Distortion pedal help?

-ben · #1 12-16-2008, 01:10 PM

I'm looking for a distortion pedal that will add boost to an already-distorted tone, sound better than my amps distortion when i'm on clean, and MOST IMPORTANTLY not add more volume without sacrificing tone. The main problem I have with my amp's distortion is it is much louder than my amps clean.

btw, I play a Vox AC50CPH and a generic Telecaster loaded with Seymour Duncan pickups and electronics. Also a Crybaby 535Q and a Line 6 Echo Park delay.

jb4674 · #2 12-16-2008, 01:13 PM

You don't need a distortion pedal but an overdrive instead. I would try a Fulltone OCD or a Satchurator.

Jimmy

-ben · #3 12-16-2008, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jb4674

You don't need a distortion pedal but an overdrive instead. I would try a Fulltone OCD or a Satchurator.

Jimmy

I figured, I'm just not really aware of the differences between fuzz, OD, distortion, boost, etc. I've been really anxious to play a Satchurator, but I'll look into a Fulltone too. I'm looking to play everything, hopefully even rent some stuff and play it at home, but right now I'm just looking for recs and thoughts.

jallen · #4 12-16-2008, 03:39 PM

I LOVE my Boss SD-2 Dual Overdirve. It has two settings- Crunch and Lead. I usually use the Lead setting on a clean amp, but it has the flexibility to do the other things you're asking about too. If you can find one, check it out...

Max Dread · #5 12-16-2008, 03:51 PM

The TS-9 Tubescreamer is widely used for this purpose, although I have not used one myself.

Dantesstudio · #6 12-16-2008, 09:27 PM

I have a TS-9 its kinda cute i guess. I would go for a OCD or a Voodoo lab sparkle drive. If you can afford it, go for a Keeley modded Sparkle drive or a DS1.

**GilkyBear** · #7 12-16-2008, 09:31 PM

What you're looking for is a Klon Centaur.

Kidding, I would just go with an overdrive like the tube screamer (based on what you are saying). It really depends on what kind of distortion you are looking for though. A tube screamer isn't going to give you death metal chugga chugga distortion and a heavy distortion pedal isn't going to get you near say a Hendrix or SRV type of tone either.

HeavyMetal4Ever · #8 12-17-2008, 08:51 AM

You might want to think about an eq pedal too. They can work great as a boost, and you can sculpt the tone alot more.

Rock on!

Pablo · #9 12-17-2008, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by -ben

I'm looking for a distortion pedal that will add boost to an already-distorted tone, sound better than my amps distortion when i'm on clean, and MOST IMPORTANTLY not add more volume without sacrificing tone. The main problem I have with my amp's distortion is it is much louder than my amps clean.

btw, I play a Vox AC50CPH and a generic Telecaster loaded with Seymour Duncan pickups and electronics. Also a Crybaby 535Q and a Line 6 Echo Park delay.

I have no experience with this amp but I'll say this finding 1 pedal to do both jobs may be hard. You don't say how distorted you want to go on the clean channel ?

When you say that your distorted channel is louder ? if you can't turn it down ( I have the same problem with a Boogie Subway rocket) you WILL need a hotplate. this will let you level out the volumes.

So for a Pedal that will boost the gain of an already distorted amp well pick one, they will all do that. DS1, Tube screamer, Xotic AC or BB, MXR etc

As for sounding better than a tube amp when your on clean.....defeats the point of a channel switching tube amp and it depends how much gain you want. But Xotic, Fulltone dist sounds good if you want a bluesy distortion, for more Rock gain the Satchurator or MXR Zakk Wylde are ok and with the vol knob you can set the volume levels, but there are hundreds of pedals out there, you'd need to try them with your setup.

I would recommend something like the Xotic BB Preamp but I have found that this sounds terrible with my Carvin yet awesome with Boogie or Laney stuff. The other cool one is the Fulltone OCD.

The sound clips from ProGuitarShop.com may help in deciding.

Good luck

-ben · #10 12-17-2008, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pablo

I have no experience with this amp but I'll say this finding 1 pedal to do both jobs may be hard. You don't say how distorted you want to go on the clean channel ?

When you say that your distorted channel is louder ? if you can't turn it down ( I have the same problem with a Boogie Subway rocket) you WILL need a hotplate. this will let you level out the volumes.

So for a Pedal that will boost the gain of an already distorted amp well pick one, they will all do that. DS1, Tube screamer, Xotic AC or BB, MXR etc

As for sounding better than a tube amp when your on clean.....defeats the point of a channel switching tube amp and it depends how much gain you want. But Xotic, Fulltone dist sounds good if you want a bluesy distortion, for more Rock gain the Satchurator or MXR Zakk Wylde are ok and with the vol knob you can set the volume levels, but there are hundreds of pedals out there, you'd need to try them with your setup.

I would recommend something like the Xotic BB Preamp but I have found that this sounds terrible with my Carvin yet awesome with Boogie or Laney stuff. The other cool one is the Fulltone OCD.

The sound clips from ProGuitarShop.com may help in deciding.

Good luck

I have volume control, but the distorted channel is significantly louder for whatever reason. It just bothers me, but it's liveable.

I'd just like to have a setup with more options. I'd like to be able to play on clean, switch to one distortion and have a more straightforward rock sound, and then have another option that could be very very saturated, much heavier without adjusting my amps settings. It's a very versatile amp, but it only has two channels (NOT that I'm complaining).

Let's look at it this way. My friend has a JVM, so he has idk, like 4 different tonal options right at his feet directly through the amp. At least two are distorted. I'd like to be able to have numerous tonal settings without turning every single nob on my head to sound good.

Ya know?

and thanks everyone for all the suggestions. I'll be sure to play all of these before I buy anything.

waylay00 · #11 12-17-2008, 06:32 PM

Check out the BB Preamp. It's a great little OD/light distortion pedal that's very transparent.

I also like the Keeley-modded TS9DX and the Fulltone OCD.

akiragr8 · #12 12-17-2008, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by waylay00

I also like the Keeley-modded TS9DX and the Fulltone OCD.

Both of these are fantastic pedals!!

TKO Ken · #13 12-30-2008, 11:30 AM

Tech 21 Tri AC sansamp, Buy it, crank it, love it!

I had been looking for a pedal that does what this one does for 20 years!

Ther are some great sound samples on the site.
http://www.tech21nyc.com/triac.html

ColinMmmmm · #14 12-30-2008, 12:03 PM

I've heard the Fulltone OCD and it ruled. All the above pedals would probably be great though.

GLG421 · #15 12-30-2008, 02:59 PM

One correction, the Satchurator is not and OD pedal. In fact, mine sounds like crap when trying to use it over anything more than just slightly dirty. But it still may be the solution for you.

You can use it on your clean channel, and with the more button have three settings on one channel. Clean, moderate gain, High gain. then use your dirty channel for a completely different tone.

The volume between channels may still be an issue, but you may find that you stay one the clean all the time.

Several of the other pedals mentioned could do the same thing.

Basically, you want to look at an Overdrive pedal to push your dirty channel harder and thus shape it's tone, or look at a distortion pedal to use either on the clean channel, or the dirty channel with the gain rolled way back.