Page 1 of 4
Distortion Pedals
Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2007 5:46 pm
by luke
Yeah, it's the age old question. Which distortion pedal do I get? I'm probably only going to be playing through solid state amps with it, and I want something that can be versatile. I want it to be able to do a nice light crunch, but also to be able to do some heavier stuff as well, and have some EQ controls of course.
Bear in mind I'm happy with a DS-2, and the only reason I'm asking this question is because my friend wants his DS-2 back and I need to get my own, and I figured seeing as nobody here really likes the DS-2, someone could suggest something better?
Actually, I have a better idea, a poll. Vote for the pedal you think is best. If your answer is not here, please reply and ask me to add it. I can't think of many off the top of my head.
Edit: Looks like I can't add any, great.
Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2007 5:51 pm
by theshadowofseattle
Millionth time this has been done. Get the Muff.
Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2007 5:52 pm
by Doog
It's possible, I just added "Other". Can't you, as the creator of the thread, add more?
RAT2 is my choice.
Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2007 5:58 pm
by luke
theshadowofseattle wrote:Millionth time this has been done. Get the Muff.
Yeah, I'm looking at muffs a lot at the minute. My question about those is, do they have more than just the obvious fuzz sound? I seriously don't know much about them...
Doog wrote:It's possible, I just added "Other". Can't you, as the creator of the thread, add more?
RAT2 is my choice.
Amazing, I can't, but I thought I could. RAT2 is definitely a possibility after hearing your TWAT demo, but obviously that's with mods and a nice amp.

Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2007 6:02 pm
by Doog
Nah man, that was using my crappy little Zoom 15 modelling amp with all the digital stuff bypassed. It's one of the few distortion pedals I've tried/owned that sounds good on solidstate amps. They also sound very nice stock too, and even warmer/rounder sounding with an extremely simple mod.
If you want a huge fuzzy rhythm guitar sound- MUFF
If you want something with a bit more midrange that works nicely for leads- RAT2.
Lemme know if you want the poll edited.
Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2007 6:22 pm
by Gandalf
rat rat rat.
(just cause theres no muff option)
Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2007 6:28 pm
by luke
Gandalf wrote:rat rat rat.
(just cause theres no muff option)
1. Yes there is.
2. I told everyone very clearly to ask me if they wanted an option adding in the first post to avoid people voting for second bests.
Meh, I'm probably going to get a LBM at this rate, mainly because it's the cheaper option. No offence Doog!
Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2007 6:31 pm
by Doog
Malik wrote:
Meh, I'm probably going to get a LBM at this rate, mainly because it's the cheaper option. No offence Doog!
HOW DAAAARE YOOOOOUUUUUU!
Haha, do what you want, mate. Your money.
Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2007 6:36 pm
by luke
Doog wrote:Malik wrote:
Meh, I'm probably going to get a LBM at this rate, mainly because it's the cheaper option. No offence Doog!
HOW DAAAARE YOOOOOUUUUUU!
Haha, do what you want, mate. Your money.
Nah, it's just you put up the best argument and you're probably right about that being the best pedal, I don't want you thinking I'm turning down your advice! Anyway, I'm not really the sort of person who's looking for any particular tone, I just want a box that I can put my foot on to make the guitar sound from pretty to pretty awesome.
And I also think I've got the early symptoms of GAS. As soon as I get my first payment from work I'm pedal hunting. Great.
Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2007 6:48 pm
by Thom
I've got a Big Muff Pi and a Fab Overdrive on my pedalboard, and I have to say that I use the Fab loads more than the Muff. For ?15 I'd seriously think about getting one of them, even if you get something else as well. Guess it really boils down to what kind of sound you want.
Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2007 6:55 pm
by euan
Marshall Drivemaster off eBay.
Three band EQ FTW
Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2007 7:07 pm
by Tweez
A full size Big Muff Pi or a Boss HM-2 get my vote.
Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2007 7:10 pm
by kim
Rat2
thick sounding, no loss of definition, more versatile than a BM (tho soundwise i think nothing compares to a US BM)
or if you've got teh monees..Proco's deucetone...even more versatile..but pricey...
also if you want to spend some extra bucks...T.Rex Dr. Swamp (yum !)
those are a couple of my fav distortion pedals anyway
Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2007 7:12 pm
by euan
And if everyone is going to say Big Muff, I'll say Graphic Fuzz. That can get it's Muff on if you want it to.
Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2007 7:26 pm
by filtercap
RAT AT RAT R
with
MODS ODS MODS M
Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2007 7:33 pm
by Gandalf
Malik wrote:Gandalf wrote:rat rat rat.
(just cause theres no muff option)
1. Yes there is.
2. I told everyone very clearly to ask me if they wanted an option adding in the first post to avoid people voting for second bests.
Meh, I'm probably going to get a LBM at this rate, mainly because it's the cheaper option. No offence Doog!
yeah theres a little muff and i dislike them
Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2007 8:01 pm
by aen
my current fave is the behringer big muff clone. It doesnt have the mid scoop like your typical muff, but 2nd choice owuld be the little big muff.
Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2007 10:22 pm
by Mike
Did you listen to my pedal samples through my Crate Power Block? That's SS and could be a good reference, the RAT2 and FAB Overdrive and Distortion are on there.
You can get a RAT2 for ?45 from thomann.de.
I would vote for RAT2 if you like some mids and cut the resistor for added bass, or get the FAB Overdrive for a real fun versatile pedal - the FAB Distortion does a great buzzy JCM900 90's distortion very well also.
I would never recommend a Muff, I find them very one dimensional.
Posted: Tue Feb 20, 2007 1:55 am
by paul_
rat rat rat rat rat rat rat rat rat rat rat rat rat rat rat rat da-da-da-da da-daaaaaa, rat.
Posted: Tue Feb 20, 2007 1:58 am
by Mo Law-ka