What do you think about Distortion pedals in front of an all tube amp?
- Thread starter lucaspaço
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dystrust
New member
Re: What do you think about Distortion pedals in front of an all tube amp?
I was referring to the lead channel instead of clean, and you'd also want a different pedal. A Metal Zone really works best doing its thing into a clean or mostly clean amp. To do the thrash JCM800 thing you need a pedal like a DS-1, Proco Rat, MXR Distortion +, or DOD Preamp 250. I'm not sure about your amp, but on an 800 you'd set the preamp gain in the 7+ range and run the master between 2 and about 5 ( which is INSANELY LOUD) boosting the front end with your distortion pedal of choice.
I was referring to the lead channel instead of clean, and you'd also want a different pedal. A Metal Zone really works best doing its thing into a clean or mostly clean amp. To do the thrash JCM800 thing you need a pedal like a DS-1, Proco Rat, MXR Distortion +, or DOD Preamp 250. I'm not sure about your amp, but on an 800 you'd set the preamp gain in the 7+ range and run the master between 2 and about 5 ( which is INSANELY LOUD) boosting the front end with your distortion pedal of choice.
PFDarkside
of the Forum
Re: What do you think about Distortion pedals in front of an all tube amp?
I'm actually using a TS-ish pedal into a Wampler Pinnacle in that exact manner currently.
Works great!
I'm actually using a TS-ish pedal into a Wampler Pinnacle in that exact manner currently.
Works great!
lucaspaço
New member
Re: What do you think about Distortion pedals in front of an all tube amp?
Ops, my bad... But yeah, thats why I said when I use the lead channel with the metal zone it's a mess hahah... So I use it in front of the clean.
Ops, my bad... But yeah, thats why I said when I use the lead channel with the metal zone it's a mess hahah... So I use it in front of the clean.
Chickenwings
Alnico 6/8
Re: What do you think about Distortion pedals in front of an all tube amp?
As far as using dirt pedals go, it is a pretty well tried and true recipe to put a tube screamer or super overdrive in front of a high gain amp to focus the mids and trim off too much low end, so there is no problems doing it.
However, if you are finding that you prefer the sound of the metal zone into your clean channel rather than just using the dirty channel of you amp, then it really looks like that is not the right style of amp for your needs. Hence the recommendation for the 6505 or your suggestion of a DSL. There are plenty of other amps out there too that will do the job you require, but both the 6505 and the DSL will do the job for not too much dough.
yep those have plenty of dirt. They are one of the most recorded amps of the past 20 years.
As far as using dirt pedals go, it is a pretty well tried and true recipe to put a tube screamer or super overdrive in front of a high gain amp to focus the mids and trim off too much low end, so there is no problems doing it.
However, if you are finding that you prefer the sound of the metal zone into your clean channel rather than just using the dirty channel of you amp, then it really looks like that is not the right style of amp for your needs. Hence the recommendation for the 6505 or your suggestion of a DSL. There are plenty of other amps out there too that will do the job you require, but both the 6505 and the DSL will do the job for not too much dough.
Last edited:
lucaspaço
New member
Re: What do you think about Distortion pedals in front of an all tube amp?
The GH 100l actually has only one channel and a drive. This you said about the thrash JCM800s thing I should use the drive then?
The GH 100l actually has only one channel and a drive. This you said about the thrash JCM800s thing I should use the drive then?
lucaspaço
New member
Re: What do you think about Distortion pedals in front of an all tube amp?
Because they are not to expensive compared to others that do similar stuff..
Because they are not to expensive compared to others that do similar stuff..
dystrust
New member
Re: What do you think about Distortion pedals in front of an all tube amp?
The 'drive' built into your amp is similar to the treble booster that Tony Iommi used to boost his amps back in the day; I don't know if he still uses one now. Tone-wise a treble booster can be fuzzy and indistinct, so you wouldn't want one for thrash tones. So if you're going to run your amp dirty and boost it, you'll want the drive turned off and the gain at 6-7 or more.
The 'drive' built into your amp is similar to the treble booster that Tony Iommi used to boost his amps back in the day; I don't know if he still uses one now. Tone-wise a treble booster can be fuzzy and indistinct, so you wouldn't want one for thrash tones. So if you're going to run your amp dirty and boost it, you'll want the drive turned off and the gain at 6-7 or more.
Archer250
New member
Re: What do you think about Distortion pedals in front of an all tube amp?
Never a problem with my RAT or DOD 250, really.
Demanic
PenultimateTone Member
Re: What do you think about Distortion pedals in front of an all tube amp?
If you are running a head with a sick amount of distortion already built into it, then yeah, a tubescreamer will do what needs done (if anything). If you have a Fender Twin or other clean excelling amp, you put a serious two or three diode distortion in front of it, then you have the recipe for serious Brootalz. Thunderous bass, sucked out mids and screaming high end. And if you put a Tubescreamer in front of all that, you tighten the bottom even more.
If you are running a head with a sick amount of distortion already built into it, then yeah, a tubescreamer will do what needs done (if anything). If you have a Fender Twin or other clean excelling amp, you put a serious two or three diode distortion in front of it, then you have the recipe for serious Brootalz. Thunderous bass, sucked out mids and screaming high end. And if you put a Tubescreamer in front of all that, you tighten the bottom even more.
Wormhelmet
New member
Re: What do you think about Distortion pedals in front of an all tube amp?
