some_dude
Raging BB Gunologist
After years of trying (and failing) I think I might have finally figured out how to use an overdrive.
Normally, I set my amp up for it's lead tone with my guitar's volume on 10, then back the volume down to get my rhythm tone, and back it down further for my clean tone.
The problem is that every overdrive pedal I've ever used has not jived with this method of mine.... usually I wind up with harsh, thin tone, too much gain, undefined leads and too much feedback. In hindsight I think it's because I always started with my guitar's volume on 10....so I'm boosting an already screaming amp and adjusting the pedal's gain down to where it doesn't sound like ass, which usually ends with me saying "well, this is pointless" and tossing the pedal back in the drawer beside the others.
Well, for sh*ts and giggles today I decided to try boosting my amp, but in a way I'd never done before. Basically, I fed the pedal (ZW-OD) into channel 1, then attempted to dial in the pedal as if it were an amp.... adjusting my amp's gain, EQ, and the pedal until I got a tight/thick rhythm tone with the guitar's volume down around 6. Once I had it dialed in I was actually amazed at how good it sounded.... it totally merged with the amp and didn't sound at all like a pedal. And it works just like an amp too... with channel 1's gain dimed and the pedal on my main crunch tone is between 5 and 8 on the guitar's volume, then I kick it up between 7 to 10 for leads, or shut the pedal off for cleans, plus with the pedal off I can still roll the volume up for a killer natural overdrive tone.
It's a little late to take things further tonight, but tomorrow I'm going to see if I can dial in channel 2 to give me both a screamin' lead tone and a volume boost.
And to think... I bought my first overdrive pedal (TS-9) 8 years ago. It's taken me 8 years of messing with these stupid little boxes before I finally figured out how to get one to sound good.
Normally, I set my amp up for it's lead tone with my guitar's volume on 10, then back the volume down to get my rhythm tone, and back it down further for my clean tone.
The problem is that every overdrive pedal I've ever used has not jived with this method of mine.... usually I wind up with harsh, thin tone, too much gain, undefined leads and too much feedback. In hindsight I think it's because I always started with my guitar's volume on 10....so I'm boosting an already screaming amp and adjusting the pedal's gain down to where it doesn't sound like ass, which usually ends with me saying "well, this is pointless" and tossing the pedal back in the drawer beside the others.
Well, for sh*ts and giggles today I decided to try boosting my amp, but in a way I'd never done before. Basically, I fed the pedal (ZW-OD) into channel 1, then attempted to dial in the pedal as if it were an amp.... adjusting my amp's gain, EQ, and the pedal until I got a tight/thick rhythm tone with the guitar's volume down around 6. Once I had it dialed in I was actually amazed at how good it sounded.... it totally merged with the amp and didn't sound at all like a pedal. And it works just like an amp too... with channel 1's gain dimed and the pedal on my main crunch tone is between 5 and 8 on the guitar's volume, then I kick it up between 7 to 10 for leads, or shut the pedal off for cleans, plus with the pedal off I can still roll the volume up for a killer natural overdrive tone.
It's a little late to take things further tonight, but tomorrow I'm going to see if I can dial in channel 2 to give me both a screamin' lead tone and a volume boost.
And to think... I bought my first overdrive pedal (TS-9) 8 years ago. It's taken me 8 years of messing with these stupid little boxes before I finally figured out how to get one to sound good.
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Rock On!
