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

[LLL]

Carl Martin PlexiRanger.

Plexi side and a Rangemaster boost side.

I would have used Pete Thorn's vid on this, but in it he's always playing with loads of gain.

This guy turns the guitar volume knob down (at least once I saw @ 2:35... more much later in time) running just the Plexi side to show the dynamics.

And he goes through the knobs... uses humbuckers and a single coil strat... even throws out a couple quick Blackmore riffs.

So, you get a Plexi, a Rangemaster or clean boost (can do either/or, or both) and you get 2 hi pass settings (or off) to get rid of bass flub if needed.

 

[Bogner]

So far, the Ethos and the Dirty Little Secret are really quite amazing.

The Ethos has far more dynamics and adjustability, not to mention all of its features are outside the pedal. The Ethos sounds more amp like, rolls off better and sounds fuller throughout the tonal spectrum. Individual notes on the DLS sound thinner and with some gain you can get some fizz out of the pedal which I didn't like so I got rid of mine. I don't get any of that with my Ethos. It has a real sweetness and life about it that I have yet to find in another pedal in its class. In fact, I preferred various Friedman pedals over the DLS but for the (low gain to me) pedal sound you are after, I have yet to find anything better than the Ethos. If you want me to send you some of the various things I have to try to help you make a decision, let me know.

 

[akozols]

I have been having a blast with this one. It covers a lot of ground and can go from sweet and mellow to big, loud, dumb rock. It's very touch responsive and makes my Fenders sound like Marshalls.

I have the Prime Distortion which is also very responsive

 

[Mincer]

The Ethos has far more dynamics and adjustability, not to mention all of its features are outside the pedal. The Ethos sounds more amp like, rolls off better and sounds fuller throughout the tonal spectrum. Individual notes on the DLS sound thinner and with some gain you can get some fizz out of the pedal which I didn't like so I got rid of mine. I don't get any of that with my Ethos. It has a real sweetness and life about it that I have yet to find in another pedal in its class. In fact, I preferred various Friedman pedals over the DLS but for the (low gain to me) pedal sound you are after, I have yet to find anything better than the Ethos. If you want me to send you some of the various things I have to try to help you make a decision, let me know.

Yeah, I listened to more videos, and the Ethos is pulling ahead of the DLS. How does it compare to something like a Dirty Shirley pedal?

 

[Bogner]

Yeah, I listened to more videos, and the Ethos is pulling ahead of the DLS. How does it compare to something like a Dirty Shirley pedal?

The DS is nice for sure but it isn't as versatile overall. The Ethos has far more adjustability that goes in many different directions than any other pedal like it with the switches etc. With those options it makes the sweep of the knobs seem bigger on what is available to dial in as well. The DS has a lot of mids but so can the Ethos. Again, hit the switches and the options of where everything sits just covers a lot more ground. The Ethos has about 3 pedals worth of options and sounds within it and countless blend choices. That can be a real benefit. On the flip side, the DS pedal is wonderful and covers a lot of ground within itself. Some of that ground is similar in certain settings. Where I am really surprised and impressed with the Ethos is how well it works with other amps and the different styles of other amps. Clean, edge of breakup, crunch, dirty, and so forth. If I had a different backline amp every night I would feel comfortable having the Ethos and knowing I could get something I want out of it where as the DS or many other pedals I may have a home run in a certain amp and not be happy with the next amp, etc. I hope that clarifies. If not, ask away and I will do my best to help and to answer.

 

[Mincer]

The DS is nice for sure but it isn't as versatile overall. The Ethos has far more adjustability that goes in many different directions than any other pedal like it with the switches etc. With those options it makes the sweep of the knobs seem bigger on what is available to dial in as well. The DS has a lot of mids but so can the Ethos. Again, hit the switches and the options of where everything sits just covers a lot more ground. The Ethos has about 3 pedals worth of options and sounds within it and countless blend choices. That can be a real benefit. On the flip side, the DS pedal is wonderful and covers a lot of ground within itself. Some of that ground is similar in certain settings. Where I am really surprised and impressed with the Ethos is how well it works with other amps and the different styles of other amps. Clean, edge of breakup, crunch, dirty, and so forth. If I had a different backline amp every night I would feel comfortable having the Ethos and knowing I could get something I want out of it where as the DS or many other pedals I may have a home run in a certain amp and not be happy with the next amp, etc. I hope that clarifies. If not, ask away and I will do my best to help and to answer.

Thanks for this explanation. While I generally use clean amps, I do get backline amps of varying quality. It is easier to set those on a clean sound and use a pedal that does the dirt well.

 

[devastone]

Keep in mind that "Marshall In A Box" is a generic tone term that doesn't necessarily cover the Plexi circuit.

Plexis sound different than the JTM45s, the Master Volume lineup 2203/2204s, the JCM800 4 holers, the channel switching 2210/2205s, JCM900s, etc...

Even Plexis of different years have circuit changes.

If you haven't actually played a Plexi circuit, a good reference for pure Plexi tone would be Paul Kossoff of Free:

Nothing to add about pedals, but wow, I knew Free was an influence on Cry of Love but I didn't realize how much, at least the 1st album anyway. Audley bought my old metal panel Superlead as a backup for their first tour but I think he ended up using MV Marshalls most of the time, including a Jubilee.

