Why do I need a distortion pedal if I already have a Tube Screamer?

Re: Why do I need a distortion pedal if I already have a Tube Screamer?

i'm surprised no one has mentioned it but when you run a distortion into the drive channel of an amp you get a sharpness in the attack and single notes that is impossible to achieve with an overdrive, and sometimes that agressive sharpness is exactly what you need to stand out a solo or to add the searing feel to a riff
 
Re: Why do I need a distortion pedal if I already have a Tube Screamer?

I know Lynch and Vai both used a DS-1 as a boost into a Marshall, Satch used a DS-1 as his distortion sound into a cleaner Marshall.
 
Re: Why do I need a distortion pedal if I already have a Tube Screamer?

I like a DS1 into a distorted amp, but many distortion pedals sound like mush that way IMO.
 
Re: Why do I need a distortion pedal if I already have a Tube Screamer?

Ola Englund did a quick test of a Boss DS1 into a squeaky clean 5150 of all amps and it sounded surprisingly heavy and chunky.

That thing can be pretty evil.
 
Re: Why do I need a distortion pedal if I already have a Tube Screamer?

Ola Englund did a quick test of a Boss DS1 into a squeaky clean 5150 of all amps and it sounded surprisingly heavy and chunky.

That thing can be pretty evil.
Most distortion pedals sound good through a squeaky clean amp. The problem is that most people tend to run them into an already distorted amp.

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Re: Why do I need a distortion pedal if I already have a Tube Screamer?

Most distortion pedals sound good through a squeaky clean amp. The problem is that most people tend to run them into an already distorted amp.

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Or they run it into a 10W SS combo with an 8" speaker and wonder why it sounds kinda small...
 
Re: Why do I need a distortion pedal if I already have a Tube Screamer?

Ola Englund did a quick test of a Boss DS1 into a squeaky clean 5150 of all amps and it sounded surprisingly heavy and chunky.

That thing can be pretty evil.

I’ve made mine ‘chug’ much better than his was able to IMO, using the clean channel; his sounded quite low on gain, a bit surprising to me.
 
Re: Why do I need a distortion pedal if I already have a Tube Screamer?

I think “Ola England made a ___ sounds awesome” is the new “Jack Pearson plays a Squier.”

No disrespect meant to anybody who’s said either. I love that both of them prove that if you’re a badass, you can make anything work.
 
Re: Why do I need a distortion pedal if I already have a Tube Screamer?

I've run my MT-2 into the clean settings on my Microcube, 2 watts and a 6" speaker.
It sounded fine.

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Re: Why do I need a distortion pedal if I already have a Tube Screamer?

Most distortion pedals sound good through a squeaky clean amp. The problem is that most people tend to run them into an already distorted amp.

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Not at all, Vai and Lynch used a DS-1 as a boost, lots of others too I'm sure, Nuno used a Rat and his sound is insanely percussive. The key is, like an OD, to keep the gain low. With a low gain, sometimes distortions make a "cleaner" boost than an OD.

I'm not talking Metal type distortions or anything, although some of those work too if they are set right. I think it's more knowing how to set your equipment for what you are trying to achieve. I agree that cranking the gain on a distortion pedal into a distorted amp usually = mush.
 
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