Talk to me about two-in-one pedals

[stratguy23]

So I need 3 sounds for gigging: dirty clean/edge of breakup, Plexi/JTM, boosted lead.

So far I've been looking at 3 channel amps and 2 channel amps with boosts, either internal or external.

It occurred to me there is another way, a two-in-one pedal into a clean(ish) amp, where the pedal has one switch for Marshall-type drive and another for boost. Like, I could just show up at a gig with 2 pedals, tuner and two-in-one thing, and plug into whatever.

Some candidates:

Bogner La Grange
JHS Sweet Tea
Seymour Duncan Palladium (I don't know if there's a Marshall tone in there, but it is a drive/boost pedal and seems to be high quality)
Tech 21 Fly Rig (more than just drive/boost but similar portability concept)
Zvex Box of Rock

Is this a viable approach, and/or does anyone have any experience with these (or similar) pedals?

 

[HiFiRebel]

Re: Talk to me about two-in-one pedals

I don't have much experience with those pedals, but I generally have run through a single channel amp set on clean-ish and used two drive pedals to achieve the necessary dirt.

 

[VinceT]

Re: Talk to me about two-in-one pedals

Fulltone GT500 does this.


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[Falloffthebonetone]

Re: Talk to me about two-in-one pedals

Fulltone GT500 does this.


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As does the Fulldrive 2.

 

[stevie_bees]

Re: Talk to me about two-in-one pedals

I currently use a Blackstar HT Dual in that way, with an additional drive pedal into the front of it to give more tones and a boost after for lead tones. All in to a JTM45 reissue.

 

[VinceT]

Re: Talk to me about two-in-one pedals

As does the Fulldrive 2.

Yes, indeed!


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[Lampy H]

Re: Talk to me about two-in-one pedals

The Wampler Plexi-Drive Deluxe may be worth looking into.

 

[Archer250]

Re: Talk to me about two-in-one pedals

Seymour Duncan Palladium (I don't know if there's a Marshall tone in there, but it is a drive/boost pedal and seems to be high quality)

There is. I've nailed Maiden with it plugged into a Fender Twin at a store.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Talk to me about two-in-one pedals

The Palladium will certainly do this, and add a whole lot more gain and tightness, if you need it. If not, just don't turn the gain up that high.

 

[stratguy23]

Re: Talk to me about two-in-one pedals

Thanks for the answers, everyone! They're very helpful. I'm glad to know this is a viable approach.

I'm considering Wampler Plexi-Drive Deluxe now also - thanks, Lampy.

There is. I've nailed Maiden with it plugged into a Fender Twin at a store.

Very cool. I'm looking for something even more old-school (Marshall up to late '70s at the latest), but it's good to know that classic metal is achievable with the Palladium. The demo was just for high gain, which I understand to be the target audience, but I was wondering if it did more than just that.

 

[Archer250]

Re: Talk to me about two-in-one pedals

You should also consider the box of rocks. Less gain than the Plexi Drive Deluxe, but is easily the most amp-like dirt pedal I've ever played.

It's even more dynamic than my PPIMV Plexi.

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[Gearjoneser]

Re: Talk to me about two-in-one pedals

The Bogner blue and red XTC pedals are the most realistic preamp in a box pedals I 've used in front of a clean amp.

The blue covers everything up to VH gain.
The red covers Satriani and Cantrell type tones, but can be dialed down to classic rock.

I plan to also get a La Grange, but the blue and red are probably tighter.

 

[YeRedHouseOverYonder]

Talk to me about two-in-one pedals

The honeymoon stage is over with my La Grange and it's definitely loose in the low end, but in the "best" of ways (more vintage correct I suppose). The low and med gain settings are where you nail the plexi/jtm/superlead tones. It's pretty markable what you can do with a cleanish amp and this pedal. That said, the high gain isn't all too well if you want tight saturation. The low end might remain too loose for some. It'll get some convincing 80s metal, but falls a bit short of anything requiring more of a JCM 800 style tone. It's better suited and geared for the vintage low/med gain. It truly shines there.

Edit: I haven't owned the blue or red, but some people who have both claim that the La Grange falls in-between the two (blue to red). Results may vary I suppose.

 

[Southbound Suarez]

Re: Talk to me about two-in-one pedals

Fulltone GT500 does this.


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Or the FullTone Full-Drive II Mosfet.

 

[stratguy23]

Re: Talk to me about two-in-one pedals

This is really good info - thanks, Gearjoneser and RedHouse. I am actually looking for looser vs. tighter. I am not looking for JCM (though I do love that sound when others play it). I like the Superbass sound as much as the Superlead sound and don't mind getting my sludgy live Cream tones on. So La Grange and Box of Rock are looking really good to me right now.

 

[YeRedHouseOverYonder]

Talk to me about two-in-one pedals

What kind of amp will you be using? Looks like it might be good for you. Maybe go down to a shop and make sure it's what you want. They're pretty pricey. I know my local Sam Ash carries both the BoR and the LG.


Edit: just another word of warning, I've found other pedals such the Plexitone to transition between the gain structure more smoothly. With the LG, you're more or less stuck with one mode and the boost.

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[Laimac]

Re: Talk to me about two-in-one pedals

Look into the Way Huge Camel Toe that is coming out. Two iconic pedals into one and you can put them in series too.

 

[YeRedHouseOverYonder]

Re: Talk to me about two-in-one pedals

^^ No lie, it looks pretty slick. Would love to try one.


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[stratguy23]

Re: Talk to me about two-in-one pedals

What kind of amp will you be using? Looks like it might be good for you. Maybe go down to a shop and make sure it's what you want. They're pretty pricey. I know my local Sam Ash carries both the BoR and the LG.

Edit: just another word of warning, I've found other pedals such the Plexitone to transition between the gain structure more smoothly. With the LG, you're more or less stuck with one mode and the boost.

That's all really good to know, thanks! I'll start looking around at local shops.

With this approach, I think I would just go into any ol' tube amp on clean. Unless these pedals are better at making a Marshall amp more Marshall-y or whatever; I understand that is the best application for some MIAB pedals.

What do you mean by "transition between the gain structure more smoothly"? If I'm playing guitar at a given time, I'm not turning any amp/pedal knob at the same time and presumably would have set things where I wanted before I started playing.

Camel Toe is always interesting; even more so when it is a pedal!

 

[YeRedHouseOverYonder]

Re: Talk to me about two-in-one pedals

My experience with the LG has been only with blackface type amps. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I prefer pedals that allow you dial in two settings and can interchange them easily. The LG sort of limits you to one or the other. It's not bad per se, but not my preference.


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