best distortion pedal for tube amp?

[oh_the_blood]

i have a crate tube half stack and i dont really like the distortion on it, any suggestions for a good pop punk kinda pedal for under 100 bucks?

i was thinking the mxr distortion plus or the big muff... any suggestions?

[Outlaws]

The BigMuff is a fuzz/sustain pedal. Its not really made for pop punk. It will loose a lot of its focus when used for chords causing it to not have much of a 'punch' to the sound.

The MXR is good or the Boss BluesDriver or Overdrive.

[oh_the_blood]

ooh punch is good. im thinking mxr. hum.

[RezN8]

Check out ProCo's Rat or Turbo Rat pedals as well as an MXR distortion. - Rez

[Chinaman]

It's been a while since I played through a tube amp (currently living in a townhouse... damn neighbours ), but I've always like the Boss overdrive. Simple to use and sounds great, imo. Not sure how it'll suit you for punk, though.

Mike

[Tadpui]

My advice would be to sell that Crate and invest in a lower wattage tube amp that you can crank without liquifying your intestines. The best tube tone hides behind the 3 o'clock position on a tube amp's master volume

[oh_the_blood]

It actually sounds very nice n loud. Im very happy with it. Especially since i bought it for $250 as a complete half stack

[Tadpui]

OK, let me rephrase:

The best tube distortion happens past 3 o'clock on the master volume.

The whole reason I bought a tube amp is because of the smooth, punchy distortion that it gets when I crank it way up. If I didn't like my amp's distortion, then it would be completely useless to me and I'd replace it with an amp whose distortion I did like.

Sorry, not trying to convince you to hock your amp, but just keep in mind that there are some AWESOME sounding tube amps out there that no pedal in the world will ever touch in terms of distorted tone.

Also, no pedal will make a bad amp sound good. Not that you own a bad amp, but if you don't like its distortion, maybe its time to explore some different amp options.

Maybe try the half stack with some sort of power soak like a Hot Plate or YellowJackets so that you can really drive those power tubes (which is where the smooth distortion comes from) and keep the preamp distortion down (that's where the grainy "presence" comes from). That's why I suggested a lower wattage amp, because you can push those power tubes to the max and not make your ears bleed in the process.

Good luck, whichever route you end up going.

[Farview]

Originally Posted by oh_the_blood

It actually sounds very nice n loud. Im very happy with it. Especially since i bought it for $250 as a complete half stack

wait, does it sound nice and you are happy with it, or do you hate the distortion?

[Outlaws]

Originally Posted by Farview

wait, does it sound nice and you are happy with it, or do you hate the distortion?

I think he said he likes the clean channel.

[Trace]

I second the Rat suggestion. Nice sharp and controlled all out type distortion. Would work very well for a pop punk sound. In fact I don't use it these days because of how well it works for pop punk. I think radiohead used to use these things also if you happen to be a fan.

[robin watson]

Or even better: go out and listen to a bunch of pedals and choose one you like, much easier than reading a hundred different opinions from people with different expectations, amp setups and guitars.

[billyshuler]

Try putting a small amount of compression before you head, it give you some more punch and clarity.

[The Niz]

I've collected a lot of old Ibanez pedals for this purpose.

Especially the overdrives and distortions from the (less known and hence less expensive) 10-series pedals from the eighties are very good: either before a tube amp as level-booster with a bit of drive, or with a lot of drive before a solid state amp, they really sound like the overdrive/distortion I've always searched for...

My two favourites:
TS10 Tubescreamer: all time classic, good for bluesy tones and rhythm
MS10 Metal Charger: ze heavy ztuff

I use them in front of a Marshall JMP 50W tube combo, a Vox AC30TB or a solid state Ampeg AX70 practice amp, and they always deliver. Other pedals are MT10 Mostortion & STL Super Tube, but here it depends on which setup you're using.

Just my opinion.


Greetings,
Dominique

[Codmate]

I'm a Tube Screamer boy too.

I've no idea which model it is, but it does sound great.
Not as good as if I turn the amp up - but I can't really do that at gigs without seriously pissing off the sound guy (I use both clean and distorted sounds)

It's green.

[gitrguy87]

I have a Rat and love the thing. However, when I use it I have to use an equalizer because ,to me, it sounds like it need someEQ-ing.

[Trace]

Yeah I agree, sort of kills the low end.

[Trace]

Originally Posted by robin watson

Or even better: go out and listen to a bunch of pedals and choose one you like, much easier than reading a hundred different opinions from people with different expectations, amp setups and guitars.

If we all start doing that this board would fall apart. I'm gonna go read some MXL vs. Behringer vs. Studio Projects posts and try to find a vocal condensor mic for less than $35.

[oh_the_blood]

the clean sounds fine. the distortions weak id say. and a pedal would be good.

[robin watson]

Originally Posted by Trace

If we all start doing that this board would fall apart. I'm gonna go read some MXL vs. Behringer vs. Studio Projects posts and try to find a vocal condensor mic for less than $35.

Yippeeeeee.

[arcaxis]

At about a $100, how would something like Behringer's Vamp work out rather than narrowing down to the sound of one pedal. Or maybe Yamaha's Magicstomp, around $130 after rebate. At least there would be some variety of distortions and effects that way.

[bbop73]

For stock pedals, I'd stick with a Rat or reamer-type pedal. If you spend a little over a hundred, you'll have a lot more available.

[savageblues]

Another vote for a TubeScreamer. I have an older TS-10. I think its the vintage TS-9 that is most sought after. I like the way it drives my Fender tube amps.

I also have a vintage MXR Distortion + that I dont use much. I built a clean boost that I like too.

There are way too many distortion pedals available today...