Guest Posted March 5, 2011 Posted March 5, 2011 OK I have several tube distortion stomps. I am completely satisfied with what they do, for what they do. But I would like a pedal that gives super good sustain, has good tone control, yet does not sound distorted much. Something that has a good dynamic response. something that takes away the peaks of the pick attack, yet sounds pretty clean. Is there any such animal.
pinkjimiphoton Posted March 5, 2011 Posted March 5, 2011 maybe try a limiter before your amp? that can increase your dynamic range and mellow out the distortion some.. http://www.sweetrelief.org/ https://www.wepay.com/donations/memorial-stone-for-juliane-pocius
picker Posted March 5, 2011 Posted March 5, 2011 I know of a few pedals that do the job you are describing. At the high end, there are the Klon Centaur and the Xotic AC(Almost Clean) pedal. They are pricey, but folks say they do what you want. I've heard The AC pedal, and it's really nice. At the low end, there are the Electro Harmonix LPB-2 and The Danelectro Transparent Overdrive(the first version, not the second). The Dano pedal really works at that just-over-the-edge-of-distortion sound. The LPB-2 works well in conjuction with the right amp settings. If your amp is set right at the edge of clean/dirty, the LPB will push it over, either a lot or a little. I A-B'd the Lizard Leg Flying Dragon pedal(a LOT more expensive) with the LPB, and the Leg is a little smoother, but not so much I could justify the price difference. Always remember that you are unique. Just like everyone else.
Guest Posted March 5, 2011 Posted March 5, 2011 Thanks guys!! Any other suggestions would be appreciated
pinkjimiphoton Posted March 5, 2011 Posted March 5, 2011 or try a super hardon (or better, build one, a handful of parts and sounds bloody amazing)...mosfets rock for a nice clean boost. http://www.sweetrelief.org/ https://www.wepay.com/donations/memorial-stone-for-juliane-pocius
Scott Fraser Posted March 5, 2011 Posted March 5, 2011 maybe try a limiter before your amp? that can increase your dynamic range and mellow out the distortion some.. Actually a limiter decreases dynamic range. Scott Fraser
pinkjimiphoton Posted March 5, 2011 Posted March 5, 2011 yes, it does, but also can make a guitar more controllable if you set it right...a high threshold can let you fine tune where and how much distortion you can get with your volume knob, similar to using a compressor but a bit less noise. it does make the volume stay pretty stable thru most of the sweep of your guitar volume, can be just the ticket sometimes if you're looking to "limit" the distortion range. i use them instead of compressors in for instance boss multi effects, and they seem to work better than compression...at least for me. http://www.sweetrelief.org/ https://www.wepay.com/donations/memorial-stone-for-juliane-pocius
bennyguitfiddle Posted March 5, 2011 Posted March 5, 2011 How about the voodoo lab sparkle drive. Anyone play that? My understanding is that you can mix clean in with your drive. Why do you lay down? I say that it beats standing up! whats got you feeling so down? I hold up my empty cup!
Winston Psmith Posted March 5, 2011 Posted March 5, 2011 A friend gave me a Tube Works Shred pedal for my birthday a few years back - big "pick"-shaped pedal, with silly names for the controls - Death = Volume, Dr. EQ (dreck) = Tone & Riptide for Distortion . . . whatever. It's nicely built, like all the Tube Works pedals, but it's too tall for most pedalboards. I find that if I turn the Dist down, and tweak the Vol & EQ, I get a very nice tube-flavored boost/OD - it would probably make a very nice Blues OD, in spite of the name. "Monsters are real, and Ghosts are real too. They live inside us, and sometimes, they win." Stephen King http://www.novparolo.com https://thewinstonpsmithproject.bandcamp.com
pinkjimiphoton Posted March 5, 2011 Posted March 5, 2011 How about the voodoo lab sparkle drive. Anyone play that? My understanding is that you can mix clean in with your drive. re: your cig...err...sig.. edith bunker: "look at them poor kids, archie, they're so poor they're all sharing the same cigarette!" http://www.sweetrelief.org/ https://www.wepay.com/donations/memorial-stone-for-juliane-pocius
Guest Posted March 5, 2011 Posted March 5, 2011 Although I did not want a compressor I think from the clips of all the items I was turned on to on all my guitar players forums comes closest to is the Pigtronix Philosophers Tone.
