distortion pedal?

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ConcreteHippo

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I have a crate GX65 and the distortion is rediculously metal. I don't mind it most of the time but there is not much versatility with its distorion sound.

I was wondering if anybodycould recommend a distorion pedal that has good sound but not to heavy.

Thanks.
 
I'm probably gonna sound like an ass for saying this, but why not sell the Crate and get an amp that sounds like what you want? Spending more money on a pedal and going into the same crappy amp (I've owned a few Crates, fwiw) probably won't improve things too much.
 
hah that would be much better but i don't really have the funds for an amp seeing as to how i got mine used for 100 and it works great but looks old and shitty. So i wouldt get too much for it.
 
Maybe try an overdrive pedal? It is hard to say without knowing what sound you're going for. FWIW, scrubs' answer is the best, but if you're limited in funds, there may not be much you could do except wait, or try out pedals. Still, if you can at all, save up for a good amp.
 
i know i should get a new amp, but for now i just want something that dosent sound horrible when i record.

i was looking for more of an alternative/punkish sound.
 
ConcreteHippo said:
i know i should get a new amp, but for now i just want something that dosent sound horrible when i record.

i was looking for more of an alternative/punkish sound.
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Try out a ProCo RAT.

Try all three varients (the Dirty, Vinatge and Turbo RATs).If you have the cash get a DeuceTone RAT for an incredible range of sounds.
 
if youre distortion sounds quite metally, it might have too much bass and treble and not enough mids; contemporary metal sounds tend to scoop out the mid range frequencies. I dunno about your amp, but if it has multiple channels and on board eq for the distortion channel, try fine-tuning that. Otherwise, I'd go with an overdrive, like the Boss Blues driver, or Super Overdrive, or the Overdrive/Distortion combo. Honestly i wouldn't bother with marshall pedals, they sound fine but the two ive owned broke pretty quickly.
 
Yea i think im going to get the Boss OS-2 overdrive/distorion pedal.

I read reiviews and stuff and it seems to be what im looking for.
 
good choice man, boss are just so damn good! feel free to throw oodles of positive feedback my way! (joke)
 
The Ibenez Tubescreamer is the best sounding "mellow" disortion pedal, IMHO.
 
yeah but its best used with a tube amp as a boost....dont think its what hes after.
 
cephus said:
I love the rat - especially for the not-too-fuzzy-almost-clean distortion.
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It's very good at that isn't it :D

I have the DeuceTone and the 'Clean Rat' setting is to die for if you like that 'just breaking up' sound.
 
Boss DS-1
Emma reefraZEETza

Both sound great for straight forward distortion.


No you don't have to get a new amp, I have a cheap crate, and an orange and laney tube amp. With those pedals, there isn't a whole lot of difference for MOST ppl.

I will say the amps do sound better, but for pedals you can still acheive a good sound IMO
 
Yea i think i narrowed it down between a boss overdrive/distortion or a proco rat, both seem to be what im looking for.

Thanks for all the help
 
I have a Rat 2 and while the almost-breaking-up sound is awesome, it really shines when you want a really dirty but not metal sound, for grungey punk, dirty indie stuff, etc. Plus, it has the added bonus of a unique sound right out of the box. After you hit 12 o'clock with the gain, it just turns to a mess (could be used for something a bit more contemporary). I just love the crunch you can get from it. It's an extremely expressive pedal if you don't dime the volume, but keep it just around 3 o'clock. You can pick softly and get a clean sound, or really dig in and hear some nice saturation. FWIW, I've tried the Boss DS-1 and didn't like the type of distortion it gave out. Maybe it was just a bad combo with my guitar, amp, and playing style. Oh well, I highly suggest the Rat.
 
Valley Arts Kid said:
The Ibenez Tubescreamer is the best sounding "mellow" disortion pedal, IMHO.
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Is that the old blue stomp box with 5 knobs...two of which were PUNCH and EDGE? or the green three knob one?

I had the 5 knob years and years ago but couldn't remember the name. Fanyastic distortion from a pedal....sadly it was stolen at a gig and never replaced :(
 
LemonTree said:
Is that the old blue stomp box with 5 knobs...two of which were PUNCH and EDGE? or the green three knob one?

I had the 5 knob years and years ago but couldn't remember the name. Fanyastic distortion from a pedal....sadly it was stolen at a gig and never replaced :(
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Green 3-knob.
 
Rat? WTF am I doing wrong?

I've got one that I think sounds like crap! It's an old one, before they had all the different kinds, though, so that may be it. Are you guys just using it as a boost to the pre in your amp, and it's really the amp sound your getting? The only sound I can get out of mine is what I would describe as 80's hair metal. Like I said, wtf am I doing wrong? What sort of settings are you using to get 'slightly dirty'?
 
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