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Another distortion thread

#21
My Mosky Black Rat, RAT clone, set to Turbo RAT, LED diode clipping, mode, with a relatively high gain setting, blended in parallel, via a Boss LS-2, with a Boss MT-2 Metal Zone, with the [High] turned down to about 9 o'clock, the [Low] boosted to around 1:30 o'clock, as well as an about 1:30 o'clock boost to the [Middle] with the [Freq] set to about 8:30 o'clock, and using a quite low gain setting ([Dist] set to about 8 o'clock), but boosted slightly with a low gain overdriven Joyo Orange Juice (seriously sized down clone of the Tech 21 Oxford, analog Orange amp/overdrive emulation, but without the speaker cab sim and with a simplified EQ section, compared to the original, to accommodate it's miniature size) in front of it, by it self set to a volume level slightly above unity gain by it self (though the {Orange Juice + Metal Zone} being lower in the mix), hence the slight boost to the Metal Zone input, and with the high gain Turbo Rat distortion being a bit higher in the overall mix than the more moderate gain {Orange Juice -> Metal Zone} distortion, gives me a monstrous heavy and ballsy, super meaty and thick, really raunchy and somewhat fuzz-esque high gain distortion tone, that however still is remarkably well articulated and retains a surprisingly great definition compared to it's high gain.
 
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#22
NoiseNinja said:
My Mosky Black Rat, RAT clone, set to Turbo RAT, LED diode clipping, mode, with a relatively high gain setting, blended in parallel, via a Boss LS-2, with a Boss MT-2 Metal Zone, with the [High] turned down to about 9 o'clock, the [Low] boosted to around 1:30 o'clock, as well as an about 1:30 o'clock boost to the [Middle] with the [Freq] set to about 8:30 o'clock, and using a quite low gain setting ([Dist] set to about 8 o'clock), but boosted slightly with a low gain overdriven Joyo Orange Juice (seriously sized down clone of the Tech 21 Oxford, analog Orange amp/overdrive emulation, but without the speaker cab sim and with a simplified EQ section, compared to the original, to accommodate it's miniature size) in front of it, set to a volume boost slightly above unity gain by it self (though the Metal Zone being lower in the mix, hence the slight boost), and with the high gain Turbo Rat distortion being a bit higher in the mix than the more moderate gain Orange Juice -> Metal Zone distortion, gives me a monstrous heavy and ballsy, super meaty and thick, really raunchy and somewhat fuzz-esque high gain distortion tone, that however still is remarkably well articulated and retains a surprisingly great definition compared to it's high gain.
Click to expand...

I need to switch my pedals around. Haven't done the parallel dirt thing in a while and I REALLY like it.

Highly recommend a blend pedal and experimenting with parallel dirt options. The options are endless and can easily become a rabbit hole....
 
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#24
Andre678 said:
I need to switch my pedals around. Haven't done the parallel dirt thing in a while and I REALLY like it.

Highly recommend a blend pedal and experimenting with parallel dirt options. The options are endless and can easily become a rabbit hole....
Click to expand...

Indeed.

Can't recommend blending different distortion pedals in parallel enough (eventually additionally stacking them with other dirt pedals as well, if needed to get you to where you want).

It was a bit of a revelation to me when I discovered the high gain distortion tones I could get from parallel mixing a high gain distortion with another distortion with a different character and set to a more moderate gain.

1 distortion pedal + a 2nd distortion pedal with a different character and setting = so much more than just the sum of the two, and opens up almost indefinitely more options for tailoring your distortion tone than any 1 distortion/dirt pedal could ever give you, heck even staking a couple, could (well except for something like the Source Audio Aftershock, that in fact allows for parallel mixing of a large variety of digital emulated distortion/dirt types, and perhaps a multi band distortion could too, but that's not exactly even remotely standard).

Took a bit of experimentation, trial and error, with different combinations of dirt pedals though (that is the one downside to this, if any, all the options you get), but really satisfied with my current high gain distortion setup, that hits almost spot on exactly the kind of high gain distortion tone that I was looking for.

Though I am a bit surprised you got though that clumsy abomination of a monster sentence I constructed there, describing my setup (I edited it slightly, hopefully making it a bit more clear and accurate description, since you quoted it). :D :thumbsup:

Andre678 said:
Or a great stacking option I read about it here and tried and loved is a Big Muff style fuzz into a distortion pedal. Pretty awesome and heavy.

Is use a EHX Sovtek Deluxe into a Empress Heavy for this and it is glorious and heavy.
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Also this.

What I get from slightly boosting the Metal Zone by stacking the Orange Juice, set to a low gain overdrive, into it, is a more focused, tighter and slightly more crunchy/griddy kind of distortion tone out of the Metal Zone vs. somewhat unfocused/fizzy in comparison without the Orange Juice.
 
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#25
Another Damnation Audio MBD-2 (or 1) vote here.

The only thing better than being able to blend clean signal in with distortion is to blend in low passed clean. The end result is way more cohesive than mixing full range clean, you retain lows, and everything that should be distorted is.

Already have an MBD-2, but still kind of have an itch for an MBD-1, just not sure I have room for it. It is a big fella.
 
