Can you recommend me a versatile overdrive/distortion that is battery powered?

timbuk02

Also been looking for a simple 'don't want to fire up everything' solution, just play.

I know its not a boutique pedal but have you considered a Palmer pocket amp? 

Either into an amp or on its own. Seems like you would get all the sounds you mention. 

I like that its also a way of enabling headphone practice but being able to still use other pedals/looper in front of it too if you want… 

allen

Palmer pocket amp is interesting but same problem as a lot of these as you can't try it anywhere.

allen

I'm off to andertons this Thursday afternoon to attempt a purchase. Will give some feedback if people are interested.

timbuk02

Worth trying the MI Effects Crossover Drive when you're there, its really versatile with guitar volume knob… have fun! 

crunchman

Fulltone OCD or clone like Joyo/Harley Benton Ultimate drive if you want to do it on the cheap.

FelineGuitars

allen said:

Cols;993416" said:

Not on your list, but a RAT should cover it.

They say that a lot on TGP too. Got to try one.

No - seriously if you think the Rat is suitable - look at the ThorpyFX Warthog - far superior distortion whilst coming from the same place in terms of intent, although if you prefer overdrive to distortion you may be better looking at the ThorpyFX Gunshot.

If you are going to Andertons then you could try them out there.

allen

OK,

here's a bit of feedback after going to andertons

First couple of revelations:

- it's not that easy trying/comparing pedals in a guitar shop - it all takes so much time, etc.

- my ears and playing aren't that good so I'm never quite sure what I'm looking for or show it in the best light.

I tried the following pedals, based on my brief to the sales chap of flexible with both low gain and classic rock - which he took literally as having 2 channels

Xotic BB+ 

I found it pretty meh. Can't describe it.

Fulltone GT-500

Also pretty meh.

Stax Master

I liked it initially, and it was more in the ballpark in the first two. The tone control seemed to go from fluffy to woolly, so not quite right.

MI Audio Super Blues Pro

A lot of sounds in this one, but I didn't really like them.

Tight Drive

Too many switches (I could mostly hear the difference), wide range of gain - pretty good sound to me, but a bit modern sounding and a couple of the knobs had one sweet spot and that was it.

Bogner Ecstasy Blue

This was the best one, but...

a) I never had that 'this is it' moment of perfection

b) The boost gives a massive volume increase even on zero volume so was difficult to audition it.

And then I ran out of time...the quest continues

At the moment I'm shortlisting

Bogner Blue

Truetone jekyll and hyde(808 with a marshall shredmaster) or VSXO (808 and ODR-1)

Jetter Red Squared

The trouble with those 3 is that one is in Coda, one in Andertons and one in Guitar Village - gets a bit difficult to  try them back to back.

meltedbuzzbox

just buy the nobels odr and save yourself a lot of money and grief 

ecc83

"Blackstar LT Distortion"

Yes Mike but since OP said "versatile"...LT-Dual.

Dave.

mr_air

I really like the MI Audio Crossover Drive. Goes from almost clean boost to bordering fuzz when maxed out. Another option could be the Emma Electronics Reezafratzitz. It's mostly a distortion, at least in my eyes, but it does lover gain stuff very well.

benmurray85

All this effort for a pedal that you want to "whip out for 20 mins" and use occasionally in the living room!!!

ESBlonde

Cheap (so you can knock it about), battery, versatile (two output types if you move the jack plug or Stereo with a clean edge) and decent sounding. This will not put your Booteek pedals to shame but it is very versatile and decent sounding, just unplug the input when you're finished else the battery won't last long (as with all battery powered pedals).

Arion SOD-1

allen

Thanks for everyone's input - I've bought the bogner ecstasy blue.

I tried it again today at Andertons with the objective of achieving

- Hendrix clean with a hint of throatiness

- SRV 

- 70s Marshall

A couple of helpful fellow shoppers twiddled knobs while I played SRV riffs until it was dialled in for that - took about a minute. Hendrix and Led Zep were easy to dial in.

I also compared it to

- Wampler Clarksdale - I really don't like tubescreamers

- Lovepedal Amp 11 - the boost side was really nice, but the amp side was a bit like the SL drive i.e. it can't do low gain very well

- Suhr Koko boost - I didn't spend much time with it, but it sounded really good to my ears. I think if I was an actual musician playing gigs rather than arsing about copying other guitar players' licks then I'd have probably gone for this.

Thanks for all your input everyone. If I ever get round to it I'll do a youtube demo.

crunchman

Try an OCD.  It's the best Fulltone pedal by far.

allen

I did a demo of it

http://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/70774/my-review-of-the-bogner-ecstasy-blue

FaCow

Boss BD-2 pretty versatile