How many types of drive do you need?

menamestom

I've always had one or 2 dirt pedals, nothing too specific but usually a transparent, nearly always on pedal that adds grit when pushed (Timmy, SHOD etc) and something with more gain.  I've not thought too much about the 2nd pedal in terms of e.q. -  more in terms of having a bit more gain. 

But now I'm thinking I should have more flavours for different applications.  I usually like the sound I get but always seem to miss something.  So now I'm thinking I should get at least:-

Mid humpy boost (Klon, TS - boost along the line for solos)
Transparent OD (nearly always on)
MIAB (swap for the transparent for rockier songs)
Fuzz 

Pedal specifics aside what categories of drive do you usually have available?


Note I play into Fender amps with no drive channel, If you already play into an amp with gain you will probably just need an SD1 or similar.....

Jalapeno

Answer - always one more

mrkb

Judging by my collection- about 10! Or 15!

zepp76

Strymon sunset, all the overdrive I need.

Sassafras

OD-2 .for a little bit of gain.
Pork Loin for a bit more.
Fat Sandwich for even more.

monquixote

Are you gigging?

I'd say stick with as few as you can otherwise you just end up tap dancing and it detracts from your performance.

I've always had something boosty and something rock rhythm flavoured that stack for solos.

I sometimes add a fuzz or heavy drive if required but you can do most gigs with 2.

Voxman

I've never understood the obsession by some folk with the need for umpteen distortions on their board. I very much doubt the audience could tell the difference at gigging volumes in a mix.  Even when I was using my pedalboard, I could get a huge variation of distortion tones with a Marshall Guvnr 2, Behringer TO800, Boss CS3 compressor and GE7 EQ.  It's amazing what an EQ can do to. I have a Jackhammer too but just prefer the Guvnr.

soma1975

Fuzz Face
Treble Booster
Light OD
Distortion

builttospill

Through my PRRI I use 3x drives, The Boss SD-2 crunch side for a boosted slightly dirty clean, the red side on the SD-2 for lead or heavy riffage. I also use an OD-1 for light grit and to give me that vintagey flavour of OD. But since owning an OD-2 things have changed as I now prefer OD-2’s thick turbo lead sound. I even use my FZ-2 to add fuzz to my heavily overdriven stuff. I’m forever changing my mind.

pintspiller

I probably have more OD/distortion than any other (who hasn't?), but when I played more guitar (I play more bass th we days) I frigged about with pedals for more time than enough but preferred a two-channel amp

AlexC

As far as pedals go I have an OD for rhythm, an OD for a boosted ‘bluesy’ lead tone and a fuzz for all out sustained lead. But I’ll tend to use OD and distorted tones from the amp where I can.

stickyfiddle

At home, as many as you like. 

For gigging, I’d always go max 3 - something light, something less light and something clean-boosty for solos

JDE

stickyfiddle said:

At home, as many as you like. 

For gigging, I’d always go max 3 - something light, something less light and something clean-boosty for solos

Totally agree. Clean - Dirty - Lead/Louder is the best for gigging in my experience. Most nuances get lost on the audience and if you have too many different levels and EQ’s to manage, the sound guy/girl hates you. 

At home, all the marbles. 

menamestom

monquixote said:

Are you gigging?

I'd say stick with as few as you can otherwise you just end up tap dancing and it detracts from your performance.

I've always had something boosty and something rock rhythm flavoured that stack for solos.

I sometimes add a fuzz or heavy drive if required but you can do most gigs with 2.

Yeah, gig once or twice a week, but would probably keep is simple for that band.  I know what you mean, the more gains and volumes you get the more complex is all gets, but would like certain sounds on my board for certain occations (I play in 2 other bands and there’s always various projects to jump on).

JDE

Crikey 3 bands and open to other projects! I take it you don’t fancy the modelling/multi fx route?

menamestom

JDE said:

Crikey 3 bands and open to other projects! I take it you don’t fancy the modelling/multi fx route?

Just sold my helix LT, hence the madness!
(new board has a HX stomp in so do have the choice, just like combo of multi and analog dirt). 

Wazmeister

- A Blues Breaker
- A Tubescreamer 
(Both Duellist)

- A Klon (RYRA)

Majorscale

For tonight’s gig I’m going with a Klone>Lazy J Cruiser>Thorpyfx Gunshot

Should cover most bases, especially when stacking.

ewal

If you include boosts, I've got six. An always on boost at end of chain, then on HX Effects I toggle between SD1 and OCD. I have another boost at start of chain, more for experimental purposes to compare with other boost. I've got a Black Secret second last on chain after reverb and delay for those white noise moments and a Carcosa before reverb and delay for not quite white noise moments.

I could easily ditch either Carcosa or Black Secret, and one boost.

menamestom

Okay tonight, I’ve got one - a Nobels ODR-1.
But it’s an acoustic band, I’m the only electric, no drums, so I don’t need 4 stages of trying to get louder than the other noisy feckers 

Freebird

Sassafras said: mm

OD-2 .for a little bit of gain.
Pork Loin for a bit more.
Fat Sandwich for even more.

I feel hungry.