Overdrive pedals and effect pedals on solid state amps
- Thread starter stef89
- Start date
PFDarkside
of the Forum
Re: Overdrive pedals and effect pedals on solid state amps
Solid State or modeling?
In my experience both respond well to delay, reverb and modulation like chorus, flanger, tremolo and phaser. Essentially "clean" effects that aren't introducing gain to the chain. Gain devices are a little more hit and miss. If you like the sound of the gain device as is, a Solid a State amp should amplify it decently well. Sometimes, the magic is in the interaction between the box and amp, like fuzz, some ODs, colored boosts, etc. Cheap and old modeling amps choke on these, newer and better ones have the input gain, bandwidth and DSP to handle them. Solid State amps are really amp by amp with these gain devices, they could sound great, or they could sound terrible.
Unfortunately, for the most part its a matter of trying out pedals with your guitar and amp to see what really works for you. You mention a Tube Screamer. Some use them as stand alone distortion generators. If you like the tone of your amp, the TS might work really well for that sound. Other use them for a boost and EQ color. This method may or may not work with your setup...
Solid State or modeling?
In my experience both respond well to delay, reverb and modulation like chorus, flanger, tremolo and phaser. Essentially "clean" effects that aren't introducing gain to the chain. Gain devices are a little more hit and miss. If you like the sound of the gain device as is, a Solid a State amp should amplify it decently well. Sometimes, the magic is in the interaction between the box and amp, like fuzz, some ODs, colored boosts, etc. Cheap and old modeling amps choke on these, newer and better ones have the input gain, bandwidth and DSP to handle them. Solid State amps are really amp by amp with these gain devices, they could sound great, or they could sound terrible.
Unfortunately, for the most part its a matter of trying out pedals with your guitar and amp to see what really works for you. You mention a Tube Screamer. Some use them as stand alone distortion generators. If you like the tone of your amp, the TS might work really well for that sound. Other use them for a boost and EQ color. This method may or may not work with your setup...
TimmyPage
New member
Re: Overdrive pedals and effect pedals on solid state amps
I find tube screamers are hard to get working 'correctly' on most modelling amps I've tried. They sound absolutely awful on my Cube and on my old Valvetronix, the TS pushed the midrange of the amps but instead of getting singing distortion you got.. flubby, crappy low end and ugly sharp mids. Transparent overdrives can sound pretty good though, and Klon/Klone style pedals sound pretty nice as well.
But worth experimenting, there aren't really any rules on the matter.
I find tube screamers are hard to get working 'correctly' on most modelling amps I've tried. They sound absolutely awful on my Cube and on my old Valvetronix, the TS pushed the midrange of the amps but instead of getting singing distortion you got.. flubby, crappy low end and ugly sharp mids. Transparent overdrives can sound pretty good though, and Klon/Klone style pedals sound pretty nice as well.
But worth experimenting, there aren't really any rules on the matter.
Boogie Bill
New member
Re: Overdrive pedals and effect pedals on solid state amps
I can't speak for modelling amps, but I have found that most, if not all, of the SS amps I've played over the years to he very finicky when it comes to dirt boxes. I went through several back in the day, looking for one that would give me good tone through my old SUNN Solos II combo before settling on a vintage DOD Overdrive 250...hardly a renown pedal. (BTW, the DOD proved to be horrible through the JCM 800 I later acquired. Yeah, the same pedal Yngwie used through his Marshalls....)
One thing that proved very successful for me was using a clean boost in front of my SUNN amp, and I still use it to this day with my Mesas...always on, and just a slight amount of boost...just enough to warm up the input of the amp. The old SUNN has a MOSFET preamp, but the boost gave it even more tube-like tone.
I think you should try a clean boost; but then you're just going to have to try a truckload of dirt boxes to figure out what is going to work best with your amp.
Good luck!
Bill
I can't speak for modelling amps, but I have found that most, if not all, of the SS amps I've played over the years to he very finicky when it comes to dirt boxes. I went through several back in the day, looking for one that would give me good tone through my old SUNN Solos II combo before settling on a vintage DOD Overdrive 250...hardly a renown pedal. (BTW, the DOD proved to be horrible through the JCM 800 I later acquired. Yeah, the same pedal Yngwie used through his Marshalls....)
