Always on pedal for big amp sound at low volumes

sweave

I'm finding my Thorpy Peacekeeper excellent to tweak and preserve tone when playing at lower volumes.

ICBM

Mesa V-Twin.

YellowLedBetterMan

I've tried a couple of the things I currently have today.

First I tried was the TC Spark. It was ok, but couldn't find a setting on it or a position where it wasn't just a "make everything louder" thing which defeats the object of trying to get big sounds at low volumes.

Next I tried my Mosky Silver Horse. This was a little bit better but I've never been a huge klon fan. It's just a bit too mid pushy but I'll have to tweak a bit more with it. I think I prefer Klon-types as a solo boost.

Then I tried the Boss SD-1. I love this pedal, but not for this application apparently.

I then tried my Marshall GV-2. This is where I had the most success. Set up as I normally would have it with gain at half, volume at a smidge under half, bass at 0, deep all the way up, treble all the way up and mids pretty much at half. This would give me my cranked Marshall distortion sound normally, so I just tried rolling the volume back a touch and it did something along the lines of what I'm after. Not perfect, but still pretty good.

So I think what I'll look for is a lower-gain Marshall style overdrive and run it really light - maybe a Bluesbreaker type or low-gain plexi type.

pintspiller

Boss SD1

YellowLedBetterMan

pintspiller said:

Boss SD1

  YellowLedBetterMan said:

I've tried a couple of the things I currently have today.

....

Then I tried the Boss SD-1. I love this pedal, but not for this application apparently.

....

So I think what I'll look for is a lower-gain Marshall style overdrive and run it really light - maybe a Bluesbreaker type or low-gain plexi type.

Mark1985

I have an attenuator module that plugs into the effects loop of my amp to act as a master volume. Lets me get cranked amp sounds at low volumes. 
I think its a lad on the forum that makes them and theyre only about 20 quid. 
That or the little black amp box from jhs will work.

dilbert

I'm happy with a Spark Boost and TS type, (I've used both and SD-1 and BM), pedal into my HRDIII. 

ICBM

Mark1985 said:

I have an attenuator module that plugs into the effects loop of my amp to act as a master volume. Lets me get cranked amp sounds at low volumes. 
I think its a lad on the forum that makes them and theyre only about 20 quid.

Danny1969 - http://thesuperheroesonline.co.uk/Fender-Hot-Rod-Volume-Pot-Module.html

@Danny1969 - your Ebay link is broken .

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fender-Hot-Rod-Deluxe-Master-Volume-Module/184224882726

It should also fit any amp with 20mm (centre to centre) FX loop jack spacing.

Danny1969

ICBM said:

Mark1985 said:

I have an attenuator module that plugs into the effects loop of my amp to act as a master volume. Lets me get cranked amp sounds at low volumes. 
I think its a lad on the forum that makes them and theyre only about 20 quid.

Danny1969 - http://thesuperheroesonline.co.uk/Fender-Hot-Rod-Volume-Pot-Module.html

@Danny1969 - your Ebay link is broken .

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fender-Hot-Rod-Deluxe-Master-Volume-Module/184224882726

It should also fit any amp with 20mm (centre to centre) FX loop jack spacing.

Ah yeah cheers I will fix that link. Some pro USA guitarist has brought 5 of those, he's got 5 amps in different locations and got a Lion Tamer in every one ... been mentally popular gadget worldwide 

skippy76

For great fruschanti tones I run a Origin Effects Cali 76 compressor into the front end of my Marshall Origin 20C. You can dial in a bit of grit by adjusting the volume in on the Cali (over all output controlled by the Cali Out dial)

hope that helps

lasermonkey

I built a Wampler Plexi Drive clone for a friend a while back and that had a bass boost switch that was very useful for fattening things up for low/bedroom volume. I'm pretty sure that was the whole point of the switch being on there. Nice sounding pedal, btw.

timbuk02

Another vote for the mojo mojo. Gives things that nice spongy feel. 

merlin

This may help...

https://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/135269/fs-empress-compressor#latest

YellowLedBetterMan

I suppose when looking for Frusciante ish tones I should've first looked at the biggest Frusciante nerd on the internet.

Dave Simpson recommends the Marshall BB2, Jackhammer and Tone City Golden Plexi for this job, all with the gain low.

AndyJP

RYRA Clone or any other Klone would do it

captainbeeffart

Fuzz face

YellowLedBetterMan

Folk who recommend a Klone always on - how do you have it set and where in the chain?

Same question to the people who say TC Spark too.

guitarcookie1

YellowLedBetterMan said:

Folk who recommend a Klone always on - how do you have it set and where in the chain?

Same question to the people who say TC Spark too.

Mine is a juansolo klone.  First in line, maybe after a light compressor. Gain & volume at 11 o’clock, tone at 12 o’clock (single coils) or 3 o’clock (humbuckers). 

Seems to give a “bigger” sound with a touch of grit, stacked into a TS for a crunch sound. 

I love the mid-pushed sound it gives but it’s probably not for everyone. 

WiresDreamDisasters

A compressor into a slightly driven amp would be my call

Hattigol

YellowLedBetterMan said:

Folk who recommend a Klone always on - how do you have it set and where in the chain?

Same question to the people who say TC Spark too.

Klone first in line.
Level maximum, gain minimum.