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Two Channel Overdrive / Distortion options?

Waltsdog

Waltsdog

Feb 21, 2009
2,032
4,289
Ottawa, ON
#1
I'm quite out of touch with pedals so I'm looking for some suggestions for a one pedal solution to add some dirt to my sound for when I'm using a very clean class D amp, ideally something that goes from a fairly subtle overdrive to pretty full on distortion.
I don't have a massive budget, around $250, which I assume makes things difficult but any suggestions would be great.
 
#3
A Fuzzrocious Demon (with second drive setting mod) would be good for that, and way under your budget. I only run one overdrive pedal on my board, so I chose the Demon specifically because it was the best among the many that I tried at handling both of those tones. It's not particularly transparent though... it has a distinct coloration, but for me it sits in an EQ range that fits well in a band mix.
 
#4
Thanks for the replies, I used to have a programmable bddi a long time ago but it is pretty huge which I was also trying to avoid.
I'll check out the Fuzzrocious as it sound like the sort of thing I'm after. Probably should have said originally that I want an always on Overdrive sound (for when I'm not using a tube amp) and a second channel with a heavier sound so colouring the tone is a good thing.
 
#7
Waltsdog said:
Unfortunately it's GREEDTONE overbudget!!!!
I'll check it out though as I could hold off and save for a couple of months for something absolutely perfect/amazing.
Click to expand...

Nonesense, good sir! There are 2 on Reverb that are under budget :thumbsup:

Now, I won't say that it is "perfect/amazing," but it was one of my favorite pedals (had to sell mine, but I'm going to have another one very soon). The overdrive sounds VERY natural and organic with lots of grind in the low mids; it just sounds nasty and growly. It also has an amp-like response in the way it lightly compresses. It doesn't play nice, though, with all basses...hence I can't say it's perfect. It was AMAZING with my Guild B302, which had gobs of booty shaking mids and lows. But not so nice with an MTD Grendel I used to own...that bass was high-mids/treble heavy and not my taste at all (in retrospect, it could have just been the strings,DR SS sunbeams, that I didn't like).

Here are two tracks where I used a Roger jazz (R-bass) with DA Chromes into the GT. They may be a bit "cheesy" sounding for some, but I think they shows pretty well how the GT can be set low enough to cut through with just a hint of hair. Remember, it can also be close to a fuzz with gain all the way up, and then with the "more" switch, pushed into distortion.

 
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#12
Waltsdog said:
I'm quite out of touch with pedals so I'm looking for some suggestions for a one pedal solution to add some dirt to my sound for when I'm using a very clean class D amp, ideally something that goes from a fairly subtle overdrive to pretty full on distortion.
I don't have a massive budget, around $250, which I assume makes things difficult but any suggestions would be great.
Click to expand...

Empress Heavy! I'm selling one in the For Sale forum for well within your budget.
 
#17
Empress Multidrive would be one of the first places I'd look. Guys also have lots of great things to say about the Source Audio as well, but I've never tried one myself so I can't comment.

An alternate choice for your consideration would be a ss/bs TAFM, as long as you get one of the more current ones with the gate switch. At low gain settings, the TAFM sounds fantastic and can cop a wonderful warm overdrive, and then when you kick on the gate switch, it also maxes out the fuzz gain and should give you that all-out distortion (well, in this case, fuzz) tone that you are looking for.
 
#18
I have the Empress and the Source OFD. I think the OFD rules baswd on its extensive variety of drives and deeper eq options. Oh yeah, it sounds amazing too! 2 easily programmed presets onboard & its incredibly small and reasonably priced for all it does!
 
#19
Brimstone XD2. And done.


EDIT: The SA OFD would be a great choice too, tons of dirt in one little package with two presets out the gate. Two different channels. And the dirt sounds great, 3 band EQ, clean blend and a gate. Great tool let alone dirt pedal. Def worth the price of admission.


And the XD2 ;)
 
#20
I used to use a TC electronic nova drive. Two discrete analog channels with digital controls - one od, one dist. I believe the OD had a clean blend too. You can use one or the other, or both in parallel or in series, either OD into dist or vice versa. Also lets you save presets if that's you thing.
 

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