One thing that proved very successful for me was using a clean boost in front of my SUNN amp, and I still use it to this day with my Mesas...always on, and just a slight amount of boost...just enough to warm up the input of the amp. The old SUNN has a MOSFET preamp, but the boost gave it even more tube-like tone.
I think you should try a clean boost; but then you're just going to have to try a truckload of dirt boxes to figure out what is going to work best with your amp.
Good luck!
Bill
Artie
Peaveyologist
Re: Overdrive pedals and effect pedals on solid state amps
I think this might come down to whether you mean performing, or checking out a pedal. From the "checking out pedal" side, SS is killer. I love to play pedals through my H&K Edition Blue 60. It simply projects what the pedal is actually doing. I love it.
I think this might come down to whether you mean performing, or checking out a pedal. From the "checking out pedal" side, SS is killer. I love to play pedals through my H&K Edition Blue 60. It simply projects what the pedal is actually doing. I love it.
Wormhelmet
New member
Re: Overdrive pedals and effect pedals on solid state amps
I can throw any pedal that works for my tube amp in front of my AMT Stonehead SS amp. Its not picky. I am picky. A lot of dirt boxes I don't like, but doesn't seem to matter what amp they are put in front of, the opinion on them stays the same.
I can throw any pedal that works for my tube amp in front of my AMT Stonehead SS amp. Its not picky. I am picky. A lot of dirt boxes I don't like, but doesn't seem to matter what amp they are put in front of, the opinion on them stays the same.
Rex_Rocker
Well-known member
Re: Overdrive pedals and effect pedals on solid state amps
The way I use overdrive pedals (I normally set the level to unity gain with a clean tone with the drive all the way down or close to all the way down, and then drop them on a distortion channel), I have never had any problems using them in front my old POD XT or into my interface to drive amp sims, or to drive other overdrive pedals. I don't think there is any magic interaction between an overdrive pedal and a tube amp. At least not this way. I just use a Tubescreamer-type pedal (Maxon OD-9 or MXR Classic Overdrive) to add their color to the sound, trim off some extreme highs and lows before the amp's input, and to add cool, gainy, and compressed mids to be then shaped by the full-on distortion of an amp (or amp sim).
The way I use overdrive pedals (I normally set the level to unity gain with a clean tone with the drive all the way down or close to all the way down, and then drop them on a distortion channel), I have never had any problems using them in front my old POD XT or into my interface to drive amp sims, or to drive other overdrive pedals. I don't think there is any magic interaction between an overdrive pedal and a tube amp. At least not this way. I just use a Tubescreamer-type pedal (Maxon OD-9 or MXR Classic Overdrive) to add their color to the sound, trim off some extreme highs and lows before the amp's input, and to add cool, gainy, and compressed mids to be then shaped by the full-on distortion of an amp (or amp sim).
Last edited:
TimmyPage
New member
Re: Overdrive pedals and effect pedals on solid state amps
I've kind of played with the idea of doing pedal demos on a youtube channel when I get back to Canada in a few months, with one of the key elements being a section where I play the pedal into a clean, neutral solid state amp for that very reason. I LOVE Proguitarshop and Pete Thorn and all those guys, but what you hear is 'This is the pedal through an optimised tube amp at a high volume with a collection of amazing guitars, and compressed and mastered in a studio'. It sounds great, but most of the time you don't get a good feel of exactly how the pedal affects tone. Could also help out the people with little solid state amps for practice, or beginners looking for pedals to put through their first amps.
I've kind of played with the idea of doing pedal demos on a youtube channel when I get back to Canada in a few months, with one of the key elements being a section where I play the pedal into a clean, neutral solid state amp for that very reason. I LOVE Proguitarshop and Pete Thorn and all those guys, but what you hear is 'This is the pedal through an optimised tube amp at a high volume with a collection of amazing guitars, and compressed and mastered in a studio'. It sounds great, but most of the time you don't get a good feel of exactly how the pedal affects tone. Could also help out the people with little solid state amps for practice, or beginners looking for pedals to put through their first amps.
