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GMC Forum _ GEAR & PRODUCTION _ Current Fave Overdrive/distortion?
Posted by: Todd Simpson Feb 21 2014, 10:50 PM
I've tried wads of Overdrive/Distortion pedals and after much deliberation, it's the ProTone Bulb Deluxe that does it for me. 
I really wish these pedals were available in stores or even used online, or for rental or something. As it stands, you have to have a bit of patience since build times (it's a hand built pedal) are around 8 weeks and you have to save up as the costs is $300. I 've been using it as a sort of "Pre-Amp" in front of my input for OVERLOUD TH2 and other sims. Works just like an overdrive in front of a real amp How about you guys?
Here is a guest spot I did using the BULB for rythm and lead duties along with overloud.
https://soundcloud.com/techniqueswithtodd/alexa-give-me-time-guest-solo
Posted by: Jouve Feb 23 2014, 08:18 PM
Sounds nice Todd. Now i'm using a cheap Joyo suhr riot copy in a amt preamp and than to s-gear2, and quite like the sound of it.
But also i'm thinking about buying some light thin boost/od thingy
Posted by: Todd Simpson Feb 24 2014, 02:23 AM
Just about anything along the lines of a dist/od can work as a nice boost pedal The cheap JOYO/nux od pedals sound nice used this way as well Preamping the signal before it gets to a guitar sim is a great trick to get better results
Todd
But also i'm thinking about buying some light thin boost/od thingy
Posted by: Mertay Feb 24 2014, 02:29 AM
Hey Todd, have you ever used a digitech grunge pedal for such approach?
Posted by: Todd Simpson Feb 25 2014, 02:44 AM
Sorta The "GRUNGE" tone is built in to the rack mounted digitech GSP1101 which I ran for a bit but had to ditch as I couldn't not make it djent for the life of me. But I did like the grunge patch However, for what I"m talking about here, an overdrive is a better idea than a distortion since it gets used more like a clean boost.
Posted by: Mertay Feb 25 2014, 02:51 AM
ahha I still have my rp12 and that was the dist. type I always used 
and yeah I can't make up my mind if I need a pedal or not to use with plug-ins yet, the sound from the computer is usually ok for me but I still can't get the feel I want...I do like the newer small amps (the shur one for example, a member here shared some sound and it was amazing) but thats out of my budget
Posted by: audiopaal Feb 25 2014, 01:34 PM
My favorite Overdrive pedals:
Bearfoot FX - Sparkling Yellow Overdrive 1
Bearfoot FX - Sparkling Yellow Overdrive 2
Bearfoot FX - Sea Ble EQ (Obviously an EQ pedal, but can be used as an overdrive as well with very good results).
Mesa Boogie - Tone Burst (Boost/Low OD)
My favorite Distortion Pedals:
Bearfoot FX - Emerald Green Distortion Machine
Bearfoot FX - Dyna Red Distortion
I've tried so many pedals over the years, but the Bearfoot FX pedals have really got me going again.
Every single one I've tried sounds great in it's own way. All are very different and does it's own thing,
but if these pedals don't get your groove on nothing will :-)
Edit: Added the Mesa Boogie - Tone Burst. Sounds friggin' amazing, how could I forget...
Posted by: Todd Simpson Feb 25 2014, 11:36 PM
A JOYO overdrive runs about $30 and it would do the trick
and yeah I can't make up my mind if I need a pedal or not to use with plug-ins yet, the sound from the computer is usually ok for me but I still can't get the feel I want...I do like the newer small amps (the shur one for example, a member here shared some sound and it was amazing) but thats out of my budget
Posted by: audiopaal Feb 26 2014, 08:32 AM
and yeah I can't make up my mind if I need a pedal or not to use with plug-ins yet, the sound from the computer is usually ok for me but I still can't get the feel I want...I do like the newer small amps (the shur one for example, a member here shared some sound and it was amazing) but thats out of my budget
I posted the Suhr Corso amp clips, and it does sound great :-)
However, there are plenty af great pedals that sounds like "amp in a box" that may help you get the sound you want.
