Primarily Using Your Amp's Natural Distortion
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Boogie Bill
New member
Re: Primarily Using Your Amp's Natural Distortion
Really don't need a bunch of dirt boxes wih the Mesa amps. I have DC-3 and Maverick combos, and then Mark IIIs, IV and V amps as well. I do use a very mild clean boost with vintage single coils, but when it comes to distortion, I want it to come from my amp and not chips or transistors.
Bill
Really don't need a bunch of dirt boxes wih the Mesa amps. I have DC-3 and Maverick combos, and then Mark IIIs, IV and V amps as well. I do use a very mild clean boost with vintage single coils, but when it comes to distortion, I want it to come from my amp and not chips or transistors.
Bill
That90'sGuy
DyzaBoyzologist
Re: Primarily Using Your Amp's Natural Distortion
I've gone back and forth on pedals or amps for overdrive.
For a while, my main rig has been Gretsch -> Cornish SS-3/CC-1 -> Fender Vibrolux. The Vibrolux cleans are great and when pushed a bit, the Cornish pedals work well for some extra grit and gain. This rig has worked better than some amps I used for overdrive, but it wasn't the pinnacle of overdrive in my head.
Now that I'm playing around with a Swart AST Pro, I've been running an attenuator through it and pushing the volume up on it to get it to break up and it's really satisfying (I don't think I've been this happy with a crunch tone since I ran a Savage Blitz 50 wide open with the "jumped Marshall" setting years ago).
The problem has always been that channel switching amps have been a compromise to me, so I'm coming to the realization you either have to accept pedals for what they are or look at getting a really good clean amp and a really good overdrive dedicated amp and an A/B box.
I've gone back and forth on pedals or amps for overdrive.
For a while, my main rig has been Gretsch -> Cornish SS-3/CC-1 -> Fender Vibrolux. The Vibrolux cleans are great and when pushed a bit, the Cornish pedals work well for some extra grit and gain. This rig has worked better than some amps I used for overdrive, but it wasn't the pinnacle of overdrive in my head.
Now that I'm playing around with a Swart AST Pro, I've been running an attenuator through it and pushing the volume up on it to get it to break up and it's really satisfying (I don't think I've been this happy with a crunch tone since I ran a Savage Blitz 50 wide open with the "jumped Marshall" setting years ago).
The problem has always been that channel switching amps have been a compromise to me, so I'm coming to the realization you either have to accept pedals for what they are or look at getting a really good clean amp and a really good overdrive dedicated amp and an A/B box.
dominus
King Midas to Cheap Guitars
Re: Primarily Using Your Amp's Natural Distortion
What about transistor amps?
I just grabbed another one of these:
Seems to have enough distortion for me, and I like distortion.
What about transistor amps?
I just grabbed another one of these:
Seems to have enough distortion for me, and I like distortion.
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Phantasmagoria
watch where you point that sabre
Re: Primarily Using Your Amp's Natural Distortion
If I'm playing live, I just crank my amps...no boosts/drives etc...they all have way more gain than I require (a LOT) lol..
At home/practice I'm mostly just in front of my amps again ..but will pull one of my gain pedals out from time to time just for a different flavour. Now that I have my looper jams..I use them for that as well.
Mostly I just buy them, try them and then they lie around/get used occasionally..but not very often :laugh2: ...I love distortion, the more kinds the better.
If I'm playing live, I just crank my amps...no boosts/drives etc...they all have way more gain than I require (a LOT
) lol..At home/practice I'm mostly just in front of my amps again ..but will pull one of my gain pedals out from time to time just for a different flavour. Now that I have my looper jams..I use them for that as well.
Mostly I just buy them, try them and then they lie around/get used occasionally..but not very often :laugh2: ...I love distortion, the more kinds the better.
treyhaislip
Well-known member
Re: Primarily Using Your Amp's Natural Distortion
I really miss my DC-5...I used a Tube Screamer on the Clean/Crunch channel but left the Gain Channel alone. Great amps that are undervalued IMO.
I really miss my DC-5...I used a Tube Screamer on the Clean/Crunch channel but left the Gain Channel alone. Great amps that are undervalued IMO.
