Low gain overdrive - recommendations

Pickups, pedals, amps, cabs, combos

Moderated By: mods

User avatar
Thom
lamp
Posts: 6999
Joined: Thu Apr 20, 2006 8:23 am
Location: Exeter, UK

Low gain overdrive - recommendations

Post by Thom »

So I've recently been playing with the idea of using my amp as a single channel head and using pedals for distortion - essentially since I got Mike's Crunch Box and I love the sound I get from it. I usually set it for fairly high gain, so what I'm looking for is a nice pedal that will give me a sweet low/medium gain drive.

Suggestions please.
User avatar
Mike
I like EL34s
Posts: 39170
Joined: Thu Apr 20, 2006 8:30 am
Location: Edinburgh, Scotland
Contact:

Post by Mike »

haha that's exactly what I've been doing these days, I've been taking the JCM800 to band practise and using it as a loud clean sound with pedals for dirt.

I'm using:

Saltbreaker - (Barber LTD Silver Clone) - light overdrive
Catalinbread Dirty Little Secret Clone - medium overdrive
MXR Classic Distortion/MXR Distortion III - heavy overdrive

And also various combinations - the Saltbreaker into the DLS sounds great also.

The Barber is great, but quite pricey at £119. I'll get my thinking cap on.
User avatar
Thom
lamp
Posts: 6999
Joined: Thu Apr 20, 2006 8:23 am
Location: Exeter, UK

Post by Thom »

Nice one - some things to think about!
I'll have a listen to your demos again too.
User avatar
filtercap
.
.
Posts: 493
Joined: Tue Oct 10, 2006 3:51 am
Location: the information coalmine

Post by filtercap »

Runoffgroove "Eighteen" for light to medium overdrive if you don't mind (or better yet, enjoy) building from a kit. It's based on the 18-Watt Marshall from the 1960's. Mine handles all my guitars well. The kits are relatively inexpensive; you can get a ready-made version, but those cost a lot more. Kits and ready-mades are sold here, or go to runoffgroove.com for infoes about the circuit. Mike could probably MadeBy one of these in his sleep too. :)
User avatar
Thom
lamp
Posts: 6999
Joined: Thu Apr 20, 2006 8:23 am
Location: Exeter, UK

Post by Thom »

Interesting - thanks! I'll check it out.
User avatar
yeepers
.
.
Posts: 51
Joined: Fri Feb 27, 2009 12:42 am
Location: Tampa, Florida

Post by yeepers »

I would go for the MI audio blues pro. Very sweet, warm overdrive, and the fuzz mode is a nice bonus. Sounds amazing with the neck pickup.
She like my swag (She thirsty)
She like my haircut (She Thirsty)
She like my style (She Thirsty)
She want me wifyed up (She Thirsty)
User avatar
Progrockabuse
.
.
Posts: 4865
Joined: Mon Jan 14, 2008 11:54 am
Location: Derbyshire

Re: Low gain overdrive - recommendations

Post by Progrockabuse »

lamp wrote:So I've recently been playing with the idea of using my amp as a single channel head and using pedals for distortion - essentially since I got Mike's Crunch Box and I love the sound I get from it. I usually set it for fairly high gain, so what I'm looking for is a nice pedal that will give me a sweet low/medium gain drive.

Suggestions please.
mike wrote:haha that's exactly what I've been doing these days, I've been taking the JCM800 to band practise and using it as a loud clean sound with pedals for dirt.

I'm using:

Saltbreaker - (Barber LTD Silver Clone) - light overdrive
Catalinbread Dirty Little Secret Clone - medium overdrive
MXR Classic Distortion/MXR Distortion III - heavy overdrive

And also various combinations - the Saltbreaker into the DLS sounds great also.

The Barber is great, but quite pricey at £119. I'll get my thinking cap on.
+ 1, that's what i've been doing too.

i get a really nice, full clean sound. then use the following.

Catalinbread Dirty Little Secret Clone= Plexi Mode (light/medium overdrive)
JCM Mode (Medium+ Overdrive)
Then my TS-9 into the front of the catalinbread to give me heavy/solo overdrive.

so far, it's working a dam treat.

i have few overdrives hanging around if you want to borrow a couple.
Fender Classic Player 60’s Stratocaster>East Coast T1 Tele>
Epiphone Les Paul SL>Ovation 12 String acoustic>Peavey Strat DIY Relic

Marshall Origin 20H>James’s old purple 2x10
Marshall MG10 Combo

1 time host of PROGFEST
User avatar
othomas2
.
.
Posts: 4026
Joined: Thu Apr 20, 2006 11:35 pm
Location: London

Post by othomas2 »

I have an original Dano Transparent overdrive if you're interested... Timmy clone.
User avatar
Reece
.
.
Posts: 10359
Joined: Mon Jan 14, 2008 4:09 pm
Location: Kent, UK

Post by Reece »

othomas2 wrote:I have an original Dano Transparent overdrive if you're interested... Timmy clone.
no matter what you may say about dano these are very good pedals.

