Distortion Halp

Mo Law-ka · Post by **Mo Law-ka** » Sat Jan 01, 2011 9:48 pm

Right now, I have a EHX Big MUFF. It sounds okay most of the time, but I'm kind of getting tired of the sound. It's not a bad sound by any means, but I'm just kinda sore of it. It works great for the huge low power chords and thick sound that is fun to play every once and again and when I have to pick between my amp's distortion and the Muff, it is much preferred. However, it favors the lower end of the spectrum. I'm looking for a distortion/fuzz/overdrive that will give an even tonz to all ends of the spectrum, especially the mid-range.
I use nearly all single coils.
Here's my rig right now:
Guitar (Tele custom most of the time) --> Digital Delay --> Big Muff --> MXR Flanger --> Peavey Valveking (though this may change or be joined by a Fender Champ 600 or something similar)

WUT DO?! HALP PLZ

Fran · Post by **Fran** » Sat Jan 01, 2011 10:17 pm

A pedal for you and youse guys..

Cheap SansAmp clone with Tweed, Marshall and Mesa modelling options. Dye your hair black and never look back Mo.

SeismicProfile · Post by **SeismicProfile** » Sat Jan 01, 2011 10:25 pm

Rat? or maybe the internet by dwarfcraft just came out and seems to be able to cover a lot of ground. Whats your budget?

Mo Law-ka · Post by **Mo Law-ka** » Sat Jan 01, 2011 11:15 pm

My budget... I'm not too sure yet. I got some money for Christmas (~$100) but that's mostly going toward gas and shit like that until the summer. So I guess that $100 would be my budget when the time comes.

SeismicProfile · Post by **SeismicProfile** » Sat Jan 01, 2011 11:32 pm

Mo Rawka wrote:My budget... I'm not too sure yet. I got some money for Christmas (~$100) but that's mostly going toward gas and shit like that until the summer. So I guess that $100 would be my budget when the time comes.

You can find Rat's pretty easily for under $100, I have also heard good things about the M Audio Crunch Box, or maybe a Ts9? Fuzz wise some Devi Ever stuff might be up your alley. A Guyatone Tz-2 is good for the money if you can find one used. Also, danelectro pedals are pretty damn good and cheap as well. If your going that route I would look at the French Toast, and maybe the cool cat fuzz. Behringer's superfuzz is supposed to be good as well. There's a lot out there. I would try just going to a local guitar shop and trying out everything in your price range.

Freddy V-C · Post by **Freddy V-C** » Sat Jan 01, 2011 11:37 pm

I dunno how much MXR GT-ODs are in the US but I love mine. It's Tubescreamer-esque I think, but a bit harsher and bassier, rather than essentially a clone like most people seem to think it is.

Thom · Post by **Thom** » Sun Jan 02, 2011 10:21 am

The Danelectro Cool Cat series are seriously good pedals for the money. The Drive, Transparent Overdrive and Fuzz are all great. If you can find v1 ones so much the better as they are supposedly direct clones of the OCD, Timmy and Peach Fuzz. I've not tried the new v2 ones. As with all Dano things whether you buy new or used is at your conscience's discression. You can probably get 2 for $100 as well.
Having said that, my favourite dirt pedals are these 3:
Catalinbread Dirty Little Secret
Catalinbread Formula No. 5
MI Audio Crunch Box

DGW · Post by **DGW** » Sun Jan 02, 2011 6:04 pm

Have you ever tryed boosting with a Boss DS-1....Lots of guys use the DS-1 as a boost for that reason..

ohyeahfuzzbear · Post by **ohyeahfuzzbear** » Sun Jan 02, 2011 6:13 pm

Thom wrote: MI Audio Crunch Box

I'll second that.

I have one and it's great. Does the really heavy stuff really well and cleans up a treat.

othomas2 · Post by **othomas2** » Sun Jan 02, 2011 6:29 pm

Danelectro Cool Cat Drive- v1 or 2... they both sound great !!

Mo Law-ka · Post by **Mo Law-ka** » Mon Jan 03, 2011 3:20 pm

Thanks guys, I'll keep this in mind when I go to look at peddlulz.

rich · Post by **rich** » Mon Jan 03, 2011 3:37 pm

the blues driver is my alltime favorite od. you don't lose tone and you can go from a barely-driven amp to straight distortion and it all sounds good. cheap as fuck and available anywhere. drive at zero, level at ten, tone at five is my savior.

Sano · Post by **Sano** » Mon Jan 03, 2011 4:17 pm

Barber Dirty Bomb is a killer distortion pedal

High gain

low gain

http://proguitarshop.com/blog/barber-di ... rtion-3128

othomas2 · Post by **othomas2** » Mon Jan 03, 2011 4:25 pm

Sano wrote:Barber Dirty Bomb is a killer distortion pedal

High gain

low gain

http://proguitarshop.com/blog/barber-di ... rtion-3128

We're all entitled to out own opinions and perhaps I wasn't using it to full effect, but I tried one of these and thought it was awful - muddy nothingness.

AaronGuitarDude · Post by **AaronGuitarDude** » Mon Jan 03, 2011 6:11 pm

SD-1

Bacchus · Post by **Bacchus** » Mon Jan 03, 2011 6:26 pm

Cool Cat TOD sounds great, as does MBM DLS/OCD, but that might be a bit beyond the budged.

The TOD I can nearly leave on all the time, it just sounds really nice, warmly overdriven but still clear and glassy. Great stuff.
The DLS/OCD is basically the seventies and eighties in a box. Sounds amazing.

ac88 · Post by **ac88** » Mon Jan 03, 2011 8:31 pm

My vote is the dano transparent overdrive. Like BP ^, I always keep my on. It's the perfect little push for my clean and distorted sounds. Clear and glassy, but still warm - not harsh at all.... unless you want it to be I guess. The knobs are very sensitive and cover a nice wide spectrum. I can't vouch for the V2 TOD, I have the first version that is allegedly just a clone of the Timmy. I don't know what they did to the V2 TOD, but I think it was just a few changes to get around copyright issues.

I have noticed on ebay and kijiji some people asking around 80 bucks now for the V1 TOD. psh. Definitely the best $40 I've spent on my rig, its not going anywhere.

George · Post by **George** » Mon Jan 03, 2011 8:53 pm

How you guys use the tone stack on your TOD? I have my B/T both on full all the time as it sounds the most transparent; everything else doesn't sound right.

(Sorry for no real suggestion)

ac88 · Post by **ac88** » Mon Jan 03, 2011 9:08 pm

I use the neck pickup on my stratocaster and I keep the bass around 2-3 o'clock and the trebs around 1 o'clock. I keep gain fairly low. Sometimes I'll push them both up a little more if I'm feeling sassy. Big fat chords. It makes the Fuzz Factory sound a lot less harsh, and if it wasn't for the TOD the FF probably would have gotten the boot.

Bacchus · Post by **Bacchus** » Mon Jan 03, 2011 11:02 pm

For bedroom use I have mine all over the place for shits and giggles. Gigging I think it's nearly always everything at 12 o'clock with the volume set to give just the slightest push, not really a boost, just a wee push. The guitar really does just sound better for being put through it.