Need Distortion/Overdrive Pedal Suggestions

[heymcz]

Hey, Gang,

I was just wondering if you could give me some suggestions on distortion/overdrive pedals. I want something right in between both: a really thick sounding overdrive (full frequency), or a mild distortion. Must be smooth and sustainy, no fuzz. Vintage is okay but no more than $200. Here are some references: AC/DC, Scorpions, Van Halen...a cranked dirty channel JCM800 in a pedal. Yeah, I know....

Here's what I've tried so far:
Boss DS-1 Stock: Too furry.
Boss SD-1 Stock: Okay for starters but not enough gain.
MI Audio Crunch Box: A little too much gain and icepick presence spike.
Boss HM-3: A little fuzzy and compressed, but believe it or not...closest so far...Bass was represented!
Ibanez SM9: Too compressed and midrangey. Actually, I liked the HM-3 Better.....

The Stupid Box looks pretty cool, and I am also looking at a Vintage Maxon OR-01. But can you think of anything else?

 

[jerryjg]

Re: Need Distortion/Overdrive Pedal Suggestions

Hey, Gang,

. Here are some references: AC/DC, Scorpions, Van Halen...a cranked dirty channel JCM800 in a pedal.

HAO Rust Driver?

 

[Kostas]

Re: Need Distortion/Overdrive Pedal Suggestions

Tonefreak Abunai 2: http://www.tonefreak.com/Abunai2.html It has a toggle with the following sounds:
Left: 3 diodes asymetrical
Middle: Diode lift
Right: Pair of LEDs symetrical
The OD-1 & SD-1 use asymmetrical clipping, which Boss has a patent on, to give some thick overdrive with an edge. Tube Screamers use symmetrical clipping for a smoother, warmer, less edgy sound. The middle position is clean until the gain goes 12:00, then it reminds me of a Marshall sound.

Barber Direct Drive: http://www.barberelectronics.com/directdrive.htm

Xotic AC & BB: http://www.prosoundcommunications.com/english/xotic/effects/tremTrio/

It would be best to audition with your amp before buying, pedals sound different with every amp.

 

[saladin]

Re: Need Distortion/Overdrive Pedal Suggestions

 

[arbiter]

Re: Need Distortion/Overdrive Pedal Suggestions

vox bulldog?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssrSivQ88DY

i'm getting one of these soon. tried it out myself the other day, has enough bass, two channels and sounds wide and full. maybe a bit too trebley on the second channel, but you can dial it out nicely.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Need Distortion/Overdrive Pedal Suggestions

Box of Rock

The BoR is more of a Plexi flavor but it reacts VERY well to being stacked with other pedals...if it doesn't have enough gain on it's own thten you can run the gain a bit lower (like say maybe half or so) and boost it with another pedal...clean boost, SD-1, etc and get there.

 

[nhspike]

Re: Need Distortion/Overdrive Pedal Suggestions

Xotic AC & BB: http://www.prosoundcommunications.com/english/xotic/effects/tremTrio/

+1 on the BB

I've had one, and they are real real niiiiiice.

There are a few good youtube vids out there demonstrating just how nice these are... Andy Timmons rips it up on one of them.

:saeek:

 

[weisserj]

Re: Need Distortion/Overdrive Pedal Suggestions

Keeley (or Analogman) modded DS-1.

I have only have the Keeley but wow. I have an unmodded ds-1 and I compared the two and the difference is beyond night and day.

http://www.robertkeeley.com/product.php?id=10

"The Keeley Modded BOSS DS-1 Guitar Effect Offers the Finest in Marshall-Amp Tone-In-A-Box!!! Perfect for tones like AC/DC, VAN HALEN, STEVE VAI."

It sounds perfect for what you want.

I think there is a guy selling a keeley DS-1 mod used on here for like $95 or something. Way better deal than $130 new!

 

[bungalowbill]

Re: Need Distortion/Overdrive Pedal Suggestions

It sounds like maybe a Rat may be right up your alley..fat and lots of gain.

 

[Stratfan]

Re: Need Distortion/Overdrive Pedal Suggestions

Maybe you'll like the Visual Sound Jeckyll & Hyde? It's 2 pedals in one: OD (TS-808 clone) with bass boost, and Distortion with tone, scoopable mids, and a sharp/blunt switch.

 

[Diocletian]

Re: Need Distortion/Overdrive Pedal Suggestions

If I had the cash to spend on one pedal I'd get one of the Blackstar ones.

 

[Empty Pockets]

Re: Need Distortion/Overdrive Pedal Suggestions

I had my Boss DS-1 modded by a forum bro who rarely comes on anymore...does an extremely good 'heavy marshall' sound, like what you'd get by boosting a cranked JCM800 with an OD. I'm sure any of the numerous DS-1 mods out there will get you closer to your tone, and would at least get more mileage out of your pedal.

 

[heymcz]

Re: Need Distortion/Overdrive Pedal Suggestions

Cool, thanks for all the suggestions! I'll be checking them out over the next few days. I've got to say that the Rust Driver looks pretty cool....more plexi than JCM but I might not be that particular...the You Tubage/soundclips are nice....

 

[baritone]

Re: Need Distortion/Overdrive Pedal Suggestions

I've been messing around with my Boss HM-3 for the past few days. It is a really cool pedal. Try turning the fuzziness all the way down, cranking up the volume, and messing around with the EQ settings. Although it is called the Hyper Metal, keeping the distortion low sounds great with this pedal.

 

[heymcz]

Re: Need Distortion/Overdrive Pedal Suggestions

I've been messing around with my Boss HM-3 for the past few days. It is a really cool pedal. Try turning the fuzziness all the way down, cranking up the volume, and messing around with the EQ settings. Although it is called the Hyper Metal, keeping the distortion low sounds great with this pedal.

Kinda miss mine now and then. I never used it with the drive at zero, I liked it with the drive at 50%, slight bass boost (55%) for rhythm and cranked gain (100%) on soloing...nice saturation but too compressed...super fat bottom...I just wished it was a bit more dynamic and would breathe more, allowing more complex chords. Or even more detail in power chords....

 

[millsart]

Re: Need Distortion/Overdrive Pedal Suggestions

Blackstar HT Dual