Almost any of the Bearfoot FX Overdrives, Xotic Effects has a few great ones and a TS9 is a great go-to pedal (although I'm not the biggest fan myself), the Boss Blues Driver, and others :-)
Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Feb 26 2014, 11:08 AM
I currently own the Suhr Shiba Drive and I have worked with the Ibanez Tube Screamer - TS 808 - the good one 
And the ZAkk Wylde OD from MXR - I like the creaminess of the Suhr but that Zakk Wylde - damn, it can throw a punch in your face for sure.
Todd - I am waiting for the arrival of a Pro-tone pedal myself, but I have no clue what it'll be yet tho
Posted by: Todd Simpson Feb 27 2014, 07:18 PM
I was really worried that I might not like the ProTone in the time it took to get it (8 weeks!!!!) I started having doubts due to the price. But thankfully when it showed up I was blown away and actually gave away/sold all my other overdrives I had half a dozen overdrive stomps I was using for different tones and just didn't need them anymore.
So be patient It's worth the wait!
Todd
And the ZAkk Wylde OD from MXR - I like the creaminess of the Suhr but that Zakk Wylde - damn, it can throw a punch in your face for sure.Todd - I am waiting for the arrival of a Pro-tone pedal myself, but I have no clue what it'll be yet tho
Posted by: Darius Wave Feb 28 2014, 09:36 AM
and yeah I can't make up my mind if I need a pedal or not to use with plug-ins yet, the sound from the computer is usually ok for me but I still can't get the feel I want...I do like the newer small amps (the shur one for example, a member here shared some sound and it was amazing) but thats out of my budget
Same for me man. I did some experiments but usually of I use amp simulation I use boost or pre-drive as a VST as well. You might disagree but I feel like those virtual things help to save some buzz, hum, noise...etc. But...I'm not a good reference here because I usually don't use boost at all.
Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Feb 28 2014, 01:59 PM
I had half a dozen overdrive stomps I was using for different tones and just didn't need them anymore. So be patient
It's worth the wait!Todd
Knowing it comes from you, I have no doubt and I had no doubt before, to be honest
I'll let you know what I will get when it gets here 
Posted by: Todd Simpson Mar 3 2014, 09:36 PM
Post some clips too!!
I'll let you know what I will get when it gets here Posted by: SixStringSamurai Mar 4 2014, 06:09 AM
My favourite overdrive is my Mark V, does that count?
In actual pedals, the MI Audio Super Crunchbox is pretty high up on my list of hotrodded Marshall type tones at the moment. I'm about to do a review of it sometime this week.
Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Mar 4 2014, 08:53 AM
Of course! As soon as it gets here
Posted by: Darius Wave Mar 4 2014, 12:38 PM
Mark V is a very cool pedal but I would not like to have in in the pedalboard...also...very hard to press the "on" and "stand by" switches with Your feet
Posted by: NPB1979 Mar 4 2014, 05:30 PM
Klon Centaur, currently looking for a clone.
I have a Fulltone Fulldrive II MOSFET, but I usually only use the gain channel on my amp.
Posted by: Sensible Jones Mar 4 2014, 05:56 PM
Favourite OD is the Zoom Power Drive:-
Posted by: SixStringSamurai Mar 5 2014, 09:31 AM
Oh man, you're so right. Even the Mk V's footswitch is as big as some pedalboards I've owned in the past....
(Not my board, but just to illustrate its humongous size!!)
Posted by: Darius Wave Mar 5 2014, 01:38 PM
Yes....didn't thought of this but Your right...now imagine both - head and the switch in the pedalboard You would need to hire techs to carry those
Posted by: SixStringSamurai Mar 5 2014, 08:18 PM
Sadly, it's just me. Hahah.
Posted by: Todd Simpson Mar 6 2014, 01:48 AM
I think you are saying you use a "software boost" instead of using a "hardware/pedal boost" yes? If so, then yes! I do that as well in my recent OVERLOUD TH2 patches. Take a look at this one. I'm using a PARAMETRIC EQ as a "pre eq/boost" the same way DIMEBAG DARREL used to use his FURMAN PQ3. 