Caevan O'Shite Posted March 5, 2011 Posted March 5, 2011 Experiment with combining some of the pedals you already have, running one into another, perhaps with less gain on one, the other, or both than you might usually run when used by themselves. Cascading overdrive or distortion pedals like this often results in a very smooth, fat, quasi-clean, rounded, sustaining tone. Noise may or may not be an issue. Experiment, it's free. Also simply try playing fingerstyle, WITHOUT a pick. THAT'LL lessen your pick-attack and make for a smoother sound! For real! I'll also say + 1 on the TS808-inspired Voodoo Lab 'Sparkle Drive' that bennyguitfiddle suggests; smooth if ya wannitt ta be. While it's clean-blend feature is intended to preserve attack and "sparkle" (ESPECIALLY with single-coil pickups), judicious adjustment of your guitar's controls and the Sparkle Drive's controls relative to your amp can net you some smooth, compressed, sustaining tones. I'd bet that it'd work GREAT with various other pedals as I described above, either before or after, including the Blackstone and Tech 21 Blonde (see below) or a compressor... Also consider (thread links): Blackstone More on the Blackstone Tech 21 Blonde Hermida Zendrive (Myles Rose thinks these are the best on the planet, too) Ask yourself- What Would Ren and Stimpy Do? ~ Caevan James-Michael Miller-O'Shite ~ _ ___ _ Leprechaun, Esquire _ ___ _
Caevan O'Shite Posted March 6, 2011 Posted March 6, 2011 Keep us posted! Ask yourself- What Would Ren and Stimpy Do? ~ Caevan James-Michael Miller-O'Shite ~ _ ___ _ Leprechaun, Esquire _ ___ _
Scott Fraser Posted March 6, 2011 Posted March 6, 2011 Tech 21 California Blonde I just went to the Tech21 site. Looks like those character pedals are discontinued. None are currently listed & Musician's Friend doesn't have them in stock. Scott Fraser
bennyguitfiddle Posted March 6, 2011 Posted March 6, 2011 How about the voodoo lab sparkle drive. Anyone play that? My understanding is that you can mix clean in with your drive. re: your cig...err...sig.. edith bunker: "look at them poor kids, archie, they're so poor they're all sharing the same cigarette!" that is pretty funny man. I have spent many a poor days. I should pry change my sig. I don't even smoke any more. One for a job and a life and one just for life. Why do you lay down? I say that it beats standing up! whats got you feeling so down? I hold up my empty cup!
Caevan O'Shite Posted March 6, 2011 Posted March 6, 2011 Tech 21 California Blonde I just went to the Tech21 site. Looks like those character pedals are discontinued. None are currently listed & Musician's Friend doesn't have them in stock. I see! Wow! Thanks for bringing that to everyone's attention here, Scott! Also- I mistakenly labeled that thread-link, "Tech 21 California Blonde", when the pedal is in fact the "Tech 21 Blonde"; there is ALSO a Tech 21 'California' pedal, a whole 'nother model in their "Character Series" line... Now, I did a little searchin', and the Tech 21 Blonde pedals can still be found here and there... Ask yourself- What Would Ren and Stimpy Do? ~ Caevan James-Michael Miller-O'Shite ~ _ ___ _ Leprechaun, Esquire _ ___ _
pinkjimiphoton Posted March 8, 2011 Posted March 8, 2011 did ya hear the one about the three blondes that walk into a bar?? you would have thought ONE of them would have SEEN it... http://www.sweetrelief.org/ https://www.wepay.com/donations/memorial-stone-for-juliane-pocius
Larryz Posted March 8, 2011 Posted March 8, 2011 I get a whole lot of use out of my Tech 21 Blonde and hope they didn't stop making them...they are worth looking for and you may still find old stock at GC and other music stores or used ones on-line...they dial in some great clean Fender amp sounds and can get some heavy duty distortion as well...plus you can go direct to a PA with it's low impedance 1/4" output... Take care, Larryz
skipclone 1 Posted March 8, 2011 Posted March 8, 2011 Another possibility: http://www.siegmundguitars.com/pedal.html Same old surprises, brand new cliches- Skipsounds on Soundclick: www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandid=602491
Guest Posted March 8, 2011 Posted March 8, 2011 Another possibility: http://www.siegmundguitars.com/pedal.html I have a Duncan Twin Tube already. Nice looking though..
Larryz Posted April 2, 2011 Posted April 2, 2011 UPDATE: found the Tech 21 Bonde and other Sans Amp Character pedals at Sweetwater.com in the latest catalog...just received... Take care, Larryz
Terrell Posted April 4, 2011 Posted April 4, 2011 Although I did not want a compressor I think from the clips of all the items I was turned on to on all my guitar players forums comes closest to is the Pigtronix Philosophers Tone. FTW I have an Electroharmonix Black Finger that fits your bill... Dual 12Ax opto circuit tube compressor... It gives you gain control to match many situations (create pedal tube drive on board, or hit an input hard, or buffer an input with some sag. etc.) and attack control to be soft, spanky or clippy. If there is a single pedal to take to a gig with an unknown amp, something like it is the ticket...
Dane Brammage Posted April 4, 2011 Posted April 4, 2011 Something that has a good dynamic response. something that takes away the peaks of the pick attack, yet sounds pretty clean. A few people suggested the Voodoo Lab Sparkle Drive; I have one and like it for pretty much the opposite of what you describe. Blending in the clean signal preserves the pick attack along with the compression and dirt you naturally get from an overdrive.
Caevan O'Shite Posted April 14, 2011 Posted April 14, 2011 UPDATE: found the Tech 21 Blonde and other Sans Amp Character pedals at Sweetwater.com in the latest catalog...just received... UPDATE-update: Aaaah; apparently, Tech 21 has come out with a new "Blonde V2"; I am unsure of just what is different in the new version... Ask yourself- What Would Ren and Stimpy Do? ~ Caevan James-Michael Miller-O'Shite ~ _ ___ _ Leprechaun, Esquire _ ___ _
Dane Brammage Posted April 14, 2011 Posted April 14, 2011 V2 adds a button to turn the speaker sim on and off according to this page.
Caevan O'Shite Posted April 14, 2011 Posted April 14, 2011 Aaaaaaaaaaaahhh. Cool, thanks. I had noticed that switch, but was not sure if that was new or not... Good idea. Ask yourself- What Would Ren and Stimpy Do? ~ Caevan James-Michael Miller-O'Shite ~ _ ___ _ Leprechaun, Esquire _ ___ _
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