What Overdrive/Distortion Are You Loving Right Now?

[Murph_Orpheus]

So, as it says on the tin...which OD/Distortion are you using/loving in your setup at the moment? I'm creating this thread partially because it's a fun topic but also because I want to stumble across something I maybe haven't tried in the world of dirt yet. I've used loads of pedals for dirt in the past such as Darkglass, Fulltone, EBS, Damnation Audio, Sansamp, Earthquaker Devices, Abominable Electronics etc. and I always tend to hang my hat on the Darkglass side of things. The B7K has been on my board for a decade now and the X7 has joined it for the last few years too.

Some pedals I have my eye on to try are the Walrus Audio Badwater and Orange Getaway Driver. Also interested to see how the Two Notes ReVolt turns out. Looking forward to seeing what people are currently using!

P.S. this thread is not necessarily a suggest pedals to me thread, I'm just looking to engage in good conversation with fellow dirt lovers (while also looking up pedals I haven't used ).

 

[foal30]

I’m not of much use as had 2 “dirt” pedals I’ve enjoyed for years which I imagine I’ll always keep (Wounded Paw and Free The Tone)

But I tried a Canadian company Solidgoldfx on a friends recommendation and I really like it as like a boost or slight “front lift”

Beta Germanium. I’ve had a look and maybe not made anymore

 

[itmeyaboi]

I recently got a Two Notes Le Bass preamp, and the drive channel on that is amazing! The icing on the cake is that you can run it parallel to the clean channel to retain the clean low end, or you can actually run the 2 channels in series to get an over the top amount of gain!

 

[Derek Williams]

I've been using 2 drives lately. First is the Broughton Locust Star, which I really didn't have high expectations for (I bought it because, as they say in the Broughton thread, "buy when in stock"), but it's very impressive. I've also been using my BassRig Super Vintage quite a bit, after having it up on the shelf for the last 5 months. Yesterday I just received a Jam Pedals Lucydreamer Bass, I haven't had a chance to try it out yet though, so no opinion on it yet.

 

[cyberfola]

Joyo American sound and the zvex super duper. I also like the demonfx a7k... I like low gain.... barely noticeable distortion. The mosky xp booster is also nice...super low gain...

 

[darren1970]

Darkglass X7 for "always on" mildly driven top end ( bottom end clean ) and Darkglass Alpha Omega stacked before it when more saturated distortion is needed
Maybe not everyone's 'cup if tea' but it's the sound I've been hunting for for ages

 

[dave64o]

I absolutely love my Broughton FlipTop. I also love the other two dirts on my board, a Broughton SV-Pre and a Spaceman Effects Saturn VI, but, right now, the FlipTop is the one.

It’s not a high gain pedal, but I don’t need high gain. But when I need a warm, vintagey drive, it works so well.

EDIT: There was a similar thread a couple of days ago and several people posted about the JPTR FX Jive, which I had never heard of. I watched a few demo videos and was intrigued enough to order one. Can't wait to see if it knocks one of those off my board.

 

[HelpImaRock]

The Source Audio Multiwave Bass Distortion. Been my only dirt for almost a year.

 

[Admiral Chew]

Great idea for a thread!

There are some excellent pedals mentioned already. I echo @Derek Williams in his choices. I hope you like the Lucydreamer too! I think it’s one of the more versatile overdrives out there because of the extra gain footswitch, but the BassRig SV and Locust Star both take some beating. I’m finally starting to figure out and enjoy the former after being on the fence when I first got it.

I recently picked up a Nightowl Industries Parabellum v2 which has a Nightowl Edison tube preamp and a Dunwich designed circuit inside. It’s momentarily pushed my other dirt pedals aside and prompted me to sell several more. There’s a great demo by Hondo Felder that does it more justice than I ever could: I think it’s one of the more stylish dirt pedals I’ve seen too.

 

[vivaknoxvegas]

I go back and forth between a rat tail, li’l fella, and blower box. Boring I suppose by today’s standards.

 

[Admiral Chew]

I go back and forth between a rat tail, li’l fella, and blower box. Boring I suppose by today’s standards.

What would you keep if you could only have one?

The Blower Box is fantastic and deserves to be a classic. There seems to be a suggestion of a version on steroids coming out: Mega Blower Box

 

[arepa_funk]

Big fan of the Jam Lucydreamer Bass, @Derek Williams! Hope you dig it when you have a chance to plug it in.

Really dig the Broughton Maestro. I'll also always (irrationally) love the MXR Sub Machine, and I'll proselytize it as often as possible.

As far as preamps go, still love the Fliptop and SV-PRE. A Sushi Box Slampegg X should be arriving soon, so we'll see how that shakes.

 

[JeffTCS]

Broughton Solarian, simple and to the point. And that rainbow sparkle finish... just go home.

Locust Star is also fantastic.
Southampton 5th gear is amazing as well.

There's so much good dirt out there right now, even something like the MXR Bass Distortion is a can't fail, I ran that bad boy for many moons with no regrets, very versatile.

 

[BOOG]

This is an evil thread and all of you are condemned to (insert your favorite hellish place) _______.
You see, I am perfectly happy with my DG Vintage Microtubes and DG AlphaOmicron and now all of these wonderful new flavors are popping up like a Baskin Robbins pedal flavor-fest.
Nope, not gonna do it. Taking my Sweetwater Tums as we read.

 

[Murph_Orpheus]

Big fan of the Jam Lucydreamer Bass, @Derek Williams! Hope you dig it when you have a chance to plug it in.

Really dig the Broughton Maestro. I'll also always (irrationally) love the MXR Sub Machine, and I'll proselytize it as often as possible.

As far as preamps go, still love the Fliptop and SV-PRE. A Sushi Box Slampegg X should be arriving soon, so we'll see how that shakes.

Interesting that you mention the Sub Machine, I wanted it for a long time but ended up getting the MXR Sub Octave Bass Fuzz which didn't quite click with me. I wonder if I'd prefer the Sub Machine!

 

[smogg]

DSM SubAtomic x-over cmos bass drive is my current favorite. The more I use it the more I like it.

 

[superheavyfunk]

I’m currently rocking a CAL Grizzly. Not because it blows my mind but rather, because it does what it needs to without getting in the way of anything else - which is kind of a super power all on its own.

I would like to try some other stuff… I’ve had the Aftershock, Vulcan, a Micro Red Dragon, and I used an OCD for years. Not super keen on the DG sound. This’ll be a good thread to refer to when I’ve got some extra money to spend.

Great idea for a thread!

I recently picked up a Nightowl Industries Parabellum v2 which has a Nightowl Edison tube preamp and a Dunwich designed circuit inside… I think it’s one of the more stylish dirt pedals I’ve seen too.
View attachment 4763888

This is just beautiful! A collectors pedal, if I’ve ever seen one.

 

[DJ Bebop]

 

[matdras]

The Omega setting on my DarkRay has been the vibe lately. I have never used the comparable pedal, but whatever it’s doing to the mid frequencies (gain a little less than halfway and blend about the same) is just lovely.

 

[-Stingray]

Anything with a blend knob....