Fulltone, sansamp, other distortion pedals

[infrared72]

So i've been poking around checking out a few different distortion pedals. Sansamp, fulltone, Carl Martin, and a few others. What would you all say are the more versatile pedals? I know there are more of the high end boutique pedals out there now - some of them get pretty darn expensive. I'm looking to stay under $250, but I might go as high as $300. I kinda got my rhythm sound pretty much down, so I was thinking it might be cool to have something for a little lead boost and for doing some distorted bass tones on my recordings.

The Sansamp thing seems pretty cool, cause you get a lot of different tones. I just have no idea how well it would work with my guitars (HM Strat, HH Tele). GT2's are not that expensive second hand, but I have also heard some good things about Fulltone and Carl Martin pedals. I know that Seymour Duncan has some interesting looking pedals as well - the twin tube and the tweak fuzz. I guess the hardest thing is trying to find a few shops that actually carry these so you could check them out before buying one.

It's one thing to hear sound clips on a website of different pedals, but it seems very likely that most of these pedals out there will sound a little different when you factor in different guitars, amps, and such.

-Peter

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Fulltone, sansamp, other distortion pedals

I still haven't tried it yet, but it's supposedly a modern classic distortion/boost pedal ...the Fulltone GT-500. At $200, they didn't really overprice it either. Your money will probably be well spent on that.

 

[Pete Galati]

Re: Fulltone, sansamp, other distortion pedals

I've owned a Tech21 Sansamp GT2 for a few years by now, and I really want to like the thing, but I just don't. Every once in a while, I pull the thing out, and play through it, and think, wow, this is a great sounding pedal! Then I try to use it the next day, and it just makes me sick with it's processed sound.

I like both the ProCo Rat, and the Boss DS-1 pedals better. Neither one is trying to emulate an amp sound, and they both have a natural distortion, and respond to your playing dynamics.

But a lot depends on what kind of guitar and amp you use as to what pedals work best for you.

Tech21 also has a Double Drive pedal that I have that has some cool distortions, but that's another one that doesn't work for me. I'm afraid to try their American Woman pedal because as much as I admire what they build, they just have sounds I can use.

Pete

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: Fulltone, sansamp, other distortion pedals

The GT-2 is best for recording without an amp!
There it sounds really good!
Can't say much about Fulltones new thing, his stuff is not my taste.

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Fulltone, sansamp, other distortion pedals

The GT-2 is best for recording without an amp!
There it sounds really good!
Can't say much about Fulltones new thing, his stuff is not my taste.

I'm with ya there buddy.....I sold every Fulltone product I've owned! Don't waste your money on the OCD either!

 

[Hot _Grits]

Re: Fulltone, sansamp, other distortion pedals

Yeah, the ocd I tried was a rock solid turkey.

For boosts, check out the catalinbread super chili picoso and the fulltone fat boost. I also tried a telenaydia (sp?) boost today and that was a good time.

 

[Stratcat]

Re: Fulltone, sansamp, other distortion pedals

I'm with ya there buddy.....I sold every Fulltone product I've owned! Don't waste your money on the OCD either!

Ditto!
IMHO, the Marshall Jackhammer is still the best bang for the buck.

 

[barbarianbrute]

Re: Fulltone, sansamp, other distortion pedals

i've owned the sansamp classic (which is the best of the sans amps in my opinion), tri-ac, and the xxl.

to me the sansamps sound great with solid state amps, through a speaker of some kind, or direct recording. no need for one with a tube amp because i personally don't htink you can beat tube amp tone. the tri-ac was good too, but not that reliable.

now the xxl was one cool pedal, and it sounded great through my tube amp. i opted for a jeckle and hyde pedal instead, so i traded mine in for one. i plan to pick one up someday soon though because they sound really cool and different from other overdrive/distortion pedals.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Fulltone, sansamp, other distortion pedals

Yeah, the ocd I tried was a rock solid turkey.

For boosts, check out the catalinbread super chili picoso and the fulltone fat boost. I also tried a telenaydia (sp?) boost today and that was a good time.

I've been wanting to check out the Catalinbread stuff. Maybe I'll run down to Truetone Music today and plug into some of those and a lot of other great pedals and amps they have down there.

I think there's actually a new Fulltone Fat Boost with a tone control on it now.

 

[Hot _Grits]

Re: Fulltone, sansamp, other distortion pedals

I've been wanting to check out the Catalinbread stuff. Maybe I'll run down to Truetone Music today and plug into some of those and a lot of other great pedals and amps they have down there.

I think there's actually a new Fulltone Fat Boost with a tone control on it now.

I recorded with the tone knob equipped fat boost last month. Really nice.

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Fulltone, sansamp, other distortion pedals

Ditto!
IMHO, the Marshall Jackhammer is still the best bang for the buck.

I still use one on my own pedalboard. A non-modded version of it... ;o)

 

[Pastor of Muppets]

Re: Fulltone, sansamp, other distortion pedals

I recently picked up a S/H Menatone Fish Factory for $200 - it's an amazinglt versatile beast. The 'Red' side is great for rhythm work and blues/alt country stuff, the 'blue' side gives you a full on fat lead sound that is classic Marshall all the way. Plus with the ability to have positive, neutral or minus cut on one channel and presence on the other, you have a huge variety of tonesw for fiddling with when recording, but also the ability to have two completely different sounds totally dialled in for live stuff.

I'd highly recommend checking one out if you can find one.

 

[castiron]

Re: Fulltone, sansamp, other distortion pedals

ive always been interested in the rat for a nice different taste of distortion