looking for a new distortion pedal

[danielz]

I have a blues Jr, w/ a greenback and some Electro harmonix tubes.
and I would like to get some really distorted sounds out of it.

I had a Boss Metalzone but someone steal it about a year ago, but i quiet didnt loved it that much to get another one, then I got a Ds-1 from robert keeley (with the seeing eye mod) and thats the one i use but i dont like the way it sounds when playing rithm or riffs, sounds cool in solos but not all the time.
Im looking for something that can sound like a fully driven marshall or a fully driven Mesa, something heavy but real, something with the Randy Roads tone, or with the early metallica sound.

I was thinking about a MXR Double-shot distortion the description in the web page sounds good and there`s a pretty cool review in the dunlop webpage that was in a guitar world issue

so what do you think???? or better said ....what do you use??

 

[Curly]

Re: looking for a new distortion pedal

buenos diaz, daniel!
I hope you are enjoying the "mariscos" in your part of Mexico!

Although I'm a blues player rather than a metal player, I do use a blues jr.
I did a recent review of the Maxon OD Pro 820.
maxon 820

as an alternative, I like stratdeluxer's modded SD-1 for solos, and his DS-1 for crunchy chords:
boss mods

mucho paz!!

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: looking for a new distortion pedal

I use an unmoded Made in Japan Boss DS-1...I like it better than seeing eye modded Keeley DS-1 I had because I CAN leave it on all the time. I also use the Fulltone '69...best Fuzz Face tone I've ever used. Lew

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: looking for a new distortion pedal

I use an unmoded Made in Japan Boss DS-1...I like it better than seeing eye modded Keeley DS-1 I had because I CAN leave it on all the time. I also use the Fulltone '69...best Fuzz Face tone I've ever used. Lew

Lew...The thing that sucks about the SEM,is the LED he uses to generate distortion..The LED makes things harsh and too fuzzy..I've heard his SEM pedal and wasn't impressed with it..His DS1 Ultra is a better sounding pedal..I like my modded DS1s much better than the stock ones..By comparison,the stock DS1 is thinner,has this fuzzy mosquito crap that rides over notes,is solid state sounding,and is way too bright..Maybe the early Japan models aren't like this,but the Taiwan made ones sound bad to me..

I should mod one and send it to you so you can compare the 2?

John

 

[TwofacePimp]

Re: looking for a new distortion pedal

I think a Sansamp GT-2 or Tonebone Hot British will get you there. Both are good for getting "stack" sounds out of combo, especially the high-gain kind of sounds you're talking about. Good luck!

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: looking for a new distortion pedal

buenos diaz, daniel!
I hope you are enjoying the "mariscos" in your part of Mexico!

Although I'm a blues player rather than a metal player, I do use a blues jr.
I did a recent review of the Maxon OD Pro 820.
maxon 820

as an alternative, I like stratdeluxer's modded SD-1 for solos, and his DS-1 for crunchy chords:
boss mods

mucho paz!!

Thanks for the compliments Curly... :smoker:

John

 

[DeadSkinSlayer3]

Re: looking for a new distortion pedal

Early metallica...On the AJFA Album, best IMHO, they used Mesa Mark IIC+'s heads, wired as preamps, through marshall power amps. I'd say get a Mesa V-Twin, for that Mark-ish sound, to run infront of your Fender.

 

[Falstaff]

Re: looking for a new distortion pedal

The Barber Direct Drive has a pull-boost for the mids on the tone control that gives you a nice fat sound, sort of like a Marshall/Mesa hybrid. I like it a lot. Very warm but still a bit of Marshall cut. Of course, it depends on the amp. On the lower gain settings the "clean boost" is nice too...relatively transparent, just like more of your amp.

 

[TheMist]

Re: looking for a new distortion pedal

Try a Big Muff or a Tubro Rat.

 

[Jonny R]

Re: looking for a new distortion pedal

I use a Fender Twin for my amp.

I have a G2D Morpheus for my high-gain sounds. This pedal kicks serious buttocks. It has an adjustable mid-range that works incredibly well - and its voicing is somewhere in between a high-gain Mesa sound and a high-gain Marshall sound. Slightly more american mid sound than the Marshall, and a little bit more marshall smoothness than the Mesa high-gain.

I would really recommend it. I used to have a Metal Zone, and a DS-1. Now I have this, and a G2D Custom Overdrive for lower gain drive sounds.

