself, but I am just looking to dip my toes into the dirtbox waters out of curiosity. I tried a bunch of boost and OD pedals last year but that was all about boosting my gain. I have never tried a pedal into the amp running clean until a couple weeks ago with the OCD. It didn't do it for me but I'm willing to try another one or two before I go back to the way I have been doing it since 1988 or so.

Did you use the DOD as a boost into the amp gain, or were you running it at higher distortion with the amp clean?

Try a Keeley Katana in front of the gain channel on that bad boy. And hang on to your hat. Especially if you run it in top boost mode.

Sent from my MotoE2(4G-LTE) using Tapatalk

 

[Securb]

Re: Cheapest distortion pedal that can plausibly replace amp gain?

Did you use the DOD as a boost into the amp gain, or were you running it at higher distortion with the amp clean?

My Randell was a old 70's orange stripe. No gain to speak of. I ran the amp clean and got all of my distortion from the pedal. Not the best audio but here is an old clip of my band with the DOD 250 and the Randell SS.

 

[Lovegun]

Re: Cheapest distortion pedal that can plausibly replace amp gain?

I was wondering more about the amp simulator ones (California something or other, etc.)?

If you mean the Joyo California or the others then go ahead and try them.Suprisingly good tones and cheap. The downside is that there is some hissing when playing loud and there's no way to turn the cab simulation off. Then upgrade to Tech 21, if you like it.

 

[Phantasmagoria]

Re: Cheapest distortion pedal that can plausibly replace amp gain?

Biyang Metal End (Don't be put off by the "Metal" in it's name haha...it's one of the most versatile/best amp sounding pedals w/built in cab sim you can buy at any price...ie, it sounds like an amp. Period. But luckily it's also really cheap )
Behringer GDi21 (another pedal with very convincing Marshall & Mesa amp tones.. )
Artec - Crazy Metal (Again ...sweet British tones albeit on the fatter/looser/darker side..ie..every Sabbath tone you ever wanted & more :bigthumb
Moen - Distortion Master ...again great Marshall/Plexi tones & pretty cheap, though it's discontinued/hard to find..
Mooer has a bunch of new amp-in-a-box type mini-pedals exactly like the AMT's that are half the price..

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Cheapest distortion pedal that can plausibly replace amp gain?

MXR distortion+ should be on your short list. Quality pedal that sounds great and adds serious gain. Inexpensive, too.

 

[Securb]

Re: Cheapest distortion pedal that can plausibly replace amp gain?

MXR distortion+ should be on your short list. Quality pedal that sounds great and adds serious gain. Inexpensive, too.

I remember when I bought my MXR D+ in the 80's. The salesguy said "this pedal can make anything sound good or anything sound bad". Sold!