The Ultimate Always-On Dirt Pedal (for me)?

the ethos sounded good in the clips but ya really need to use it with your rig before you know for sure. i love timmy, its my favorite od but id doesnt really change the character of what you have going on, which is why i love it. again, the dls is a very marshally thing if you are still going down that road.
 
Dudeman7 said:
Have you considered the Zen Drive (or clone)? There are also a couple Dumble In Box pedals that might give you something different than what you already have.

Also, I recently discovered a company called Dirty Haggard Audio. They make a pedal called the "797" which is a modified, finely tuned variation on the DOD 250 circuit. The 797 is handwired in the US, sounds fantastic through the whole gain range and costs about $70.00 new. Game changer pedal for me and I really like that it has a different character than the typical TS, Klon or Blusebreaker pedals many people use for low gain OD.
Click to expand...

The Zen is next on my list. I like what the Zen models sound like in my Fractal and HX Effects..a little like a fatter Klon. It certainly is touch sensitive, and a different sound from most TS-based pedals.
 
Rat and TS both tickle my fancy for this purpose. I'm not very adventurous with pedals... but these work.
 
Right now, I am experimenting with models...a Timmy model and a King of Tone model, both which do a really good job. Next thing is to compare these to the actual pedals. I tried an OCD (real and model) and it was a little heavier than I like.
 
I haven't had the extensive experience with MIAB pedals that a lot of had, but I usually find they have far too much gain for me. I used a Plexitone prototype that Niels sent me, and I had to have to gain set really low, but it was a glorious sound with a really effective volume boost for solos. For me, it's a fabulous 'grab-and-go' pedal if I can't take a pedalboard, and gives that great Marshall sound no matter what I put it through.
 
i love the kot clean setting, its very open and uncompressed but to sound its best, imnsho, it needs the output and gain up a fair amount. as an always on thing, thats not an issue though. not super marshally but a great dynamic dirty tone.
 
Mincer said:
I did. My initial thought is that it *does* clean up well. The base tone isn't significantly different than what I already have access to, though. In other words, it is a good overdrive pedal, but not transformative. I haven't decided if I am going to keep it yet.
Click to expand...

I'm in the same boat with the Xotic SL Drive. I like it but it's not overwhelming for me so I think I'm gonna send it back and get an EP Booster for leads if my DIY Mosfet Booster doesn't do the trick (but it should).

Edit: My DIY booster has a flaky switch so I'll be looking at a few other options. The Wamper db+ is one along with the EP Booster.
 
Last edited:
Revisiting this and looking (again) at the descriptors, I would look for a JTM45 type pedal.

When my amp was a '66 JTM45 (modded to), it was very touch-sensitive, super chimey with the requisite Marshall bite. Turn down and you get some of the best tube amp cleans ever; rivals Fender.

Cranked JTM45 tones? Try Clapton with Cream. Of course, don't need to crank it.

JHS Charlie Brown (not the Angry Charlie) - the yellow colored one, is supposed to be a JTM45 in a box; but I've never tried it.

J Rockett .45

ZVex Box Of Rock, too.

There are several others...
 
Last edited:
For me, the always on dirt is a Klon style because you always have an element of the clean mixed in with the Hard Clipping

But if your looking plexi-ish - maybe try the Tonebone British with a 12AX7 -Radial Engineering tends to get things very right and you can get one for 60-90 bucks used.

plus theres way more voicing/tone sculpting on this to mess with

Ive never tried one BTW

nl4xio1dwf4qgcsgalf8.jpg
 
Thought this sounded PDG (J Rockett .45)



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhfHvciPYkU
 
LLL said:
Thought this sounded PDG (J Rockett .45)



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhfHvciPYkU
Click to expand...

Excellent small company -they answer the phone BTW -that counts a lot in my book
 
NegativeEase said:
For me, the always on dirt is a Klon style because you always have an element of the clean mixed in with the Hard Clipping

But if your looking plexi-ish - maybe try the Tonebone British with a 12AX7 -Radial Engineering tends to get things very right and you can get one for 60-90 bucks used.

plus theres way more voicing/tone sculpting on this to mess with

Ive never tried one BTW

nl4xio1dwf4qgcsgalf8.jpg
Click to expand...

You know, I eventually settled on a Klone from BYOC, that I absolutely love. It has dirt, but I can use dynamics, too.
 
I use a bogner blue for that edge of breakup to rock gain.
its my always on pedal.

All the switches (that actually do stuff! Lol) can be adapted for any guitar and a variety of sounds.

Is it a dead on marshall? No. Close? I dont know. Does it sound great? Heck yeah!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Aceman
ULTIMATE small/mini pedal board
2
Replies
28
Views
444
Aceman
Aceman
P
Secret Agent for HSH middle pickup?
Replies
3
Views
144
Mincer
Mincer
IMENATOR
Need overdrive pedal for rythm rock tones
2
Replies
35
Views
855
Butch Snyder
Butch Snyder
idsnowdog
Introducing The Tone Ranger Pedal
Replies
16
Views
780
Artie
Artie
Securb
Luminlay Pedal Toppers on the way
Replies
10
Views
216
Securb
Securb
Back
Top