Recommend me an overdrive pedal

M

MacDaddy

New member
OK, so I'm looking for an OD pedal but I'm not interested in mega gain or even huge crunch sounds. I just want something for a little gain boost that I can use on the clean channel of my amp to give a warm, slightly pushed sound with a nice bit of compression.

I've been checking out loads of videos on YouTube for TC Electronic, Xotic and Lovepedal etc but all the reviewers seem to concentrate on is, "This sounds like a cranked Marshall". I don't want that sound - I'm quite happy with my amp's dirty channel - I just want to add a bit of something slightly extra for a bit of tonal variety.

So what's out there that will satisfy my rather unique desire for some very mild OD? Am I asking too much - do pedal manufacturers cater for weirdos like me or are they all balls-to-the-wall gain machines?

Thanks in advance!
 
Re: Recommend me an overdrive pedal

Probably any type of Tube Screamer or a pedal with the name "Blues" in it.
 
Re: Recommend me an overdrive pedal

It sounds like you are looking at videos of distortion rather than overdrive pedals.

I have two overdrives on my board at the moment. The main one is a Joyo Sweet Baby. I keep it on all the time. It's very mild, and responds very well to volume knob tweaking and picking dynamics. The other overdrive is an MXR Custom Badass Overdrive, which I use as a boost. I keep the gain around 9 o'clock and the output around 3 o'clock and it provides an excellent texture for solos and lead work.

I would recommend something like the MXR Custom Badass Overdrive, which as I understand it, is a TS clone. I'd try out as many different ones as you can, preferably with your own gear, then decide which one is right for you.
 
Re: Recommend me an overdrive pedal

+1 on the Timmy.

If you've got $400 to burn, I REALLY like my Landgraff Mo'D as a nice dirt boost for solos.
 
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Re: Recommend me an overdrive pedal

Maybe something like this? I love mine... Real tube gain, switchable between two channels. "Amplifier Helper."

sfx-03.jpg


http://www.seymourduncan.com/products/stompboxes/sfx03_twin_tube/
 
Re: Recommend me an overdrive pedal

The most versatile "transparent" overdrive I know is the Wampler's Euphoria (called Ecstasy, before). I has 3 very different overdrive voices inside and, all them have their use: smooth, transparent and crunch.
I love the smooth mode (dumbleish) with very controlled gain and bass, it's practically transparent but adds that I-dunno-what.
It's good for everything and not for particularly anything.

If you wanted that extra for soloing, then the Wampler Paisley will suit better there, since it has some bump on middle-highs (ala TS).

One more loved clean overdrive is the Xotic RC. Lots of people loves it.

More difficult to find, the Paul C. Tim or Timmy, very transparent.

More difficult and ridiculous expensive, the Klon Centaur.

Hermida Audio Zendrive is a great overdrive also (but a bit compressed in tone, killing a bit the attack).

Dumkudo is a better take of the Zendrive, with two more alternative modes (but, in my opinion, the Euphoria eats with potatos those two).

Some sort of a Tube Screamer but, with less compression and a wider frequencial control, the Mad Professor Little Green Wonder.


Then, there are other pedals that add some magic, without been exactly an overdrive.

MXR Micro Amp, slightly boosts the signal, beefing the gain and giving a sweet warm touch.

My preferred pedal of all times: Xotic EP Booster. Just put that dwarf just before your delay and tweak the control between the minimum position and 9:00h, depending on your pickups and amp, until you get the right touch.
Do that while in clean and, adjust gain and level of your amp to your taste then, push that gain channel.
It doesn't seems to be there but, once you switch it off, you notice a real lack of tone!.

On the cheap side: Danelectro Cool Cat Clean Overdrive (good, but not at the level of the discussed above).
 
Re: Recommend me an overdrive pedal

Inkstained said:
There are 134,687 overdrive pedals. Choosing one will be simple. Enjoy!
Click to expand...

This. And while you're exploring these, about 672,000 more will come out. Each one will have at least a few players declaring it to be the best overdrive on the market.
 
Re: Recommend me an overdrive pedal

I like my Xotic AC Booster for what you're asking for. I certainly wouldn't describe it as a distortion pedal, just a good boost.
 
Re: Recommend me an overdrive pedal

Greetings and welcome Mac! You've came to the right place - maybe.

As you have seen, the choices can be mind boggling. And the recommendations will run the range from the common to the unbelievably rare and ultra expensive. And of course, as you have noticed, some have already ignored what you asked about. Since I don't know what you are already playing, and would like to know more I'll ask for more info: guitar, amp, favorite music. All of that would help us narrow it down to maybe 40 or 50 decent choices!

But also, as one person above already mentioned; Hard to argue with the Basic Tube Screamer, or Boss Blues Driver. Might also consider the Bad Monkey. Or of course, the clasiic Boss OD-1. Actually using the knobs on any of those should get you what want. Less/no gain, slight boost, careful eq - done!

An alternate choice might be to explore some of the modded versions of the above by Monte Allums, or Keely available from our frinds at eBay for a reasonable price. Also, a good compressor might actually be an alternative - but that's a whole different ball of wax. Yet, slight gain boost, good compression....that is is what you asked for, technically.

I will also second the recommendation from hermetico about the MXR Micro Amp. Might be exactly what you want. That would be my personal choice for what you said; However, I'm going to stick with the recommendation of the basic overdrive. You don't HAVE to use the gain. You DO get an eq knob. Both nice bonus touches for the same price. You'll love or hate the Micro Amp - one gain knob done. If you hate it, oh well. A basic overdrive - never a loss for something to use that for. Try it on the amps dirt channel. You might dig it. Explore the grittier sounds...
 
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Re: Recommend me an overdrive pedal

Maybe a FullDrive II.

One I'm really liking is the Empress Multidrive - Its expensive and overkill for what you want, but they sell the overdrive effect of that pedal separately - Look for the Germ Drive.
 
Re: Recommend me an overdrive pedal

I use a Monte Allums SD-1 GT for exactly what you describe. It's pretty versatile, because you can use symmetric or asymmetric clipping, and you have a voicing switch that shifts towards a sort of more-upper-mids sound. I think it's perfect as a character boost on clean tones for a little more sparkle and compression.
 
Re: Recommend me an overdrive pedal

I've used a Boss OD3 for this purpose - gain at zero,volume at whatever level suits you for a slight crunch. Works really well and you can always dial in a little gain if needs be.
 
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