guitar distortion pedal...

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Member Since: Apr 27, 2002

does anyone have any suggestions for a real nice...smooth sounding distortion pedal...something that doesnt sound harsh or plasticy? im in the market for one and figured many of you would have some with a minor degree of success

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...bringing sexy back
Member
Since: Jul 01, 2002


Dec 21, 2004 06:21 pm

me and db both love the boss ds1 - beautiful tone AND cheap!

...bringing sexy back
Member
Since: Jul 01, 2002


Dec 21, 2004 06:22 pm

this one : www.homerecordingconnecti...iews&id=303

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Dec 21, 2004 06:23 pm

Amen to the BOSS DS1, God bless 'em!

...bringing sexy back
Member
Since: Jul 01, 2002


Dec 21, 2004 06:28 pm

not to put words in your mouth dude...

I am not a crook's head
Member
Since: Mar 14, 2003


Dec 21, 2004 06:35 pm

The DS1 is a classic, although I've never played with one myself.

The old ProCo Rat is talked highly of, although I think that its been discontinued.

Maybe even check out Ibanez Tube Screamers (not the cheap grey one) for an overdrive kinda thang.

But honestly, think of it like this:

A good amp can make a good distortion pedal sound...well...good, but no distortion pedal will make a bad amp sound good.

Banned


Dec 21, 2004 08:10 pm

Tonebone Classic!!! expensive but the best!

Phatso
Member
Since: Mar 31, 2003


Dec 21, 2004 08:11 pm

Absolutely Tadpui! I use a homemade MXR Distortion plus clone. It was pretty buzzy and harsh until I lowered the treble on my amp. When I crank my amp to where the tubes are JUST breaking up, with the Dist+ in line, I get a supremely nice big amp type distortion. Very responsive to picking and playing dynamics. However, it took a lot of knob fiddling to get a good sound from it.
I like the DS-1 (my buddy's got one). I dont really care for it as a "standalone" pedal. But when you drive a gritty tube amp with it, it really sounds excellent.

Member
Since: Dec 16, 2004


Dec 22, 2004 09:17 pm

Good suggestions so far! Personally, aside from making sure you have a good amp as a solid base for "your" sound, I'm real partial to the Fulltone pedals. I have 2 custom shop Fulldrive 2's, a standard Fulldrive 2, and a Distortion Pro. These things aren't cheap, but they are built like tanks and sound very "musical" to me. Menatone makes some very good stuff also. Play as many as you can, and get the one that sounds the best to "your" ears. A lot of the fun here is in the search!

Bane of All Existence
Member
Since: Mar 27, 2003


Dec 22, 2004 10:02 pm

electro harmonix hot tubes is pretty smooth. sounds insane on bass.

Jack of all trades master of ___
Member
Since: May 28, 2004


Dec 22, 2004 10:41 pm

Boss DS-1...

and whatever you do, dont ask dB or Walt about digital mixers...

a.k.a. Porp & Mr. Muffins
Member
Since: Oct 09, 2002


Dec 23, 2004 12:09 pm

I just picked up a Boss Overdrive/Distortion pedal. I fell in love with it at the store when I tried it next to all the other Boss distortions. I was able to tweak the pedal to get it to sound like all the other ones there (minus the EQ features). I've never been a DS-1 fan (Although you can get the same sound from this pedal if you want). If you want a "smooth" sound, then maybe you're looking for more of an overdrive, which is what the Overdrive/Distortion can give you. You can also get a combination from it with the turn of a knob. Also check out the new Line 6 stompboxes. I've heard really great things about them, and I love Line 6 distortions.

Member
Since: Jan 18, 2003


Dec 23, 2004 09:27 pm

what is the difference between distortion and overdrive, soundwise and as far as the way they're produced?


Phatso
Member
Since: Mar 31, 2003


Dec 24, 2004 12:22 am

Distortion is commonly considered a pretty heavy crunch. Overdrive is normally considered a much more mellow distortion-type sound. Like when a tube amp is pushed to where its juuuuust starting to sound gritty.

So, a Tube Screamer would be considered more "Overdrive" and a Boss Metal Zone would be considered "Distortion". And somewhere right in the middle of all that is "Fuzz".

Banned


Dec 25, 2004 06:12 pm

overdrive pedals are typically used in front of a cranked tube amp, to push the amp into further breakup, not to be used at lower volumes as a distortion, so if you have a tube amp and wont be playing at high levels, i would personally stay away from getting an overdrive pedal get a distortion pedal. But an overdrive pedal sounds great at all levels in front of a solid state amp it gives you a more tube like sound.

so if you have a tube amp and play at bedroom leves get a distortion pedal.

if you have a solid state amp a distortion or overdrive works great.


Member
Since: Jan 18, 2003


Dec 25, 2004 08:39 pm

this is helpful to finally know, given that i've been playing electric guitar for 12 years now. the only thing i've ever needed was distortion, but i've never been quite clear on the exact definition of overdrive. thanko.


Member
Since: Jul 02, 2003


Dec 26, 2004 02:42 pm

In addition forty, Overdrive (at least to me) you have alot more control over by how you play attack and strength wise. Overdrive if your playing softly will be a clean sound as you play stronger the distortion comes out. This is a very common usage of Overdrive. With distortion regardless of how you play the distortion is still pretty much there.

Here's an example from a collab I'm doing with a friend, it's just a quick test mix. The electric guitar part is one patch played all the way thru.
www.smokinhq.com/collaborate/iohtestdrums2.mp3

Dan

I am not a crook's head
Member
Since: Mar 14, 2003


Dec 26, 2004 10:33 pm

How's this:

www.dummies.com/WileyCDA/...le/id-1155.html

Member
Since: Mar 26, 2005


Mar 26, 2005 02:58 pm

Metal Monster - has real 12AX tube

Member
Since: May 09, 2004


Mar 26, 2005 03:06 pm

I'd have second PorpoiseMuffins suggestion on the Boss overdrive/distortion. Just got one myself to run into the front end of my Carvin Legacy as a secondary drive.

The Carvin has a real nice lead channel but now I have another option (or addition if I need the gain onslaught)

edit0r
Member
Since: Aug 17, 2004


Mar 27, 2005 12:33 am

oh, hoho, get a Hughes and Ketner tube factor, through a tube amp, Very moi

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