Suggestions for distortion pedal?

  • Thread starter Thread starter elenore19
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elenore19

elenore19

Slowing becoming un-noob.
I'm starting to realize that new amp is just too expensive of an option for me right now so I'm looking into pedals to help my tone out a little.

I have an Ywngie Malmsteen (however you spell his name) overdrive pedal and it's working decent for me, needs more bass mainly.


I'm looking for a distortion pedal that is something that will give me good crunch, but still good lows. Anyone have any suggestions? Price isn't too much of an issue.


I've been thinking about the Proco Rat 2...


And yes, sorry for all the posts all of the sudden, just had a bunch of questions hit me.
 
The problem with a bunch of lows in a distortion pedal is that is muddies up the tone. An industry standard is the Boss DS-1.
 
Go to a guitar shop and play some.

Otherwise, every pedal on the market is what you described.
 
Outlaws said:
Go to a guitar shop and play some.

Otherwise, every pedal on the market is what you described.
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Agreed. BUT, if you want more low end, try a Big Muff PI. Get the one made in the U.S., only because I was told (by a GC goon) that they worked better for the guitar whereas the russian made was more suited for bass (YMMV). I use one of those and an old DOD FX50, which is essentially the same as the Yngwie overdrive from what I can tell. The DOD gives me one flavor, a nice boost with a really nice overdrive, and the Muff gives me a growl like nobody's business. When combined it's a whole different, sweet sounding animal. ;)
 
Sounds like you need an eq pedal first and foremost. Fuzz pedals don't let you do metal chugging and pinch harmonics well but sound pretty good. And, distortion pedals sound like distortion pedals... :rolleyes:. Best tell us what you want out of this distortion pedal.
 
yeah man i understand amps ARE expensive, but in the long run, you might just want to save up for a DECENT amp...i grew up as a bass player, learning guitar from my brothers guitar and amp..but when he was away at college, i had a cheap guitar, and my bass amps whcih didnt have distortion...so i went the disto pedal route, and at the time i was like "yeah man this is awesome it sounds great!" but today, after acquiring years of my own gutiar gear, i look back and listen to my recordings and realize how bad it sounds...i don't even have a great amp, it's a marshall valvestate 40 watt from '95, but the distortion on it is a bit of that marshall sound...now, all my disto pedals are just laying around doing nothing.....who knows man, ya might wana just look into an amp!
 
ZoSo58LP said:
yeah man i understand amps ARE expensive, but in the long run, you might just want to save up for a DECENT amp...i grew up as a bass player, learning guitar from my brothers guitar and amp..but when he was away at college, i had a cheap guitar, and my bass amps whcih didnt have distortion...so i went the disto pedal route, and at the time i was like "yeah man this is awesome it sounds great!" but today, after acquiring years of my own gutiar gear, i look back and listen to my recordings and realize how bad it sounds...i don't even have a great amp, it's a marshall valvestate 40 watt from '95, but the distortion on it is a bit of that marshall sound...now, all my disto pedals are just laying around doing nothing.....who knows man, ya might wana just look into an amp!
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I have to agree-I haven't used a distortion pedal in way over 20 years now-they are so gritty sounding to me. I use the amp distortion-my main recording amp is a Peavey Classic 20-a 15 watt tube amp that gives a way better saturated sound than any pedal could give.
I actually was gonna try my old MXR distortion+ pedal on a recording a few months back but the tube amp's cranked preamp sounded so much better I had to use that!
 
Big muffs definitely have plenty of bass, but try it out before you buy, those things are wicked. Ask if you can crank it, they sound like shit turned low.

To the other poster, I own a '78 big muff, green russian one, and a new "US" one. GC Goons are that, goons. None of them are better on bass than the others. Now, the vintage one kills the other ones, but the differences between the green and "US" are eh...
 
I'm extremely fond of the Boss BD-2, but it may not be good for modern high gain tones, if that's what you're after.
 
Ive got a Boss GT-8 and I can get just about any sound out of it I need. If you have the money to buy one its well worth it.
 
Get a used peavey bravo. $250 used on ebay right now. Use the buy it now. It's well worth it, and with the gain in has you will need no distortion pedal.

The price will just go up over the next few years. I've seen people asking $500 for them :eek:
 
capnkid said:
Get a used peavey bravo. $250 used on ebay right now. Use the buy it now. It's well worth it, and with the gain in has you will need no distortion pedal.

The price will just go up over the next few years. I've seen people asking $500 for them :eek:
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Ah yes the Bravo.
I just brought mine back to life after years of neglect. Got it in '96 for $100! I just put in new JJ tubes and a Celestion Vintage 30 and now the thing is a tone monster - no joke. This thing has a wide range of sound possiblities and the distortion is great.
Check out the reviews on these at Harmony Central - definitely a steal for the $.
 
Go get a DS-1. Personally I like my DOD Grunge and my Ds-1 for any distortion needs. My old Marchall Guv'nor works extremely well too until I lost it.
 
Too many variables due to taste involved here.. Its like asking what the best flavor of ice cream is? Get out to a good store and chk em all aout. GOOD LUCK!
 
I would recomend you give the MXR Zak Wylde a try. It is really versatile. You can use it as a boost pedal, or use it for a light overrive through a pretty nasty distortion. Has a good low too.
 
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