Here is question regarding distortion stomps.

15 posts

desertbluesman #1 · Mar 05, 2011 05:37 UTC

OK I have several tube distortion stomps. I am completely satisfied with what they do, for what they do.

But I would like a pedal that gives super good sustain, has good tone control, yet does not sound distorted much. Something that has a good dynamic response. something that takes away the peaks of the pick attack, yet sounds pretty clean. Is there any such animal.

charger #2 · Mar 05, 2011 05:48 UTC

A compressor.

desertbluesman #3 · Mar 05, 2011 05:53 UTC

charger — Mar 05, 2011A compressor.

Thanks for the reply Charger

I have tried several compressors including the one in my Tonelab which is supposed to be one of the best at that. The compressor does not really do what I want. And of course it does away with most of the dynamic response, at least that is what they do for me. I have several rack mount compressors in front of my DAW, and I use them to the best of my limited ability, but they also do not do what I want.

Any other suggestions would be appreciated.

CraigB #4 · Mar 05, 2011 08:16 UTC

Er, well, it's still a compressor, but have you ever tried one like the Keely Compressor? It's completely different than my other rack-based compressors (DBX and G-Force), very clean and with true bypass. My main two stomps are an Analog-Man modded TS-808 and the Keely Compressor (not that THAT means much! ;D ).

Here's the link: http://www.robertkeeley.com/product.php?id=8

charger #5 · Mar 05, 2011 08:17 UTC

I ran the Vox satch overdrive, the Ice9, through my Tweaker last night at the jam. It seemed to have some really nice qualities that might work for you. Two different characters to the overdrive, and not a whole lot of gain at that, just some nice dark breakup. Also a much darker pedal than the Satchurator, which is way bright, and the Ice9's got a tone knob and a bass knob if you need to add some more girth. And of course a "more" switch, so if you want a little more, you can get it. On the whole, I found it much more impressive in overall range than the Satchurator. But most of what it sounds like you are looking for comes, it seems to me, from decent volume. Get up to the level where you can keep up with drums, and you get more sustain and natural compression. It's a terrible solution for playing in your house, but it works brilliantly.

desertbluesman #6 · Mar 05, 2011 15:38 UTC

Thanks all I appreciate the suggestions

fingers #7 · Mar 05, 2011 15:54 UTC

How about a clean boost, slam the front of a clean channel
of the amp - it disorts the preamp tubes some,
but it also gets sustain and compression
kinda similar to playing loud - but at low volumes.

desertbluesman #8 · Mar 05, 2011 17:47 UTC

Good idea Fingers.....

Thanks

DreamTheaterRules #9 · Mar 05, 2011 18:05 UTC

Actually, a compressor would be first choice for what you mentioned, but NOT a squisher. The Keeley is a great comp, but it's a squisher. You need something like the Barber Tone Press. I love mine. I want a Keeley too some time, for when I need a squisher, but mine is literally an "on all the time" pedal for almost any kind of music you want to play.

Beyond that, Fingers suggestion would be my second choice. Slam V1 with a nice boost. Or, a transparent, low gain, smooth OD such as Barber LTD V2 if you want fat, Barber LTD SR if you want flat.

desertbluesman #10 · Mar 05, 2011 18:58 UTC

Thanks Howie. I listened to the clips and I prefer the ability of the Pigtronics Philosophers Tone to that only because of the clips I could find on line. Of course a trial run at GC will be the deciding factor

dearthian #11 · Mar 07, 2011 23:57 UTC

I second Howie, not a squisher.

Pigtronics makes some good stuff. My personal fave of a compressor is the Carl Martin. It will do from mild to squish. I also like the Maxon CP9Pro+. Very similar to the Carl Martin.

desertbluesman #12 · Mar 08, 2011 01:31 UTC

Thanks Chris. I decided not to get a compressor, I never really liked what they did, and after listening to clips of all of the suggestions I got I still do not like them for my use.

dearthian #13 · Mar 08, 2011 03:24 UTC

That's cool. Then I would have to say Fingers had a good idea if you don't like compressors.

You might look into either an MI Audio Boost n' Buff or a Keeley Katana. I've owned the MI Audio and it's great at the price. Haven't tried it, but you might also look at an Xotic RC Booster.

On low gain setting, a Catalinbread Dirty Little Secret might do the trick too. I really liked the higher gain settings, but it was really good as a clean booster with the gain turned down.

doc #14 · Mar 08, 2011 03:41 UTC

desertbluesman — Mar 05, 2011OK I have several tube distortion stomps. I am completely satisfied with what they do, for what they do.

But I would like a pedal that gives super good sustain, has good tone control, yet does not sound distorted much. Something that has a good dynamic response. something that takes away the peaks of the pick attack, yet sounds pretty clean. Is there any such animal.

Most clips and videos of distortion pedals show the distortion side for obvious reasons. There is a bit of the "taking away the peaks of the pick attack" that impact dynamics if I understand what you want. You may find that the Zendrive will do this for you. Perhaps a Skreddy Screw Driver as well. The Java Boost can do some of this as well. Compressors will help with the sustain and I liked my 4 knob Keeley fine but it was not what I wanted. The ZD and SD both do the edge of breaking pretty well are sensitive to pick attack and in that sense dynamic. The SD is more gritty while the ZD is smoother.

desertbluesman #15 · Mar 08, 2011 03:55 UTC

Thanks Chris and Doc. I also got answers on other forums regarding the Zen Drive