Distortion, overdrive, Fuzz how many is too many?

dezb1 · Post by **dezb1** » Mon Sep 17, 2012 4:26 pm

I ask this question as I have just added a Danelectro Fab tone to my collection... Which now stands thus:

Fab tone

Cool cat drive

Boss HM-2

Black Sovtek big muff

and my first ever pedal the Rak DST-2

how many and what do you own?

laterallateral · Post by **laterallateral** » Mon Sep 17, 2012 4:28 pm

no many

taylornutt · Post by **taylornutt** » Mon Sep 17, 2012 4:34 pm

My Fuzz/Distortion pedals, I currently have:

MadebyMike Fuzzface
MadebyMike Saltbreaker/Saltbooster
Electro-Harmonix Black Russian Big Muff:
Danelectro French Toast

MadebyMike Civil War Muff (coming soon)

I also would love to try out Rams Head Big Muff and Green Russian Big Muff at some point.

Freddy V-C · Post by **Freddy V-C** » Mon Sep 17, 2012 4:48 pm

At one point I had five on my board. It was fun for a while, but it just got a bit silly. I'd say any more than five is overkill, and even five is pushing it. I've been down to one since about January.

dezb1 · Post by **dezb1** » Mon Sep 17, 2012 4:51 pm

taylornutt wrote:My Fuzz/Distortion pedals, I currently have:

MadebyMike Fuzzface
MadebyMike Saltbreaker/Saltbooster
Electro-Harmonix Black Russian Big Muff:
Danelectro French Toast

MadebyMike Civil War Muff (coming soon)

I also would love to try out Rams Head Big Muff and Green Russian Big Muff at some point.

I added tags to my pics, would like a fuzz face, didn't like the French toast or the cool cat fuzz so they've been sold... and I've yet to try out a Ratt. I also have a LPB-1 for pushing my amps should I feel the need for some amp drive.

George · Post by **George** » Mon Sep 17, 2012 4:53 pm

Many as you need for the songs you're playing that require them. In my case I can handle two main drive or fuzz pedals set up to stack with each other, alongside one or two "character" pedals like an octave fuzz or fender blender used on wigouts that I would use for one or two songs.

dezb1 · Post by **dezb1** » Mon Sep 17, 2012 4:54 pm

Freddy V-C wrote:At one point I had five on my board. It was fun for a while, but it just got a bit silly. I'd say any more than five is overkill, and even five is pushing it. I've been down to one since about January.

Respect... I've never had all these on the one board

Gabriel · Post by **Gabriel** » Mon Sep 17, 2012 5:02 pm

I've only got one dirt pedal - fredric effects companion. I just bought George's Blackstone overdrive though, so that means I'll have a grand total of two! To be honest I've never really got the whole 'flavours' of overdrive. If I need light overdrive I just turn down the volume on my guitar, the only reason I justify having two is that a fuzz is a fuzz and nothing sounds quite like it. My basic logic is if the audience wouldn't notice it I won't bother.

Also the only time I use pedals is when I'm rehearsing or gigging, otherwise I just find them a distraction.

Fran · Post by **Fran** » Mon Sep 17, 2012 5:17 pm

I usually only have one in use but i own these:

Boss SD-1
Boss SD-1 (TS808 on steroidz Mod)
Boss DS-1 (Boosted Mids Mod)
Boss DS-2
Boss MZ-2
Boss PW-2
EHX Big Muff Russian
EHX Linear Boost
Ibanez TS-7
Ibanez SM-7
Ibanez 60s Fuzz
Danelectro Bacon n Eggs
Danelectro French Toast (x 2)
Marshall Jackhammer
Behringer Super Fuzz
Behringer Tube Amp Modeller
Fuzz Face (Germanium)
Fuzz Face (Silicon)
MBM Tonebender
MBM Box of Rock
Ramsay Swamp Monster Fuzz
Seymour Duncan Tweak Fuzz
MXR Blue Box
Line 6 Crunchtone

SKC Willie · Post by **SKC Willie** » Mon Sep 17, 2012 5:24 pm

I use a MXR classic OD or tube screamer and one fuzz.

For recording it'd be nice to have more tonez but unless you're playing a show for dirt/fuzz snobs, the crowd can't tell the difference between your Big muff and your other fuzzes.

Concretebadger · Post by **Concretebadger** » Mon Sep 17, 2012 5:32 pm

It's never 'too many' as long as you use them all!

