Went pedal testing today... a few impressions

[JohnnyGuitar]

Well, I went to test some overdrive and distortion pedals today... the fact that the service was horrible did make me go test less pedals then I wanted... on the other hand - I think it's better to compare less pedals...
I've tested everything with a maple neck Strat and a Fender Blues Jr...
The one I've liked the most was the TS-9... it has that Santana compressed thing (don't know if it's the best way to describe it) that I like... I do wish it had more gain - or a more fuzzy charecteristic... and I am not thrilled from the way it sounds for rhythm playing. Still my favorite.

I think I'm going to try out a few toher brands and keep searching but the TS is the best direction so far - but I would like a few suggestions...

Here are my (no so great) impressions of other pedals - if you guys are searching... (I'm going a little Harmony Central on you here )

Digitech Crossroads (the Clapton pedal)... pretty warm and nice for rhythm but makes you remmember it's digital on some leads and it has the worst knobs I have ever used. But it was the one I liked the most of the pedals that I won't buy.
Carl Martin Rock drive- I was disappointed by it... (Sorry Rid :blackeye: ). The tone is not "alive".

Now to pedals I really hated -
The YJM DOD signature drive- all I can say is- OMG - the brightness and ice-pick in your ear... I hated it! Guess you need all of Yngwie's settings to make it sound ok...
Digitech Grunge and Ibanez Smash Box- I liked the Smash Box for rhythm (in a way) but both pedals are too cold sounding...

And here's the most expenssive and maybe worst pedal I've tried - Rocktron Silverdragon- I really searched for the "round" tube voice or for some softness when I played it. I tweaked and tweaked... Before I plugged in, the sales person who recomended it to me said - that it's a really warm pedal... it's not. For what it does, which is dead sounding modern metal, the cheaper pedals were a better choice...


So I'm still searching...

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: Went pedal testing today... a few impressions

No worries...it is no secret that I do not think much of our battery drives...actually I downright dislike them
If I had my way...they would be kicked off so fast that people would forget all about them with 1 second!

 

[jmcorey]

Re: Went pedal testing today... a few impressions

The one I've liked the most was the TS-9... I do wish it had more gain - or a more fuzzy charecteristic... and I am not thrilled from the way it sounds for rhythm playing. Still my favorite.

So I'm still searching...

The Boss SD-1 is grittier than the TS-9. Although brighter, it can be modded with the same op-amp chip as the TS-9 to have a more mid-rangey sound, kind of a grittier TS-9. I have an analogman modded SD-1 done this way. Very nice.

The original SD-1's are about $40-50 from guitar center or the web. I know that John Spina (Stratdeluxer97) does similar mods. Private Message him to see if he can weigh in - or just ask him what he could do for you.

 

[nebucanazza]

Re: Went pedal testing today... a few impressions

I am surprised that you found the Rocktron Silver Dragon so bad. I can imagine someone not liking the flavour of the sound, but no way can I imagine it be worst amongst the pedals you tried. It goes from light classic rock distortion to very gainy and compressed, is touch responsive, cleans up well with the volume knob, has lots of gain and feels natural. My friend also has it, along with an AMT Fatal Tube, Keeley Boss BD2, TS808 RI, AMT California..and the Dragon holds it own against them in terms of sound quality and features.

In fact I dont know why it is considered/marketed as a modern metal pedal, with its huge bottom end(which can get a tad loose with lower output pickups) and plenty of mids, it has difficulty in pulling off scooped modern high gain sounds.Even at the maximum gain, it does not reach nu-metal levels.

Sorry for the long rants, just wondering why you disliked it so much

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: Went pedal testing today... a few impressions

On the other hand....testing pedals in a store on one guitar and amp..makes no sense

 

[drpietrzak]

Re: Went pedal testing today... a few impressions

I am surprised that you found the Rocktron Silver Dragon so bad. I can imagine someone not liking the flavour of the sound, but no way can I imagine it be worst amongst the pedals you tried. It goes from light classic rock distortion to very gainy and compressed, is touch responsive, cleans up well with the volume knob, has lots of gain and feels natural. My friend also has it, along with an AMT Fatal Tube, Keeley Boss BD2, TS808 RI, AMT California..and the Dragon holds it own against them in terms of sound quality and features.

In fact I dont know why it is considered/marketed as a modern metal pedal, with its huge bottom end(which can get a tad loose with lower output pickups) and plenty of mids, it has difficulty in pulling off scooped modern high gain sounds.Even at the maximum gain, it does not reach nu-metal levels.

Sorry for the long rants, just wondering why you disliked it so much

While I too like the Dragon, I suspect from the description it was channel 2 that was the main issue. Channel 2 needs work to me. But, that I am sure you are aware that the tube it, while having some impact, is not like the tube in the SFX-03. It is not run at full plate voltage and operates differently than one in an amp would. But, neither is the Tonebones, or most other "tube" pedals. Besides that pedal is not what you may be looking for either. It is you that it needs to work for here. Trust your ears.

