Looking for trasparent OD and low gain Distortion

[guitarkid]

Alright guys, I know we all say this, but I am looking at getting just two more pedals and then I will be finished with my board for a while. Everything else on my board I am very happy with right now. I am wanting another Overdrive and a lower gain Distortion pedal. First, I will just say that I am playing through a Blackstar HT-40 1x12 Combo w/ a WGS Retro 30 speaker. And I mostly play humbucker equipped guitars.

For the Lower Gain Distortion pedal:

I have been using an MI Audio Crunch Box for a while. While it is a great pedal, it doesn't do anything that my amp can't do and more.... so it is kind of redundant in my setup. I pretty much have my hot rodded Marshall/JCM800 type tones, and more, already covered with my amp. What my amp doesn't do the best though is more vintage Marshall tones like a JTM45, so I am wanting to get a pedal to cover those. The pedals that I am already considering right now are....

-JHS Charlie Brown
-Wampler PlexiDrive

I think they are some great souding pedals, but I was wondering if there were in others out there that would be better. So I am open to suggestions for this pedal. What do you think?

Now for the Overdrive:

I already have my TS type OD's covered. I have an MI Audio Blues Pro for my fatter TS style OD, with more low end and the mid hump. And I have a Fhusk Modded TS9 for my higher gain OD with the thinner low end and the mid hump. What I am looking to add to my board, is a very transparent OD, that can go from an almost clean boost to just a really sweet overdriven tone and is decent at pushing the front end of an amp too. The pedals that I am already looking at are...
-Timmy
-JHS Morning Glory
-Walrus Audio Voyager
-Wampler Paisley Drive (not the most transparent out of the group, but its still a really awesome pedal)

I am also open to thoughts and others suggestions for this pedal too.

So shoot!

 

[LatsMcGee]

Re: Looking for trasparent OD and low gain Distortion

Have you looked into the Jet City Afterburner???

 

[crguti]

Re: Looking for trasparent OD and low gain Distortion

TC Nova Drive can do all that and more

 

[bungalowbill]

Re: Looking for trasparent OD and low gain Distortion

Barber LTD SR is awesome for low gain.

 

[Kam]

Re: Looking for trasparent OD and low gain Distortion

I haven't played one personally, but from what I've heard, wouldn't a Box of Rock cover both of those bases pretty well?

 

[ImmortalSix]

Re: Looking for trasparent OD and low gain Distortion

Holla at this after 1:30


Holla at this in general

 

[Hoss]

You can't go wrong with a Timmy. That being said, i replaced one with a Jetter Helium Boost. I'd still like to try a Sweet Honey Overdrive in that spot though?!

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Looking for trasparent OD and low gain Distortion

Twin Tube Classic.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Looking for trasparent OD and low gain Distortion

i have a barber ltd, have had the sr version too. love both those pedals, especially at 18v but timmy is a fantastic transparent overdrive that can also do a clean boost with the gain down

 

[wahwah]

Re: Looking for trasparent OD and low gain Distortion

Timmy is the one pedal that has remained constant on my main board for the past five years. It's just such a handy tool to have, into any amp I've tried, including all of my own amps and provided backline alike. It's great on its own for that transparent kick in the guts to the front end of an amp, and it also works well when stacked in either direction with other overdrives and distortions. Its eq controls make it particularly versatile, as do the internal switches for clipping variations. Pretty difficult to fault, really.




Cheers................................... wahwah

 

[guitarkid]

Re: Looking for trasparent OD and low gain Distortion

Have you looked into the Jet City Afterburner???

I just listened to a few clips. Sounds pretty cool, especially for the price. I will do some more looking into on it...

TC Nova Drive can do all that and more

Its seems cool, but I just don't know if that is what I am after.

Barber LTD SR is awesome for low gain.

I'm really liking this so far!

I haven't played one personally, but from what I've heard, wouldn't a Box of Rock cover both of those bases pretty well?

The BOR seems like an awesome pedal, and I know a lot of pedal love it. But there is just something about it that I don't really like. I don't know if its the low end or what, but I just can't put my finger on it. And I would like something that I can have a little more tone control for the boost side.

Holla at this after 1:30


Holla at this in general

I am going to listen to so more clips of the Ectasy, and then I'll post some more thoughts about it.

