overdrive pedals NOT based on the tubescreamers?

[Pierre]

I don't like the TS sound. I prefer a more transparent boost and I find the TS' gain to be boxy and really not that great sounding. Now apart from the Big Muff, what ODs (Not distortion, or fuzz. Just basically a pedal that focuses on low gain crunches. Could be a preamp/distortion or a form of boost like the TS but with a different sound basically) are NOT based on the Tube Screamer?

 

[Rich_S]

Re: overdrive pedals NOT based on the tubescreamers?

My #1 overdrive for 20 years has simply been a Boss GE-7 set for a big mid-hump, overdriving the crap out of V1 in my Marshall. Like you, I've never really appreciated what everyone likes about the TS-derived pedals.

I like my old Rat, too. Its tone control gives a lot of flexibility, and it can go from just boost to pretty wild distortion. I think it's a great box for non-TS lovers.

 

[Pierre]

Re: overdrive pedals NOT based on the tubescreamers?

Ohhhh Rat... good call. If I remember, the Ratt is very close to a Distortion + (which I thought sounded like butt) but with a slightly more advanced circuit right? I liked the Rat's sound, but it's too similar to a big muff to me I think. Though it's been a while...

 

[JohnnyGuitar]

Re: overdrive pedals NOT based on the tubescreamers?

Rats sound nothing like Big Muffs IMO. I've never tried the fuzz Rat (I think it's called You Dirty Rat) but I played a few other models and in their limited line you can find overdrive tones (I am not a fan of the pedals though).

I wouldn't describe the Big Muff as an overdrive. it's a cross between a fuzz and a distortion... more like a fuzz but with a very unique tone.

 

[More-Gear-Than-Skill]

Re: overdrive pedals NOT based on the tubescreamers?

i have a digitech "screamin' blues", and it's nice. Probably based on the blues driver boss. 2 eq, gain and level. Goes from clean boost to fair crazy

 

[joelap]

Re: overdrive pedals NOT based on the tubescreamers?

Chandler Tube Driver

Colorsound Overdriver/Powerboost

 

[superpete]

Re: overdrive pedals NOT based on the tubescreamers?

My #1 overdrive for 20 years has simply been a Boss GE-7 set for a big mid-hump, overdriving the crap out of V1 in my Marshall.

+1

I put one in the fx loop of my orange rv100 with a slight boost in the highs and a boost in volume and it does wonders. In fact once I forgot to turn it off and did a song with it running the whole time and the band wondered why my tone sounded so huge!

 

[BigBazz]

Re: overdrive pedals NOT based on the tubescreamers?

I like the marshall bluesbreaker set to boost mode, pretty transparent sounding.

I do prefer the sound of my digitech bad monkey though, but thats some form of TS copy.

 

[Pierre]

Re: overdrive pedals NOT based on the tubescreamers?

Good call about the Muff. I guess what I meant was something to not boost the amp, like ODs do, but to actually act as another channel, without going into heavy and metal distortion types. I.e TS level gain, with a good sound to me :fingersx:

I would have to listen to a Rat better then. It's been a year or so. I really dig the big muff though, big time. I just love its sound. Perfect for what I'm looking for actually but I like having diversity.

How's the Marshall Bluesbreaker in general?

 

[Gr8Scott]

Re: overdrive pedals NOT based on the tubescreamers?

Wouldn't the Carl Martin Plexitone be considered an overdrive pedal given some of the setting options? It's made to boost a british type amp and give it more tonal options, so it would probably be very good in a non tubescreamer overdrive role as most british amps do have their own sweet natural distortion anyway.

 

[JohnnyGuitar]

Re: overdrive pedals NOT based on the tubescreamers?

Good call about the Muff. I guess what I meant was something to not boost the amp, like ODs do, but to actually act as another channel, without going into heavy and metal distortion types. I.e TS level gain, with a good sound to me :fingersx:

I would have to listen to a Rat better then. It's been a year or so. I really dig the big muff though, big time. I just love its sound. Perfect for what I'm looking for actually but I like having diversity.

How's the Marshall Bluesbreaker in general?

Freedom Pierre,

The Marshall Bluesbreaker is in the same family as the TS (I do like those pedals).
CM's ACtone Or Plexitone, or maybe one of the smaller pedals might do some good tricks for you.
Most companies have good variety for what you're asking for, and there are many distortion pedals that can take you from lower gain to metal so the gain shouldn't be your concern here... the charectaristic of your tone should be so tell us about it in terms of songs, EQ's, etc...