 

[Pink Unicorn Horsey]

Re: looking for a new distortion pedal

I have a blues Jr, w/ a greenback and some Electro harmonix tubes.
and I would like to get some really distorted sounds out of it.

I had a Boss Metalzone but someone steal it about a year ago, but i quiet didnt loved it that much to get another one, then I got a Ds-1 from robert keeley (with the seeing eye mod) and thats the one i use but i dont like the way it sounds when playing rithm or riffs, sounds cool in solos but not all the time.
Im looking for something that can sound like a fully driven marshall or a fully driven Mesa, something heavy but real, something with the Randy Roads tone, or with the early metallica sound.

I was thinking about a MXR Double-shot distortion the description in the web page sounds good and there`s a pretty cool review in the dunlop webpage that was in a guitar world issue

so what do you think???? or better said ....what do you use??

You just aren't going to get the sound of a Mesa or Marshall out of a Blues Jr. It's like trying to turn a Corolla into an F-150. However, if you can't afford to buy a high-gain amp, check out the CM PlexiTone or the BYOC Mighty Mouse (Rat clone with a few neat options).

- Keith

 

[Yngwiestein]

Re: looking for a new distortion pedal

buenos diaz, daniel!
I hope you are enjoying the "mariscos" in your part of Mexico!

Although I'm a blues player rather than a metal player, I do use a blues jr.
I did a recent review of the Maxon OD Pro 820.
maxon 820

as an alternative, I like stratdeluxer's modded SD-1 for solos, and his DS-1 for crunchy chords:
boss mods

mucho paz!!

I was between this and the Fulldrive II and ended up going with the Fulldrive because I already had an 808. I kind of wish I would have gone the other way but the Fulldrive has some mojo!

How much more overdrive can you get than the 808? Can you go hard rock shred with it or would you recommend the Distortion Master? Actually I want to see a comparison between those!

 

[ImmortalSix]

Re: looking for a new distortion pedal

Amplifier Central

 

[Kosh Naranek]

Re: looking for a new distortion pedal

A local shop here had one of these used a while back:

I tried it out a bit. It came real close to Randy Rhoads' tone (the word "nailed" is a bit like the term "mint condition" so I hesitate to use it). The morph knob is quite versatile. It lets you get a few other tones.
Notice the absence of a gain knob. That' s a drawback for me, but others may not miss it.
It's a pretty cool pedal if you're looking for metal tones.

 

[devastone]

Re: looking for a new distortion pedal

He's looking for a Marshall or Mesa sound, which to me says "modern", so fuzz face is out, and he's looking for alot of distortion, so to me, that says not an overdrive.

Some pedals worth checking out are theTonebone Hot British or Classic, the Lovetone Purple Plexi 800, or my current fave that I sold my Hot British for, a HBE FMJ, it sounds much better than the sound clips. Do a google search on these and you'll get the websites. I haven't personally tried the Lovetone, but the soundclips are some of the best I've heard, it is a little on the expensive side, but I may have to go try one out in person... although I'm almost scared to, it may cost me a couple hundred bucks

EDIT: I also noticed that there is a MI Audio Tube Zone for sale in the classifieds.

 

[Yngwiestein]

Re: looking for a new distortion pedal

These pedals all sound very much like Marshall:
Crunch Box
SD 9
Zvex Box of Rock

 

[devastone]

Re: looking for a new distortion pedal

You might also check out a Lava Box from our beloved Mr. Duncan.

 

[JordanM82]

Re: looking for a new distortion pedal

You just aren't going to get the sound of a Mesa or Marshall out of a Blues Jr. It's like trying to turn a Corolla into an F-150. However, if you can't afford to buy a high-gain amp, check out the CM PlexiTone or the BYOC Mighty Mouse (Rat clone with a few neat options).

- Keith

+1

 

[Rich_S]

Re: looking for a new distortion pedal

I owned and kinda liked the Keeley SEM/Ultra mod. I now own a DS-1 with the Monte Allums Recto mod kit in it. I like it a lot better than the Ultra. Check the clips on Monte's website. Mine is the plain one that appears stock except for the bright green LED. I opted not to go for the extra toggles switches and associated claptrap.

 

[ImmortalSix]

Re: looking for a new distortion pedal

Amplifier Central