Overdrive pedal for solos

[Cob85]

Hi all,

I'm an absolute beginner for pedals and stuff, so please be patient :beerchug:

I play a Jakson Dinky DK2 with a SH-6 bridge pickup.
The sound turns out too thin during solos on high notes, moreover I need an extra volume boost for breaking the mix.
I was wondering about an overdrive pedal to obtain a beefy sound on solo parts.

Any suggestion about? The budget is, unfortunately, low. About 50-100 bucks.

 

[Demanic]

Re: Overdrive pedal for solos

You might want to think about a clean boost instead of an overdrive.

Sent from my Alcatel_5044C using Tapatalk

 

[VinceT]

Overdrive pedal for solos

What amp/settings? What style of music? And what band setup (other instruments, etc..)


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[devastone]

Re: Overdrive pedal for solos

What are you playing through?

Using an OD as a solo boost is a pretty tried and true method, the Boss SD-1 is a favorite for pushing an amp, the TC Electronics Mojo Mojo is really good too and Paul Gilbert's favorite, both are $50 new.

But again, depends on what you are playing through.

 

[Cob85]

Re: Overdrive pedal for solos

Yeah right.
The amps change every time, the music room has a lot of different amps so the settings change every week.

We play mainly rock/hard, Nirvana, Metallica, Alice cooper, Ac/Dc, Manson...
The band is built with two guitars, bass, two singers.
The second guitarist plays an Epiphone LP standard.

 

[NegativeEase]

Re: Overdrive pedal for solos

OP. Best place to start is find the good music store locally with used gear -lots of pedals. Used pedals are the best way to assess your preferences.

I suggest getting a used Tube Screamer variant, Boss SD1 or any MXR distortion and a used Clean boost -like an Xotic BB or EP -and see the differences un how they push your amp and change your guitar. Then sell or return one back.. i have a deal at my local store where I take home all the pedals I want and then he runs my on file card for the ones I dont return. It benefits the store in that I buy a lot more pedals than I would without and benefits me in that I try out stuff with my actual gear.

 

[Cob85]

Re: Overdrive pedal for solos

OP. Best place to start is find the good music store locally with used gear -lots of pedals. Used pedals are the best way to assess your preferences.

I suggest getting a used Tube Screamer variant, Boss SD1 or any MXR distortion and a used Clean boost -like an Xotic BB or EP -and see the differences un how they push your amp and change your guitar. Then sell or return one back.. i have a deal at my local store where I take home all the pedals I want and then he runs my on file card for the ones I dont return. It benefits the store in that I buy a lot more pedals than I would without and benefits me in that I try out stuff with my actual gear.

Unfortunately the local store has a very few pedal supply.
So internet is the way, but I really don't know the pedals' world

 

[jeremy]

Re: Overdrive pedal for solos

how much gain are you running at the amp? does it have an effects loop?

 

[blind1]

Re: Overdrive pedal for solos

Yeah right.
The amps change every time, the music room has a lot of different amps so the settings change every week.

We play mainly rock/hard, Nirvana, Metallica, Alice cooper, Ac/Dc, Manson...
The band is built with two guitars, bass, two singers.
The second guitarist plays an Epiphone LP standard.

Every guitar + pedal + amp responds differently.

My first suggestion: find an amp that does what you want it to do. A Marshall JVM amp its extremely versatile and will do everything you described without the need for pedals.

My alternative suggestion: try an EQ pedal in the FX loop. A good EQ pedal can act as a clean boost and you can also dial in/out certain frequencies if you'd like.

 

[Cob85]

Re: Overdrive pedal for solos

how much gain are you running at the amp? does it have an effects loop?

Usually below the mid level (5<) but it depends on the song.

 

[Cob85]

Re: Overdrive pedal for solos

Every guitar + pedal + amp responds differently.

My first suggestion: find an amp that does what you want it to do. A Marshall JVM amp its extremely versatile and will do everything you described without the need for pedals.

My alternative suggestion: try an EQ pedal in the FX loop. A good EQ pedal can act as a clean boost and you can also dial in/out certain frequencies if you'd like.

I own a Crate GX212 amp but on the music room we cannot bring our own devices.
The same happens during on stage live, the club/pub provides its own amps.

About the EQ, could you please elaborate? Any brand/model to suggest?

 

[Securb]

Re: Overdrive pedal for solos

I need an extra volume boost for breaking the mix.

