I'm selling a guitar and buying another one but will have up to £200 max free as a result. I'm looking at picking up an overdrive pedal with the spare cash.
Currently have a Rat Clone from a local builder and a Big Muff Nano on the board running in to a Vox AC4. I like them both but they are a bit hair trigger so I set them and tiptoe away. I'd like something I can play with a bit more to get different usable tones on a gradient.
Top of the list currently is the DOD Looking Glass. Any love for this and alternative suggestions welcome...
Comments
I play for home use and recording only and I'm not even considering replacing my amp at the moment because the numbers just don't stack up.
A good £50 pedal makes a significant sonic difference to my ears. Judging by what else I've played through I'd spend a grand and get a slightly better sounding amp.
I've had larger amps and they sounded shite.
How is about a Guv'nor or an OCD? What sort of sound are you going for?
Could be an option for you?
http://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/98747/fs-barber-gain-changer-direct-drive-compact-trombetta-rotobone#latest
When I had my ac4, my Paul Cochrane Tim worked ok with it (a Timmy would also work). Another suggestion could be a Visual Sound Open Road as that is an odr-1 type pedal. Maybe even an old Marshall shredmaster, that could give a scooped or flatish eq and works much better at low gain than you might expect from the name.
I'd watch out for recommendations fro that show, they always come off as looking a bit like adverts in disguise to me. The tumnus is a klone type pedal. Probably good if that's what you want.
I'll come in with standard left field ideas - boss bd2 is an awesome bitey overdrive, the od3 is similar but less interesting (less bitey). The Nobels pedals are very highly regarded, too.
For bitey overdrive, though, my favourite is definitely the bd2. I love the df2 as a low-mid gainer but it's better for warm and loose than bitey and clear.
I would definitely try a stock one off eBay for about 40 quid-ish before buying a modified one, there's plenty of mods around the internet if you feel the need and anyway the stock one sounds great.
Use some of the money left over for a used SD-1. Compare and contrast, they sound different, both are great and have their place.
You called..........
The MXR Custom Badass series do a nice gritty OD and distortion.
The MXR Distortion3 does a nice smooth OD into distortion at higher gain levels.
The Boss SD-1 is a classic, widely used OD for good reason, it's awesomes.
Failing that a tubescreamer, or derivative thereof. The Maxon variants are fannytastic, and very similar to the Ibanez units. Or for less dollar the EHX East River Drive is good.
Ringleader of the Cambridge cartel, pedal champ and king of the dirt boxes (down to 21)