Overdrive/ Distortion pedals

[destes]

  Alright LGM fam i was wondering what are some good overdrive or distortion pedals. What are you running and why!   I currently am running a fulltone fulldrive 2 and itsl sounds sweet but  i am going to put together a new pedal board and didnt want to miss out on any other good sounding pedal...I have tried the usual stuff like t-screamers, rats, and gov.  and was wondering is there any more i need to try ..I would like to have another one to go with the fulldrive

[Abe]

I'll kick off the discussion with the two that I like:
1. RAT2
2. Jekyll & Hyde

I'm sure these two will draw some warm comments during this Deep Freeze weather condition. 

[funkStrat_97]

+1 on the Jekyll & Hyde.  BTW, what are you looking for in a dirt box?  There are so many to choose from and opinions vary wildly.  I currently use a Boss OS-2 (Overdrive/Distortion).  I have found that it has the potential to be a decent distortion pedal.  The OS-2 combines both overdrive and distortion effects in a single compact pedal.  IMO, it is a better overdrive than a distortion pedal, but by using the color knob (which blends o.d. and d.s.) you can get a nice variety of sounds ranging from pure overdrive to full distortion.  The overdrive channel is ok, but it is not sensitive to picking dynamics and it is not "transparent".  I find that the best sounds are with the color set to a 60/40 ratio of o.d. to d.s. and the gain set to the 2 o'clock position for a heavy distortion sound, but know this....it aint nowhere near being a so-called metal pedal.  Overall, it's a serviceable pedal, but far from great.  Get the Jekyll & Hyde.

[jivejong]

I use a Biyang Mad Driver which is a Tubescreamer clone for overdrive, and a Biyang Max Distortion which is a Rat clone for my distortion. I also use a Digitech DF-7, which has 7 distortion models to get the sounds my two main pedals can't, or if I want a smaller set up.
 

[Melodic Dreamer]

If your into a TS variant of some type, then I would also look at
Love Pedal Eternity
Analogman TS9 808/silver mod
Xotic Ac Booster

If you like the Higher gain, almost Marshall Thing
Fulltone OCD
Suhr Riot
Xotic BB Preamp
Mi Audio Crunch Box

If your looking for a good cleaner amp like tone
Paul Cochrane's Timmy
Catalinbread DLS
Xotic RC Booster

[jivejong]

If you're comfortable with a soldering iron, you can also make your own boutique pedals and save some $$.

www.generalguitargadgets.com
www.buildyourownclone.com

Alot of boutique pedals are based on these DIY designs.

[gtrdave]

I'm running a Bixonic Expandora II and a PEEBSound TS808 clone w/ mods. Those two pedals have become my basic lead and rhythm sounds, respectively.
I also have a Bad Monkey in the chain, but that's mainly for the 'mixer out' option. I run that pedal at minimal gain, so it sounds like a slightly dirty tube amp.

[JayP5150]

Someone mentioned the Timmy. That's basically another TS derivative with a modded tone control (separate cut for bass and treble) and double-up diodes for less clipping.

The Dano transparent OD was alleged to be a similar circuit, and from the vids i've seen, I'd say that's probably accurate. I love mine, especially for the price.

I also run a single FET booster. I guess that's technically a PEEBSound pedal lol. You think I'd own more of that stuff

[jlynnb1]

If your into a TS variant of some type, then I would also look at
Love Pedal Eternity
Analogman TS9 808/silver mod
Xotic Ac Booster

If you like the Higher gain, almost Marshall Thing
Fulltone OCD
Suhr Riot
Xotic BB Preamp
Mi Audio Crunch Box

If your looking for a good cleaner amp like tone
Paul Cochrane's Timmy
Catalinbread DLS
Xotic RC Booster

all good suggestions...i'd add the Hermida Zendrive and the Voodoo Labs Sparkle Drive to the list....

[Melodic Dreamer]

all good suggestions...i'd add the Hermida Zendrive and the Voodoo Labs Sparkle Drive to the list....

I would only get a Zendrive if your using buckers. With singles it just don't sound the same.

[Melodic Dreamer]

Someone mentioned the Timmy. That's basically another TS derivative with a modded tone control (separate cut for bass and treble) and double-up diodes for less clipping.

The Dano transparent OD was alleged to be a similar circuit, and from the vids i've seen, I'd say that's probably accurate. I love mine, especially for the price.

I also run a single FET booster. I guess that's technically a PEEBSound pedal lol. You think I'd own more of that stuff

Hey man, I would have to kindly disagree. I have owned three Timmy's. They have nothing in common with a TS type of pedal. I have spoke with Paul on many occasions and the circuitry is different than any TS9 or 808 of any kind. It's a good pedal that worked well with my THD Flexi 50, but once I sold it, the Timmy didn"t work with my OD100 CL+ as much as the OCD and Analogman Mod'd SD9 did.
Another pedal that does a lot is the Skeddy Screwdriver. Killer little pedal.

[JayP5150]

You know what, I dig into it a bit more, and it's not a derivative of the TS, per se, but still a dual opamp, non-inverting, soft-clipper.

I guess Paul made a lot of comments himself at the freestompboxes site (I don't hang out there...), and even confirmed the schem that's floating around.

No input or output buffers, different clipping and tone setup.

I didn't mean it as a belittling statement, it's just that almost everything out there now has a piece of something else in it. It's practically unavoidable.

[Melodic Dreamer]

You know what, I dig into it a bit more, and it's not a derivative of the TS, per se, but still a dual opamp, non-inverting, soft-clipper.

I guess Paul made a lot of comments himself at the freestompboxes site (I don't hang out there...), and even confirmed the schem that's floating around.

No input or output buffers, different clipping and tone setup.

