Marshall JCM800 head: tell me about gain boost/OD pedals

[Impulse 101]

Re: Marshall JCM800 head: tell me about gain boost/OD pedals

If you have not heard the XTS Atomic Distortion you really need to. Honestly it is the ONLY distortion pedal I've heard that gets you 100% of the way there with a clean amp. I've played almost everything on the market and the Atomic is my pick for the king of high gain pedals. Check out some videos on YouTube, you'll be impressed.

JT

 

[Kamanda~SD]

Re: Marshall JCM800 head: tell me about gain boost/OD pedals

ugh...I wish I didn't read that last post OP. If you want to use the M13 for modulation and pitch-type effects, sure I get it (although advise against) but might be better to free up your slots with a dedicated OD/dist? Not to sound like a snob, but I prefer any digital effects to be in the loop of an amp (and preferably not at all..) instead of infront, I find I get less tone-suck that way. FWIW I don't think the 800's like digital effects either, I even had to switch out my DD-20 for a Carbon Copy just due to the harshness and tone-suckage it gave me in front.

Extremely sorry to hear you have a metalzone on the way...more on that later

 

[DrNewcenstein]

Re: Marshall JCM800 head: tell me about gain boost/OD pedals

The Atomic ain't happening. I'm sure it's nice and all, but that's above my one-pedal price range.

RE: the M13 - It's got an FX loop, and I can run the Send of the M13 into the front of the head, then out the head's Send to the M13's Return, then the Output to the head's Return. This keeps the FX in the loop.

Even by itself, the 800 is kinda harsh, particularly when playing along to CDs (something I hadn't done until yesterday). Cranked up some Point Of Entry/British Steel, and both the real Rat2 and SD1, and the TubeDriver and Rat models of the M13 were just way too middy. Had to drop the mids and highs on those, as well as reduce the EQing on the head. I'm convinced it's the Carvin cabinet. It's an MTS-series, which is supposed to be their "Metal" line, but I'd swear this cabinet would be perfect for Country. I had the head's Treble and Pres turned down to 2 and the Mids down to 3.

Once I re-tweaked everything, it was much better. Granted, I'll have to re-tweak once I get into a band situation, but that's true even for going straight in. There's always some live mixing to be done, whether it's to compliment the vocals or the venue.

 

[DrNewcenstein]

Re: Marshall JCM800 head: tell me about gain boost/OD pedals

Got the MetalZone yesterday but didn't get a chance to use it til this morning (had to werk).

Definitely my favorite so far! Plays well with both the volume and tone knobs of the guitar, too.

It's easy to get too wild with it, though. Dist knob does not need to be maxed. Using it to push the amp through the High input works really great, as does running it into the Low input where the pedal does all the work.

 

[Kamanda~SD]

Re: Marshall JCM800 head: tell me about gain boost/OD pedals

Right...sorry I forgot you had the 2203 with the FX loop.

I was afraid you would say something like that about the metalzone... sure, it gets that 'great' mid scooped buzzy ass tone, but sucks the balls outta the amp IMO, never been happy with it, although I see the appeal for bedroom playing. And I hate to keep sounding like a dick, but that fact that your running a metalzone into the low input and is your current favourite makes me cringe....and honestly makes me think you have the wrong amp, you can get that same tone with a metalzone and a Bandit.

 

[esandes]

Re: Marshall JCM800 head: tell me about gain boost/OD pedals

i like transparent clean boost so i chose the BBE boosta grande. it's fantastic. 26 db of clean boost with one knob; gain.

 

[BloodRose]

Re: Marshall JCM800 head: tell me about gain boost/OD pedals

I used an SD1 Overdrive with mine mate, not a DS1 Distortion

Oh, my bad. dislexic moment. never used a SD1. Bummer. I have a Ds1 and Spina modded DS1.

Never used a Rat pedal either. IIRC I had a buddy MANY years ago that used a Rat thru his jcm800 or 900 (been 20 plus years) and it sounded evil!

























Also nev

 

[Van Noord]

Re: Marshall JCM800 head: tell me about gain boost/OD pedals

Best results I've had with boosting Marshalls is with an EQ pedal. My 2203KK has that built into it. I used to use an old DOD FX45 EQ years ago too.

 

[Lucy Diamond]

Re: Marshall JCM800 head: tell me about gain boost/OD pedals

[short answer] Maxon makes extremely sick tube screamer clones.

[My highfalutin answer] Maxon tubescreamers technically are NOT clones because the maxon company is the original company who made the TS-808 design for Ibanez Having said that....their new takes on their old designs are completely stunning. I run an OD-820 in front of the red channel of a Mesa/ Boogie Road King and there is no extra noise added at all.


Also [because why stop there?]

Lovepedal....makes.....SICK overdrive pedals.

See if you can get your hands on a Lovepedal White Kanji. Bro...stop it.

And finally...if you are looking for a little more hair, I really like the Bogner Ecstacy red pedal right now. It is a great "extra channel" kinda pedal.

Good luck and enjoy.