Guitarists! Versatile Distortion Pedal Suggestions please?

sethmeister · Post by **sethmeister** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 11:00 am

The FoxRox "Zim" is without question the most versatile OD / distortion pedal I've ever used.

Wolfman Sack · Post by **Wolfman Sack** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 12:54 pm

If you're looking for a Superdrag type tone as you mentioned - John uses Pro Co Rats and MXR + and Microamp pedals into a Fender Twin (the MXR + for gain and the microamp for lead boost). I'm thinking of the "Sold You An Alibi" type tone that's typical of most of their albums....hope that helps some.

segaface · Post by **segaface** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 1:46 pm

T-rex wrote:One last thing. Anyone used the electro-harmonix LPB-1? Is it your basic overdrive pedal (it's listed as a boost pedal)? It sounds like right now an overdrive pedal may be more what I am looking for and sine the OCD is out of my price range I was wondering about the EH. For $40 new it's almost hard NOT to buy.

I had a LPB-1 for a while. It's just a straight-up boost, not a OD or distortion box. For that, it works OK but I prefer a little bit more grit and breakup.

Andy

T-rex · Post by **T-rex** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 2:50 pm

Wolfman thanks dude, I have always meant to start a thread to see if anyone had details about the recording of that album. I knew he used a twin from seeing them but I had no idea on the pedals etc.

jakeao · Post by **jakeao** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 5:21 pm

I've always like the Blackbox Music pedals. very cool stuff. The owner of the company is a really cool guy. Super nice to deal with if you have any questions. http://www.blackboxmusicfx.com

kdarr · Post by **kdarr** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 7:30 pm

You know, i've always had good luck with a regular-assed Boss OS-2.

I like the EH "English Muff'n" pedal too, although I wouldn't exactly call it versatile.

[<|>]

RefD · Post by **RefD** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 9:05 pm

sethmeister wrote:The FoxRox "Zim" is without question the most versatile OD / distortion pedal I've ever used.

i don't own one but i have tried one out at leisure and it really does cover alot of sonic ground.

the north wind · Post by **the north wind** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 9:11 pm

I went through a similar search a couple years back, and tried a bunch of OD and distortion pedals.

The Rat is fun... it can get some really heavy distortion. But I didn't like how the signal came out... maybe could have solved it with some EQ, but was never satisfied with it.

I tried a TS-9, and a Behringer imitation. Didn't like either, felt like the signal lost all the low end. Tried some Fuzz pedals, which were just not the sound I was looking for. Same for the Big Muff.

Ended up getting a Marshal Guv'nor. Very versatile, lot's of low EQ options, nice over-drive tone, not to distorted, and can be quite responsive to your playing. I really liked it until I got my Crowther Hotcake, which a lot of other people too will swear is the best thing ever. Not as flexible, but I just love everything that comes out of it. Also, much more expensive then a Guvn'nor though. I have the Guvnor II, and it was like $40 used. The Guvnor I is supposed to sound nicer, but is harder to find. I think you should be able to find shitty sound samples on YouTube for a general idea.

davepinkham · Post by **davepinkham** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 10:11 pm

+1 on the hotcake. not super cheap though. but damn good. in the cheaper range, boss stuff is decent. blues driver, as mentioned, as well as the super overdrive.

RefD · Post by **RefD** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 10:32 pm

thebells wrote:+1 on the hotcake. not super cheap though. but damn good.

HELL YES!

and it seems Paul Crowther will answer your emails and fix the thing if it breaks for as long as he's around, which has already been quite awhile.

certainly can't say that for Boss or ProCo or EH.

freakmech · Post by **freakmech** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 11:51 pm

Cant go wrong with the Proco Rat! I built a rat clone (Mighty Mouse from BYOC) with a switchable clipping circuit (Rat, Turbo and Dirty). I also did the Lube mod from Beavis Audio so you can tweak the Filter section. Its by far the most versatile distortion pedal i own. Its my go to pedal when looking for distortion. Ive also built a Screamer clone with the FMZ Fat boost that adds ALOT of low end but its still an edgy, biting pedal. If your any good with a soldering iron i would really check out building your own pedal. They can be modded to your liking as you build them. BYOC and General Guitar Gadgets are great sources for kits. The only pedal i have that is stock is a Boss DS-1 which is cheap and useful but not exactly versatile.

Wolfman Sack · Post by **Wolfman Sack** » Tue Apr 08, 2008 6:04 am

You're welcome about the Superdrag info - John himself posted on www.superdrag.com about his current tour setup:

10/26/07 01:35 PM

Guitars: 1961 Fender Jazzmaster (Olympic White)
1964 Fender Jazzmaster (OSHA Red)
1967 Epiphone Casino
1969 Gibson SG
1996 Gibson Les Paul Standard (Flametop)

Amp: 1970 Fender Super Reverb

Pedals: MXR Distortion + (2)
MXR Distortion III
MXR Micro Amp
Boss TU-2

(I got the amp serviced the week before the Knoxville shows and it's sounding better than it's sounded in quite awhile.)

J.

He also talked about how he got the tone on "Keep It Close To Me" from In The Valley Of Dying Stars - turns out he used a Les Paul into a Marshall but Brandon used his setup of Jazzmaster/Turbo Rat/Twin:

To the best of my knowledge, I played my flame-top Les Paul Standard through one of those 30th Anniversary white Marshall Plexi heads and a Marshall 4x12, pegged. No effects. Brandon most likely would've been playing his Jazzmaster through a couple of Turbo Rats and his Fender Twin Reverb. We had access to a couple of different Marshall heads during that record and I used 'em quite a bit. Otherwise I would've been using the Super I've had all along or a piggyback '61 Bassman we borrowed from Chris Hunter.

I can't remember using any others.

Thanks Dudes,
John Davis

He sometimes answers questions on the Rock Tech section of the forum so if you want details on Head Trip gear he'd probably answer you. I also emailed him on his MySpace page once to ask what tuning he used on a song and he got back to me in a few hours with a long email about how to tune for it and play it. Great guy and a hell of a guitar player.

joninc · Post by **joninc** » Tue Apr 08, 2008 12:50 pm

vintage RAT!! goes from slight grit to full on thick fuzz.

(not as muddy as a bigmuff IMHO)

mxr dist + is pretty cool too although less versatile - great for a more papery tone.

trodden · Post by **trodden** » Tue Apr 08, 2008 1:01 pm

Tatertot wrote:
curtiswyant wrote:The ProCo Rat is pretty much the best thing ever. For $50 you can't go wrong.
2nd

3rd'ed

My first pedal. B-day gift when i was 15. 19 years later it still gets used a lot.

jv · Post by jv » Tue Apr 08, 2008 1:48 pm

RefD wrote:
thebells wrote:+1 on the hotcake. not super cheap though. but damn good.
HELL YES!

and it seems Paul Crowther will answer your emails and fix the thing if it breaks for as long as he's around, which has already been quite awhile.

certainly can't say that for Boss or ProCo or EH.

I love my hotcake. I love it so much, I just ordered the DUAL Hotcake (and I sold a "Vintage Rat" to help finance it). BTW, it seems you get the best price if you order directly from Mr. Crowther.

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