Distortion pedals - suggestions?

UnclePsychosis

Let me add to the chorus of RAT fans.

Also the Emma Reezafratzitz is cool.

Rowby1

Gunshot is very versatile. If you can't get it to sound great you're doing something wrong.

John_P

Wampler Pinnacle ticks everything on your list.  

Drew_TNBD

Try a Bogner Blue.

monquixote

Drew_fx said:

Try a Bogner Blue.

Having had both I thought the Bogner Red was much better and would be a very good choice.

ICBM

Boss DF-2

If you can't find one easily and/or don't want to pay that much, DS-1. 95% as good and it is a classic for a reason.

meltedbuzzbox

The DS-1 is an awful pedal.

Sassafras

Rat although my Way Huge Fat Sandwich has replaced it on my board. Even more versatile than the Rat although it doesn't do the overdrive thing that the Rat can do so maybe not as versatile as I think but for distortion it's bloody great.

Drew_TNBD

monquixote said:

Drew_fx said:

Try a Bogner Blue.

Having had both I thought the Bogner Red was much better and would be a very good choice.

Mainly suggested the Blue coz he said he didn't want uber high-gain. But the Red could be a good option too.

stratman3142

Just commenting on a couple that have been mentioned. Not disagreeing with anything because it's all down to personal taste and there's no right or wrong in this.

I have a Fulltone OCD v4. It sounds great in isolation but I find it mid scooped. As I mentioned on another thread, I found in a band, where the bottom end gets masked by other instruments, it sounded thin to me. But I accept that is probably depends on the band set up and the sound of the other instruments. Also, I like some compression in the sound for those Satriani/EVH style legato licks. The OCD is quite open, which I know others would see as a very positive thing.

It all depends on how open a sound you want vs a compressed sound plus how much you want in the middle frequencies.

When I recently compared a load of distortion pedals at Andertons, I went in thinking I was going to buy a Wampler Pinnacle, but that was actually too compressed and I was a bit worried about the high end bite, which might sound thin in a band.  But it was the closest to my idea of an EVH sound which I can see working when you've only got one guitar, bass and drums.

I wished I've tried a Crunchbox to compare, but the Angry Charlie had the right amount of drive, mids and compression to suit me.

Some some things to bear in mind as a checklist, because everyone will have different tastes
How much drive/distortion - obviously
How much openness vs compression
How much do you want in the mids. Imagine what the pedal might sound like in your band and how it would sound it you removed the lower bottom end (which tends to gets masked in a bigger band and high pass filtered in the studio).

Pete

JD50

meltedbuzzbox;945567" said:

The DS-1 is an awful pedal.

I've not much joy with these either but they have been in production for aeons so must work for a lot of folk.
That pedal show did an interesting video where they compared various overdrives through different amps, the effect was huge in some cases, Muffs And TS sounded great on some amps and awful through others etc
I always associate DS1s with my youth with valvestates and peavy combos

meltedbuzzbox

it was a bit of a snap comment. 

I am sure anything can work to make a good sound but the DS-1 tends to have a horrible habit of sounding like a box of wasps. 

(might be a newer reissue thing)

I seem to recall on that pedal show that Dan did mention it was a borrowed DS-1 and it was special (might be a load of mojo...)

But in todays market there is just so much choice out there that the DS-1 has to be down the bottom of the list

saying all that The DS-2 seemed to be a nicer pedal from what I recall. 

fretmeister

Boss DS-1X. The X is important.

Zoom Hyper lead.

Fulltone OCD

ICBM

meltedbuzzbox said:

The DS-1 is an awful pedal.

In the biblical meaning of the word, yes.

It's *very* fussy how you set the tone control though, and it doesn't work with all amps. I'd still pick it over most modern boutique distortions I've tried though - most recently a ZVex Distortron, which I had heard great things about by never tried. I'd take the DS-1 over it any day.

hugbot

Ooh yeah the ds1x is great and sounds very little like the stock ds1

TimmyO

hugbot said:

Ooh yeah the ds1x is great and sounds very little like the stock ds1

Indeed - 2nd half of this is pretty good 

mike_l

I'm currently enjoying very much a Boss DS-1 and a Boss DS-1 going into a dirty Marshall. Cos I is a gain slut.

Really not very fond of the DS-1's into a clean amp, but into a dirty amp, yes please.

The Vox Satchurator is voiced similarly to the DS-1. I think it's a modded version thereof........

I also enjoy MXR dirts into a dirty Marshall, the Distortion3 and GT-OD are currently favs....

firepaulmusic

Suhr Riot ( not Reloaded)

simonk

Buffalo Evolution. It's like a Rat, but better!

Jalapeno

Nothing Xotic tickle your doodah ?

TRex Mudhoney, Alberta or my particular choice the Moller.