25 posts
Preferences?
Edited to open discussion to any OD box.
I need something to compliment my Dirty Bomb. I have a Bad Monkey and it is just OK. It is kind of hard edged and sucks some feel and guitar tone. Actually, I don't like it much since I got the Barber.
I'd like something with decent transparency and versatile tone control. I am hoping to find one that covers adding some clean sustain to enough gain for singing blues lead. Emphasis on lifting a rhythm tone into lead territory.
I can try a variety of massively mass produced effects at GC. They do have some Visual Sound and Way Huge offerings too, but nobody close by stocks much besides Boss and Digitec.
Input is appreciated. I'm just trying to get some trusted opines / reviews before I decide.
Depends on what y ou are after. I prefer the OCD....I'm sure someone like Howie prefers the Direct Drive.
it REALLY depends on what you are after. First of all, there are 4 versions of the OCD out there, and they are all different enough to create preferences. I like them all but 1.2 and 1.4 are my favorites. They are in fact different enough that I'm strongly considering trying to repurchase a V1.2 and have both on my board.
The Direct Drive has gone through upgrades and added features but no fundamental major changes in tone. The new Custom Shop DDSS is pretty hard to beat. LOTS of tunability to match your system and your preferences. The DD would be better IMO, at replacing say a Tube Screamer as a solo pedal, although the OCD can do that well (just differently).
The OCD is more open and more transparent. The DD has it's own voice (Marshall like voice). Two different beasts. This is the first time in a while that I don't have a DD on my board. I sold my last one when the new DDSS came out and got side tracked and have never gotten the new one.
These pedals are different enough that I strongly recommend auditioning them both before you decide. But if you share some more ideas on what you are looking for I could probably pick one for you to try first.
On the tubescreamer side, try a Maxon OD-9. Also a Keely modded Tube Screamer or Blues Driver sound pretty righteous.
A used Timmy by Paul Cochrane is also pretty nice for bluesy breakup. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AViMnHAV-lw
more for your list:
check out youtube for Xotic RC/AC/BB.
I have the RC, it's super transparent.. but a clean boost, not so much a dirt box. Have read good stuff re: the other two.
Hi Tobe !
The last OD pedal I've tried out is the "Diamond j-drive MK-III".
It sounds killer with single coils ! Dynamic and transparent OD with an indipendent clean boost !
Anothe pedal I like very much is the "Carl Martin Plexitone". Two separate and indipendent Overdrives and a clean booster.
Ciao !
Marco
Plus 1 on the Xotics stuff.....very nice pedals those are.
Forgot about this one. Menatone Red Snapper. The older hand-wired versions are killer.
Dearthian: — Nov 03, 2009Forgot about this one. Menatone Red Snapper. The older hand-wired versions are killer.
+ 1 !! :)
I would add "The fish factory" too ! If you like to hear it, there's a video I've done some time ago where I'm using "the fish factory" pedal ! Here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qp0ktTMN27g
Ciao !
Marco
Thanks for all the suggestions! I'm in the process of researching clips and reviews. Who knew the market could support such a bewildering number of dirt boxes.
Thanks for the links to the vids.
Xotics are way cool as is the Timmy. I could build a museum of these things if $$ were no object.
Stumbled across LovePedal while looking for demos. Keep coming back to listen to this one: http://www.lovepedal.com/pedals/e_fuse.html
I'm still very happy with my Ibanez TubeScreamer (TS-9/TS-808/Silver modded by Analog Man). I'm not as jazzed about my Boss DS-1 (also modded by Analog Man).
Tobe — Nov 05, 2009Xotics are way cool as is the Timmy. I could build a museum of these things if $$ were no object.
Stumbled across LovePedal while looking for demos. Keep coming back to listen to this one: http://www.lovepedal.com/pedals/e_fuse.html
I'm not as wild about the LovePedals. Everytime I've tried one, my response (except for the ProValve) has been tepid.
I've tried the Xotic RC Booster. Not bad. Not bad at all.
That's my main concern, dropping close to two bills on something uninspiring. I can't try too many personally.
I can see that someone who likes a lot of character in an OD might not care for some of the Lovepedals. I am leaning away from strong TS (mid hump) only type of boxes. Bad Monkey covers that well enough and my amp can put out nice juicy mids.
re: the RC, if you try to use it as a distortion pedal, it sounds like pure meh. it's best as a "more" pedal - fills out the guitar a bit and makes it louder. the tone controls are handy for cutting bass/treble for the mid-bump boost thing if desired. requires a cranked amp for that to work well, though. might not be what you're looking for.
it's a nice pedal, but it's something of a problem solver rather than a tone foundation. I use it to slam the hell out of my THD amps' inputs... <evilgrin> :)
PS: I use a fulldrive2 for that blues (srv) type tone - it's a great pedal, especially when stacked with other stuff (fuzz).