However, I do find that using a higher end/boutique hardware boost (with a decent power supply not a battery) has the edge in terms of quality sound and feel. It's certainly a luxury to put a boutique overdrive ahead of your plugins/sims, but if you've got one, then heck why not?
KLON CENTAUR??
Anyone else tried the KLON CENTAUR? I've tried it and was somewhat underwhelmed.
Very, very expensive ($1,000+++) and didn't sound as good as my Pro Tone Bulb Deluxe Imho? Didn't have much bite, kinda mushy like an old tube amp. Also it couldn't make a "Tight" gain sound. I have no doubt that these are fine pedals, but I'm just not enough of a cork sniffer perhaps to appreciate them? Then again I said the same thing about the BLACK MACHINE guitars and some folks say those are the best guitars on Earth Todd
I have a Fulltone Fulldrive II MOSFET, but I usually only use the gain channel on my amp.
Posted by: SeeJay May 6 2014, 02:15 PM
EHX just came out with a Klon type pedal.
Inexpensive, nice sound and people are already doing some nice mods for it if you want to go down that rabbit hole.
I have a Fulltone Fulldrive II MOSFET, but I usually only use the gain channel on my amp.
Posted by: klasaine May 6 2014, 04:11 PM
Used as an 'overdrive' or distortion the KLON (and Klones) will be underwhelming. Guys who have them and use them live or on sessions generally set them for VERY light drive and bigger boost. You'll find that 95% of the players that use them do this: Gain - 9:00 ... Presence (tone) - between 11:00 and 1:00 ... Volume - wherever needed. *They have a lot of gain on tap but they've always sounded better used as light drive/boost and the manufacturer never changed the design.
Though their always expensive when purchased used, new (when they're being made) they go between $269.00 and $300.00 depending on whether you buy direct or through a shop.
*Everybody seems to like the EHX 'soul food'. For 60 bucks you can't beat it.
I saw a sold listing on Ebay recently for an original mid 90s KLON - $3050.00 
Crazy!
Posted by: gregc1 May 6 2014, 04:22 PM
You guys and your fancy hardware
My current favorite distortion is a half and half combo using the Screamer and the Cat pedals in Guitar Rig. Guitar Rig 3 at that, just a little behind in the times over here
Posted by: Bogdan Radovic May 6 2014, 11:49 PM
I must say I'm really impressed with Boss DS-1
It works so well with Marshall amps, isn't it a classic? Also very inexpensive pedal.
Other pedal which can actually work nice for boosting is Boss OD-3 but it tends to cut some frequencies nasty so its needs a lot of balancing.
Posted by: SeeJay May 7 2014, 12:13 AM
My Fav overdrive pedal of alllll time is the Lovepedal Amp Eleven.
It's not a super heavy distortion. But I LOVE the voicing. The controls are great. It'll take what you have and kick it to 11!!!
(Oooooh noooooow I get the name 
)
They have come out in a few rad colors too. Gotta color coordinate you know.
Anyone else played this pedal?
http://www.lovepedal.com/pedals/amp-eleven/
Posted by: Todd Simpson Sep 23 2017, 08:34 AM
I know this is an old thread, but I wanted to give a quick vid of a KLONE (clone Klon) pedal built for me by one of our own GMC students. It sound great and goes from blues to metal when paired with even a very low gain amp. In this demo I'm using it with a HOTONE MOJO DIAMOND which is a very clean amp head with just a little bit of blues/breakup. Pair it with the KLONE and bam instead metal or driven blues. Please 2 Enjoy I don't know if he is making these still so I don't want to name him without asking first.
Posted by: bleez Sep 23 2017, 09:52 AM
I don't know if he is making these still so I don't want to name him without asking first.sounds really good
both of those gain settings you had it on were killer! Posted by: Todd Simpson Sep 23 2017, 06:47 PM
Thanks I have to agree! This little pedal can push nearly any amp from blues all the way to Meshuggah and keep it's dynamic range in tact. I don't know if the builder plans on making them available to buy. I do sorta hope he does It's got an enormous amount of tonal range. I'd say even more than the original Klon Centaur.
both of those gain settings you had it on were killer!Powered by Invision Power Board (http://www.invisionboard.com)
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