Every amp responds to pedals differently. Even the Blues Jr green board (old version) I have responds differently than the newer cream board version. Speakers make a difference, as does V1 in many amps.

Find what you like. It takes time.

 

[Loserchief]

Re: Went pedal testing today... a few impressions

I have to defend the Silver Dragon since i owned one and really liked it(i only sold it since my Engl Sovereign turned out to be very tonefull at low volumes so i didn't need the Dragon anymore). It doesn't sound it's best when used stock. The cheapo china tube makes it sound harsh and liveless imo.
I put in a JJ 803s(longplate) 12AX7 and it made a world of a difference. There was alittle less gain available, but everything became warmer, a bit smoother and very lively.

 

[Reload in 5]

Re: Went pedal testing today... a few impressions

On the other hand....testing pedals in a store on one guitar and amp..makes no sense

It does if it your exact guitar and amp

 

[JohnnyGuitar]

Re: Went pedal testing today... a few impressions

Rid- I tested it with one guitar and amp because the store had almost no staff and has a don't touch without a sales person present policy... besided, I wanted to get an impression before I'm dragging my amp and guitar to the store... so yeah, I'm going to test it with only one amp and guitar anyway...

As for the Silver Dragon... maybe with a different guitar it could sound better... to my ears it was dead and cold... maybe it's a bad tube like Loserchief said... for the price they wanted for it I could get the same tone from the cheaper pedals.

I might also go and try a few Rats again (different store). I wasn't too thrilled about them the last time I've played them but my taste goes through radical changes since I left the Jazz group- so I might like them more now.

A modded DS-1 might be an interesting option...

 

[baritone]

Re: Went pedal testing today... a few impressions

The TS-9 seems to be focused on the perfect frequency. You don't really have to turn it up too loud in order to make your toobs fuzz up a little.

I have a Rocktron Zombie, which has a few similar features as the Silver Dragon. With the Zombie, you can't really turn the gain down much, and the treble and midrange are almost constantly screechy. But I found that cranking the bass helps make the other frequencies sound more reasonable.

 

[drpietrzak]

Re: Went pedal testing today... a few impressions

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A modded DS-1 might be an interesting option...

Interestingly, I spent time the last couple of days looking for the pedal to take the SFX-03's spot until it comes back, and my DS-1 with a Keeley Seeing Eye mod clone is what I found fit the slot the best for me. Now this is in conjunction with my other pedals on the board. It is voiced differently than the Dragon, so it works well in the board.

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: Went pedal testing today... a few impressions

What I meant is that pedals do not always show what they can on a single setup.
Never mind...I am sick of pedals as it is these days

 

[stevie_bees]

Re: Went pedal testing today... a few impressions

What I meant is that pedals do not always show what they can on a single setup.
Never mind...I am sick of pedals as it is these days

It's a good job you don't make them for a living!!! :smack: :laugh2: :laugh2:

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: Went pedal testing today... a few impressions

Well if your boss insists on focusing on the dull things
You do get sick of it...besides we got a few new amps to play around with....really no need for pedals there
We are so swamped in projects right now...that it is draining everybit out of me right now....I am really sick of certain things right now...hehe
Niels

 

[jmcorey]

Re: Went pedal testing today... a few impressions

Well if your boss insists on focusing on the dull things
You do get sick of it...besides we got a few new amps to play around with....really no need for pedals there
We are so swamped in projects right now...that it is draining everybit out of me right now....I am really sick of certain things right now...hehe
Niels

I can identify with that. I love my work projects - very interesting. But man can they grate on my nerves!

 

[SirJackdeFuzz]

Re: Went pedal testing today... a few impressions

If you kinda liked the TS9, but wanted more gain, and/or fuzzy'nes, you HAVE to try the Boss BD-2 !

A lot of folks over-look that mighty unit, because of the "ohhhh, so bland Boss name". It's a shame !!!
This thing rocks - OK, so i sound like a teenager now, but it is my fav. OD for more than a year now !!!

Do try and get your hands on a BD-2 - sounds awsome through my Blues Jr !!!


My 2 cents

 

[JohnnyGuitar]

Re: Went pedal testing today... a few impressions

I do want to try a few Boss pedals but most stores only hold the DS-1 here. Not a bad pedal, but also not what I'm looking for.
BTW, compared to the SD Super Overdrive - how does the BD-2 sounds?

 

[Lespaul1981]

Re: Went pedal testing today... a few impressions

Try an MXR 10 band eq to preamp the amp more. You can go subtle or insane with a couple slides here and there

 

[Axl H]

Re: Went pedal testing today... a few impressions

Jazzer, I think the BD-2 is a bit more smooth. Its symmetrical and the SD-1 is asymmetrical if I remember correct. I like it as a booster, and have it on all the time.

Rid -->Baah lad være med at brokke dig, jeg tjener 100kr om ugen i lommepenge.

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: Went pedal testing today... a few impressions

I like the BD-2 as well . . . it's a good pedal for cutting through in a band situation, and can really add a boost to your amp (for natural distortion sounds).