I like to just barely boost into gain channel with an overdrive, but if going for clean channel with a dirt box, I think I really need to try a couple of the newer ones out. Two that come to mind are the Amptweaker tight metal or fat metal, or the MI Audio Super Crunch Box or their Megalith Delta. The MI Audio Megalith Delta was designed from ground up to run into a clean channel on a tube or solid state amp and reproduce the sound of their Megalith Beta amplifier. Crazy amounts of tight gain. Super Crunch Box designed to sound like modded Marshall into clean channel. The Megalith Delta appeals to me the most.
I have become a little smarter and more discerning on amounts of gain needed in my old age and stopped pouring a ton of gain from pedals into gain channel on the amp. I like to hear less fizz and more individual sounds from chords.
I like to just barely boost into gain channel with an overdrive, but if going for clean channel with a dirt box, I think I really need to try a couple of the newer ones out. Two that come to mind are the Amptweaker tight metal or fat metal, or the MI Audio Super Crunch Box or their Megalith Delta. The MI Audio Megalith Delta was designed from ground up to run into a clean channel on a tube or solid state amp and reproduce the sound of their Megalith Beta amplifier. Crazy amounts of tight gain. Super Crunch Box designed to sound like modded Marshall into clean channel. The Megalith Delta appeals to me the most.
I have become a little smarter and more discerning on amounts of gain needed in my old age and stopped pouring a ton of gain from pedals into gain channel on the amp. I like to hear less fizz and more individual sounds from chords.
Edgecrusher
New member
Re: What do you think about Distortion pedals in front of an all tube amp?
This is OH SO TRUE especially with a Metal Zone. It works great for sub conversation level chugga chugga in your bedroom but in a mix... it disappears like a fart in a tornado.
This is OH SO TRUE especially with a Metal Zone. It works great for sub conversation level chugga chugga in your bedroom but in a mix... it disappears like a fart in a tornado.
treyhaislip
New member
Re: What do you think about Distortion pedals in front of an all tube amp?
+1 To this!
I use a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe and love the clean channel on it. I had the gain channel modded and it sounds killer too BUT I love the sound of my pedals through it. Lately been using an EHX Soul Food along with a ProCo Rat 2 and a ProCo SOLO...awesome tones.
But the key to the great sound I enjoy is the pristine Fender tubey cleans that the pedals are driving.
+1 To this!
I use a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe and love the clean channel on it. I had the gain channel modded and it sounds killer too BUT I love the sound of my pedals through it. Lately been using an EHX Soul Food along with a ProCo Rat 2 and a ProCo SOLO...awesome tones.
But the key to the great sound I enjoy is the pristine Fender tubey cleans that the pedals are driving.
treyhaislip
New member
Re: What do you think about Distortion pedals in front of an all tube amp?
I have no problem live with my ProCo Rat 2 & SOLO...
Yes, factoring in the acoustics & dynamics of a performance vs. a studio is necessary BUT I have not experience Distortion pedals failing to cut through the mix live neither the guitar player for Steve Green who recommended the Rat through a Fender Tube Amp (loved his tone and talked to him after the concert, he showed me his gear and the only distortion pedal was a Rat through an old Fender Silverface.)
I have no problem live with my ProCo Rat 2 & SOLO...
Yes, factoring in the acoustics & dynamics of a performance vs. a studio is necessary BUT I have not experience Distortion pedals failing to cut through the mix live neither the guitar player for Steve Green who recommended the Rat through a Fender Tube Amp (loved his tone and talked to him after the concert, he showed me his gear and the only distortion pedal was a Rat through an old Fender Silverface.)
Archer250
New member
Re: What do you think about Distortion pedals in front of an all tube amp?
The again, the RAT has lotsa mids...
It really depends on the voicing of the pedal and the amp, really. A very muddy amp isn't gonna cut through either, and a very shrill amp will just disappear. Of course, how much gain you're using factors in, too.
The again, the RAT has lotsa mids...
It really depends on the voicing of the pedal and the amp, really. A very muddy amp isn't gonna cut through either, and a very shrill amp will just disappear. Of course, how much gain you're using factors in, too.
lucaspaço
New member
Re: What do you think about Distortion pedals in front of an all tube amp?
Thanks for the answers. I will try all the different ways you said to achieve what I want.
If I just set the amp clean and run the metal zone my other pedals (chorus, flanger, delay) can go straight in the chain. If I use the amps drive and also boost it in front with any overdrive pedal then is recomended to put the others effects I said above in the FX, right?
Thanks for the answers. I will try all the different ways you said to achieve what I want.
If I just set the amp clean and run the metal zone my other pedals (chorus, flanger, delay) can go straight in the chain. If I use the amps drive and also boost it in front with any overdrive pedal then is recomended to put the others effects I said above in the FX, right?
Demanic
PenultimateTone Member
Re: What do you think about Distortion pedals in front of an all tube amp?
Not if it's the one that has been modded by Keeley.
lucaspaço
New member
Re: What do you think about Distortion pedals in front of an all tube amp?
The problem to get a MT-2 modded by Keeley is that I won't find it here in Brazil...
The problem to get a MT-2 modded by Keeley is that I won't find it here in Brazil...
Edgecrusher
New member
Re: What do you think about Distortion pedals in front of an all tube amp?
We will have to agree to disagree on that. I know you love yours, I still think they disappear in a mix.
We will have to agree to disagree on that. I know you love yours, I still think they disappear in a mix.
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