Recommend me a smooth OD pedal

[CTN]

I normally use my Fulltone OCD as an always-on boost. Only recently have I used the the gain knob all the way down and the volume a bit up.

I actually prefer to use an OD as an always-on boost with the volume at unity and with the gain set to add just a touch of overdrive. But when I do that with the OCD and switch to my amp's lead channel, the OCD's gritty/fuzzy foundation comes out in my distorted tone. Which would be fine if that's what I was going for, but I'm not.

I want to find another OD that has a smooth, rich character to the drive and doesn't fuzz up as the gain is increased like the OCD does.

What are my options in the sub-$200 range?

 

[Agileguy_101]

Re: Recommend me a smooth OD pedal

The Timmy is $130 new and Paul C has caught up enough with his backlog that the used price is finally less than the new price. It should be perfect for you.

 

[jon the art guy]

Re: Recommend me a smooth OD pedal

The zenith drive I have is smooth stuff.

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[Agileguy_101]

Re: Recommend me a smooth OD pedal

The zenith drive I have is smooth stuff.

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That might be a little too amp-like. Sounds like a smooth boost/light od is more what's required.

 

[jon the art guy]

Re: Recommend me a smooth OD pedal

That might be a little too amp-like. Sounds like a smooth boost/light od is more what's required.

Ah. Tried an SHO then? The Stage 3 boost I have is similar.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Recommend me a smooth OD pedal

I'm becoming a real fan of Barber Electronics stuff. They really know how to make amp-like gain pedals.
Look into the LTD, Half Gainer, or Direct Drive.

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_odk....TR0.TRC0.H0.Xbarber+&_nkw=barber+&_sacat=619

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Recommend me a smooth OD pedal

Super smooth, always-on overdrive?

The JColoccia Horus overdrive ..

 

[King IzzO)))]

Re: Recommend me a smooth OD pedal

You really need to try a SHO.

 

[jon the art guy]

Re: Recommend me a smooth OD pedal

I'll see if I can put a recording of my stage 3 together, which is similar to the SHO

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[B2D]

Re: Recommend me a smooth OD pedal

I'm sure there are better pedals out there, but I always did like the Boss OD3 for smooth sounding stuff. I'd imagine mods would only make it better.

 

[Chris of Arabia]

Re: Recommend me a smooth OD pedal

See if you can lay your hands on an Xotic AC Booster and give one a try. It's certainly smoother than the Soul Food.

 

[SirJackdeFuzz]

Re: Recommend me a smooth OD pedal

EHX Muff OD . . . sooooooooo smooooffff.

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Recommend me a smooth OD pedal

You really need to try a SHO.

Hmmm ... The SHO is definitely not harsh, but I wouldn't call it 'smooth'. 'Thick' would be a better word. And it's a boost, not an overdrive ...
If we are going to talk boosts, that's an area I have some knowledge in (I own several). My go-to for an always on boost would be the Greer Sweetback Driver, that thing is fantastic.

But neither of those are an overdrive. The Horus is super smooth, very transparent, and just a skosh compressed.

 

[koshikas]

Re: Recommend me a smooth OD pedal

never used it, but sounds very interesting when Mr. Govan uses it

Suhr Koko Boost

http://www.suhr.com/suhr-guitar-pedals/koko-boost/

OR

Koko Boost Reloaded with freak footswitch

http://www.suhr.com/suhr-guitar-pedals/KokoBoost-Reloaded/

 

[BrianS.]

Re: Recommend me a smooth OD pedal

Have you tried the Mad Professor Sweet Honey OD? I tried one the same day I bought my OCD and I remember it as being quite smooth. I really liked the tone, but the OCD seemed more versatile, so I went with that. I'm talkin' the PCB version, not the handwired jobbie.

 

[Securb]

Re: Recommend me a smooth OD pedal

I have been playing with the MOOG Drive. It is cool, two gain stages with the ability to go from light overdriven boost to punch in your gut distortion. The nice thing is it is very easy to control the voice of your guitar with the pedal it allows you to accentuate frequencies so it you want your mids to pop or a bit more sparkle on the high end it is easy to dial in.

 

[Artie]

Re: Recommend me a smooth OD pedal

If I'm reading your post correctly, you want a boost, but without fuzz or distortion? The Duncan SFX-01 is perfect for that job.

 

[Dr. Vegetable]

Re: Recommend me a smooth OD pedal

I use the Xotic EP Booster a lot. It is probably the only pedal I won't leave home without.

The Way Huge Pork Loin is also a great sounding OD with a lot of versatility. If the enclosure wasn't so darn big, it would live on my pedal board.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Recommend me a smooth OD pedal

One of the smoothest OD pedals I have I'd the Blackstone MOSFET OD.

Some folks actually say the Blackstone is too smooth...I don't feel that way but it is smoother that anything else I have.


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[CTN]

Re: Recommend me a smooth OD pedal

thanks for all the recos guys.

So far, I'm digging what I'm hearing from the Zendrive/Zenith drive, the Barber Direct Drive, and the Xotic AC booster. Also piquing my interest are the Xotic SL drive, the Suhr Shiba Drive ReLoaded, and Wampler Euphoria/Ecstasy. Anyone have any thoughts on those?

The Timmy, while I can see why it's so desirable, not sure if that's for me. Seems almost like it'd be too transparent and too fuzzy. Seen a bunch of demos of it and I'm just not liking the sounds coming out of it.

I like the sounds coming out of that Horus overdrive more than the Timmy, but too much top end sparkle. I want something that'll smooth off the treble and be rich and creamy.

The SHO... I dig what it does, but same sorta deal as the Horus - I need smooth,warm, rich, not fat and sparkly.