 

[Ken]

Re: overdrive pedals NOT based on the tubescreamers?

I have a Tech21 Tri-AC that I LOVE. It's like three sans-amps in one box. Fender Twin sound, Marshall Sound, and Mesa sounds...I use the Fender and Marshall the most. Even though it's not a tube box, the sounds are good and definitely in the ballpark. Fender and Marshall sounds are very dynamic/responsive, while the Mesa is a little more compressed.

The one thing I like is that if I can find my clean tone in an amp (in a situation where I'm not using MY amp), I've always been able to throw the box in front and I have MY sound right there.

I picked mine up from one of the guys here on the forum (been a while) and I'm wondering how he let the thing go...

 

[Pierre]

Re: overdrive pedals NOT based on the tubescreamers?

I tried one. It cost 200 pounds. It sounded decent but I'd never pay as much for what it was really. It was nifty though.

 

[devastone]

Re: overdrive pedals NOT based on the tubescreamers?

The Rat is more of a distortion and can almost be a fuzz when cranked, but at low settings it can be a good booster, but it does have a personality of it's own (which I like FWIW).

The Xotic BB Preamp is supposed to be a killer overdrive, but it ain't cheap.

The Boss BD-2 is a overdrive that isn't based on the TS/SD type circuit.

 

[Ken]

Re: overdrive pedals NOT based on the tubescreamers?

I tried one. It cost 200 pounds. It sounded decent but I'd never pay as much for what it was really. It was nifty though.

Oh man that's rough...I bought mine used, but I don't think they even cost that much new here in the States. MF has them for $190 new...they're great and super versatile but I don't know if it warrants $200US after shipping...

Sorry :blackeye:

 

[SirJackdeFuzz]

Re: overdrive pedals NOT based on the tubescreamers?

I too, do not like the Toobscreemer, although i do have a TS9 !

Here are the ones that i like/have/want that does NOT sound like a 'screemer !

Boss BD-2
Rat w. LM308 chip
Marshall BluesBreaker II
Blackstone OverDrive
MXR Zakk Wylde OverDrive (based on the Bodd SD-1, but much sweeter to my ears)
Toadworks Lil' Leo - just WOW !
H&K TubeMan
Dytone Ooh Drive II
Dytone Music Dive - this one is an OD/light Dist.
MXR MC-402 Boost/Overdrive - a 2-in-1 unit


. . . aghrrrrrr, i love overdrives !!!

 

[SirJackdeFuzz]

Re: overdrive pedals NOT based on the tubescreamers?

Ohhhh Rat... good call. If I remember, the Ratt is very close to a Distortion + (which I thought sounded like butt) but with a slightly more advanced circuit right? I liked the Rat's sound, but it's too similar to a big muff to me I think. Though it's been a while...

Ermmm, maybe you have a completely wrong mental image of the Rat :eek13:

Listen to this clip :

It is an SG -->Rat -->Fender Bassman LTD 4x10 combo (nothing else, just the drive from the RAT)


** http://www.soundclick.com/player/single_player.cfm?songid=3920947&cache=3&q=hi&shuffle=false **


It does NOT sound like a Distortion +, to my ears !


What do you think ???

 

[wixedmords]

Re: overdrive pedals NOT based on the tubescreamers?

Ermmm, maybe you have a completely wrong mental image of the Rat :eek13:

Listen to this clip :

It is an SG -->Rat -->Fender Bassman LTD 4x10 combo (nothing else, just the drive from the RAT)


** http://www.soundclick.com/player/single_player.cfm?songid=3920947&cache=3&q=hi&shuffle=false **


It does NOT sound like a Distortion +, to my ears !


What do you think ???

That is very thick like a Rat, SJF. It has the mids of the Rat too.


Mmmmust be a Rat.

 

[joelap]

Re: overdrive pedals NOT based on the tubescreamers?

Pierre, you owe it to yourself to at least breadboard up a Colorsound Overdriver. It really does go from clean boost to light grit to cranked fullstack. Really. I got parts for my clone of it coming in as we speak, but the problem is I forgot to order the pots for it :smack:

 

[Pierre]

Re: overdrive pedals NOT based on the tubescreamers?

Hehe I shall try man. If I ever win the lottery you bet I'll try a lot of pedals...
I'm sorry I didn't mean to imply that the Rat sounded the same as the MXR. Just that their circuits are closed. I think I read that the Rat was a derivation fo the +'s circuit.