Good low gain overdrive pedal?

[Simon_F]

Re: Good low gain overdrive pedal?

I definitely can't spend more than £80, and was hoping someone like Behringer or Danelectro would make something that would do the job for less than £50, lol...

Check out the Danelectro CTO-2 Transparent Overdrive. Can be found for less than £40 new on eBay.

http://www.coolcattone.com/product_to.html

 

[Matt42]

Re: Good low gain overdrive pedal?

I would look at the MXR Zakk Wylde OD/Classic Overdrive/GT-OD. They all use the same circuit (as I learned on this board) and are moddable to mimic each other. As far as sound, the Wylde OD is one of the best overdrive's I've ever used. The GT-OD sounds a lot like the Wylde, but with more bass and midrange.

Those might be too hot for you though, if that's the case, I would look into the MXR Custom Badass Modified Overdrive. It's very low gain, and has a lot of tweak-ability to get the exact tone you are after. I'm hoping to pick one up here soon, if my finances can handle it.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Good low gain overdrive pedal?

I would look at the MXR Zakk Wylde OD/Classic Overdrive/GT-OD. They all use the same circuit (as I learned on this board) and are moddable to mimic each other. As far as sound, the Wylde OD is one of the best overdrive's I've ever used. The GT-OD sounds a lot like the Wylde, but with more bass and midrange.

Those might be too hot for you though, if that's the case, I would look into the MXR Custom Badass Modified Overdrive. It's very low gain, and has a lot of tweak-ability to get the exact tone you are after. I'm hoping to pick one up here soon, if my finances can handle it.

Again...more Tubescreamer clones...not what the OP asked for

 

[Matt42]

Re: Good low gain overdrive pedal?

I don't really consider those TS clones, having stacked them all up against the TS 9 and the TS 808 in side by side comparisons. While the circuitry might be similar (I'm pretty clueless about electronics aside from what little I've picked up over the years from friends and on boards like this), the sounds were distinctly different. Neither the Wylde/GT nor the Custom Modified OD had the amount of bass drop off, nor quite the mid boost of either of the Tubescreamers, especially in the case of the Wylde. Perhaps he isn't wanting a Tubescreamer, but a similar pedal without the hangups of the actual Tubescreamer might tickle his fancy and be exactly what he's after.

 

[Jessie's ghost]

Re: Good low gain overdrive pedal?

I was thinking Fulltone OCD for this one, too. I was just playing mine into the Crunch channel of my TSL100, and holy crap!

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Good low gain overdrive pedal?

I was thinking Fulltone OCD for this one, too. I was just playing mine into the Crunch channel of my TSL100, and holy crap!

Fulltone drives into Marshall amps sound SUPER good!!

 

[aleclee]

Re: Good low gain overdrive pedal?

+1 on Barber. Booteek sounds at non-booteek prices.

 

[drpietrzak]

Re: Good low gain overdrive pedal?

It depends on what one means by low gain. ScrewDriver, Tim, Honeybee OD, and LTD can all so it depending on what you want. I like the tweedy thing and the ScrewDriver does it well and is very pick attack sensitive. It is a great low gainer. It can do more as well and you have to work the side trimmers. The OCD is a great pedal but does do the clean to break edge as well, but if you are looking for less of that and more of the just over th edge slot is does great. I really love it into my JC2112RC set lower as well. Harmonics ring really well.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Good low gain overdrive pedal?

Threads like this make me laugh a bit, just because of the nature of a small bump in OD, to push an amp. Depending on the guitar, amp, and amount of OD needed to push it a tiny bit, almost any decent clean boost OD will work.

For that application, going cheaper like an MXR Classic OD can do the trick for $30, but the best way to know for sure is to bring your amp to a store, and audition 10 different ones till you find what you want to hear. Just go there with the intention of purchasing, not tire kicking, if you walk in with your amp.

Online suggestions are good, but simply spending an hour auditioning pedals will answer this question really quickly. For a simple boost in gain for an amp, it's not rocket science nor big money. You can find something suitable pretty easily.

I've got a $700 Klon Centaur and Green Rhino, but still buy cheap things like the MXR Classic OD and Marshall Gov'nor, just because they offer a certain flavor that may work better than an expensive pedal. It's not about money, it's about mating a guitar to an OD to an amp.

 

[FuseG4]

Re: Good low gain overdrive pedal?

I have a stock Blues Driver and I don't think I'll ever get rid of it. I love it for anything from blues to country to rock to ska punk to whatever you need medium gain for. It cleans up pretty well, too. Cheap as hell when bought used, and can be found anywhere.

Modded or unmodded, it's worth a shot.

 

[MarvinJames]

Re: Good low gain overdrive pedal?

A lot of people have recommended the Timmy which I would agree with, but they are out of your price and have a long wait attached to them. I've heard the Danelectro Transparent Overdriver is very similar (the same circuitry even) and it is cheap!

IMO next best options would be the Barber Ltd if you do decide to wait and spend a little more, or the Blues Driver if you want something cheaper.

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: Good low gain overdrive pedal?

I'll throw in another rec for a BD-2 . . . the blues driver is very good at giving a slight boost with a bit of bite. You can mod the pedal pretty easily to reduce the bass loss that some people don't like.

 

[dano8180]

Re: Good low gain overdrive pedal?

Big fan of the MI Audio Blues Pro OD. Very nice and transparent OD.

 

[saladin]

Re: Good low gain overdrive pedal?

 

[Franknfilms]

Re: Good low gain overdrive pedal?

The MXR Classic OD is a no brainer!!! Cheap as hell, plus you've get two pedals in one! ZW barely adds any gain at zero and very gradually adds it when you crank it up. The GT-OD is fat and warm, great on a clean channel. Between these two modes you'll get everything that you're looking for for half of your budget.

 

[Reload in 5]

The older danelectro is the same as the timmy.I have one.

-----
Not sent from a PC......or a red delicious.....but from a robot with a human appearance.

 

[scorch]

Re: Good low gain overdrive pedal?

+1 on the Barber LTD. My favorite lo-gainer.

The Boss Combo Drive can go from a chimey clean boost to molten Queen-style rock. Has an AC30 vibe. Actually a very musical little pedal for a dirt box.

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Good low gain overdrive pedal?

TS9 or TS808. those both interact with the amp really well.

Dave in their stock form,they cut out the lows and add that horrible mid hump..

 

[rumblebox]

Re: Good low gain overdrive pedal?

still.....

after using it for a while, it really doesnt sound like a tube screamer. more versatile EQ.

 

[Inkstained]

Re: Good low gain overdrive pedal?

Analogman-modded Boss BD-2

http://www.buyanalogman.com/Boss_BD_2_Super_p/am-boss-bd-2-super.htm :approve:

I love, love, love the BD-2, stock or modded. But while you can keep the gain low and use it as a boost, it really isn't a low-gain pedal. Turn that knob clockwise, and you're easily in the realm of old-school metal.

And anyway, it's a tweedy TS variant.