rileykill Posted October 31, 2007 Share Posted October 31, 2007 I'm shopping for a new distortion unit so I thought I'd solicit opinions. What are you guys using and why? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
a.miller Posted October 31, 2007 Share Posted October 31, 2007 Big Muff for distortion. Tube Screamer for overdrive. The tube screamer I have has a bunch of settings, which makes it really versatile. I can get a really Beatles--Revolution sound all the way to groovy blues. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
beenthere Posted October 31, 2007 Share Posted October 31, 2007 A vintage model MXR Distortion+ is a wondrous thing. No tone knob and it tends to be a bit trebly, so that may or may not be an issue. I love mine though. I'm currently using a Blues Driver for a kinda-fuzzy overdrive, the Dist+. and a vintage Big Muff for fuzz. Pretty good trio of gain pedals, I'd say. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
In a little rowboat Posted October 31, 2007 Share Posted October 31, 2007 Jekyll and Hyde by Visual Sound...its a two in one overdrive + distortion... http://www.visualsound.net/Pedal_jh.htm jobu Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Atticus Posted October 31, 2007 Share Posted October 31, 2007 fulltone, fulltone and fulltone Quote Link to post Share on other sites
deepseacatfish Posted November 1, 2007 Share Posted November 1, 2007 I do like the Big Muff for straight up distortion, but if you don't like fuzzy sounds you probably want more of an overdrive pedal. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
the_fliz1 Posted November 1, 2007 Share Posted November 1, 2007 I would have to concur with the votes for the Big Muff. I love mine. Plus it is just fun to say.Take a Les Paul through a Big Muff into a Marshall or a Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier and ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. I think I just made a mess of myself. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
FaintingGoat Posted November 1, 2007 Share Posted November 1, 2007 I keep several distortion-type pedals on my board. I'd rank them in this order: 1. Crowther Hot Cake. I can't imagine playing a gig without this pedal. It's great as a volume boost, mild overdrive, warm tweed Fender overdrive, to screaming overdrive. Extremely versatile. 2. Fulltone Fulldrive II Mosfet Edition. This one is like having two pedals in one. I keep the toggle switches on "Vintage" and "Mosfet". It's easy to get rich Marshall-like tones when you turn this on. Then, kick on the "boost" and you can make your guitar sound like it's crying while on the verge of feedback. 3. Fulltone '69. This is basically a fuzzface. Much different texture than a straight distortion or overdrive pedal. I don't use this a whole lot, but when you want a fuzz tone nothing else will do. 4. Fulltone OCD. I was so excited to get this pedal. Frankly, it's almost obsolete now that I have the Fulldrive Mosfet. However, I keep it on my board and set to a different tone than the Fulldrive just so I have some other colors to paint with. 5. Crowther Prunes & Custard. This is one f'ed up pedal. The other guys in the band get nervous and start to sweat when they see me turn this pedal on. It's difficult to describe the sound because it can do so many things. All at once it can sound like your amp is dying a tortured death to the shrill of dropping razor blades into a garbage disposal. Probably best used in a controlled setting, such as recording, than in a live situation. There are lots of great pedals on the market to choose from. I've done the Boss and Ibanez route but have moved on. They are great pedals, but tend to give you tone that's predictable and comfortable. It's been a lot of fun to experiment with other brands. Speaking of, I hope to add a ZVexx and a Klon in the near future. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rileykill Posted November 1, 2007 Author Share Posted November 1, 2007 I'm thinking about something along the lines of a Fulltone or Big Muff. Has anyone tried this? http://www.pedalgeek.com/cgi-bin/new_shop....mand=link--ehht Quote Link to post Share on other sites
beenthere Posted November 1, 2007 Share Posted November 1, 2007 If you're looking at tube-based distortion pedals, the Ibanez Tube King is another possibility. I had one for a long time (Lee Ranaldo of Sonic Youth used one around the same time, so therefore I had to as well), but sold it, which I now regret. The vintage EH Hot Tubes seems to get a lot of love on the Internets, but I don't know about the new version. The Hot Cake is a great pedal as well. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
In a little rowboat Posted November 1, 2007 Share Posted November 1, 2007 5. Crowther Prunes & Custard. This is one f'ed up pedal. The other guys in the band get nervous and start to sweat when they see me turn this pedal on. It's difficult to describe the sound because it can do so many things. All at once it can sound like your amp is dying a tortured death to the shrill of dropping razor blades into a garbage disposal. Probably best used in a controlled setting, such as recording, than in a live situation. jobu Quote Link to post Share on other sites
