Keeley DS-9 Vs Metal Zone

[jazzmcs]

Hey guys. I have been using the Boss metal zone with a practice amp for the last few months. It was a pedal I had left over from over a decade ago. My amp is only a small 30 watt solid state so nothing special. The problem is that the metal zone has become unreliable and I'd like to replace it. I did get a chance to play through a digitech modeled DS-9 and it just didn't have the gain or thickness of the metal zone but it seemed to have a more appropriate tone to the music I want to play like Vai, Petrucci, and some more bluesy stuff if the tone was beefed up a bit (maybe the Keeley does this??). It's almost like the metal zone has too much gain and sounds a bit scooped rather than the Marshall distortion sound that I seem to prefer these days though I do like the super long sustain of the metal zone for soloing (just not sure what this would be like on a mod DS-9).

Anyways, I just discovered the Keeley Ultra DS-9 on his site for about 130 plus shipping. This is pretty expensive for me but I'm willing to drop the money if the pedal will still sound good even through my practice amp. The metal zone does certainly make the practice amp sound pretty good but like said maybe a bit too much of that modern super heavy distortion sound for me these days. The reason why I ask all this is because I read through the forums here and a lot of guys say the Keeley DS-9 does not sound good unless you drive a slightly distorted tube amp channel with it. I did listen to some clips on youtube and the guys playing the Keeley mod claimed they didn't have any extra drive on and I loved the sound compared to the metal zone. But reading the comments on this site has me a bit worried that I might just waste my money since I don't have a tube amp yet. So what do you guys think?

BTW, I play a 99 Ibanez RG 505 with new Evolutions in the neck, mid, and bridge so plenty of drive coming out of the guitar if that makes any differance.

Thanks
Mike

[jazzmcs]

Whoops, sorry guys meant the DS-1. Been looking at tons of pedals today and just got the names mixed up.

[rastachild]

i have a keeley ds-1, but it wasn't for me. there's a crapload of gain, but it sounded a little thin imo (although to be fair, thicker than a standard ds-1) and it wasn't true bypass either, which really sucks when it's off because that thing is a tone sucker. you might want to look into the damage control pedal which has tubes in it. also pricey, but i hear it is true bypass.

the keeley ts9 on the other hand sounded great, but that's an overdrive instead of a true distortion.

[Nordhauser]

Replace the Metal Zone - or just buy a tube amp.

[elcid]

Buying a pedal isnt a solution, your best bet would be to replace the amp. If that's not an option I'd take the Keeley all day over a Metal Zone. Actually I'd take a stale ham sandwhich and a bag or hockey pucks over a Metal Zone.

[shogun]

Originally Posted by elcid

Actually I'd take a stale ham sandwhich and a bag or hockey pucks over a Metal Zone.

lolol

[jazzmcs]

Thanks guys. I here ya on the amp. Ideally I'd like the Vai Legacy combo. I really like the sound clips of the amp from the Carvin site. A tube Marshall would also be great but I don't think I could ever afford one. But either way coming up with over a grand isn't going to happen for a while. I also just checked out the Demonizer and it is just to pricey for me right now. Better to just wait and put the 300 towards an amp.

The other night I did fool around a lot with the tone of the metal zone and seemed to come up with a compromise. I just hope it does not die on me soon. Bassically I keep the highs at 12 o clock, boost the bass to 3 o clock, and the biggest difference was boosting the mids to about 2 or 3 o clock with the mid frequency pretty much also at 2 ish. And of course dropping the gain down to 12 oclock. This gives a radically different sound than the typical scooped metal sound. In fact it is pretty much the opposite even with the bridge pickup. So much closer to the sound of the Legacy or a good Marshall. Before it just sounded too much like a rectifier, not exactly of course but just too metal for me. Like said the only thing about the metal zone that I have always liked is the sustain and that is still there with these new settings. Of course the Evos help a lot with that. So I guess I'll stick with it until it dies or I get a new amp.

Thanks again,
Mike

[Jemwielder]

If you're curious about the legacy let me tell you that it IS NOT a high gain amplifier. It does however blend very well with the ds-1. I can get basically every tone i'd ever want. Save for that nice clean Fender spank (which I might end up grabbing at some point, a nice bassman perhaps but i digress.) If you want high gain metal crunch I've found that the ds-1 plus a boss eq pedal on the clean channel of the legacy. To my ears the metal sound has always sounded really harsh and inorganic. This may be a good thing depending on how "brutal" (that's the term the kids are throwing around these days isn't it?) you want your tone to be. Frankly I prefer the more organic sounding bluesy type distortion, which is probably why I'd never be able to play in one of these modern metal bands. If you're not looking for the power that a legacy has you might want to take a look at the blackheart little giant. It's a great little amp that i've had my eye on for a while now, just don't have the cash for it at the moment. Sorry for the lengthy post, but I know how frustrating it can be when you just can't get your tone dialed in. BTW depending on where in MA you are you could come over and try my legacy and see if you like it.