favorite high gain pedals that deliver the chug?

[Supernautilus]

So I got a Metal Zone last week and now I'm looking into other similar units, as that is the only pedal of this type that I own. My research has revealed some units that seem to be popular. I'm seeing names like Wampler Dracarys, Empress Heavy Menace, Revv G3, Amptweaker Tight Metal, etc. Ola England's "Will it Chug" video series has been pretty informative, as well as entertaining to watch lol.

Anyways, I figured I'd ask around here to get some more ideas. What are some of your favorite high gain pedals that chug?

 

[Rex_Rocker]

I like the Soldano pedal, but it does need a boost to sound its best. Once boosted, it does sound "better" than many other high-gain pedals, I feel. More "believable".

 

[misterwhizzy]

You can buy the Friedman BE-OD I’m selling, or look into the Revv G4, which I’d argue is better than the G3 for what you want.

 

[Supernautilus]

You can buy the Friedman BE-OD I’m selling, or look into the Revv G4, which I’d argue is better than the G3 for what you want.

Thanks for the info. I don’t know much about Revv so I don’t really know the difference between the G3 and G4. I’ll have to research it.

 

[El Dunco]

I remember a lot of hype around the Emma PisidiYAUwot many years ago. Pretty much any pedal that recreates a preamp circuit (with FETs in place of tubes like the Dr Boogie for example) ought to do it, because those amps were designed to chug in the first place.

Funny thing about the metal zone is how it’s perceived as this super modern hi-gain distortion but people seem to forget it came out in the very early 90s, so would have been designed with old school thrash and hair metal sounds in mind. I don’t mind it straight into the FX return but I’m not a huge fan of the nasal cocked-wah filtration the original seems to have pre-gain.

The Revv G4 is “bigger,” wall-of-sound Dual Rec sounding. The G4 is more mid-forward, drier and tighter. Both are geared towards the more modern, djenty type sounds. I’d be very interested to try them out side by side to compare them directly. My band’s second guitarist has an actual Revv Generator head to compare them too as well. He seems to favour the red setting.

 

[Supernautilus]

Yeah the Revv units are pretty cool. I watched a few comparison videos early and they both have their pros and cons. The G4 is definitely brighter and and a bit more aggressive. Though it was a little thin and brittle in some of the demos. The G3 is darker, but has a bit more chewiness to the texture that I really like. Not sure which I like better.

An alternative I found is the Joyo Dark Flame, which is supposed to be a copy of the G3. At 60 bucks, it might be worth a try.

EDIT: I just found a Dark Flame on Amazon for 50 bucks brand new so I bought it lol. I watched 2 comparison videos on YouTube first and it sounds nearly identical to the G3. The Revv was maybe slightly richer sounding on some settings but the difference was so slight that only a direct A/B comparison could show it. I'll see if it's any good when it gets here in a couple days.

 

[Hsb]

Wampler Dracarys would do it. It was designed after Ola Englund's tone, if he cant bring the chug, then who can?

 

[ehdwuld]

Ola makes everything chug

He has created an entire channel on doing that

 

[Chistopher]

The G4 is actually an investment more so than other pedals. Buy one for $150 used and you will quickly recover it with all the money you save from firing your bass player.

 

[ehdwuld]

Trio+ pedal

drummer
bass player
all hit the road

I got a Behringer RD-6 and TD-3

The entire Rythm section

 

[Securb]

Wampler Dracarys would do it. It was designed after Ola Englund's tone, if he cant bring the chug, then who can?

I use the Wampler Dracarys with the EQ set fairly neutral, the tight/open switch set to open and the gain at 1 o'clock. I have a BOOST after it to add another gain stage which gives added touch sensitivity, a bit of compression, and "thump." I also have a pegged MXR D+ going through the same chain that also brings the goods. I think the MXR is okay on its own, but paired with a BOOST, it is amazing.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

I like the Soldano pedal, but it does sound better with a boost (the same way a real Soldano would, I guess).

 

[Explorer84]

Bombastortion by Tim Jauernig if you can find one.​