i was planning on selling mine but it's going to stay on the board for now, lovely low gain OD.
User avatar
othomas2
.
.
Posts: 4026
Joined: Thu Apr 20, 2006 11:35 pm
Location: London

Post by othomas2 »

They are very nice... just prefer the the cool cat drive for my needs...
User avatar
Thom
lamp
Posts: 6999
Joined: Thu Apr 20, 2006 8:23 am
Location: Exeter, UK

Post by Thom »

othomas2 wrote:They are very nice... just prefer the the cool cat drive for my needs...
Thanks for the offer - I think I'm probably with you though, from the demos I've heard think I'd prefer the Drive.
User avatar
Thom
lamp
Posts: 6999
Joined: Thu Apr 20, 2006 8:23 am
Location: Exeter, UK

Re: Low gain overdrive - recommendations

Post by Thom »

Progrockabuse wrote:i have few overdrives hanging around if you want to borrow a couple.
Cheers Rob - what you got that you're not using?
User avatar
sp3k
.
.
Posts: 1282
Joined: Sat Sep 20, 2008 4:02 pm
Location: Portugal

Post by sp3k »

othomas2 wrote:I have an original Dano Transparent overdrive if you're interested... Timmy clone.
how much do you want for it?
User avatar
Progrockabuse
.
.
Posts: 4865
Joined: Mon Jan 14, 2008 11:54 am
Location: Derbyshire

Re: Low gain overdrive - recommendations

Post by Progrockabuse »

lamp wrote:
Progrockabuse wrote:i have few overdrives hanging around if you want to borrow a couple.
Cheers Rob - what you got that you're not using?
Digitech bad monkey
Boss sd 1
Boss blues driver
Made by mike timmy clone
Marshall bluesbreaker 2
Behringer blues o/d
Fender Classic Player 60’s Stratocaster>East Coast T1 Tele>
Epiphone Les Paul SL>Ovation 12 String acoustic>Peavey Strat DIY Relic

Marshall Origin 20H>James’s old purple 2x10
Marshall MG10 Combo

1 time host of PROGFEST
User avatar
Noirie.
YOUTH
Posts: 5364
Joined: Thu Jan 15, 2009 9:51 pm

Post by Noirie. »

What are Blues driver and blues overdrive like side by side?
theshadowofseattle wrote:less being WOKE
more being STOKED
User avatar
othomas2
.
.
Posts: 4026
Joined: Thu Apr 20, 2006 11:35 pm
Location: London

Post by othomas2 »

sp3k wrote:
othomas2 wrote:I have an original Dano Transparent overdrive if you're interested... Timmy clone.
how much do you want for it?
£20 posted... I crushed one of the internal cables by accident due to the housing.. but this has been electrical taped and doesn't cause any probs. hence the reason I've removed the battery enclosure on my other cool cat. see pics...

Image

noirie has first dibs... now lamp has passed on it.

cheers
O
Last edited by othomas2 on Tue Jun 09, 2009 9:07 pm, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
Progrockabuse
.
.
Posts: 4865
Joined: Mon Jan 14, 2008 11:54 am
Location: Derbyshire

Post by Progrockabuse »

Noirie. wrote:What are Blues driver and blues overdrive like side by side?
there's very little in it. Build quality is the biggest difference, but sound wise their pretty like for like. r
Probably the behringer being a little thinner sounding.
Fender Classic Player 60’s Stratocaster>East Coast T1 Tele>
Epiphone Les Paul SL>Ovation 12 String acoustic>Peavey Strat DIY Relic

Marshall Origin 20H>James’s old purple 2x10
Marshall MG10 Combo

1 time host of PROGFEST
User avatar
Thom
lamp
Posts: 6999
Joined: Thu Apr 20, 2006 8:23 am
Location: Exeter, UK

Re: Low gain overdrive - recommendations

Post by Thom »

Progrockabuse wrote:
lamp wrote:
Progrockabuse wrote:i have few overdrives hanging around if you want to borrow a couple.
Cheers Rob - what you got that you're not using?
Digitech bad monkey
Boss sd 1
Boss blues driver
Made by mike timmy clone
Marshall bluesbreaker 2
Behringer blues o/d
Cheers mate, I think I've tried most of those or know mates who have them that I can borrow locally.

Seeing as you and Mike are both rocking the Catalinbread Dirty Little Secret Clone this might be on my list for the future...
User avatar
dots
BADmin (he/him)
Posts: 1022402
Joined: Mon Apr 17, 2006 4:16 pm
Location: Esco-A-Go-Go
Contact:

Post by dots »

i find the salt booster to be a great light to medium crunch pedal.
User avatar
Thom
lamp
Posts: 6999
Joined: Thu Apr 20, 2006 8:23 am
Location: Exeter, UK

Post by Thom »

dots wrote:i find the salt booster to be a great light to medium crunch pedal.
Totally. I guess I want something that adds a little dirt on it's own rather than boost the amp, but I've been meaning to get the saltbooster back on my board anyway :)