stratguy23
New member
Re: Overdrive pedal for solos
Switching to the neck pickup would be a natural way to go for thicker solo tone.
If that isn't an option for whatever reason, then, in addition to the EQ pedal ideas mentioned here, I'll mention 3 other possible ways to go. EQ pedals are super useful, but sometimes one wants the flavor of a dedicated boost/overdrive:
1. Tubescreamer-type pedal. This emphasizes the upper midrange frequencies. You will cut through the mix for sure. But a Tubescreamer pedal usually cuts bass (to help tighten up sound), so I'll suggest 2 kinds of TS-type pedals that may not cut so much bass:
a. Seymour Duncan 805 - Perhaps the most versatile overdrive pedal around with its 3-band EQ. You can dial it in to be like a TS, but still keep the bass. A used 805 will be at the top end of your $50-$100 range.
b. Boss SD-1 - Not the same type of clipping as a TS-style pedal, but in practice does the same thing as TS-type pedal: add midrange emphasis. I find the SD-1's mid hump to be thicker than that of a typical TS-pedal, so this may be a good candidate for you, OP. The SD-1 is certainly within your price range. The SD-1W Waza version has a "Custom" setting that makes the tone even thicker, but that will be outside your price range.
2. Clean boost pedal. No frequency emphasis, just makes your signal louder. This may do the job simply by pushing your amp harder. Some amps thicken up when pushed harder, but in my experience, a clean boost is just that - more volume. This may not be the fastest way to add beef to your tone.
3. Klone (Klon) type pedal. This emphasizes the lower midrange frequencies (i.e., those of "beef"). I have found Klone-type pedals to be fantastic for the exact purpose OP describes, thickening up solos. I would recommend a used Electro-Harmonix Soul Food, which is within OP's price range. I also quite like the MXR Sugar Drive, also within OP's price range.
I will also caution that while an EQ pedal will certainly shape tone, adding frequencies by EQ can introduce noise into the tone. Just because I shape my EQ pedal into a mid-hump doesn't make it a Tubescreamer. The tone is certainly spicier, but it may or may not have the same flavor, if that makes any sense.
Finally, OP will want to experiment with putting pedals in the effects loop vs. in front of the amp. Different results will be gotten from pushing the power section vs. the preamp section of the amp.
Switching to the neck pickup would be a natural way to go for thicker solo tone.
If that isn't an option for whatever reason, then, in addition to the EQ pedal ideas mentioned here, I'll mention 3 other possible ways to go. EQ pedals are super useful, but sometimes one wants the flavor of a dedicated boost/overdrive:
1. Tubescreamer-type pedal. This emphasizes the upper midrange frequencies. You will cut through the mix for sure. But a Tubescreamer pedal usually cuts bass (to help tighten up sound), so I'll suggest 2 kinds of TS-type pedals that may not cut so much bass:
a. Seymour Duncan 805 - Perhaps the most versatile overdrive pedal around with its 3-band EQ. You can dial it in to be like a TS, but still keep the bass. A used 805 will be at the top end of your $50-$100 range.
b. Boss SD-1 - Not the same type of clipping as a TS-style pedal, but in practice does the same thing as TS-type pedal: add midrange emphasis. I find the SD-1's mid hump to be thicker than that of a typical TS-pedal, so this may be a good candidate for you, OP. The SD-1 is certainly within your price range. The SD-1W Waza version has a "Custom" setting that makes the tone even thicker, but that will be outside your price range.
2. Clean boost pedal. No frequency emphasis, just makes your signal louder. This may do the job simply by pushing your amp harder. Some amps thicken up when pushed harder, but in my experience, a clean boost is just that - more volume. This may not be the fastest way to add beef to your tone.
3. Klone (Klon) type pedal. This emphasizes the lower midrange frequencies (i.e., those of "beef"). I have found Klone-type pedals to be fantastic for the exact purpose OP describes, thickening up solos. I would recommend a used Electro-Harmonix Soul Food, which is within OP's price range. I also quite like the MXR Sugar Drive, also within OP's price range.
I will also caution that while an EQ pedal will certainly shape tone, adding frequencies by EQ can introduce noise into the tone. Just because I shape my EQ pedal into a mid-hump doesn't make it a Tubescreamer. The tone is certainly spicier, but it may or may not have the same flavor, if that makes any sense.
Finally, OP will want to experiment with putting pedals in the effects loop vs. in front of the amp. Different results will be gotten from pushing the power section vs. the preamp section of the amp.
