Choosing an All purpose distortion pedal issue! .!!!

[Arjun]

What should be an ideal all purpose distortion pedal?... i dont play a lot of heavy metal so i dont need metal pedals... the pedal should be able to play classic metal and neo classical though
I have an american stratocaster and i also use an elcteo Harmonix Soul Food Overdrive pedal currently as my main od pedal !
I am having difficulty in choosing between a Suhr Riot and An Sl drive pedal ... i am also getting a tc electronic Dark matter distortion online for a good deal under 50 Usd.
So i really like the gain on the Riot pedal..but that is 200usd which is very expensive .

Needed help to decide which pedal is the way to go.
Sl drive ? TC electronic Dark matter distortion ? Or Suhr Riot ?

 

[Hank-]

Re: Choosing an All purpose distortion pedal issue! .!!!

Joyo makes a clone of the riot for cheap called 'US dream', that's an option if the original is too expensive.

 

[devastone]

Re: Choosing an All purpose distortion pedal issue! .!!!

If you already have a Dark Matter coming, I would try that. It is a nice sounding distortion pedal, but not a metal pedal. You could set it for a crunchy sound and hit it with the Soul Food for solos. FWIW, you can buy them new for $50 with free shipping most places.

The Riot is a great pedal and I've heard good things about the clones too. It has a lot more gain than the Dark Matter, it will get into 80's metal sounds easily.

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: Choosing an All purpose distortion pedal issue! .!!!

Joyo makes a clone of the riot for cheap called 'US dream', that's an option if the original is too expensive.

I had a Suhr Riot and a Joyo US Dream. Both sounded very similar; however, after doing an A/B I decided to stick with the Riot because of how it pushed my amp–the harmonics sounded natural and the amp felt like it was being pushed over the edge. The US Dream sounded very similar but didn't have the "feeling" nor the harmonics that the Riot had.

So...if you are on a very tight budget I'd say go with the US Dream...a fraction of the cost and its new. If you are on a tight budget but can afford $100-$150, then I would say get a used Riot.


EDIT: Another thing I forgot, the US Dream sounded better with a TON of Reverb...so if you are going for an overall ambient sound then maybe just go with the US Dream...low to mid Reverb levels the Riot wins (in my book.)

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: Choosing an All purpose distortion pedal issue! .!!!

All-purpose? Doesn't need a gnu-meddle tone?

Carl Martin Plexitone. The big one.

 

[Hank-]

Re: Choosing an All purpose distortion pedal issue! .!!!

I had a Suhr Riot and a Joyo US Dream. Both sounded very similar; however, after doing an A/B I decided to stick with the Riot because of how it pushed my amp–the harmonics sounded natural and the amp felt like it was being pushed over the edge. The US Dream sounded very similar but didn't have the "feeling" nor the harmonics that the Riot had.

So...if you are on a very tight budget I'd say go with the US Dream...a fraction of the cost and its new. If you are on a tight budget but can afford $100-$150, then I would say get a used Riot

Yea, not exact clone but close enough for $40. I think if he is using a SS amp then the difference won't pass through much. Would have been useful to know what its gonna be amp'd through in the OP :33:

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: Choosing an All purpose distortion pedal issue! .!!!

Yea, not exact clone but close enough for $40. I think if he is using a SS amp then the difference won't pass through much. Would have been useful to know what its gonna be amp'd through in the OP :33:

Excellent point, I was running them through a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe...never ran them through a SS amp.

 

[TimmyPage]

Re: Choosing an All purpose distortion pedal issue! .!!!

I think the TC Dark Matter is worth checking out. It's dirt cheap and one of the most impressive distortion pedals I've ever played in that price range.