ShortScale.org

...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?

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?

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

This, a lot.

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?

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.

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.

Sounds like you want an amp rather than a pedal.

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.

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..

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 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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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?