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#27
One thing I’m not, is a menu diver and editor. Every digital multi I’ve ever owned has been sold. Just not my bag. And I agree that a blend knob is a must, which makes the mbd2 that much more inviting. Distortion is very individual and hard to nail down, which is probably why I’m still searching for the holy grail 17 years into using effects. I’ll peep some of the other suggestions ASAP, thanks guys
 
#28
Joey lewis said:
but maybe I should just sell the mxr and get a darkglass equivalent? Or do you guys have any suggestions for a heavy, Grindy while still full and war, sounding distortion? Any help and or questions are appreciated, trying to nail this down as it’s been eluding me for years. Cheers y’all!
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Joey lewis said:
but I need something to retain the low end.
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I have a Tech21 YYZ pedal that does just that. It has 2 drive channels, high and low plus Bass, Mid, Treble, and a "TIGHT" switch. You can add as much "hair" on the top end while keeping the bottom clean or mix the 2 in anyway you like.

Tech 21 YYZ Geddy Lee Signature SansAmp YYZ Pedal
 
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#30
last distortion I bought was an MXR Brown Acid or an MXR Slash octave distortion, and I'm satisfied with what I have---so here's a list to expand what you are exposed too... there are aboout 4 or 5 common ways to do fuzz and it helps to know which circuits you like.
On the small board is SmallSoundBigSound Mini into SSBS TAFM (Team Awesome bass Fuzz Machine), they cover all basic needs. My early edition TAFM has a boosted clean side and a bias control for more square-wavy fuzz, retains lows, fuzz with character... Low bias Mini into TAFM is infinite sustain. Mini is the gaul durn best dirt purchase I ever made.

On the big board as of last night, EQD Tentacle (ringmod-upper octave sim, works well with delay effects to come) OR Terminal fuzz (low gain crackle/volt starving great on fretless) into Malekko Downer into solidgold Beta Bass (low mid tuned overdrive) into envelop of the hour, into Blackarts Pharaoh (no diode mode, lowgain mid boost sounds like a tuba, a muff circuit) into SSBS Buzzz (ultimate Superfuzz with EQ for the massive scooped sound or a more mid forward) into Zevex Mastrotron (synthy fuzz cousin to Woolley Mammoth) into Grizzly Bass (last by itself as overdrive or for eqing highs and upper mids without drive, it can tame or unleash the preceding). Any combination of 2 of these work, even scooped Buzzz into Mastrotron has infinite synthy sustain, retains lows too.

I've tried bypass loopers and parallel fuzz effects, actually the delay/sustain part of the board is bypassed most of the time... this is where I'm at now, just a row of modern, but not the latest, pedals.
 
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#31
Joey lewis said:
I need something to retain the low end.
Click to expand...

Four words: Think parallel signal path.

Best way to get that IMO is to either get a pedal that has a blend control, or do it the more flexible but harder and more expensive way by spitting your signal, using whatever distortion pedal you like best, and then mixing the dry and distorted signal paths back together with a mixer. Alternatively, you could use an outboard blend pedal that’s designed specifically to do just that.

Sorry I don’t have a recommendation for a distortion pedal because I don’t much care for the sound of any I’ve tried so far. I’m more of a boost/overdrive/fuzz type user. If I want something that crosses more into distortion territory I prefer to get it by slamming the front end of my amp with a hotter signal. But that’s just me.
 
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#33
So to clarify, I am mostly only recording in the bedroom studio. No live gigs anymore. With my mxr bass di plus I’m running a clean signal into logic via the di, then an effected signal through my pedal board an into my svt and then out the amp di. So no mic involved since I have two sleeping kids. But with that setup and some good eqing I’m gettin a decent signal in logic, just need some balls added to the wet signal. And I don’t need a fuzz, I already have one and it’s not my favorite flavor of distortion anyway
 
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#34
The X series of Darkglass pedals allow you to assign distortion to a selected range of frequencies whilst keeping lower registers clean and compressed ( via it's crossover feature ).
One of my favourite pedals of recent years.
The range goes from the X, to X7 & the X ultra.
I think the X would fit your price range.
 
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#36
I have 2 suggestions.

1. Idiotbox Blower Box...Since the day I bought my first one (I have 3 now), this has never left my board, it's my go to for bass distortion, it's loud, angry and doesn't drop a bit of low end...in fact it's kinda bass heavy...YMMV etc...

2. Source Audio AfterShock...This pedal is super versatile, though honestly I've yet to really dig into what this pedal can do, but it's booted my other fuzz and OD pedals off the board, with the exception of the BB above.
 
#37
Joey lewis said:
I know it’s been covered day and night, but I’m specific. I need a distortion pedal for my rig, which is an ltd 206sm running into my board and then into my ampeg svt-2 tube head. Lots of gain in the head, but I’m looking for a gritty full distortion that will work well with my active 6 string. I have a boost pedal and a fuzz, and some tube screamers (which I hate), but I need something to retain the low end. I do have an mxr bass di with distortion, but I’m not super fond of that distortion circuit either. I went cheap instead of buying a darkglass pedal, but maybe I should just sell the mxr and get a darkglass equivalent? Or do you guys have any suggestions for a heavy, Grindy while still full and war, sounding distortion? Any help and or questions are appreciated, trying to nail this down as it’s been eluding me for years. Cheers y’all!
Click to expand...
Darkglass B3K got me there. Mines the older version with less options but the secret sauce is in the microtubes circuit and blend knob. I tried Boss, MXR, Tube Screamer, this pedal did the trick. With an active 5 string it yields killer tones from rock to extreme metal. :bassist:
(old pic, that MXR is LONG GONE)
20171002_183213

20171002_183213

Custom Pedalboard01
 

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