IMENATOR
Well-known member
Re: Overdrive pedals and effect pedals on solid state amps
I say it is depends on the amp and pedal. There are pedals that are meant to sound like the amp while others are meant to enhance the amp so the way it interacts with a tube amp may not work with a SS amp so you better test both together. I like Roland Cube 40/80 clean channel and it takes well pedals that are meant to sound like an amp, it does the job, I liked the sound of the Boss Power Stack in drive and crunch, I also liked the Boss Metal Core wit the cube. I watched a video by InTheBlues and he was asked about how good was the Mustang to get pedals infront like a tubescreamer, his reply was it was ok but the built in digital implementation of the TS in the virtual signal chain of the Mustang sounds better, actually he demos that amp a lot and he gets good tones in his live band videos too.
Being that said, there is something I could never get from SS that I am getting from rube preamp now, mostly in the clean and crunch channels. I think SS can do a good job on the high gain side but it is a matter of personal preference and I would not use a tubescreamer infront of a high gain amp anyay.
I say it is depends on the amp and pedal. There are pedals that are meant to sound like the amp while others are meant to enhance the amp so the way it interacts with a tube amp may not work with a SS amp so you better test both together. I like Roland Cube 40/80 clean channel and it takes well pedals that are meant to sound like an amp, it does the job, I liked the sound of the Boss Power Stack in drive and crunch, I also liked the Boss Metal Core wit the cube. I watched a video by InTheBlues and he was asked about how good was the Mustang to get pedals infront like a tubescreamer, his reply was it was ok but the built in digital implementation of the TS in the virtual signal chain of the Mustang sounds better, actually he demos that amp a lot and he gets good tones in his live band videos too.
Being that said, there is something I could never get from SS that I am getting from rube preamp now, mostly in the clean and crunch channels. I think SS can do a good job on the high gain side but it is a matter of personal preference and I would not use a tubescreamer infront of a high gain amp anyay.
PFDarkside
of the Forum
Re: Overdrive pedals and effect pedals on solid state amps
There's literally not a single pedal that Andy demos that I wouldn't buy (then sound mediocre to terrible using).
Progbusters
New member
Re: Overdrive pedals and effect pedals on solid state amps
i used to get good results with a guitar-distortion-solid state bass combo.
i used to get good results with a guitar-distortion-solid state bass combo.
Edgecrusher
New member
Re: Overdrive pedals and effect pedals on solid state amps
Then you are missing out on one of the great high gain sounds you can get. You crank the output and either zero the gain or maybe on 1 or 1.5... then drop the gain on the amp 2 or 3 notches and let it burn. It tightens up the bottom for great chugs gives a nice edge. The mid hump of a TS pushes the input tube where it need to get crunchy.
Its definitely not the same sound as a just a straight high gain amp.
Then you are missing out on one of the great high gain sounds you can get. You crank the output and either zero the gain or maybe on 1 or 1.5... then drop the gain on the amp 2 or 3 notches and let it burn. It tightens up the bottom for great chugs gives a nice edge. The mid hump of a TS pushes the input tube where it need to get crunchy.
Its definitely not the same sound as a just a straight high gain amp.
treyhaislip
Well-known member
Re: Overdrive pedals and effect pedals on solid state amps
I found the Marshall MGs to handle pedals very well...but still prefer them through all tube amps.
I found the Marshall MGs to handle pedals very well...but still prefer them through all tube amps.
IMENATOR
Well-known member
Re: Overdrive pedals and effect pedals on solid state amps
I may be missing it if we using the right SS amp but for the ones I have had so far (A Peavy from transtube family and a Roland Cube 40XL) did not make me feel that way. I have to say I feel compelled to get some AMT SS preamps, those things are SS and seem to mimic the real amp very well.
.
I may be missing it if we using the right SS amp but for the ones I have had so far (A Peavy from transtube family and a Roland Cube 40XL) did not make me feel that way. I have to say I feel compelled to get some AMT SS preamps, those things are SS and seem to mimic the real amp very well.
Similar threads
