High gain distortion pedals

[dabluesman]

I'm wanting to get a heavier, higher gain distortion sound like Nickelback, 3 Doors Down, and even into Metallica territory. I like that crunchy sound on Kid Rock's new CD too (not that I care for Kid all that much.) I've been searching the net for sound files of distortion pedals and so far the best one I've heard is the Guyatone HD-2 Harmonic Distortion. Though it only has distortion and level knobs, I was hoping for something more versatile. (Anyone know of any Turbo RAT or RAT 2 sound files?) Anyway, what are you guys using for thick, chunky, high-gain distortion? Thanks!

[charger]

All the Rat family distortion pedals sound almost exactly the same. The Rat has a LOT of distortion, but I would consider it to be more of a midrangy, thick, lead sound than what you're looking for. The reality is, the longer you look for the super-heavy, scooped-mid distortion pedal, the more you will want a Mesa Boogie Dual or Triple Rectifier amp... that's the sound you're looking for. I have a ton of distortion pedals, and alone, none of them get "that" sound. The problem is that all the pedals that have the amount of distortion you want (a lot) tend to be fuzz type distortions... aside from the Rat... and fuzz pedals tend not to be good for really tight, fast picking on the E string. For example, the Big Muff Pi is great for that loose, superheavy sound that's all over "Siamese Dream," but Metallica's sound (from Justice on) is all about the Mesa Boogie Recto series.

Actually, one of the heaviest, phattest distortion sounds I have ever heard in a pedal is a sound on the Line6 distortion modeler, I forget what it's called, but it's a sound Line6 made that is just insane.

Didi you try http://www.tonefrenzy.com/2/5gear.htm for sound samples? They have samples of a ton of distortion pedals. Good luck, and please post here if you find the holy grail distortion pedal, we're all looking for it.

[dabluesman]

Thanks for the info and link, i'll check it out. Too bad that Mesa V-Twin isn't a dual rectifier in a box (by what I've been hearing, anyway.)

[Whyte Ice]

You should look into a Boss OS-2.

[Gidge]

If it has to be a pedal, a Boss MT-2 Metal Zone......

or go with chargers idea of the Line 6 Distortion Modeler or even a Pod or J-Station.....

[Gargamel]

Boss DS-1 (Distortion Pedal) -----> Boss PQ-1 (Parametric EQ Pedal - they do not make these any more, check ebay) ---> Boss GE-7 (Graphic Eq Pedal)


This is my main distortion setup. (The GE-7 is only used for solo's)

To hear what this sounds like mic'ed up with an SM57 through an Ampeg Reverborocket Reissue amp, goto the MP3 mixing clininc and check my last post.

The parametric eq is the KEY to getting a really heavy ass metal sound.

[BBB]

Gotta agree on the Musa/Boogie Rectfier as being the best for getting that modern metal tone. However it's expensive.

Some of the modeling pedals also do a halfway decent job if you can't get the real McCoy. Hit the shop to audition possibilities.

Can't agree about the DS-1. I've got one collecting dust. It just doesn't enough the gain.

Can agree about using a graphic or parametric EQ. They really help to scoop out the tone. But be careful if you are going to record it. Too much scooping can lose the guitar in the final mix, can lose the guitar on systems that don't have a good bass freq' response, and can hide the bass guitar and kick if the scooped axe is too loud.

Can also wholeheatedly agree about the Boss MT-2 Metal Zone if you really need a pedal. Gain galore. Keep in mind that solid state distortion CAN work well for really heavy metal. Take a listen to Pantera for a good example.

[Gargamel]

BBB...check out the tune I posted last night -- its all DS-1

(look in the MP3 forum)

[toyL]

at least check out the BigMuff Pi---dist-knob, vol-knob, tone-knob....it's like rattlin chains that are so heavy you can't rattle em.

[Hard2Hear]

Bluesman-
Doesnt that cybertwin have a Recto setting in there somewhere? If not, can't you patch one together? I thought thats why you got the thing in the first place!!

H2H

[dabluesman]

H2H, how's things going? I haven't seen ya at the FDP much lately The Cyber-Twin has pretty much every thing except for a recto setting.. Its tube drive circuitries sound great, they just lack in "over the top" distortion. The solid state drive circuitries lack the tube warmth and are a bit harsh (compared to the tube's.) I'm pretty sure the solid state drive circuitries are the same as other Fender DynaTouch amps. I'm still working on tweaking some presets to see exactly how close I can get. But I'm also checking into distortion pedals as a possible alternative. Maybe I'll make a few mp3's of my attempts to see what ya'll think.

[BBB]

Originally posted by Gargamel
BBB...check out the tune I posted last night -- its all DS-1

(look in the MP3 forum)

Nice tune.

Tone's decent. Your EQ helped the tone. Still not a fan when compared to the MT-2 or especially a Mesa Booger. I wish I had some clips of my Quad converted to MP3 so you could check them out. Maybe in a few months... The Quad was used either on RIde the Lightning or Master of Puppets. It effectively is a Mark III. The Mark IV is heavier and the Recto is even heavier yet.


I should also note that the ProCo Rats are best used as an initial gain stage for a tube amp. For example, they sound best when used to overdrive the first tubes of a Marshall.

Yeah, the CyberTwin does some great Fender tones and can hint towards Marshall, but won't hit the Mesa modern tone. A Rat, DS-1, Big Muff, or the like may work well to push the first gain stage of the Twin into initial saturation and thus achieve decent higher gain. However, you still may not get a decent rectified tone.



Matt

[BBB]

Bluesman,

Just noticed in your pic, you have a Strat. To get a "thick, chunky, high-gain distortion," it also helps to use a humbucker equipped mahogany bodied guitar.


Matt

[Gidge]

From the Musicians friend Boss Pedal article by Argel Ackley..."the MT-2 Metal Zone starts where the DS-1 leaves off"......

the MT-2 has the distortion and the EQ all in one...3 bands to be exact(high, low, and parametic mid)...I cant see how you got the tone you did with all that junk in the signal chain.....if you can do it with 1 pedal, why not?....

[dabluesman]

BBB, thanks for the info! I put a S.D. Lil '59er in the bridge of my strat and it helped tremendously. I am currently looking for a humbucker equipped mahogany guitar but I'm trying to get a Jazz bass first..