Never owned a distortion pedal - suggestions please?
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I have a Box of Rock, and wouldn't consider it to be a distortion pedal. It's more of an amp-in-a-box overdrive pedal. For me, distortion pedals have a lot more gain.
Zoom Hyperlead is my all-time favourite.
Rat
Mr Black Thunderclaw worth a look
", exactly zero distortion pedals. I don't even really know the difference if I'm being honest." It is far from an exact science mate!
You could argue that there are two, distinct types of "grrr!" pedals?
The boost type which, in theory just amplifies the guitar's signal by several dB to the (clean) level which can cause the first valve stage of an amp to go into moderate distortion and which will certainly drive the bllx off the next stage.
A "Distortion" pedal is just that, a circuit which by certain techniques (only about 3 different ones to be honest) distorts the signal IN THE PEDAL and feeds that to the amp. The signal will likely be large and so the amp will add to the general mayhem.
In truth, most pedals are bit of boost AND a bit of distortion plus you have the complication of tone controls on pedals which have a massive effect on the nature of the distortion.
Dave.
I think you have a bit of confusion between distortion pedals and amp in a box pedals.
An OCD, Box of Rock or Guvnor (Crunchbox, Angry Charlie) are "Amp in a box" pedals which aim to be a solid state reproduction of a valve amp preamp.
Classic distortions are hard diode clipping and aren't really trying to sound as much like an amp.
The classics are the DS-1 (which is a fussy beast) and Rat you might also try a DS-2 which is a bit easier to use or the DS-1W which again is modded to be easier to use. There is a currently a MXR 78 Badass in the classifeds which is based on a DS-1 and might be a good choice if that's what you are looking for.
An OCD, Box of Rock or Guvnor (Crunchbox, Angry Charlie) are "Amp in a box" pedals which aim to be a solid state reproduction of a valve amp preamp.
Classic distortions are hard diode clipping and aren't really trying to sound as much like an amp.
The classics are the DS-1 (which is a fussy beast) and Rat you might also try a DS-2 which is a bit easier to use or the DS-1W which again is modded to be easier to use. There is a currently a MXR 78 Badass in the classifeds which is based on a DS-1 and might be a good choice if that's what you are looking for.
TateFX BMB overdrive which I think is a Rat variant has been super effective for me. Break the machine still have one in stock https://www.breakthemachine.co.uk/product/tate-fx-bmb-overdrive/
the Empress Distortion is interesting because it gives you three different options to play with. Hard to find other than direct from Empress though
the Empress Distortion is interesting because it gives you three different options to play with. Hard to find other than direct from Empress though
Thorpy Warthog is a good one. Very versatile can do light overdrive into distortion into fairly fuzzy sounds.
If you're gonna buy an OCD, don't buy brand new. You'll just be giving money to their nazi of an owner.
Friedman pedals are pretty good for this sort of thing.
Rat or a Suhr Riot
And yes, a Rat. Very much so.
Hilariously, I have a very cheap USA Rat for sale imminently if you’re interested.
I currently use a box of rock with my Drybell unit 67 in front for added filth to the point of fuzz if so required, but you can hit it with any boost pedal, Tumnus etc. but the Unit 67 works for me as it’s very tweakable/vesatile.
Tom Morello's basic sound is a Marshall JCM 800. With that in mind, I'd start by finding a used GV-2.
Thorpy Warthog by a mile.
Based on a Rat, but offers so much more.
Light drive through distortion to fuzziness. Highly recommended.
Based on a Rat, but offers so much more.
Light drive through distortion to fuzziness. Highly recommended.
Rat, every time
Metal Zone.
Oh ***** it! HT-Dual...IF you can find one and if you do and no PSU give me a PM.
Dave.
I don't think any of those AIAB pedals are actually a solid state reproduction of a valve amp- apart from the BOR, they're all hard-clippers to ground as far as I'm aware (just like the ones you listed as "classic distortions"monquixote said:I think you have a bit of confusion between distortion pedals and amp in a box pedals.
