I Need Distortion!

[TGEvans]

Hi people. I have just put a new rig together! Last bit will be a distortion of some kind. The rig I have just aquired is an SWR 350 Blackface, Into a Mesa Boogie 2 x 15. Only other effect pedal will be a Boss OC 2 Octaver. I need a distorton pedal that will cover a few sounds. Will be playing mostly Hardcore, Alternative Rock stuff, but wouldnt mind a pedal that does full on assault and possibly some type of mild distortion quite well too. Any Ideas? I have been told the Old Boss heavy metal guitar pedal may do it,also the MXR M80 Bass DI. Hope you can help,Tim.

[Joe Gress]

Whats your budget? You looking for a grindy in your face cutting distortion, or a milder jest a bit on the hairy side but small animals are still safe type distortion? Maybe a bassy deep fussy destroy all mankind fuzz type, or a more synthy sustained lead bass fuzzy type?

[gibsualdo]

A hell of a lot of people seem very happy with the Bass Big Muff around these parts. Sorry, I know you didn't actually mention fuzz, but it's cheap and will be very easy to get rid of if it doesn't suit your needs.

This is coming from someone who's not actually tried one, mind you lol.

[TGEvans]

not too bothered about cost at the moment.if its good then it will be worth money,I hope! just something that retains low end but is still guite metallic sounding rather than overdriven.

[gibsualdo]

Originally Posted by TGEvans

not too bothered about cost at the moment.if its good then it will be worth money,I hope! just something that retains low end but is still guite metallic sounding rather than overdriven.

The Sansamp GT2 does a nice metallic distortion, although even with the bass maxed it still really needs to be blended with a clean single or have some EQing after it, to regain a bit of lost low-end.

On the other hand, I didn't find Ashdown's James Lomenzo HyperDrive needed blending or post-EQing. It had a nice distortion sound, but just didn't really quite have that something I was looking for (not sure exactly what that is, but the GT2 definitely has it). I'd have no problem using it for gigs again though.

EDIT: Thinking about it, I made some clips of both pedals a while back. Will see if I can find the posts.

[tomhanzo]

I honestly like all the EHX pedal that have tubes in them. I have had the English Muff'n, Hot Tubes and Tube Zipper. They are all very amazing.

Be aware of the power supply problem.

[gibsualdo]

Found those clips.

Ashdown Lomenzo Hyper Drive - Ashdown James Lomenzo Hyper Drive clips

Sansamp GT2 - Distortion Solutions?

Originally Posted by tomhanzo

I honestly like all the EHX pedal that have tubes in them. I have had the English Muff'n, Hot Tubes and Tube Zipper. They are all very amazing.

Be aware of the power supply problem.

Oooh how'd I forget the Muff'n? That's another one I had. Very nice, gets almost fuzzy but not quite (as you'd expect from the name I guess). Found it had a great distortion sound (albeit more organic than metallic), kept low end well too, but seemed to get lost in the mix a bit much even after boosting the bass and mids. Probably could do with a low-mid pot too perhaps?

[tomhanzo]

Well i have only used a Muff'n never owned one. I got to try one at a show. I have used the Hot Tubes and Tube Zipper a lot. The Zipper has a tone of low end, but no tone controls. The Hot Tube has low end too, but tends to be too warm sounding.

I'm torn between which one i want to use.

[gnasher1993]

Originally Posted by tomhanzo

Well i have only used a Muff'n never owned one. I got to try one at a show. I have used the Hot Tubes and Tube Zipper a lot. The Zipper has a tone of low end, but no tone controls. The Hot Tube has low end too, but tends to be too warm sounding.

Do you even know what the Tube Zipper does?

I thought the overdrive circuit was just to accentuate the filter.

[Voss451]

I've had good experiences with the Mesa V-Twin pedal, Pro Co Rat & Ibanez PD-7.

[SpamBot]

Wounded Paw - Battering Ram

[SHWAG]

EHX Bass Big Muff is what I use even though it's more of a fuzz. I'd recommend it to anyone.

[lookslikemeband]

I just ordered the Boss ODB and the Digitech Bass Driver (I like the option of mixing the dry and wet signal)

[Crystalman85]

Originally Posted by lookslikemeband

I just ordered the Boss ODB and the Digitech Bass Driver (I like the option of mixing the dry and wet signal)

I like the digitech bass driver for it's fizzy metallic sound. the boss odb-3 is not too shabby. I've tried that pedal a couple of times at a guitar center, but I like the digitech bass driver better.

[tomhanzo]

Originally Posted by gnasher1993

I thought the overdrive circuit was just to accentuate the filter.

It can be orrrrrr it can be a stand alone dirt pedal. I use it as a tube preamp with a hair of break up.