Boss Mega Distortion...

Post by **Mike** » Tue Jun 11, 2013 11:17 am

johnnyseven wrote:No wonder this pedal gets bad reviews.

Imagine that?!

Seriously though, like Andy says it might not be the pedal but your pickups being too hot.

johnnyseven · Post by **johnnyseven** » Tue Jun 11, 2013 11:37 am

Thanks for the advice chaps, i'll give the suggestion a try and see what happens.

Concretebadger · Post by **Concretebadger** » Tue Jun 11, 2013 1:27 pm

I find myself pegging the volume knob about a quarter to a third of the way up on pretty every dirt box I use. But then, the hottest p'up I currently have is a Sensor Blue in my Mustang. I've always wondered if this is normal, because the pedals of gigging guitarists always seem to have theirs cranked quite high up. I'd get an unusable amount of volume jump if I set mine up the same way!

Post by **Doog** » Wed Jun 12, 2013 10:59 am

Aye, I find it hard to believe that Boss STILL does this, but I guess they've probably blown-up fewer preamps than Fuzz Factories or your-favourite-boutique-noisermaker-here.

Live 'n learn.

johnnyseven · Post by **johnnyseven** » Wed Jun 12, 2013 11:39 am

It's strange that some Boss dirt pedals have limited volume output. My BD-2, OD-3, both my OS-2's, FZ-2 and MT-2 seem to have more than enough output volume so why don't they do the same with their distortion range. The MD-2 also seemed to have a good volume range when played at home, by this I mean that the volume gets progressively louder as you turn up the dial all the way (as you'd expect) - but at band volume the output level gets to a certain point as you turn the volume knob up and then doesn't get any louder, this is what led me to believe that it might be a headroom issue with the amp.

71Smallbox · Post by **71Smallbox** » Thu Jun 13, 2013 5:03 pm

Are you using humbuckers or single coils? A lot of Boss distortions have this problem, where they're plenty lound with singles but much quieter with humbuckers.

johnnyseven · Post by **johnnyseven** » Thu Jun 13, 2013 6:54 pm

I was using my Tele with a Dimarzio Pre B1 in the bridge, which is a single coil.

71Smallbox · Post by **71Smallbox** » Thu Jun 13, 2013 7:04 pm

How hot is that pickup? If its hot, that could explain it, the pedal kind of attenuates the hot signal going into therefore making it quieter.

johnnyseven · Post by **johnnyseven** » Thu Jun 13, 2013 7:43 pm

It not heavy metal hot, but I think it's hotter than your average tele bridge pickup. If it is the hot output of the pickup causing the issue, why do I not seem to notice the issue at bedroom level through my Bassman? The output seems on the level with my other dirt pedals that don't share the same issue.

Fran · Post by **Fran** » Thu Jun 13, 2013 8:07 pm

Doog wrote:Aye, I find it hard to believe that Boss STILL does this, but I guess they've probably blown-up fewer preamps than Fuzz Factories or your-favourite-boutique-noisermaker-here.

Live 'n learn.

Good point.
My friend bought a Coopersonic Valveslapper and thats exactly what it did, his Marshall head wasn't right again until he had it fully serviced with valves changed. Also, the Marshall i owned was still under warranty when it first died, they blamed that damage on a late 70's EHX Big Muff Deluxe. It was a mains run pedal and a right monster.

Never really gigged a non modified Boss Distortion that i can remember but the OS-2 seems to have enough volume and the HM-2 was okay at rehearsals.