High gain distortion pedal

[Xandeeno]

I am looking for a distortion tone that will be able to basically turn a clean tone into a modern high gain metal tone (e.g. toska, slipknot and Mastodon esque)

Ideally it would be able to calm down to a kind of foo fighters level as well. I will also be running a tube screamer over it for a lead boost.

I narrowed it down to the Friedman BE-OD and the Keeley filaments. Are either of these any good or do people have other suggestions?

 

[El Dunco]

Re: High gain distortion pedal

If you want something with amp-like variable gain, I would be looking at a preamp pedal. The AMT V series (like a Vt2, B2, E2 or their SS series) the new Mooer micro preamps, or even a Blackstar metal or Blackfire. Rev just realeased a killer new preamp pedal. All of those do killer modern metal, raw rock and some even have inbuilt clean channels.

 

[Xandeeno]

Re: High gain distortion pedal

Great I'll consider those. The variability is not as important as I do have other pedals and can purchase more but if you think that style would achieve better modern heavy tones then maybe that is where I should be looking.
I am fine with getting a normal pedal for this tone and using others for medium gain etc..
Any thoughts on the BE-OD?

 

[El Dunco]

Re: High gain distortion pedal

If you like the sound I don't see how Friedman could steer you wrong if their amps are anything to go by.

 

[Mincer]

Re: High gain distortion pedal

You might want to check out the Palladium Gain Stage.

 

[Securb]

Re: High gain distortion pedal

You might also want to check out the BOSS Mega Distortion. Great gain and beautiful EQ flexibility and control. It gets vewry dark without getting muddy.

 

[Chistopher]

Re: High gain distortion pedal

DOD Boneshaker can go from slightly gritty boost all the way to insane levels of distortion. It has a three band parametric EQ as well. I got mine for $30.

 

[ComradeKrank]

Re: High gain distortion pedal

I like my EVH 5150 OD. Pretty versatile from rock to metal. You can use an overdrive with it as well to tighten for super modern tones. If it has a weakness it is needing an amp with a really good clean channel to avoid fizz.

 

[Xandeeno]

Re: High gain distortion pedal

Cheers for all the suggestions, I've heard that the diezel vh-4 is excellent but is it really worth the extra over something like the be-od or fillamanets? Same with the padallium

 

[El Dunco]

Re: High gain distortion pedal

You might also want to check out the BOSS Mega Distortion. Great gain and beautiful EQ flexibility and control. It gets vewry dark without getting muddy.

Do you have one? Te description sounds great but none of the clips I've heard on YouTube sound as good. I'm curious to really hear what it can do.

 

[Xandeeno]

Re: High gain distortion pedal

I'm interested about the boss as well.
Think I'll go with the filaments thought after watching rabea massaads video on it!

 

[Diego]

Re: High gain distortion pedal

Rob Chapman did a demo of the Diezel VH4 pedal and for looser tones like Mastodon it's the cat's meow. Sounds incredibly fat and powerful.
Slipknot and Toska are a whole different game.

What amp will you use? A good pedal goes a long way but I'm intrigued about that, anyway.

 

[El Dunco]

Re: High gain distortion pedal

Keep in mind with the preamp pedals you can run into your amps fx return and bypass the tone stack altogether, then it all comes down to your power amp and speakers.

 

[Xandeeno]

Re: High gain distortion pedal

Yes the preamp does sound useful. I believe the vh-4 has a preamp.
It's between the vh-4 and filaments for me I think

 

[Securb]

Re: High gain distortion pedal

Do you have one? The description sounds great but none of the clips I've heard on YouTube sound as good. I'm curious to really hear what it can do.

Yeah, I have one I used it a lot with my last band. We were post-punk hardcore. Loved the bottom it gave me very throaty gain, lots of growl. It also really cut through with the leads. At any price, it is a killer pedal but it is only $69 on Amazon. Check out the reviews there it gets 4 1/2 stars and 85% of the reviews are 5-stars.

https://www.amazon.com/BOSS-MD-2-Boss-Mega-Distortion/dp/B0002D087A

 

[El Dunco]

Re: High gain distortion pedal

Yeah, I have one I used it a lot with my last band. We were post-punk hardcore. Loved the bottom it gave me very throaty gain, lots of growl. It also really cut through with the leads. At any price, it is a killer pedal but it is only $69 on Amazon. Check out the reviews there it gets 4 1/2 stars and 85% of the reviews are 5-stars.

https://www.amazon.com/BOSS-MD-2-Boss-Mega-Distortion/dp/B0002D087A

I'm not in the market for a pedal currently but I'm curious to hear some clips, especially if you have any of what you described.

 

[zegonzales]

Re: High gain distortion pedal

What about DOD Death Metal ? Boss Metal Zone or Digitech Metal Master ? I don´t use any pedals for distortion nowadays , Only the distortions of my amplifiers . They are , by far , the best ones I´ve tried .

 

[El Dunco]

Re: High gain distortion pedal

What about DOD Death Metal ? Boss Metal Zone or Digitech Metal Master ? I don´t use any pedals for distortion nowadays , Only the distortions of my amplifiers . They are , by far , the best ones I´ve tried .

Really? I don't think they hold a candle to the previous suggestions, they're almost toys in comparison but if you get a sound you like from them, that's great. I can stand the death metal pedal. Doesn't even have a gain knob and cleans up terribly. Pretty basic feature.

 

[dave74]

Re: High gain distortion pedal

Out of the Boss distortions I like the ML-2 and HM-3 the best overall, although with the HM-3 I prefer to drive it just a small bit with a compressor or active pups in front.
These two hold more of the fundamental, or maybe it's just the clean note under the distortion. They're both more percussive than the Zone, the Mega, or the Heavy.
Mode2 on the Turbo-Distortion is also great. Really I like them all for their own strengths.

None of these really sound their best in this video, but it gives a general idea of the differences. The HM-2 doesn't get a fair shake at all IMO. I never run the highs at max.

 

[contiContiCONTI]

Re: High gain distortion pedal

Suhr Riot could be a worth option! Isn't that what this pedal was made to do?