I didn't mean it as a belittling statement, it's just that almost everything out there now has a piece of something else in it. It's practically unavoidable.

Oh, I understand, I didn't mean to sound Harsh. You have the Eternity's and the Fulldrives that do the Mod'd Tube Screamer thing, but the Timmy sounds completely different. I just didn't want it to be mistaken for something it's not. We all know every circuit is a take off another to a point. Marshall was taken from Fender, but their known as two completely different things now.

[jivejong]

Anyone try out the Wampler Pinnacle or Ecstacy?

Been considering those.

[Melodic Dreamer]

Anyone try out the Wampler Pinnacle or Ecstacy?

Been considering those.

Never played the Ecstasy, but The Pinnacle is a good pedal. Well, I have only played the first model, so I don't know about the second one. It's defiantly a distortion pedal though. It pretty much has the whole Brown Sound thing going on. It can do the Van Halen sort of tone, so I say it would be good for some Lincoln Brewster stuff. High Gain distortion tones. That sort of thing.

[jlynnb1]

I would only get a Zendrive if your using buckers. With singles it just don't sound the same.

maybe not the same but that's not always a bad thing....

personally i can't stand pedals...i prefer amp gain. i like them for a boost or a specific effect (octave fuzz, fuzz, etc) or maybe a light gain like the OCD or Sparkle Drive...but i want my main gain sound coming from my amp.

[Melodic Dreamer]

maybe not the same but that's not always a bad thing....

personally i can't stand pedals...i prefer amp gain. i like them for a boost or a specific effect (octave fuzz, fuzz, etc) or maybe a light gain like the OCD or Sparkle Drive...but i want my main gain sound coming from my amp.

Oh, I totally agree. I use my OCD and Analogman Mod'd Maxon SD9 to boost the front end of my amp which is Plexish in vibe. I'm not a high gain gain anyway. Plus, I'm a hybrid pricker and touch dynamics mean a lot to me. So Tubes amps with a good amount of air being pushed is definitely the way to go. But for me, in the real world it's hard for me to play these amps in church, at least my church. I leave the big amps at home and for band practice/shows. So in church, I use pedals into an amp. Here lately I've been using the Line 6 M13 into a Blues Jr. Not my preference, but it works good enough for the church.

[jlynnb1]

Oh, I totally agree. I use my OCD and Analogman Mod'd Maxon SD9 to boost the front end of my amp which is Plexish in vibe. I'm not a high gain gain anyway. Plus, I'm a hybrid pricker and touch dynamics mean a lot to me. So Tubes amps with a good amount of air being pushed is definitely the way to go. But for me, in the real world it's hard for me to play these amps in church, at least my church. I leave the big amps at home and for band practice/shows. So in church, I use pedals into an amp. Here lately I've been using the Line 6 M13 into a Blues Jr. Not my preference, but it works good enough for the church.

I use an M13 live with my Bogner...I'm not crazy about the drives, but with some tweaking they are good enough, especially as a boosts. i'd still like to add an ocd/sparkle drive for the light gain stuff....but i'm pretty happy with my rig right now. (other than the fact i think about flipping this Bogner every other day)

i've actually gotten into a lot of the post-rock/shoegaze instrumental stuff lately...and have thought about adding another M13 down the road....one for input one for the loop. i don't know if you are familiar with bands like Mogwai, Explosions in the Sky, Caspian, Russian Circles, This Will Destroy You, etc....but they make beautiful, noisy, powerful instrumental music. Very cool textures with the guitars. I play mostly Hillsong/Desperation Band/New Life/Lincoln Brewster stuff now...and would love to add that type of sound/texture to what I do....

[Melodic Dreamer]

I use an M13 live with my Bogner...I'm not crazy about the drives, but with some tweaking they are good enough, especially as a boosts. i'd still like to add an ocd/sparkle drive for the light gain stuff....but i'm pretty happy with my rig right now. (other than the fact i think about flipping this Bogner every other day)

i've actually gotten into a lot of the post-rock/shoegaze instrumental stuff lately...and have thought about adding another M13 down the road....one for input one for the loop. i don't know if you are familiar with bands like Mogwai, Explosions in the Sky, Caspian, Russian Circles, This Will Destroy You, etc....but they make beautiful, noisy, powerful instrumental music. Very cool textures with the guitars. I play mostly Hillsong/Desperation Band/New Life/Lincoln Brewster stuff now...and would love to add that type of sound/texture to what I do....

I know a couple of them. I'm a huge mess of things. We do the Hillsong United and Jesus Culture thing in church, but it's not really my thing. I have been a big Fusion/Indie guy for some time now.
Think anywhere from Michael Landau and Eric Johnson to guys like John Scofield and Mike Stern to Bill Brisell and Marc Ribot. Then you have bands like, The Reign Of Kindo and Mutemath to singer songwriters like leah Seigel and a band I love called Eisley.
When it comes to straight up Christian music I like Phil Wickham, Jason Morant, New World Son, Jason Upton and many more.

[jlynnb1]

it sounds like we have tastes along the same lines...although i rather enjoy the hillsongr type worship music. i think their guitarists are great texture players and i've learned a lot from them.

i love Mutemath and Wickham as well. My taste runs from bluegrass to gospel to worship to hardcore to math metal...i really like anything if it's quality....and i really try and allow my playing to be informed by everything i listen to. i grew up in a Pentecostal church...so I did the churchy/gospel thing my whole life and joy playing other things more....but that's my roots and it will always be a part of who i am. (but, what made me look outside of church music for inspiration was i started out playing 80's rock/shred....so i never looked in christian circles for influence...so my playing was always out of the box when compared to most church musicians who never looked beyond michael w. smith or fred hammond for music. when most guys i'd play with were hacking blues licks...i was always coming from a much different place conceptually/approach-wise)