Good distortion?

[Guitar Guy]

I'm looking for a not to expensive distortion pedal to give like a Robin Trower or Zeppelin like sound. Is the stock DS-1:fingersx: a good choice or do i need a mod? Would the sd-1 be a better choice or does it sound to much like a tubescreamer (i already have a ts9dx) What about the mxr distortion+?

 

[Empty Pockets]

Re: Good distortion?

I like the DS-1 but it's hard to tell you what it'll be like without knowing what else is in your rig...what's your guitar and amp set-up like?

-X

 

[Guitar Guy]

Re: Good distortion?

I play varios strats through a pretty good sized pedalboard: wah, compressor, tubescreamer, metal zone, phaser, flanger, and delay into fender hot rods.

 

[JohnnyGuitar]

Re: Good distortion?

The DS-1 and the MXR D+ sound nothing like the artists you've mentioned - to me... I like the DS-1 tone more.
Robin Trower is more about the flangers and vibe pedals so for his tone you should play with your modulation effects, maybe add a good vibey chorus...
Listen to the Rat samples on www.ratdistortion.coand see if something there suites you more (they are a little more expenssive).
The Marshall line of stompboxes might also be an option (and they are really not expenssive).

 

[Guitar Guy]

Re: Good distortion?

Thanks, i pretty much got the modulation down for trower, i was just lookin for a distortion in between my tubescreame and my metal zone.

 

[drpietrzak]

Re: Good distortion?

I am not sure what expensive is here so I am sorry if this is not what you are thinking. The Gov'2 or Jackhammer may do what you need, they have a bit of the Marshall grit-fizz. The Silver Dragon (channel 1) may do the Page tone as well with the grit I associate with Page. The SFX-03 may do it, but it is smoother sounding to me than Page. The 'xothic BB, English Muff'n Plexitone or others would do this as well I think.

 

[Guitar Guy]

Re: Good distortion?

I was looking for something around the 50 or 60 dollar range and since the ds-1 seems to be popular (sometimes) i thought i'd find out more about it.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Good distortion?

I'm looking for a not to expensive distortion pedal to give like a Robin Trower or Zeppelin like sound. Is the stock DS-1:fingersx: a good choice or do i need a mod? Would the sd-1 be a better choice or does it sound to much like a tubescreamer (i already have a ts9dx) What about the mxr distortion+?

When I plug my Tele into my DS-1 and my the DS-1 into my smaller amps like my Fender tweed Deluxe or tweed Super, I feel I can get a very convincing LedZep tone.

The MIJ DS-1 needs no mods. Some say the MIT does....but it sounds fine to me.

The DS-1 is a favorite of mine because when I turn the guitar's volume down the DS-1 clean up beautifully.

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: Good distortion?

When I plug my Tele into my DS-1 and my the DS-1 into my smaller amps like my Fender tweed Deluxe or tweed Super, I feel I can get a very convincing LedZep tone.

The MIJ DS-1 needs no mods. Some say the MIT does....but it sounds fine to me.

The DS-1 is a favorite of mine because when I turn the guitar's volume down the DS-1 clean up beautifully.

+1 a DS-1 or DS-2 can get very close to Zepp sounds (although I usually use a humbucker). It's also a hotter than a tubescreamer, but with much less gain than a metal zone . . .

 

[Guitar Guy]

Re: Good distortion?

Thanks, from what you guys say the ds-1 sounds perfect. Although i only wanted to pay 50-60 for a single dist. pedal, i wouldn't be adverse to getting a dual pedal such as the OD-20 Drive Zone. What do you think about that pedal?

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: Good distortion?

The MIJ DS-1 needs no mods. Some say the MIT does....but it sounds fine to me.

I don't think it's a matter of "needing" mods.... we're all just unable to leave stuff the way it was when we got it

Seriously, I really dig the stock DS-1, but all the mods I've tried have been super cool, too.

 

[Guitar Guy]

Re: Good distortion?

Well, i just read reviews that said the ds-1 sucked without mods. I could always add mods in the future (and probably will). I was looking for something that will sound good stock for a while.

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Good distortion?

Well, i just read reviews that said the ds-1 sucked without mods. I could always add mods in the future (and probably will). I was looking for something that will sound good stock for a while.

Try the stock DS1 in your setup and see if gets you there before thinking about modding it..I use a Marshall Jackhammer and it gets a better Marshall crunch tone and is more natural sounding and doesn't require any mods vs the modded DS1 I use also..:13:

Trower these days is using pretty much all Fulltone stuff from his wah down to his overdrive pedals...At least last summer when I saw him he was?

 

[Guitar Guy]

Re: Good distortion?

Thanks STRATDELUXER97. You must know about a lot of different pedals since you mod them. What are your thoughts on the Boss OD-20 Drive Zone?

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Good distortion?

Thanks STRATDELUXER97. You must know about a lot of different pedals since you mod them. What are your thoughts on the Boss OD-20 Drive Zone?

Not familiar with that one? I pretty much get mostly the SD1 and the DS1 Boss stuff to mod...Alot of Tube Screamers as these 3 are most popular...Haven't done any pedals lately though,just some wah wahs..:laugh2:

 

[Guitar Guy]

Re: Good distortion?

It seems like a pretty cool and versatile distortion box with a bunch of different distortion types, but you how modeling type stuff can either sound really good or really crappy. I guess i'll just have to check it out at a store.

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Good distortion?

It seems like a pretty cool and versatile distortion box with a bunch of different distortion types, but you how modeling type stuff can either sound really good or really crappy. I guess i'll just have to check it out at a store.

Is the OD-20 a modeling pedal then?

 

[Guitar Guy]

Re: Good distortion?

Well i'm not exactly sure if it is or not. It doesn't seem like the digitech-like modeling pedals but then again it can store presets.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Good distortion?

Get the idea of $50-$60 out of your mind.

If you're talking about real tone, you won't get it with Boss and DOD pedals, IMO. Sell a pedal or two, and invest in a good OD pedal. For instance, Robin Trower is a Fulltone endorsee, and you're likely to see a Fulldrive II or OCD on his pedalboard. There's other good ones out there too, but figure on spending $130-$200. If I were you, I'd get a Fulltone 10th Ann. Mosfet FDII. It's like a Swiss Army Knife of OD's.....it'll cover everything you mentioned. The Carl Martin Plexitone, HBE, Banzai, Hermida, Menatone, Xotic, and others are good. If you're talking about your lead tone, get something you're happy with, not 'just another pedal' which will leave you unsatisfied in a month.

 

[WhoFan]

Re: Good distortion?

i use a few different DS1's.. an old early 80's one and a brand new one... both sound the same to my ears... I use them into the clean channel of Peavey Classic series amps and i enjoy the tone.... DS1's are cheap and plentiful.... I like that part... I'd prefer some more bottom end to them but sometimes it depends on what they are being played thru...

Like all Distortion pedals some sound good thru some amps and thru others they sound like dung...... for the low cost a DS1 costs it's worth a try...

I wish to get a Diamond Firebust pedal oneday.... they have simular amount of gain as the DS1 but they are deap quiet low noise operation and they have more EQ to play with... Quality Pedal for sure.... you could buy 3 or 4 DS1's for the price of the Firebust mind you.... but they are quality

WhoFan