In a little rowboat Posted November 1, 2007 Share Posted November 1, 2007 If you're looking at tube-based distortion pedals, the Ibanez Tube King is another possibility. I had one for a long time (Lee Ranaldo of Sonic Youth used one around the same time, so therefore I had to as well), but sold it, which I now regret. The vintage EH Hot Tubes seems to get a lot of love on the Internets, but I don't know about the new version. The Hot Cake is a great pedal as well. i had an EH english muff'n for all of two days...the 2 tubes going into an all tube amp compressed the signal substantially...I couldnt stand it, so off to return land... jobu Quote Link to post Share on other sites
lamradio Posted November 2, 2007 Share Posted November 2, 2007 ProCo Rat Pedal.. In my opinion, the best distortion pedal ever made... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
In a little rowboat Posted November 2, 2007 Share Posted November 2, 2007 Over on the Radiohead board, Pro Co rat and Marshall Shredmaster are the favs by far! jobu Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Reflectedinthemoon Posted November 2, 2007 Share Posted November 2, 2007 personally i use a Big Muff and a Boss DS1. Both are simple and reliable, although with some of my guitars they have volume issues (being too quiet). But i like em anyway. for overdrive, I have a Tube Screamer, which is pretty standard and good for classic-rock tones. I also have a Visual Sound Route 66 American Overdrive, which is like my secret weapon. It's got a whole bunch of tonal options, from smooth to crunchy as hell to agressive to heavy. And it's got a Compression switch to boot. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rileykill Posted November 2, 2007 Author Share Posted November 2, 2007 i had an EH english muff'n for all of two days...the 2 tubes going into an all tube amp compressed the signal substantially...I couldnt stand it, so off to return land.. good to know. I wouldn't have thought about compression due to stacking tubes. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Groo Posted November 2, 2007 Share Posted November 2, 2007 My favorite distortion unit: the volume knob on my Blues Jr. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rileykill Posted November 2, 2007 Author Share Posted November 2, 2007 My favorite distortion unit: the volume knob on my Blues Jr. excellent choice! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Groo Posted November 2, 2007 Share Posted November 2, 2007 excellent choice! I also like the Boss Metal Zone Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dukeligbin Posted January 17, 2008 Share Posted January 17, 2008 the maxon d & s is sweet Quote Link to post Share on other sites
oceanman Posted January 17, 2008 Share Posted January 17, 2008 I also have a Visual Sound Route 66 American Overdrive, which is like my secret weapon. It's got a whole bunch of tonal options, from smooth to crunchy as hell to agressive to heavy. And it's got a Compression switch to boot.I've been using this pedal for three years now and am still yet to find the exact sweet spot as far as settings. How are you dialed in with this? Favorite settings? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rileykill Posted January 17, 2008 Author Share Posted January 17, 2008 This thread is still alive? Well, after much deliberation I bit the bullet and contacted Jason at Freakshow Effects ... he is putting together a custom Brown Rabbit unit for me with some additional clipping and mid filter options. Hopefully it will be sweeeet since I paid quite a bit for the build. I won't be buying another distortion unit for quite a while ... for the record, the BR is based on the ProCo Rat. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
lamradio Posted January 17, 2008 Share Posted January 17, 2008 This thread is still alive? Well, after much deliberation I bit the bullet and contacted Jason at Freakshow Effects ... he is putting together a custom Brown Rabbit unit for me with some additional clipping and mid filter options. Hopefully it will be sweeeet since I paid quite a bit for the build. I won't be buying another distortion unit for quite a while ... for the record, the BR is based on the ProCo Rat. Sounds like a dream pedal. That's all I have used and all I will ever use is the RAT. Let me know how your pedal turns out.. I may want one too. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rileykill Posted January 17, 2008 Author Share Posted January 17, 2008 Will do ... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
I'm Incinerator Posted January 18, 2008 Share Posted January 18, 2008 My fav distortion unit is the BJFE Emerald Green Distortion and the Honey Bee isn't bad also. I also use the Red Rooster Booster and the Sea Blue EQ. I'm also hoping to get his compressor and other goodies. His pedals are seriously like adding extra channels to your amp. So responsive to anything you throw at them and melt into any amp/guitar combo. www.bjfelectronics.com or www.mpamp.com Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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