I think sheep brought up a great point.....OCd and FULLDRIVE II ....I like to run through a loud amp. They can sound really big at low volumes but to get the magic stuff....to me...gotta have some volume going.
I also run them at 18 volts which I think opens them up more and lets them breathe. I also agree with sheep in that I tend to run the FUlldrive II as a MORE pedal and push the OCD with it on the clean channel of my amp.
Dearth, Just found my way to the Menatone site. http://www.menatone.com/
Their sound samples are fook king right. The 4 knob Red Snapper is described as having point-to-point construction. The Blue Collar (TS type - compressed w/ mid hump) is killer too. It gets that elastic / greasy tone Sheep pulls out sometimes.
Also interesting, the None More Black: "After almost three years of intensive tinkering, Menatone is proud to launch the None More Black on Halloween 2009.
Many hours of testing has finally produced what I believe to be the finest ultra high gain distortion box in existence.... more to come shortly."
Sheep - The FD2 is on the short list.
if you don't want the hump, and don't want much gain, check out a Barber LTD SR. Very nice low gain pedal.
DreamTheaterRules — Nov 06, 2009if you don't want the hump, and don't want much gain, check out a Barber LTD SR. Very nice low gain pedal.
Howie,
The mod board version is tempting. Some of the demos seem to have a hard pick attack. Not sure if it is a characteristic of the pedal or the rest of the rigs.
I really like some of the Small Fry samples. Some nice versatility / features there. The tradeoff there would be the 'semi clean' minimum gain, but that's probably a non-issue with a volume knob rollback.
Tobe — Nov 06, 2009Dearth, Just found my way to the Menatone site. http://www.menatone.com/
Their sound samples are fook king right. The 4 knob Red Snapper is described as having point-to-point construction. The Blue Collar (TS type - compressed w/ mid hump) is killer too. It gets that elastic / greasy tone Sheep pulls out sometimes.
Also interesting, the None More Black: "After almost three years of intensive tinkering, Menatone is proud to launch the None More Black on Halloween 2009.
Many hours of testing has finally produced what I believe to be the finest ultra high gain distortion box in existence.... more to come shortly."
Sheep - The FD2 is on the short list.
If you like both Red Snapper & Blue Collar, then check out the pedal Marco suggested, the Fish Factory. You'll have to find one used, since they aren't made anymore. It is a Red Snapper & Blue Collar in one box. Newer versions have it where you can cascade the Blue Collar side into the Red Snapper side.
I generally preferred the Snapper side, though. ;)
I love the artwork on the None More Black. "Stonehenge"!! Also, check out the artwork on King of the Britains. It's a swallow carrying a coconut. Shut Up & Drive; Speed Racer.
Tobe,
There is no hard edge to the pick attack on the LTDs. They are on the smooth side. Must be the recordings...
The LTD with mod is great. The new Half Gainer as well. The mids knob controls from flat (LTD SR) to hump (LTD) and anywhere in between.
DreamTheaterRules — Nov 06, 2009Tobe,
There is no hard edge to the pick attack on the LTDs. They are on the smooth side. Must be the recordings...
The LTD with mod is great. The new Half Gainer as well. The mids knob controls from flat (LTD SR) to hump (LTD) and anywhere in between.
Thanks! The standard LTD samples on Dave's site do sound quite good so logic dictates the mod pcb one could be dialed in to match my amp / settings even better. I get hung up on tweakability sometimes.
the pedals with the mod board are highly tweakable. I had a DD with mod board and as much as I loved the standard DD, it covered WAY more ground. Barber pedals are VERY good and are less expensive than any other top brand pedal.
The Timmy is very good too, but more of an "add a little and change a little" pedal.
Tobe — Nov 02, 2009Preferences?
Edited to open discussion to any OD box.
http://www.instrumentpro.com/P-NADTD1?source=froogle
I have two of these, Nady TD 1 tube distortion device. It has the widest range of tonal options of any pedal I ever owned. I also have a Duncan Twin Tube and the TD 1 does everything the Duncan can do and much more tonally. It is similar to a Tonebone Classic. The one in my main pedal board has been functioning for many years without a hiccup or burp. I use it every day. I got another one just so I could take my HRD out without carrying the big pedal board and all the associated wires etc.
desertbluesman — Nov 07, 2009[quote author=Tobe link=1257173968/0#0 date=1257173968]Preferences?
Edited to open discussion to any OD box.
http://www.instrumentpro.com/P-NADTD1?source=froogle
I have two of these, Nady TD 1 tube distortion device. It has the widest range of tonal options of any pedal I ever owned. I also have a Duncan Twin Tube and the TD 1 does everything the Duncan can do and much more tonally. It is similar to a Tonebone Classic. The one in my main pedal board has been functioning for many years without a hiccup or burp. I use it every day. I got another one just so I could take my HRD out without carrying the big pedal board and all the associated wires etc.
Looks cool DBM - priced closer to my wife's budget. ;D
I'll check it out.