Here's what a strat with JB sounds like into a Marshall.

 

[Mincer]

^Gain is a little higher than I want in that video. I don't use high-output pickups much, nor do I go for a consistent gain level throughout the song. It is really changing all the time.

 

[devastone]

That wasn't any kind of suggestion, just an OT comparison to the Paul Kossoff/Free video LLL posted. Sorry for the interruption.

I think the Friedman pedals may be too gainy for you though.

 

[Masta' C]

A couple oddballs to throw out there. These are not necessarily Marshall-in-a-box by design, but definitely organic, low-to-medium gain overdrives with above average dynamics for a pedal:

FoxRox FR-100

Greer Lightspeed

Aleks Maple Leaf Overdrive

 

[dave74]

Got a blues driver?

 

[devastone]

Get the original that most of these are based on, not to mention the cheapest - https://store.generalguitargadgets....ts/bsiab2-complete-kit?variant=32400858153044

 

[eclecticsynergy]

+1 on the Ethos. Quite a few pedals are described as amplike but the TWE-1 genuinely behaves that way.
Not just fabulous tone and great cleanup, but the feel of a good amp doing its thing.
Plus, its switches give you consistently repeatable control in a way extra knobs wouldn't.
Not a box with just one sweet spot - it's literally difficult to get a poor tone out of this pedal.

I like the Marvel Drive for its cleanup - it's become my go-to plexi-in-a-box - but it only does the one sound.
Despite very good dynamics and a pretty authentic classic-British tone, on its own it still feels like a pedal.
Of course, run that through a tube amp that's working a bit and the thing totally rocks.

Still, the Ethos doesn't need anything extra; the feel is already built in.
And through an already-great-sounding amp it's downright epic.

 

[Mincer]

+1 on the Ethos. Quite a few pedals are described as amplike but the TWE-1 genuinely behaves that way.
Not just fabulous tone and great cleanup, but the feel of a good amp doing its thing.
Plus, its switches give you consistently repeatable control in a way extra knobs wouldn't.
Not a box with just one sweet spot - it's literally difficult to get a poor tone out of this pedal.

I like the Marvel Drive for its cleanup - it's become my go-to plexi-in-a-box - but it only does the one sound.
Despite very good dynamics and a pretty authentic classic-British tone, on its own it still feels like a pedal.
Of course, run that through a tube amp that's working a bit and the thing totally rocks.

Still, the Ethos doesn't need anything extra; the feel is already built in.
And through an already-great-sounding amp it's downright epic.

That Ethos is sounding better and better. It is also the only one that, in demos, sounds amazing with both humbuckers and single coils, while retaining the differences between different guitars.

 

[Demanic]

Well, if I were running an always on gain pedal, I would be playing old school thrash. Don't need no stinking dynamics, just boost to get even louder for leads.
And of course, I would be using a Keeley modded MT-2 on the triple rec setting. Volume and gain at 12 o'clock. Bass and treble at 2 o'clock. Mid inner and outer at about 1:30 o'clock.

Sent from my SM-A115A using Tapatalk

 

[Jeffblue]

I'm not using a plexi specific style pedal. What I am using is a Fargen Ultra ODS Mod on my Bandmaster Reverb, the Normal channel sounds good switching with an A/B switch, I'm also using a Fuch's Plush Valve Job and a Seymour Duncan Diamondhead for different overdrive/distortion modes.

 

[Mincer]

What I am finding is that good, dynamic pedals are not an easy thing to find. It is simply not the way most distortion/overdrive pedals are designed. Of all the videos I've watched, the Ethos is still on top here, but even then, the amount of gain I'd use would be in the first 1/4 turn of the gain knob it seems.

 

[GuitarStv]

If it's going to be always on, why not get a plexi to play through as your amp?

 

[ErikH]

catalinbred dls is the closest ive gotten, better at 18v. good eq and the internal switch changes the voicing

Watching a demo of the DLS could possibly prove to be unhealthy for my wallet...LOL. That sounds REALLY good.

 

[zizyphus]

I've added the Xotic SL drive and FoxRox FR-100 to PFDarkside's list.

The SL drive was designed to be a marshall-in-a-box, but as the name suggests, its more of a super lead than the JTM era plexi
The FoxRox has a surprising versatility of tones, and I'm really in love with that pedals. I wouldn't call it a Marshall-in-a-box per se, but I WOULD recommend it to absolutely anyone who will listen to me. Also, Dave Fox is a stand up guy - customer service for that company is awesome. I'm just a random bedroom player who emailed with a few inquiries, and I got better service in response than I could ever have asked for.
I'll also second the prior votes for the Angry Charlie, Charlie Brown, and OCD. None of them are really my thing, but they sound like they might be what you're after (I, unlike you, love a good mid-hump)

LIST:
Plexidrive
FoxRox FR-100
DLS
Marvel
Charlie Brown
Plexitone

higher gain:
Xotic SL drive
Pinnacle
Riverside
OCD
Angry Charlie
78
__PRESENT