An OCD, Box of Rock or Guvnor (Crunchbox, Angry Charlie) are "Amp in a box" pedals which aim to be a solid state reproduction of a valve amp preamp.
Classic distortions are hard diode clipping and aren't really trying to sound as much like an amp.
The classics are the DS-1 (which is a fussy beast) and Rat you might also try a DS-2 which is a bit easier to use or the DS-1W which again is modded to be easier to use. There is a currently a MXR 78 Badass in the classifeds which is based on a DS-1 and might be a good choice if that's what you are looking for.
), and even the BOR, while it uses cascading MOSFETs I think, it's not really using them to replace valves, it's just a bunch of Super Hard-Ons in a row. That Audioslave clip actually sounded a little fuzzy in the bass, but assuming it's still just Tom Morello using his usual JCM800, you could do a lot worse than @Jonathangus 's suggestion of a Guv'nor 2. Or there's the AMT M-Drive, it actually (far as I'm aware!) is an amp in a box-type design with cascading J-Fets to mimic a JCM800, and it's around £50 on Amazon. I haven't tried it, but the B-Drive (Bogner) is killer, certainly for the money.
Don't get me wrong, I realise that a lot of those ones you listed are specifically designed to sound like an amp, even though they're still "classic distortions" in terms of circuit design. But I mean a DS-1 doesn't sound a million miles from a Marshall-type distortion either, even though I totally agree it's a "classic distortion". (And don't worry, I'm not being deliberately obtuse, I know exactly what you mean by "AIAB" and "classic distortions", and more or less agree with you.)
Boss HM-2 or Rat.
And if you happen to own a Boss Blues driver already just turn the gain right up. That is pretty close to distortion territory right there.
And if you happen to own a Boss Blues driver already just turn the gain right up. That is pretty close to distortion territory right there.
This comment should not go unheeded.Sporky said:Zoom Hyperlead is my all-time favourite.
It’s a BRILLIANT pedal - not least because of the powerful eq.
Some hard distortion pedals can be disappointing (imo) if you want any degree of whump in the low end - but then those with more that don’t let you control it can sound messy if there’s too much in combination with the amp.
The HL-01 has a very powerful eq including a good bass control and a kind of sweepable mid control
Palmer Solid Metal for me…
In my limited experience a MXR Super Badass or a Thorpy Warthog
Thank you all - picked up a Friedman BE pedal quite cheap so hoping that will get somewhere close. Will keep an eye out for those mentioned above, wisdom to all.
My favourite's the Way Huge Fat Sandwich for an agressive distortion. Rat's good for a smoother grit.
I discovered a great distortion sound last night. I put the DS-1 on but hadn't realized my MetalZone was also on (before it). Glorious!
Good choice. Make sure to dial back the gain with the internal trimpot. Great sounding pedal but wayyy too much drive out of the box. Enjoy lovely distorted tones B)ryanverbena said:Thank you all - picked up a Friedman BE pedal quite cheap so hoping that will get somewhere close. Will keep an eye out for those mentioned above, wisdom to all.
Failing that, go for a rat. Or just buy a Mooer black secret anyway, just in case.
Stacking gains is where it's at!luckydip said:I discovered a great distortion sound last night. I put the DS-1 on but hadn't realized my MetalZone was also on (before it). Glorious!
AntonHunter said:Stacking gains is where it's at!luckydip said:I discovered a great distortion sound last night. I put the DS-1 on but hadn't realized my MetalZone was also on (before it). Glorious!
DON'T Try this at home folks but I once fed son's HT-20 from a load box into the input of a Mersey Super (Dommy clone) and he got a glorious 'creamy' ZZTop OD tone. Out of a V30 IIRC.
Dave.
Nothing too crazy but I've started wanting to play a few heavier riffs and would like to have some dirt on tap.
I'm guessing something like an OCD/Box of Rock might do the trick. Will be running it into a Two Rock Bloomfield Drive, so very much a fender type circuit, plenty of headroom on tap (if that matters).
The level of dirt I'm after is nothing more than what you'd hear in this absolute gem
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVXIK1xCRpY