Distortion pedal bonanza...

[equipboard]

Hi everyone, I recently got the chance to get my hands on a dozen distortion pedals simultaneously! It was a very fun shootout (and a great photo came out of it):

Full list of pedals tested: Pro Co RAT2. Boss DS-1, MXR Super Badass Distortion, Fender Pugilist, TC Dark Matter, KHDK Dark Blood, Keeley Filaments, Wampler Dracarys, Walrus Iron Horse V2, EQD Acapulco Gold, JHS Angry Charlie V3, and Big Ear Woodcutter.

The results are compiled in a guide, I'll add the link if there's any interest (don't wanna violate any forum rules). Let me know if I can help answer any pedal vs. pedal questions while the shootout is fresh in my head!

 

[jeremy]

Re: Distortion pedal bonanza...

looks like a fun pile!

 

[Hsb]

Re: Distortion pedal bonanza...

Dracarys is on my list of pedals to own.

 

[NegativeEase]

Re: Distortion pedal bonanza...

The KHDK is the only one in that pile I didn't like. everything else is rockin' for me.

 

[Dave Locher]

Re: Distortion pedal bonanza...

Link! Link!

 

[Aceman]

Re: Distortion pedal bonanza...

Yeah man!!!!! Got's to know!!!!!!!!

How were you testing? Straight in to clean or what? What style music/playing?

I know some (Rat, DS1, Dark Matter) well, others not so much.

 

[equipboard]

Re: Distortion pedal bonanza...

Yeah man!!!!! Got's to know!!!!!!!!

How were you testing? Straight in to clean or what? What style music/playing?

I know some (Rat, DS1, Dark Matter) well, others not so much.

Great questions

Ok, so for those asking for the link: best distortion pedal shootout

RAT is my personal fav of the bunch. I know maybe that's kind of a boring answer, but to me it just can't be imitated! It's so unique and good. My co-tester is split between a DS-1 as his mainstream choice, and the JHS Angry Charlie.

Regarding testing, there's a link in the actual article to the testing methodology (look where it says "review process here"). We do go straight into clean, but also several other ways. Main amps are a Blues Junior, Fender Hot Rod Deluxe, Fender Bassbreaker, Orange solid state amp, Yamaha solid state amp, and a VOX headphone amp. Signal chain matters a lot, so we try a bit of everything before writing our impressions!

 

[equipboard]

Re: Distortion pedal bonanza...

The KHDK is the only one in that pile I didn't like. everything else is rockin' for me.

Awesome. The one that felt lacking to me was the TC Dark Matter. More of an overdrive than a distortion, for my taste. It just lacks gain compared to the rest of the bunch.

 

[Dave Locher]

Re: Distortion pedal bonanza...

Good read. Thanks.
Just realized I have been playing since 1983 and have never tried a DS-1! In my defense, I haven't used any distortion pedals since probably 1987 or so, but still...

 

[Hollywood Rock]

Re: Distortion pedal bonanza...

 

[Demanic]

Re: Distortion pedal bonanza...

What?
No MT-2?!

 

[CharlesSullivan]

Re: Distortion pedal bonanza...

Wow, nice. Check my old school collection. :headbang:

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: Distortion pedal bonanza...

What?
No MT-2?!
View attachment 100111

lol


I love the fact that you're running a compressor into the MT-2. Y'know. Because the MT-2 is soooo dynamic and uncompressed. Bahahahahahah!

 

[Demanic]

Re: Distortion pedal bonanza...

lol


I love the fact that you're running a compressor into the MT-2. Y'know. Because the MT-2 is soooo dynamic and uncompressed. Bahahahahahah!

Yes, well, I'm the type of person who puts siracha on my siracha too.

Sent from my Alcatel_5044C using Tapatalk

 

[AmandsF]

Re: Distortion pedal bonanza...

Hi everyone, I recently got the chance to get my hands on a dozen distortion pedals simultaneously! It was a very fun shootout (and a great photo came out of it):



Full list of pedals tested: Pro Co RAT2. Boss DS-1, MXR Super Badass Distortion, Fender Pugilist, TC Dark Matter, KHDK Dark Blood, Keeley Filaments, Wampler Dracarys, Walrus Iron Horse V2, EQD Acapulco Gold, JHS Angry Charlie V3, and Big Ear Woodcutter.

The results are compiled in a guide, I'll add the link if there's any interest (don't wanna violate any forum rules). Let me know if I can help answer any pedal vs. pedal questions while the shootout is fresh in my head!

Oh, I'm dreaming about such stuff.:arms:

 

[80's_Metal]

Re: Distortion pedal bonanza...

Dracarys flat rips!

 

[Hsb]

Re: Distortion pedal bonanza...

Dracarys flat rips!

I have one on my board now, when I want to go crazy distorted, Ill fire it up.Though I still prefer using the Tumnus as an overdrive driving my amp's dirty channel.