Ever been thoroughly underwhelmed by a pedal?

Re: Ever been thoroughly underwhelmed by a pedal?

Marshall Guvnor GV-2 - not enough top end. The bottom is nice and big but because it lacks enough high end to get clarity it sounds like your amp is in the closet with the door closed. Luckily, this pedal has potential with just a few easy mods.
 
Re: Ever been thoroughly underwhelmed by a pedal?

I really was let down by the Fulltone Deja-Vibe II I had, and then sold. It just didn't sound nearly as intense or lush as I expected a pedal like that to be.
 
Re: Ever been thoroughly underwhelmed by a pedal?

ArtieToo said:
We need to start an "Ever been thoroughly underwhelmed by an amp?", thread, so I don't hijack this one.
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I was extremely underwhelmed by valve amps after all the hype they seem to get (and all the crap people give SS amps) on a couple of other forums... They're hissy, and yes, there is a lovely tone that you can get but I didn't find the difference to be night and day. If had the money though I'm sure I would buy a top end one but for what it's worth I love SS even more now that I know I'm not missing out by using one :P
 
Re: Ever been thoroughly underwhelmed by a pedal?

Metal Muff Top Boost. I really should have tried it with more amps, but as it was I couldn't get anything I liked out of it. It sounded too much like a Metal Zone to me.
 
Re: Ever been thoroughly underwhelmed by a pedal?

TC MojoMojo, I wasn't impressed..
BBE G Screamer, didn't do it for me..
 
Re: Ever been thoroughly underwhelmed by a pedal?

TC Electronic Flashback Delay. What I got was complete convoluted layers of noise reminiscent of King Crimson meeting Porcupine Tree and U2. I returned to my DOD DFX91 to regain my sanity.

This pedal is definitely one of the most overrated pedal of the 21st century.
 
Re: Ever been thoroughly underwhelmed by a pedal?

I have never liked Tube Screamers, or transistor dirt boxes in general. I've had high hopes for many, many years, but was disappointed in most. One of the more recent attempts to find a pedal that did low gain, amp-style crunch was the Wampler Tweed. And again, disappointment.

Bill
 
Re: Ever been thoroughly underwhelmed by a pedal?

Most tube-based pedals haven't done it for me. I also didn't like the Digitech Distortion Facotry, but the Chorus Factory is a little gem.
 
Re: Ever been thoroughly underwhelmed by a pedal?

Little Pigbacon said:
Metal Muff Top Boost. I really should have tried it with more amps, but as it was I couldn't get anything I liked out of it. It sounded too much like a Metal Zone to me.
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I have to say the mids are way better in the MM TB.
They're broader, which is a common characteristic in every Metal Zone mod I've heard. I used to have a "Diezel mod" Metal Zone and it was really close to the MM TB tonewise.

Eventually I sold it and the Metal Muff as well because I'm just not into that tone, nor do I think they do that tone convincingly.
 
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Re: Ever been thoroughly underwhelmed by a pedal?

ArtieToo said:
That's not really a fair assessment. The SD-1 is equally cool if "modified properly." ;)
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I've been wrong before and I'll be wrong again, my friend.
I'd be happy to test a modded SD1 and learn what it's about.
 
Re: Ever been thoroughly underwhelmed by a pedal?

Boogie Bill said:
I have never liked Tube Screamers, or transistor dirt boxes in general. I've had high hopes for many, many years, but was disappointed in most. One of the more recent attempts to find a pedal that did low gain, amp-style crunch was the Wampler Tweed. And again, disappointment.

Bill
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Bill, have you tried the Mad Professor Sweet Honey overdrive?
By far the best low gain dirtbox I've ever tried. The dynamics on that pedal are on par with my own tube amp and unlike any box I've tried before.
I'm far from a dirt pedal expert but the Sweet Honey truly is something else.
 
Re: Ever been thoroughly underwhelmed by a pedal?

Diego said:
Bill, have you tried the Mad Professor Sweet Honey overdrive?
By far the best low gain dirtbox I've ever tried. The dynamics on that pedal are on par with my own tube amp and unlike any box I've tried before.
I'm far from a dirt pedal expert but the Sweet Honey truly is something else.
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I like the Paul C Audio Timmy for my low gain OD. Actually, I even like it for pushing my amp into full saturation.
 
Re: Ever been thoroughly underwhelmed by a pedal?

Lots of times...but what always makes me smile over all this gear fetish stuff...is that somebody else can make it sound good what I do not like to use...
 
Re: Ever been thoroughly underwhelmed by a pedal?

Little Big Muff - Couldn't get a decent sound out it. Now I know I should have used it into an already distorted amp. I did love the Metal Muff w/ Top boost.

Stereo Electric Mistress - Had too much going on for me. I know someone could use it well but not me. Didn't fit me at all.

Metal Zone - couldn't find a usable sound.
 
Re: Ever been thoroughly underwhelmed by a pedal?

Vasshu the humanoid typhoon said:
Lots of times...but what always makes me smile over all this gear fetish stuff...is that somebody else can make it sound good what I do not like to use...
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And that's what makes the gear side of guitar so interesting. One guitarist's crap is another's secret weapon... And when the people who know how to make the "crap" sound amazing cone along, the haters are floored when they discover what hardware went into shaping that sound.
 
Re: Ever been thoroughly underwhelmed by a pedal?

I don't usually even dismiss the gear I don't like. I try to find a way to make it work. If I can't make it sound good, it's either because I don't know how, or another piece if gear I am using it with just doesn't react in the way I want it to.
 
Re: Ever been thoroughly underwhelmed by a pedal?

Diego said:
Bill, have you tried the Mad Professor Sweet Honey overdrive?
By far the best low gain dirtbox I've ever tried. The dynamics on that pedal are on par with my own tube amp and unlike any box I've tried before.
I'm far from a dirt pedal expert but the Sweet Honey truly is something else.
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You beat me to it. The Sweet Honey is a fantastic low gain pedal. It doesn't clean up quite as nicely as my 41st Amps Bayonet, but it's the closest thing I've ever played. I really want to get my hands on the new Sweet Honey Deluxe to try.
 
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