I need a distortion pedal but...

  • Thread starter Thread starter Lt. Bob
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Lt. Bob

Lt. Bob

Spread the Daf!
I haven't been able to find the right one. Here's my situation
I just got a Fender Vibro-King for free! :D It's a big-bucks salon type amp with 3-10's in it (the blue alnico speakers). It has awesome tone BUT...it has no channel switching and I have to have distortion for some songs. A little bit for my crunchy blues type songs and a fair amount for that buttery Carlos Santana sound. So I'm gonna have to use a pedal. The only problem is I HATE everything I've tried. They all have to some degree that buzzy kinda sound that I call mosquito-fuzz--dee-ddee-deee. I just can't stand that buzzy sound.
What I prefer is a tube amp cranked and since that's usually too loud, a channel switcher is OK. I have been using a Hot-Rod deVille (4-10's) or an Ampeg ReverbRocket on smaller gigs and they both have good overdrive channels. The Fender even has a second "more drive" channel for serious distortion.
Soooo...the question is...does anyone know a pedal that really, truly sounds like a tube amp without a trace of that "mosquito fuzz" that I loath so much. The best I've tried so far was an early TubeScreamer but it still wasn't quite what I want. I really want to use my Vibro-King but I can't till I find a pedal. HELP!!!!
 
all through your post im thinking Tube Screamer.....thats about the best tube sounding distortion ive heard......

other than that id sell the Vibro King and get a Twin:D
 
also the Boss Metal Zone (MT-2) is pretty good for more of a rock sound....the EQ on it is actually pretty usable so you can tweak your sound.......
 
The tubescreamer I used WAS pretty good. It was one of the originals and I see they have this reissue of the original out. Maybe I should try that.
 
At ease,Lt. Bob
the recommended weaponry to accomplish your mission objective is the Johnson J-Station amp modeller.This $150 10"X8" box will let you take advantage of all the natural tone of your vibroking and add in glassy lead tones or chunky rhythm crunch.I use the j live with my classic rock band along with a midi pedal to switch patches on the fly.Here is a clip of the band if you want to check out the lead tone I used.The superb effects section is another strong reason to use the j.All 24 bit sounds that just sparkle.And then price isn't much more than a TS9 et al.Dismissed.
Tom
 
SIR, YES SIR!

Thanks Tom, sounds pretty good. What kinda amp were you using?
Ametth, I had been curious about the Hughes & Kettner but since it's pricey I didn't want to buy one without someone having experience with it. The idea of having up to 300Volts on the tube just like an amp does seem to make sense in my quest to get something "just like an amp". You've used one? Stupid question since you recommended it. :) I guess I'll have to quit trying to go the lazy route and drive to N.O. to musician's friend and check everything out. :rolleyes:
 
The only piece of gear I've had longer than my TS9 is my Super Reverb. You would have to pry either of them from my cold, dead hands.
 
Yes, I have used one...still my favorite distortion pedal ever...blows away any transistor clipping based pedal ANYDAY!
 
Sounds like you want two pedals--an overdrive and a distortion.

Inexpensive solution: TS7 Tubescreamer and Pro Co Rat
Medium solution: TS9 Tubescreamer and ProCO Rat
Expensive solution: Fulltone Fulldrive II or Menatone Blue Collar and Fulltone Distortion Pro

Any combination will give you crunch and distortion.

There are other pedals that sound good too, but my experience with these is they are excellent.
 
The Mesa Boogie V-twin. Rack mount (which has more options) or pedal (which I own). It has 2 12ax7 tubes in it and it sounds like a tube amp. Built like a tank. Its got a mesa sound, which I love, and its my pedal of choice. 2 channels, clean and crunch, and a 3rd switch (which is just a db boost like the hot rod deville), high, mid, low, presence and gain. Ive got a Big muff, Boss d-1, tech21 Comptortion, Danelectro Daddy O, and the crunch channel on my Ampeg Reverb Rocket, but this is my primary distortion box.

Hope this helps,
Todd
 
Bob
If you listened to that clip,it was recorded direct from the j-station to my c-port sound card.With my band playing live,I use the j as the front end for my 100 watt tube amp.The value of the rig for live work is the versatility of the range of tones you can get.The advantage for recording is the ability to send the signal S/PDIF at 24 bits to my soundcard,bypassing the AD-DA converters and getting a very high quality signal tracked.
 
Thanks everyone for all the input. It is very helpful to have your thoughts on this and definately will affect what I try.

Tom, I did listen to the clip and it sounded very nice. I already have a J-station for the studio and I had not really thought of using it live but that is something I will be trying.

crawdad, I need to find some of that Fulltone stuff, someone else mentioned it and I like the obscure quality of it so I'll try to find one to check out.

gbondo9, wow, the mesa pedal,..I hadn't even thought of that! I've seen one before and knowing how I love the Mesa sound, that needs looking into.

ametth, what can I say, the Hughes and Kettner looks as sexy as they come and is probably on my short list along with the Mesa and Fulltones.

I'm sure one of these is gonna be the answer and I'll let you all know what I get! Peace--out! :D :D :D
 
I'll second that V-Twin recommendation. I play drums, but a guitarist friend has the rack mount version and it sounds wonderful....though it has been relegated to talk box preamp, since he's got a Dual Rectifier and a Triaxis. Oh yea, the Mesa Triaxis is another option...if you have the money.
 
Thanks Todd. Those will be some useful links. I appreciate it. As for being on a budget, I'm a musician ain't I? :D :D :D
 
IMO, buy a used "Fulltone Fulldrive 2" in Mint condition on Ebay. They are for sale ALL the time on ebay for a fair price between 150-165.00. They normally sell new for 199.00. Go to Fulltone.com for more detail.
The FD2 is MY Holy Grail Overdrive Pedal, next to my Ibanez TS808, I use it in my 67' BF Fender Deluxe Reverb.
The FD2 has a Comp. Cut knob along with an Overdrive Boost footswitch for More drive when needed, solos,etc.
If the FD2 is too much $, get the Ibanez TS9 and have it modded to 808 specs, roughly 130.00 or less on Ebay in Mint condition. The RI TS9's sound real "nasal" compared to a TS808/TS808 Mods, which has ALOT "Fuller" and "Warmer" tone.

Good Luck!

PS, for under 100.00, get the RI Ibanez TS9.
 
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