Progbusters
New member
Re: Primarily Using Your Amp's Natural Distortion
i have small tube amps so its easy to get natural distortion at home and studio. I use them instead of pedals. ac15, orange terror, etc etc
i have small tube amps so its easy to get natural distortion at home and studio. I use them instead of pedals. ac15, orange terror, etc etc
ilovelespauls8
New member
Re: Primarily Using Your Amp's Natural Distortion
i use a Fender 5150 III 50 watt or my Orange Dark Terror 15 watt or Bugera 333 120 watt heads with no OD pedals at all
i use this heads live it just depends on where i am playing which one i take
as for pedals go i am really digging Mooer pedals i got the chorus,flanger and delay and they are very quite \,,/
i use a Fender 5150 III 50 watt or my Orange Dark Terror 15 watt or Bugera 333 120 watt heads with no OD pedals at all
i use this heads live it just depends on where i am playing which one i take
as for pedals go i am really digging Mooer pedals i got the chorus,flanger and delay and they are very quite \,,/
ehdwuld
A Ficus
Re: Primarily Using Your Amp's Natural Distortion
All my amps have a diode clipping gain channel that sounds like a DS1
If not I have a DS1
Generally I just roll my volume back
And set the amp at just about to clip
Then roll the volume up for distortion
*(Sent from my durned phone!)*
All my amps have a diode clipping gain channel that sounds like a DS1
If not I have a DS1
Generally I just roll my volume back
And set the amp at just about to clip
Then roll the volume up for distortion
*(Sent from my durned phone!)*
d1dsj
Cornographer
Re: Primarily Using Your Amp's Natural Distortion
I do have a couple of drive pedals on my board just in case I end up having to use someone else's amp, but normally its either my Cornford MK50 for larger venues without mic'ing the back line or Cornford Hurricane for small gigs or mic'd larger gigs.
I do have a couple of drive pedals on my board just in case I end up having to use someone else's amp, but normally its either my Cornford MK50 for larger venues without mic'ing the back line or Cornford Hurricane for small gigs or mic'd larger gigs.
xxxplorer
Well-known member
Re: Primarily Using Your Amp's Natural Distortion
I've used them in the past to boost a JCM800 (2204), but since I've learned how to mod amps, I have done away with OD's. I sometimes try them to 'tighten' up the amp or whatever, but I have found I love the feel without one in bwtween my guitar and amp.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I've used them in the past to boost a JCM800 (2204), but since I've learned how to mod amps, I have done away with OD's. I sometimes try them to 'tighten' up the amp or whatever, but I have found I love the feel without one in bwtween my guitar and amp.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Securb
One of Jerry's Kids
Re: Primarily Using Your Amp's Natural Distortion
I have used a mix of Fender and Roland amps live over the years. Seeing most of my life I have played metal/hard rock a dirt stomp was a necessity. I have a few I have particularly liked MXR+, DOD 250 and a smattering of others. Now that I own the DSL 100 I am trying to ween myself off the dirt stomps and use the amp's gain. I haven't plugged a single petal into the DSL yet. I was thinking this weekend I would play around with some of my boost pedals to get a feel for how the amp responds to a little kick.
I have used a mix of Fender and Roland amps live over the years. Seeing most of my life I have played metal/hard rock a dirt stomp was a necessity. I have a few I have particularly liked MXR+, DOD 250 and a smattering of others. Now that I own the DSL 100 I am trying to ween myself off the dirt stomps and use the amp's gain. I haven't plugged a single petal into the DSL yet. I was thinking this weekend I would play around with some of my boost pedals to get a feel for how the amp responds to a little kick.
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ken361
New member
Re: Primarily Using Your Amp's Natural Distortion
I was using the Bogners/Fenders and some otherpedals not too much though the last 2 years and always played with the amps OD for my gains,until The Bogners came out and was pretty happy with that. They still didnt have that Marshall roar for classic rock and 80's metal
DSL surprised pretty much nice tight and focused at loud volumes.
I was using the Bogners/Fenders and some otherpedals not too much though the last 2 years and always played with the amps OD for my gains,until The Bogners came out and was pretty happy with that. They still didnt have that Marshall roar for classic rock and 80's metal
DSL surprised pretty much nice tight and focused at loud volumes.
Securb
One of Jerry's Kids
Re: Primarily Using Your Amp's Natural Distortion
I am more than happy with the gain in both channels of the DSL. I figured why not play around with the boosts a little bit. I have an BBE FREQ Boost, MOOG MF Boost and a TWA Triskelion that are very different boost pedals. I am hoping to pull my distortion and overdrive pedals off the board and use those three to color my tone. Time will tell, it is fun to experiment and try different things.
I am more than happy with the gain in both channels of the DSL. I figured why not play around with the boosts a little bit. I have an BBE FREQ Boost, MOOG MF Boost and a TWA Triskelion that are very different boost pedals. I am hoping to pull my distortion and overdrive pedals off the board and use those three to color my tone. Time will tell, it is fun to experiment and try different things.
Big Flannel
New member
Re: Primarily Using Your Amp's Natural Distortion
LP style guitars into a Hovercraft.
More gain than is necessary for any application and still has the ability to pull of convincing vintage tones.
I have been known around these parts to hammer said amp with an assortment of wonderful fuzz boxes from time to time.
LP style guitars into a Hovercraft.
More gain than is necessary for any application and still has the ability to pull of convincing vintage tones.
I have been known around these parts to hammer said amp with an assortment of wonderful fuzz boxes from time to time.
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