Distortion pedal recommendation for my Clean channel

Icarusfire

Icarusfire

New member
Hi,

I have a Marshall DSL5c, Looking for a new distortion/overdrive pedal to specially run on my clean channel. Especially for soloing. Any Recommendations?

I ordered Mi Audio Tube Zone cause I heard it sounds similar to a Mesa Boogie, interestingly I hated how it sounds on my clean channel! So I now I have to return it.

I think of Fulltone Ocd or Carl Martin plexitone maybe, any ideas?

Thanks
 
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Re: Distortion pedal recommendation for my Clean channel

What kind of tone are you going for? The OCD is a great pedal, but it's not one I think of for soloing on a clean channel -- depending on your style of soloing.
 
Re: Distortion pedal recommendation for my Clean channel

Little Pigbacon said:
What kind of tone are you going for? The OCD is a great pedal, but it's not one I think of for soloing on a clean channel -- depending on your style of soloing.
Click to expand...

Tnx,
I like my gain channel and push it with a dod 250 for Playing Malmsteen type of stuff.

But Running distortion on a clean channel has a very different taste that I also like. Yet I couldn't find the correct pedal I guess. I like to play from Petrucci
to Guthrie Govan..a lot of different stuff

BTW. Do you think for boosting gain channel, OCD will sound totally different than dod250? Not sure if I want to pay another booster.
 
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Re: Distortion pedal recommendation for my Clean channel

If you're already looking at Fulltone stuff, I would recommend the FullDrive 2 MOSFET. You can goose your clean channel using just the OD side and if you need even more gain, just step on the Boost switch for fluid sustain. I've been using it a lot lately with my Valvetronix combo at lower wattage settings, and running it into any of the clean models gives the perfect texture for chording and light soloing... plus extra juice is footswitchable if needed. IMO it's a lot of versatile pedal for the price and it's built really well. I can't believe I was thinking of selling it a year ago.
 
Re: Distortion pedal recommendation for my Clean channel

Since I saw the Plexitone in your list I'll suggest the Purple Plexi...does everything from JTM tones up to 800 tones, you won't be disappointed.... I had a chance to try my uncle's with my Deadhorse this week and now I want one myself....
 
Re: Distortion pedal recommendation for my Clean channel

I'm trying to figure out why you are pushing the gain channel on that with anything!?!?!?!?!

Other than that, for the clean channel, you just have to find the Distortion that suits YOU. I suggest checking out a ton of YouTube vids.

That said - some suggestions:
Catalinbread Dirty Little Secret
VFE Dark Horse
Modded Ibanez SD9
DOD American Metal
Marshall Guv'notr
Boss Powerstack
 
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Re: Distortion pedal recommendation for my Clean channel

I don't know if this is out-of-budget for you, but the Bogner Ecstasy pedals are amazing. The Blue makes my Mesa sound like a Marshall, and makes my Fender sound like a Mesa. It is quickly making me forget about every other OD pedal I own.
 
Re: Distortion pedal recommendation for my Clean channel

I have heard nothing but awesome about the Bogner XTC pedal.

Joe's actual Bogner XTC was pure awesome w/ a SD Custom.
 
Re: Distortion pedal recommendation for my Clean channel

I've used the Ecstasy for around 14 years now, mostly because it's like all my favorite amps in one head.

But I also have the XTC pedals, and can run them through my other amps to emulate a Bogner when I want an authentic Bogner/Marshall tone. They actually nail the tone really good.

IMO, the best distortion pedal with real tone is the Bogner Red. Others may have gain, but they don't have the actual sound of an all tube high gain channel like the XTC Red does.

It's actually surprising how good the blue and red pedals sound when you run them into a big fat edgy clean tone. Reinhold Bogner didn't just make a simple drive pedal. He emulated the XTC amp's blue and red channels in a pedal you could put in front of any amp. Quite a feat, really.
 
Re: Distortion pedal recommendation for my Clean channel

Yeah the Bogners rule with my 68 custom twin.
 
Re: Distortion pedal recommendation for my Clean channel

Well I'll ask the question that nobody else has..... What kind of music are you playing?
 
Re: Distortion pedal recommendation for my Clean channel

Thanks for all answers. I ended up buying Mesa Boogie Flux Drive and I liked it so far..It just puts a big smile on my face time to time. Especially on clean boost, it just thickens the sound beautifully.

But this is a nice thread I will come back to it when I get a new pedal itch again.
 
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