Distortion / Overdrive pedal

[kpinks]

Can anyone recommend a really good distortion / overdrive pedal to put in the front of my amp?

[screamndemon69]

Important info like, type of amp you're using and what style or sounds you prefer would be helpful.

I use a Radial Tone Bone Hot British and a TS-9 for ALL my distortion and overdrive needs. It's been my main dist/OD combo for a few years and I have compared them to many others but still stick with what works I use nice clean tube amps BTW (Mesa F-50 and Fender '65 Deluxe reissue).

[shogun]

Originally Posted by screamndemon69

Important info like, type of amp you're using and what style or sounds you prefer would be helpful.

I use a Radial Tone Bone Hot British and a TS-9 for ALL my distortion and overdrive needs. It's been my main dist/OD combo for a few years and I have compared them to many others but still stick with what works I use nice clean tube amps BTW (Mesa F-50 and Fender '65 Deluxe reissue).

wow dude im goin to try/buy the hot brit on monday

[rty13ibz98]

i like the boss ds-1, boss 0d-3, an the good old ibanez ts-9. unfortunately, i don't use pedals anymore as i use line6 amps solely, but when buddies bring their amps over and i check them out, i have my ds-1 handy to see what happens when you push them. the ds-1 is often refered to as the "marshall in a box" i like it because it pulls double duty as a distortion pedal and overdrive depending on the gain settings.

rich

[tt0511]

I haven't tried a TS-9 or other tube screamer, but they have quite a reputation. The Boss DS-1 is a standard. I like it. But a friend gave me an old RAT distortion pedal from the 80's that's been in his closet and that has become my pedal. I love the way it does not kill the tone in my hands. It has particular nuances that shine through that the Boss DS-1 masks.

I can't speak to the other one that was mentioned. Never tried it. Best thing is to make a trip to the store and try a few on an amp similar to yours, unless you don't have a store nearby. They really do all have their own unique qualities, and who can know which one will grab your ears? Only your ears can tell.

[kool_am_i]

Buy a TS-9

[waylay00]

Xotic BB Preamp...Timmons, Gilbert, Scott Henderson, among others use it

[rty13ibz98]

Originally Posted by tt0511

I haven't tried a TS-9 or other tube screamer, but they have quite a reputation. The Boss DS-1 is a standard. I like it. But a friend gave me an old RAT distortion pedal from the 80's that's been in his closet and that has become my pedal. I love the way it does not kill the tone in my hands. It has particular nuances that shine through that the Boss DS-1 masks.

I can't speak to the other one that was mentioned. Never tried it. Best thing is to make a trip to the store and try a few on an amp similar to yours, unless you don't have a store nearby. They really do all have their own unique qualities, and who can know which one will grab your ears? Only your ears can tell.

i had a rat as well. it sounds great by itself, but wouldn't use it for an OD. the ds-1 is great all purpose. for the high gain stuff, i keep a mt-2 in the box. the rat is a mean and nasty pedal...in a good way. the rat lies somewhere between a marshall and a rectifier. not as crunchy as a rec, but way more gain and balls than a marshall.

rich

[David McCarroll]

Originally Posted by shogun

wow dude im goin to try/buy the hot brit on monday

Can I suggest you at least try some of the Fulltone pedals before you commit to this - I bought a Radial Plextube (2 stage version of the Hot British) a year or so ago, and while it is great for ultra high gain stuff, that seems to be about the only thing it does really well. In total frustration I headed down to our only real boutique stompbox shop here in Sydney (Global Vintage if anyone is interested), after much reading (very bad way to choose an audio device BTW!!!!) to plonk down some cash on a Fulltone GT500.....

.... well, contrary to all reviews, I personally found the GT500 an enormous disappointment, but the OCD and Fulldrive MOSFET so damn good that I couldn't choose one over the other, and bought both! The Fulldrive has a boost function built in as well, so in one pedal you have overdrive, boosted overdrive or even clean boost with a bit of knob twirling.

Okay, the Radial pedal has a 12AX7 in it - but if you read the blurb, the tube is there only to impart a bit of tube roundness to the sound, it is not part of the clipping circuit - and the Fulltone pedals seem to do solid state overdrive better than anything I've heard - including every iteration of the tube screamer (of which I have had quite a few over the years)

So, for a great, versatile banger, I'd highly recommend the Fulldrive MOSFET - for a stellar overdrive unit, the OCD is hard to beat - but again, you need to hear them, preferrably through YOUR rig before you start plomping down cash!

[rty13ibz98]

fulltone is AMAZING!!!! the distortion pro is phenomenal and so is the full drive(it's like 2 ts-9's in one pedal). if i were still using an analog rig, those 2 would be staples in my rig. even though i am not a huge fan of traditional style wahs, the clyde would find a home there, too.


rich

[David McCarroll]

At least here in Australia they are also surprisingly reasonable, price wise, compared to a lot of other boutique stuff, especially considering that they really deliver the goods in spades!

Still wouldn't mind getting my paws on a LovePedal Eternity Overdrive though - if it's good enough for Andy Summers .......

[shogun]

Originally Posted by David McCarroll

Can I suggest you at least try some of the Fulltone pedals before you commit to this - I bought a Radial Plextube (2 stage version of the Hot British) a year or so ago, and while it is great for ultra high gain stuff, that seems to be about the only thing it does really well. In total frustration I headed down to our only real boutique stompbox shop here in Sydney (Global Vintage if anyone is interested), after much reading (very bad way to choose an audio device BTW!!!!) to plonk down some cash on a Fulltone GT500.....

.... well, contrary to all reviews, I personally found the GT500 an enormous disappointment, but the OCD and Fulldrive MOSFET so damn good that I couldn't choose one over the other, and bought both! The Fulldrive has a boost function built in as well, so in one pedal you have overdrive, boosted overdrive or even clean boost with a bit of knob twirling.

Okay, the Radial pedal has a 12AX7 in it - but if you read the blurb, the tube is there only to impart a bit of tube roundness to the sound, it is not part of the clipping circuit - and the Fulltone pedals seem to do solid state overdrive better than anything I've heard - including every iteration of the tube screamer (of which I have had quite a few over the years)

So, for a great, versatile banger, I'd highly recommend the Fulldrive MOSFET - for a stellar overdrive unit, the OCD is hard to beat - but again, you need to hear them, preferrably through YOUR rig before you start plomping down cash!

i looked into the fulltone, but I already have the low gain tones down.. i have a sparkle drive, and now a bb preamp.. i need a mid to high gain pedal that can be boosted by the bb to have a full, round lead tone.. right now I am using a marshall jackhammer, which does a decent - good job.

[rty13ibz98]

Originally Posted by shogun

i looked into the fulltone, but I already have the low gain tones down.. i have a sparkle drive, and now a bb preamp.. i need a mid to high gain pedal that can be boosted by the bb to have a full, round lead tone.. right now I am using a marshall jackhammer, which does a decent - good job.

you'll want the distortion pro...


rich

[waylay00]

If you can't get a good lead tone out of a good OD + amp's dirty channel, then you probably need to look at your amp before buying three or more OD/distortion pedals...

[Jemma_Ann's_man]

Originally Posted by waylay00

If you can't get a good lead tone out of a good OD + amp's dirty channel, then you probably need to look at your amp before buying three or more OD/distortion pedals...

+1

there's no cheap way to get good sound. you get what ya pay for.

howwever though the Boss DS-1 isn't so bad though if you cannot afford a better amp. I iown one myself and sometimes use it as a boost.