I'm currently using two (an OCD and a MBM IC Muff), plus I've started using amp distortion again occasionally. It's basically semi-clean/on the edge of breakup and 'HYUGE wall of sound'...distortion's a bit of an all-or-nothing thing for me so I go for either a very mild or very over-the-top effect. The IC Muff is a more usable take on the Muff thing, and the OCD does slight distortion without the usual splatty/crackly decay. Others I've tried and owned over the years are:

Danelectro Fab Tone: mental, hissy, raspy, fizzy, the best kind of bad. Useful for some Mogwai-ish, Pumpkinsy pseudo-fuzz but the bypass isn't very good.

RAT 2: one of the best distortions ever made IMO. I currently use it for bass but if there's room on my guitar board I'll use it for that again. The LM308 chip sounds noticably better than the newest reissues.

Boss BD-2: a decent mild OD, but the OCD does a similar job and does it better. The splatty decay is horrid.

Boss OD-3: it's what the BD-2 could've been, just with a smoother, more compressed attack. Loads of volume on tap. Another one I use for bass.

EXH USA reissue Muff: Meh.

johnnyseven · Post by **johnnyseven** » Mon Sep 17, 2012 6:12 pm

On my board:

Magnetic Effects White Atom
Boss FZ2 Hyper Fuzz
Way Huge Red Llama clone - although I have been using my Boss BD2 Blues Driver recently

Others I own:

Fredric Effects Distortion + clone
Mark One Audio Twin OD - modded Tube Screamer and Boss SD1 in 1 box with a mix control to blend both together
Boss PW2 Power Driver
Boss DS1 Distortion
Boss ODB3 Bass Overdrive
Boss MZ2 Metal Zone - just traded with Dasbeef for some TUSQ saddles to see what it's like.

rps-10 · Post by **rps-10** » Mon Sep 17, 2012 6:32 pm

Ones I use:
MBM Os Mutantes Fuzz & green ringer dual pedal
GGG Tone Toaster (fOXX Tone Machine Clone)
BOSS XT-2 XTortion
MBM Saltbooster [Fran spec] - Ok its a booster pedal but I use it for "overdrive" sounds.
Dwarfcraft The Great Destroyer - Clone, re housed in wah pedal casing.
"MXR Blue Box" re housed and modded thing (wouldn't have thought of this as a dirt pedal if Fran hadn't listed it.)
Langtronics Bone Machine

Not used.
Snarling Dogs Blue Doo
Snarling Dogs Fuzz Buzz
Ibanez CM-5 "Classic metal" (soundtank footswitch issues)

On order:
Fredrics Os Mutantes Fuzz.

Fran · Post by **Fran** » Mon Sep 17, 2012 7:28 pm

I'd just like to add... Someone once said "why do you need all them dirt boxes"? Coz its fucking good fun, thats why and they all have their own flavour and sweet spots. Amirite?

johnnyseven · Post by **johnnyseven** » Mon Sep 17, 2012 7:36 pm

Progrockabuse · Post by **Progrockabuse** » Mon Sep 17, 2012 7:46 pm

rps-10 wrote: Snarling Dogs Fuzz Buzz.

Still trying to find one of those again. I loved my old one.

johnnyseven · Post by **johnnyseven** » Mon Sep 17, 2012 7:55 pm

johnnyseven wrote:On my board:

Magnetic Effects White Atom
Boss FZ2 Hyper Fuzz
Way Huge Red Llama clone - although I have been using my Boss BD2 Blues Driver recently

Others I own:

Fredric Effects Distortion + clone
Mark One Audio Twin OD - modded Tube Screamer and Boss SD1 in 1 box with a mix control to blend both together
Boss PW2 Power Driver
Boss DS1 Distortion
Boss ODB3 Bass Overdrive
Boss MZ2 Metal Zone - just traded with Dasbeef for some TUSQ saddles to see what it's like.

Forgot that I have a Dunlop Hendrix Systems Octave Fuzz too, but it's on ebay as I got more use out of the Hyper Fuzz.

rps-10 · Post by **rps-10** » Mon Sep 17, 2012 7:59 pm

Progrockabuse wrote:
rps-10 wrote: Snarling Dogs Fuzz Buzz.
Still trying to find one of those again. I loved my old one.

Good luck finding one!!
If I see one I'll let you know.

DasBeef · Post by **DasBeef** » Mon Sep 17, 2012 9:09 pm

You can never have too many......

Noirie. · Post by **Noirie.** » Mon Sep 17, 2012 10:57 pm

At the moment I only have a Boss OD-2 and an Ibanez 60's fuzz. Don't really have any want or need for any more to be honest. Apart from maybe a Super Tonebender.