Distortion fx unit recommendations

  • Thread starter Thread starter Paul881
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If you want to record through an amp, not direct (even a low-volume practice amp) you should check out the Line6 DM4 and the Line6 AM4. The DM4 is a distortion modeler, basically models of 16 different distortion pedals, and it does a pretty great job. The AM4 is an amp modeler, basically it's 16 of the amp models from the pod, put into a stompbox, with the outputs designed feed an amp.

My personal preference for one do-it-all distortion pedal is the Rat, it really can do a lot. Even better (but 4x the price) is my Sobbat DriveBreaker I pedal. You can find it here (http://www.musictoyz.com/sobbat.htm).
 
Paul,Paul,Paul....
I think that it's very evident that the answer depends on who you are asking and what distortion unit they own.
I think anyone of the modeling units would serve you fine.As you know I have the sansamp classic which I am very fond of,the downside is that it's analog and has to be reset everytime you want to change tones.
I would steer you towards the Pod XT for two reasons...
1.You have multiple distortions and can save presets for instant recall.
2.It has a usb port,although I'm not sure if the drivers are out for it yet.
I would'nt reccomend a single standalone distortion unit unless you are going for a collection of stomp boxes,not to mention the fact that they're not set up for direct recording.
Having said that I have the TS7 tube screamer,while it's not the classic TS9 for half the price is not too shabby.
Knowing that you are a Cakewalk user I have to say that from a guitarists stand point the computer effects S-U-C-K-!
 
That damn Barber website claims that their Direct Drive can almost replicate a certain 15,000 dollar overdrive unit that starts with a D. What is it. My God, I thought that a Matchless was like the holygrail of amplifiers....but they top out at like 5 or 6 G's from what I can tell.
 
Thanks for all the advice Guys. I went and spoke to some pretty switched on people this week whom I know as pro guitarists with long experience and they all pointed my towards the POD XT for all the reasons Acidrock posted, so good advice Acidrock, you know your stuff! Apparently, the XT differs mainly from its predeccessor in terms of the clean sounds, very little difference between the two units in terms of the overdriven stuff.

Interestingly, they also recommended the small Behringer tube amp for recording work (not gigging) because they rekon it screams like a good old British tube amp when you drive it hard and it has a Direct out for recording.:eek: Jensen speaker, foot pedal and loads of FX included as well. They also reccomended the Pod XT with the Behringer midi floor switch as well. After all I have read on these forums about Behringer, thats a hard piece of advice to swallow.
 
LocusLarsen said:
That damn Barber website claims that their Direct Drive can almost replicate a certain 15,000 dollar overdrive unit that starts with a D. What is it. My God, I thought that a Matchless was like the holygrail of amplifiers....but they top out at like 5 or 6 G's from what I can tell.
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I didn't see where it said that, but my guess would be a Dumble...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2500472849&category=10171

I also just noticed that the Dircet Drive is on a 5-6 week backorder.
 
Yeah, it would be a Dumble...latterly beloved favourite amp of Mr Santana. He doesn't do "cheap" does he?:D
 
Paul881 said:
Yeah, it would be a Dumble...latterly beloved favourite amp of Mr Santana. He doesn't do "cheap" does he?:D
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I always thought Carlos was a Mesa man, though they may have just paid him to say that.

SRV was the most famous Dumble guy, I think. I'm pretty sure that Robben Ford and Larry Carlton still use them.
 
KaBudokan, yeah, you are quite right, he was a Mesa man and before that a Marshall man, but now he's decided Dumbles are the thing. He says he can get the tone he wants from the Dumble at much lower volumes than the Mesa, without making his teeth ache:) And that Mesa didn't listen to his complaints.
Thats what he told me anyway;)
SRV is badly and sadly missed:(
 
trooper in the behringer army hehehe

Ive heard lots of nasty things too about behringer, its hard to get an accurate feel really. However, being a behringer owner (of a lot more than one item), I can tell you that so far nothing I own of theirs has ever broken. Yet :D. The amp I have (mentioned before) does have a quirk that you should turn it off rather than unplug it, or else the effects unit doesnt start on the last one you left off with. However I never thought it was a good thing to unplug any effects unit without turning it off first. The amp itself has a direct out (left and right), insert and sends, aux ins, a nice footswitch, and the jensen speaker. its freaking loud. but, i probably wouldnt want to bring this on stage. (its too small)

I also noted you mentioned the midi footboard. I have one of those as well. sweet unit. extremely affordable. and it has not 1 but 2 moving pedals, to compliment all the pushbutton switches. I think I paid something like 200$ canadian for mine, (thatd be about 100$ for u lucky americans :D ). And it is of course midi.

so heres a decent review amongst all the behringer hate reviews :) (btw I have talked to at least 5 repair guys throughout this city, who have stated they very rarely have to fix behringer stuff...ie that is a good thing) :)...Good Luck!
 
That is the most but ass ugly amp I have ever seen. Why would someone that makes the top- of the line amp not want some "class" in their product. Uuuggghh!!!!!!!
 
That is the most but ass ugly amp I have ever seen Nah, Pig nose wins that one:D And the Fender Tweed ain't too far behind either:D (wait for the flames!)

Badassmak, looks like you are a good arbiter of the "all Behringer stuff is crap" school of subjective opinion making. Its nice to know you agree with the experienced guys I asked, they said if I was just looking for a small tube amp with a great tone for recording only, not gigging, you would be hard pressed to better the Behringer for the money, especially with the aux ins and direct outs. Looks like a decent build standard too.:) I might just be tempted;)
 
hehe yea if anything else they wont get ripped off cause theyre so ugly !!!

I guess the best bet is too try a lot of these suggestions and see what you like best. :)

(just so you all know, I wouldnt go and get EVERYTHING behringer lol, I have read about noisy preamps, and not so great monitors, but not everything is crap!!!)
 
If it sounded good and I had that much to toss on an amp I would, but for that price they should offer custom cabs to house everything,
 
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