Why can't I find...

johnnyseven · Post by **johnnyseven** » Mon Jan 17, 2011 10:01 am

...a low to mid gain distortion/drive pedal I like? All I want is something that has a nice bottom end and has a nice bit of trebliness to it but not scooped in the mids. Most of the pedals I have tried to use sounded too dark to me, i.e. not enough treble. I want something I can play chordy riffs on where you can hear all the strings/notes i'm playing clearly. I hate to say it but the closest I have been to being satisfied was when I had Turbo Tube Screamer that I had modified. Is there anything out there that would satisfy my requirements?

timhulio · Post by **timhulio** » Mon Jan 17, 2011 10:42 am

Maybe you're looking for something that isn't there? I find a dialed-back harmonic percolator does good low-gain overdrive, or an mxr dist+, or a fuzzface on a low setting. What about a boss ds-1 even?

benecol · Post by **benecol** » Mon Jan 17, 2011 10:44 am

timhulio wrote:I find a dialed-back harmonic percolator does good low-gain overdrive... ...or a fuzzface on a low setting.

This, a lot.

johnnyseven · Post by **johnnyseven** » Mon Jan 17, 2011 11:09 am

I liked the Harmonic Percolator and Utility Percolator I had alot, however I found the lack of tone control meant that I couldn't tame the top end and I found them a little too trebly when using a single coiled guitar. I'm beginning to think that you're right in that fact that maybe my ideal pedal doesn't exist. Maybe i'm just too fussy. I've never played a Dist+ though, maybe I should investigate. Also never really looked at Boss pedals, what other good low to mid drive pedals of theirs are worth a look?

George · Post by **George** » Mon Jan 17, 2011 11:17 am

Boss OD3 or BD2? I've tried both recently after having the same problem and I really like the OD3 now (on the purchase list). I used to have an OS2 which was a bit pony but had one great setting you could dial in.

timhulio · Post by **timhulio** » Mon Jan 17, 2011 11:21 am

Dist+ also has no tone control, and is inherently more trebly than any of the other pedals mentioned, so probably isn't for you either.

Post by **Mike** » Mon Jan 17, 2011 11:27 am

Sounds like you want an amp rather than a pedal.

johnnyseven · Post by **johnnyseven** » Mon Jan 17, 2011 11:28 am

I remember playing an OS2 in a guitar shop years ago and thinking it was great but i've never played one since. I think maybe I should go to a guitar store and try out some Boss pedals and see what I think.

Fran · Post by **Fran** » Mon Jan 17, 2011 11:31 am

Believe it or not this describes the sound i use in the band.
I found the Fulltone Distortion Pro the best for it; loads of low end with restricted gain and plenty of treble clarity. Its more like a hot Overdrive than a distortion. The Behringer Tube Amp Modeller TM300 is good at this on the Clean Mesa setting as well.
The TS7 on the Turbo 'Hot' setting was what i used for a long time in my last band but the low end was'nt there, if you can adjust your amp EQ to suit it may work. I've even used a modified DS-1 with gain set low and a DS-2.
The Marshall Guvnor on the OD setting is decent and worth a try out if you can or the Dano Cool Cat Drive maybe? I like MXR D+ pedals but they seem to suffer volume drop, lack low end and never sound transparent to me. Maybe TimHulio has improved this on his version?

I thought you had a Coopersonic? From the demo's i've watched they seemed ideal for this stuff..

Will · Post by **Will** » Mon Jan 17, 2011 11:34 am

Less is more if you're looking for clarity. It sounds like you're looking for a pedal that gives just enough gain to bring in some harmonic richness, but without really adding a lot of dirt?

In that case, I'd hit the front end of your amp with a SHO.

johnnyseven · Post by **johnnyseven** » Mon Jan 17, 2011 11:42 am

I do, I have a Valveslapper but I use it for high gain/heavy/noisy stuff. This is another area I had trouble finding a pedal to suit but the Valveslapper does the job. They also have a pedal called the Dirtbox which I was really tempted by but am reluctant to buy without trying in case it doesn't fit the bill. I have been thinking about a Dano Drive recently too, I used to have a V1 and liked it but for some reason I sold it on. The Distortion Pro maybe good but a little pricy. I had also looked at the Blackstar Drive but would prefer to try before buying and I haven't had a chance to yet.

johnnyseven · Post by **johnnyseven** » Mon Jan 17, 2011 11:43 am

Will wrote:Less is more if you're looking for clarity. It sounds like you're looking for a pedal that gives just enough gain to bring in some harmonic richness, but without really adding a lot of dirt?

In that case, I'd hit the front end of your amp with a SHO.

I play a Silverface Bassman mostly, I think I might need to hit it very hard to do that.

George · Post by **George** » Mon Jan 17, 2011 11:46 am

You could try an attenuator? If it's a 50W bassman you could get a Weber Minimass for Â£140ish.

By the way, if you try the OS2, I will say that it cuts a little bass out and compresses somewhat, but not anywhere near as bad as some other pedals. OD3 keeps a lot more.

benecol · Post by **benecol** » Mon Jan 17, 2011 11:49 am

Daft ha'petht hat I am, I forgot that I bought that perc from you.

Fran wrote:I found the Fulltone Distortion Pro the best for it...

Fucks sakes, not you as well.

johnnyseven · Post by **johnnyseven** » Mon Jan 17, 2011 12:11 pm

Mike wrote:Sounds like you want an amp rather than a pedal.

You're probably right, however I usually don't get to use my amp when gigging - hence why I use pedals.

wwrrss · Post by **wwrrss** » Mon Jan 17, 2011 12:13 pm

johnnyseven wrote:
Mike wrote:Sounds like you want an amp rather than a pedal.
You're probably right, however I usually don't get to use my amp when gigging - hence why I use pedals.

How come you don't use your amp? I won't gig without all my own gear now, its always a massive ballache without.

johnnyseven · Post by **johnnyseven** » Mon Jan 17, 2011 12:16 pm

Travelling round Central London to gigs with a car is a pain in the arse - parking and traffic etc. Plus I often have to go to gigs straight from work.

robroe · Post by **robroe** » Mon Jan 17, 2011 12:33 pm

Mike wrote:Sounds like you want an amp rather than a pedal.

this
turn your amp up fucking loud on clean / attenuator ?

either that or buy a POD for 50 bucks or a Vamp2 for 40 and dial that sound in with 15 different knobs

benecol · Post by **benecol** » Mon Jan 17, 2011 12:37 pm

Hang on, I've had a thought: Zoom PD-01 does this. Buy one of those.

johnnyseven · Post by **johnnyseven** » Mon Jan 17, 2011 12:55 pm

Thanks. Seems like they don't make them anymore but I shall investigate.

Just thinking along the Boss lines and Mike suggesting it's an amp i'm looking for, how about one of the Boss vintage Fender amp pedals - the Bassman or Deluxe Reverb?