Breaking through the mix is not about volume it is about tone. The EQ suggestion is a great way to go, you can shape your tone to cut through the mix, and most EQs have a variable boost if you want to goose the amp a bit more. Harmonizers while expensive can also help you thicken your tone and cut through the mix a bit. It would probally help us more if we knew your endgame. What kind of music are you playing, what do you want your guitar to sound like?

The BOSS GE-7 is a great EQ and can be found in your budget on the secondary market or new if you so a bit of shoping.

 

[blind1]

Re: Overdrive pedal for solos

I own a Crate GX212 amp but on the music room we cannot bring our own devices.
The same happens during on stage live, the club/pub provides its own amps.

About the EQ, could you please elaborate? Any brand/model to suggest?

An Equalizer pedal will allow you certain options: if you put the pedal in front of the amp (guitar -> EQ -> amp), then you can shape the tone and also add more gain to the signal. If you put the EQ in the FX Loop of an amp (guitar -> amp -> FX loop -> return), then you can shape the final tone and even increase its volume with the EQ pedal.

Two different pedals to look into that meet your budget if you buy them USED:

MXR Ten Band EQ - https://www.guitarcenter.com/MXR/Ten-Band-EQ-Pedal.gc
Boss GE-7 EQ - https://www.guitarcenter.com/Boss/GE-7-Equalizer-Pedal.gc

It would behoove you to read reviews and see how other people are using these.

 

[justFred]

Re: Overdrive pedal for solos

$25...easy to install onboard boost in your guitar....http://www.muzique.com/tech/module2.htm

 

[Dave Locher]

Re: Overdrive pedal for solos

I came here to suggest an EQ pedal too! They do exactly the same thing as a clean boost except you have total control over which frequencies get boosted and/or cut. Most "boost" pedals have no eq at all, or minimal "tone" knob.

I used a DOD FX40B for years as a solo boost/thickener and I tried a lot of boost pedals but none of them worked as well.

I am now using a Rat pedal clone that just happens to hit the right frequencies for my amp but I don't know if it would work as well with random assorted amps. Worth a try, though. Rat clones can be had for $50 or less. I got mine for free.

 

[Archer250]

Re: Overdrive pedal for solos

I'd suggest an EQ pedal

Back when I used pedals, I used a TC Electronic Spark Mini clean boost for solos, but I didn't have a problem with thinning out. My tone was already present in the mix, so I only needed around 4 more dBs to be right at the forefront of the band. Since thinning out appears to be an issue here, I suggest getting an EQ.


Sent from my ONEPLUS A6003 using Tapatalk

 

[Cob85]

Re: Overdrive pedal for solos

What kind of music are you playing, what do you want your guitar to sound like?

Long story short, at the moment we play rock/hard with a bit of metal (Metallica).
This week we'll endorse a new female singer so the playlist could change too.

My goal is to have thicker sound during solos, at the moment it seems weak and cold on higher notes.

 

[Cob85]

Re: Overdrive pedal for solos

An Equalizer pedal will allow you certain options: if you put the pedal in front of the amp (guitar -> EQ -> amp), then you can shape the tone and also add more gain to the signal. If you put the EQ in the FX Loop of an amp (guitar -> amp -> FX loop -> return), then you can shape the final tone and even increase its volume with the EQ pedal.

Two different pedals to look into that meet your budget if you buy them USED:

MXR Ten Band EQ - https://www.guitarcenter.com/MXR/Ten-Band-EQ-Pedal.gc
Boss GE-7 EQ - https://www.guitarcenter.com/Boss/GE-7-Equalizer-Pedal.gc

It would behoove you to read reviews and see how other people are using these.

Ok, thanks for the reply.
It seems like an EQ pedal is what I'm looking for.

Another noob question: any problems for signal quality? I've read stuff about true-bypass pedals, is this the case?

 

[Aceman]

Re: Overdrive pedal for solos

I was gonna suggest an EQ pedal instead. A lot of control there...

 

[Archer250]

Re: Overdrive pedal for solos

Ok, thanks for the reply.
It seems like an EQ pedal is what I'm looking for.

Another noob question: any problems for signal quality? I've read stuff about true-bypass pedals, is this the case?

IMO, true bypass pedals are just a big meme.

When you have a big enough board you will have to stick a dedicated buffer somewhere anyways.

I wouldn't worry unless the pedal in question has an extremely bad built-in buffer or relay system (I'm looking at you, Crybaby Wahs)

Sent from my ONEPLUS A6003 using Tapatalk