Overdrive in need

Johno · Post by **Johno** » Fri May 04, 2007 12:53 pm

euan wrote:
Johno wrote:
euan wrote:I'm going to keep sounding like a broken record and say Marshall Drivemaster
Agreed - Truly brilliant pedal.
I have two now I like it so much. Picked one up off eBay the other day for pocket change.

I was thinking getting another to - have one set for OD & the other for lead/distortion.

euan · Post by **euan** » Fri May 04, 2007 1:13 pm

Thats what I'm doing. I love the sound of gain at 11/12 and at almost full pelt as well. It might be a bit silly but ah well.

ultratwin · Post by **ultratwin** » Fri May 04, 2007 1:16 pm

I'd say an OD-3 is a good place to start , since you could enjoy a happy trashing at guitar center where they're easily demo'd, and it is a safe, well balanced light to mid-gain OD that responds nicely to most setups.

I'm not a fan of humping (other than the stuff I get at home), but if you dig Toob Sqweeemah midranginess but want more potential gain on tap (and they say it retains cleantone clarity quite well even when up'd in the gain), the Cusack Screamer might be an option. They've got a used one that isn't selling in a downtown Seoul shop that I might checkout to feed into me EGDM.

Post by **Mike** » Fri May 04, 2007 1:19 pm

ultratwin wrote:I'd say an OD-3 is a good place to start , since you could enjoy a happy trashing at guitar center where they're easily demo'd, and it is a safe, well balanced light to mid-gain OD that responds nicely to most setups.

Word. It's a complete workhorse and very amplike.

What amp setup is this overdrive for by the way?

Post by **dots** » Fri May 04, 2007 2:47 pm

i think pain's got a twin reverb, if i remember correctly.

and i also endorse the blues breaker and od3.

Post by **Mike** » Fri May 04, 2007 2:48 pm

I'd say either of those would be good for a twin, the Boss would be a good place to start. It retains bass nicely.

Post by **dots** » Fri May 04, 2007 4:11 pm

Mike wrote:the Boss would be a good place to start. It retains bass nicely.

amen. plus, you can't argue with the price or how easy it is to get your hands on one.

paind00d, if you're into the boutique thing or having somebody here build a pedal for you, i'd recommend getting the od3 first and then have somebody build one. it's versatile enough to hold you over until the build is done.

paincake · Post by **paincake** » Fri May 04, 2007 7:12 pm

Mike wrote:Tell me more about the kind of overdrive you want...

Danelectro Daddy-O

actually had the Daddy-O for years on board.. however everytime we went to record the engineer and I would say "What is that shitty crackling?" It.. everytime.. was the Daddy-O.

Hmm.. what kind of sound? I don't really know. I figured I'd know it when I heard it.
Bah.. I'm going guitar shopping too.. so I don't know what I want. Just something different I suppose.

I've usually trained like 3 ODs with each one progressively a little louder and dirtier. As the parts call for it I turn on another one. That.. with a couple EQ pedals.. and you sound like 7 guitarists.

paincake · Post by **paincake** » Fri May 04, 2007 7:15 pm

dots wrote:
Mike wrote:the Boss would be a good place to start. It retains bass nicely.
paind00d, if you're into the boutique thing or having somebody here build a pedal for you, i'd recommend getting the od3 first and then have somebody build one. it's versatile enough to hold you over until the build is done.

ah.. hm. I've got a tubescreamer we could pull off and mod. If anyone here can help me.. that'd be rad.

I play through a 2x12 Musicman (think twin) and a Fender Hot Rod Deville. I don't run my gain as I have always had my pedals do all the work. That way I get the full range of clean to grit.

Post by **dots** » Fri May 04, 2007 7:15 pm

paincake wrote:
Mike wrote:Tell me more about the kind of overdrive you want...

Danelectro Daddy-O
actually had the Daddy-O for years on board.. however everytime we went to record the engineer and I would say "What is that shitty crackling?" It.. everytime.. was the Daddy-O.

ever had it checked out? mine's pretty quiet. . .

CHECK THE OD3.

paincake · Post by **paincake** » Fri May 04, 2007 7:21 pm

dots wrote:
paincake wrote: Danelectro Daddy-O
ever had it checked out? mine's pretty quiet. . .

it was quiet when not played.. but the actual overdrive seemed to have this highend "crackly" break up. Could be that particular pedal. Just time to move on I suppose. I treated me well for 4 years or so.

Post by **dots** » Fri May 04, 2007 7:41 pm

dots wrote:CHECK THE OD3.

paincake · Post by **paincake** » Fri May 04, 2007 9:29 pm

ok.. done n done.

edit: In reading about the OD-3 the first review warns about playing it with humbuckers - it will sound like distortion. I play a fat strat now and am looking for a new fiddle (which may or may not have humbuckers). Any experience with that?

Still looking if anyone knows how to do mods to a tubescreamer...

Post by **Mike** » Fri May 04, 2007 10:05 pm

paincake wrote:ok.. done n done.

edit: In reading about the OD-3 the first review warns about playing it with humbuckers - it will sound like distortion. I play a fat strat now and am looking for a new fiddle (which may or may not have humbuckers). Any experience with that?

Still looking if anyone knows how to do mods to a tubescreamer...

Lesson one - don't read online reviews - use your ears.

I only use Humbuckers and it sounds great - like an overdrive. I could help you mod your tubescreamer but you should just bin it. I hate tubescreamers.

paincake · Post by **paincake** » Fri May 04, 2007 10:54 pm

well.. I'm at work and can't use my ears but I did have some time.

You even hate mod'd tubescreamers? ok.

Post by **Mike** » Fri May 04, 2007 10:55 pm

I don't like humped mids.

Chico Malo · Post by **Chico Malo** » Sat May 05, 2007 12:12 am

My modded tubescreamer sounds awesome. Greg, if you cruise up tomorrow, bring your tubescreamer and you can listen to the difference. You can also try out my modded bluesdriver.

paincake · Post by **paincake** » Sun May 06, 2007 7:05 am

I need to cruise up there. Life got in the way but you have toys and toys are fun.

I got to play a mod'd blues driver and it was nice.

I think I want an SG and so I'll do that. Thanks for the thoughts guys! I still need to try an OD-3....

Lanark · Post by **Lanark** » Sat May 12, 2007 2:03 am

After a long time of searching and listening, I've finally settled on a Crowther Audio Hotcake for most of my Overdrive needs.

It's handmade in NZ by an ex-drummer for Split Enz, Paul Crowther and is really quite a cool pedal. Very transparent. You can roll the Drive back and set the tone to a spot where the pedal is absolutely neutral. Same sound on and off and then bring up the gain from there.
What sold me is that it doesn't drop any of the low end out of your tone with the Drive. It just gets crunchier and crunchier as it goes up but the tone underneath doesn't change. It ended kicking a much beloved 70's Maestro Fuzz off my rig. (& I plan on taking that thing with me to the grave)
It also does another neat trick where you can roll the Drive way back and kick up the Presence and it works as a nice spanky boost. (used that for some recording.)
They seem to pop up on Ebay with fair regularity and as far as "boutique" pedals go, they're pretty reasonable used. I think I got mine for around $125 used.

mewithoutus · Post by **mewithoutus** » Sat May 12, 2007 2:50 am

dots wrote:
dots wrote:CHECK THE OD3.

times a million.

the blues drivers are awesome, but ive never had one on my board. ive had an od-3 for 2 years and its been my go to overdrive/boost (besides my awesome bad monkey) for the full two years. i traded an old voodoo labs overdrive for it. not sparkle drive, overdrive. it was cool, but really kinda ratty.

anyway, i fully endorse the od-3.