Best Distortion/Fuzz/OD?

[Snakeman1066]

other pedals to take a look at:

Catalinbread SFT

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the DMB Bumble ( I had this for a short while and really wish I had kept it instead of chasing the flavor of the month)

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[Matt Dean]

I've owned two SFTs and never thought of them as distortions. I like the term foundation overdrive though. That's how I think of the Barbershop. I think of distortions as bringing gain into the raunch zone.

 

[Snakeman1066]

I've owned two SFTs and never thought of them as distortions. I like the term foundation overdrive though. That's how I think of the Barbershop. I think of distortions as bringing gain into the raunch zone.

true but when the SFT is stacked with another pedal

one of the best fuzz distortion sounds I have ever had came from stacking a Voodoo Lab sparkle drive with a Devi ever Dark Boost into a EHX BBM

 

[Laurent]

I have been getting back into pedals after sitting on the sideline and using what I had.
My new favorite for low grain grind is the Solidgoldfx Imperial. It's based of the BC183 transistor just like my SUF Dirty Rooster. Both circuits are Muff variants, leaning toward the Color Sound Jumbo Tonebender. The difference is the Solidgoldfx has a JFET preamp and a three way mid tone control (mid boost, mid flat and mid scoop). The preamp and mid control points are exceptionally well tuned. Also to be noted here the Beta also by Solidgoldfx sounds great in front of the Imperial to dime it a fit further.

The difference between the Imperial and the Dirty Rooster are interesting, the Imperial is good throughout the range and very versatile in the pedal chain. It's capable of a dark low grind, I had been looking for. The Dirty Rooster is great at high gain, almost out of control fuzz and the bass actually increases in that setting instead of disappearing!

I have the very first version of this pedal which was then reissue with less bass as guitar players were complaining it was too bassy (pansies!).

Anyways, kudos to Solidgoldfx, these Canadians have been putting out some really well made pedals that work great on bass.
In a different style they remind me of Homebrew Electronics which sadly stop making pedals last year.

 

[Laurent]

I've owned two SFTs and never thought of them as distortions. I like the term foundation overdrive though. That's how I think of the Barbershop. I think of distortions as bringing gain into the raunch zone.

The raunch zone!!! I like the term Matt. Good to read your thoughts and ideas, as always.