Best Overdrive For Me - Poll

[MCS4]

I would be pretty happy with the Sparkle Drive in your situation, provided that you don't care about having the option of more than fairly light grit. The Sparkle Drive preserves low end well when you use the blend function but this does limit the amount of drive on tap, which is already low.

 

[Edmang]

Have you looked into the EBS Valvedrive?

 

[Mosfed]

I agree about the Fairfield but only if it's always on. Mine popped so freaking loudly every time I hit it that I was forced to sell it as nothing I have is really ever ALWAYS on.

 

[HolmeBass]

I voted for what I use, the SD, but in truth it does lose a bit of low end. Well, what really happens, as it seems to me, is this:

The OD adds harmonic content in the mids, upper mids, and some highs. It adds volume in those frequency bands.

You set the OD to "unity" gain, compared to your clean signal, in that process you are compensating out the added mids and highs, so you wind up "losing" low end.

I have also noted, on my Streamliner 900, that added distortion just seems to sap some low end power all by itself. What I mean to say is that I am beginning to doubt the idea that you can add distortion/OD and not lose low end unless you have some sort of active EQ boosting the low freqs.

 

[FretNoMore]

The SolidGoldFX Beta does boost the lows a bit, it's a bit different to many other dirt pedals in that regard. Others have EQ controls (more than just a high cut, at least bass+treble, preferrably also a mid control), something I have come to see as almost a must. I doubt I will ever by a dirt pedal with only the usual gain/volume/tone controls again.

 

[hintz]

I can't speak for any o.d.'s on your list, but I use the blue tube pedal into a Demeter tube direct with great results for my direct sound(I rarely get to even use my amp on gigs)