dist/od pedal w/ overdriven tube amp

[cellardweller]

I can't find the thread now, but I remember reading a while back that slightly overdriving a tube amp combined with a distortion/overdrive pedal ahead of it can produce some nice tones for metal.

Does anyone do this? How much of each?

I know that there are so many variables that the likeliness of someone elses setup being applicable are very unlikely, but I was just looking for some beginning parameters to start with...

Thanks.

 

[Henri Devill]

ElectroHarmonics made a small box called "LPB1"..That would be worth looking into..Basicly what it did was hammer the input..cool box and cheap..don't know if they still make them..Maybe someone can chime in if they know or of something similar..This gave you good grind..without extra "fuzz"..Very cool on a Marshall..Good luck

 

[Outlaws]

The Fulltone FatBoost does the same thing. Increases the gain and drives the amp harder. Its a clean boost for true overdrive.

For a cheaper alternative, I *think* that MXR makes one.

 

[mprediger]

You can boost the signal of any overdriven amp with a distortion pedal. I use a SD-1 in front of my dual rectifier occasionally to tighten up the sound and get a hotter signal for solos, transitions, etc.

The key thing to remember is that most of the time, you're using the amps overdrive, not the pedals. Just turn the distortion level on the pedal to "0" and the level to "10" and tweak other eq settings as needed. You may want to add a teensy bit of gain from the pedal depending on the amp, but I never do...cause it's a rectifier after all and the overdrive is why I bought it!

Hope this helps.

 

[cellardweller]

The key thing to remember is that most of the time, you're using the amps overdrive, not the pedals. Just turn the distortion level on the pedal to "0" and the level to "10" and tweak other eq settings as needed. You may want to add a teensy bit of gain from the pedal depending on the amp, but I never do...cause it's a rectifier after all and the overdrive is why I bought it!

Thanks. That's an interesting method, can't wait to try it. Unfortunately it won't be today, wife has the yearly cold which is a yearly rite of passage in these parts...

 

[Farview]

This goes back to the '70s when marshalls didn't quite have enough gain. You would use the overdrive pedal just to give you a little more gain (distortion) than the amp was capable of giving. With todays super high gain amps, it is not done as much.

 

[timmerman]

Hi Jason,

Nice we get into some history now..............Hence the name "Tube Sreamer": Put something extras in those glass bottles so they will send a crying message into the world..............No just joking, but yeah, you are right with what you said Jason. Also the pedals were used to control the overal volume a little bit better, as some of the older Marshalls have only one volume, so you could use the volume of the pedal as a pre, or post volume if you like.

Heh I still dig these amps, todays Super Tone Machines are so...............maybe a little to nice...........have to make a real effort to make them sound real UGLY.

Oh oh, need to be careful here, as I venture already into a different subject from the original post, so better stop talking and start screaming..........over to you guys..........

Eddie