The Purple Plexi 100 is nice, but I honestly like the tone of the Wampler PlexiDrive and the JHS Charlie Brown better, and they don't cost quite as much. Lol

You can't go wrong with a Timmy. That being said, i replaced one with a Jetter Helium Boost. I'd still like to try a Sweet Honey Overdrive in that spot though?!

Ok cool! Out of those, I think I am liking the Timmy the best, from the clips I have been listening to.

Twin Tube Classic.

I just don't really care for the clips I have heard of it. Not a bad pedal, but just not what I am wanting.

i have a barber ltd, have had the sr version too. love both those pedals, especially at 18v but timmy is a fantastic transparent overdrive that can also do a clean boost with the gain down

These are all looking very good to me!!! I am definitely going to be comparing some more clips.

Timmy is the one pedal that has remained constant on my main board for the past five years. It's just such a handy tool to have, into any amp I've tried, including all of my own amps and provided backline alike. It's great on its own for that transparent kick in the guts to the front end of an amp, and it also works well when stacked in either direction with other overdrives and distortions. Its eq controls make it particularly versatile, as do the internal switches for clipping variations. Pretty difficult to fault, really.




Cheers................................... wahwah

Thats good to hear!! And I LOVE the tone you are getting form the clips that I have heard you play. It is definitely one of the strong contenders for the OD pedal!



Also, hear are some demos of the other pedals I have been looking at to help compare.

Distortions:
-JHS Charlie Brown
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9o74lI01kA

-Wampler PlexiDrive
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHUTTv_cwVg

Overdrives:
-JHS Morning Glory (a lot of good demos out there for this)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgPjSHF3S7k
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5RTGiKrLH8

-Walrus Audio Voyager
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEGvFSUl6IM

-Wampler Paisley Drive
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lm_O2jAWjFg


And what do you guys think of Xotic pedals, like the AC Booster and BB Preamp?

 

[Agileguy_101]

Re: Looking for trasparent OD and low gain Distortion

Although I've only tried the BB, I really really like Xotic's stuff. I think it might be a bit much for your needs though - a bit too aggressive. You might want to look into the RC boost.

 

[guitarkid]

Re: Looking for trasparent OD and low gain Distortion

Although I've only tried the BB, I really really like Xotic's stuff. I think it might be a bit much for your needs though - a bit too aggressive. You might want to look into the RC boost.

Ok cool. I'll check that out.

 

[macki]

Re: Looking for trasparent OD and low gain Distortion

I use a Fairfield Barbershop as my low gain OD. In my opinion it does what you are looking for. You can use it for clean boost only but if you play with the sag and drive settings you can get some really nice " slightly hairy" OD sounds. You can find some demos on it from youtube.

http://www.fairfieldcircuitry.com/B.html

 

[guitarkid]

Re: Looking for trasparent OD and low gain Distortion

I use a Fairfield Barbershop as my low gain OD. In my opinion it does what you are looking for. You can use it for clean boost only but if you play with the sag and drive settings you can get some really nice " slightly hairy" OD sounds. You can find some demos on it from youtube.

http://www.fairfieldcircuitry.com/B.html

Sounds pretty cool. I just don't like the "sag" knob in place of a tone knob. I would probably only ever use it in the OD setting.

For a vintage Marshall sound, I really liked the Catalinbread DLS V2. You should be able to find them used for around a buck. Not sure about the more recent MkII version.

As for the transparent OD, I love the Timmy. I think its already been covered above. I've seen them go for around $165 - $170 used.

I'll check that one out! The Timmy is looking pretty good! Lol

 

[jeremy]

Re: Looking for trasparent OD and low gain Distortion

get a new timmy for $129, you might have to wait a few weeks but its worth it

 

[guitarkid]

Re: Looking for trasparent OD and low gain Distortion

get a new timmy for $129, you might have to wait a few weeks but its worth it

Oh they are that cheap new??? Thats cool! One of my friends said that there was like a 2 year wait or something.... I'm guessing he was miss informed...

 

[Agileguy_101]

Re: Looking for trasparent OD and low gain Distortion

This time last year it was about a 5 month wait... no idea what it's like now.

EDIT: Looks like it's about a three to four month wait. Nice thing is that you don't have to pay until it's ready to ship.

 

[guitarkid]

Re: Looking for trasparent OD and low gain Distortion

Looks like I can order one now, and have it by sometime in June.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Looking for trasparent OD and low gain Distortion

there are a few stores that sell them too. great pedal!