Not many built in channels do sound very good and if you can't blend the channel with a clean channel its gonna sound even worse. Seems better off to just get a fuzz/distortion pedal that has a dry out jack then blend the dry and dirty together so you don't lose that bottom end (like the big muff!).
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Amps with footswitch distortion... really this rare?
- Thread starter Shaerah56
- Start date
Not many built in channels do sound very good and if you can't blend the channel with a clean channel its gonna sound even worse. Seems better off to just get a fuzz/distortion pedal that has a dry out jack then blend the dry and dirty together so you don't lose that bottom end (like the big muff!).
A built-in distortion is hardly a dream solution, from personal experience. When I had a 2001RB, for example, I liked but did not love the distortion. It was a specific sound, thick and gritty, with some limited and somewhat temperamental controls. I only used it sparingly and opted for external distortion. Even with my MB Fusion (which has a distortion channel that I prefer) I still use a separate distortion pedal for many of my sounds.
The convenience is illusory; whether you use a separate distortion pedal or built-in distortion, you still need two cables and a pedal at minimum. The stage planning is different for each option, and if you ever start using other effects with built-in distortion you can't place that circuit ahead of the other effects (unless you use the head's effects loop, which presents an entirely separate set of challenges because it's post-preamp).
If you are concerned about battery usage: most distortion pedal circuits have a very low current draw, so they can be quite practical to run on battery power alone for several gigs in a row. Running a single pedal on a power supply would be the cheaper option, of course, and IME it's a minor hassle at gigs.
The convenience is illusory; whether you use a separate distortion pedal or built-in distortion, you still need two cables and a pedal at minimum. The stage planning is different for each option, and if you ever start using other effects with built-in distortion you can't place that circuit ahead of the other effects (unless you use the head's effects loop, which presents an entirely separate set of challenges because it's post-preamp).
If you are concerned about battery usage: most distortion pedal circuits have a very low current draw, so they can be quite practical to run on battery power alone for several gigs in a row. Running a single pedal on a power supply would be the cheaper option, of course, and IME it's a minor hassle at gigs.
That's pretty much where I am going. The Rumble is single channel, so there is no blending.
- May 20, 2000
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- Endorsing Artist: Aguilar Amplification, Spector, Dingwall, Tech 21 NYC, Darkglass
Mesa Titan/BB comes to mind as a few others mentioned. Very nice sounding amps.
How raunchy are you trying to get? Nothing wrong with a Sansamp-type pedal or RAT if u want to get gross. The only difference with a pedal is that you have to power it you still need the cable and pedal. Sometimes the amp footswitch (Titan in particular!) can be pretty big too.
Other options- there is some sort of nasty Krank out there too. Probably cheap if you can find one. I have seen the Mo-Bass for ridiculously low as well, like $350-400 on GC used.
How raunchy are you trying to get? Nothing wrong with a Sansamp-type pedal or RAT if u want to get gross. The only difference with a pedal is that you have to power it you still need the cable and pedal. Sometimes the amp footswitch (Titan in particular!) can be pretty big too.
Other options- there is some sort of nasty Krank out there too. Probably cheap if you can find one. I have seen the Mo-Bass for ridiculously low as well, like $350-400 on GC used.
The problem is all these pedals sound great in the bedroom but soon as you get in the band mix with screaming guitars. They're eating all your mids and unless you have some bass under that fuzz tone you get lost in the mix quick. The big muff Pi has a switch that adds some bass back to the signal and has a dry output for blending with a blend pedal. Every great fuzz tone I ever heard in a band setting always had a blend pedal in the mix to add that bass back.
I hear ya. I've used a few approaches:
-Darkglass or Sansamp VT in front, careful use of blend and midrange emphasis (on the VT I use currently I have a nasty midrange tone with the bass and treble cut, blended very lightly... but it cuts right in and doesnt effect the balance of my overall tone that much)
-Dirt Preamp in FX loop, blended. Running it in the FX loop can depends on the amp and pedal. I use a BDDI in my FX loop for my typical metal tone. Lighter threshold kind of fuzz.
Sounds to me like you've been using crappy pedals. I've used a ton of different forms of distortion pedals (overdrives, distortions, fuzzes, etc.) and have always been able to dial in a useful distorted tone. Sure the Muff you're describing has a well-documented mid scoop, but that's part of its signature sound. Not all pedals do the mid scoop thing. In fact, some get downright nasty in the midrange and provide quite a boost. I immediately think of Rat variants in that regard.
If you have an overdrive pedal you can put it in front of the shared backline at a gig in the way you can't if your signature sound is in the head that's at home. In theory you can bring your head and chain it into the shared backline, I suppose, but that's a lot of extra weight and it is inevitable that is the time that there are no spare power sockets and something battery powered would have been the the thing to have.
Me too. Just got the MXR Bass Distortion a couple months ago, and it has a slight mid boost to it that is fantastic.
Dude if you're in Canada and are financing from long and mcquade, walkin, say you want a traynor db800h from their rental fleet that has 300+ days of rent on it. Buy 5 years of extended warranty, and if it ever breaks you can get your amp exactly while they fix yours.
