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What's your alltime favorite DIST. pedal?


DIAMOND DUST

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Years ago I had an old Electro Harmonix Big Muff Pi that just killed. Extremely ballsy. It didn't sound like an overdriven tube-amp, it sounded like the electric Apocalypse! Maybe it's just nostalgia and fuzzy memories (no pun meant there) but I haven't played through one that I liked as much since then.

 

I also once had a super cheesy Jax wedge-shaped pedal that was super compressed and yet dynamically responsive; it did some of the weirdest things when you did palm- and pinch-harmonics and muting and the like. It just sorta disappeared, I don't even remember when...

 

Usually, though, I really prefer the sound of a tube-amp's inherent overdrive and distortion better than a pedal; using a booster or compressor-limiter to push the preamp works great for me!

 

Actually, a good, cranked-up tube-amp feeding a GT Electronics Speaker Emulator makes one Helluva big-bad-monster "distortion pedal".

Ask yourself- What Would Ren and Stimpy Do?

 

~ Caevan James-Michael Miller-O'Shite ~

_ ___ _ Leprechaun, Esquire _ ___ _

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Originally posted by Dances With Werewolves:

Years ago I had an old Electro Harmonix Big Muff Pi that just killed. Extremely ballsy. It didn't sound like an overdriven tube-amp, it sounded like the electric Apocalypse!

:thu: I've got one too, and love it! My favorite distortion pedal? It's either my silicon PNP Fuzz Face or my DOD Mystic Blues Overdrive. Actually, the Mystic Blues pedal is more useful than the Fuzz Face, because the drive control is useful at more than just the maximum setting. The Fuzz Face is a one trick pony, but I love the one trick!

 

I just finished wiring the circuit for a germanium PNP Fuzz Face (like the originals) and I did a comparison between the germanium, the silicon, and my Big Muff Pi. Check it out:

 

http://www.geocities.com/teleman28056/music_page.html

 

I'm interested in hearing your opinions. :)

BlueStrat

a.k.a. "El Guapo" ;)

 

...Better fuzz through science...

 

http://geocities.com/teleman28056/index.html

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My Ibanez DS7 Distortion comes pretty close. I can get everything from a light crunch to a metallic wallop. Very midrangey, so it maintains note definition if the tone's scooped out with a graphic EQ.

 

It sounds great when I use a medium setting that I can clean up with my guitar's volume knob, then use a TS7 Tubescreamer for a lead boost.

 

The BOSS Metal Zone would come in at a close second. That's good for heavy thrash, fuzz and death tones. Though I really don't use it at lower gain settings much, it produces some interesting textures with the gain taken all the way down. It really doesn't clean up much due to its dual gain circuitry. Great for bass guitar distortion as well.

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Aside from power tube distortion, I'll go with my Fulltone Distortion Pro. Into a mildly overdriven amp, or a pedal simulating such a state, it really does nail a bunch of great tones.

 

Into a totally clean amp, I'd go with my Blackstone Mosfet pedal.

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I only have one distortion pedal and it's not that great, a DOD FX55. I do LOVE the distortion from a tube amp with gain set the high though. :thu:

 

The reson that I'm posting is that I ran accross an interesting one last night, the Homebrew (of Arizona) "Power Screamer". The Harmony Central reviews look good, with a few "veterans" even rating it over the TubeScreamer and Rat.

 

Anyone out there know anything about this one?

Gotta' geetar... got the amp. There must be SOMEthing else I... "need".
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I owned the Arion Metal Master years ago in the 80's. It rocked! You can still buy them for around $20 at Musician's Friend.

 

Next came the TS-10 Ibanez Tube Screamer CLASSIC, NOT the re-issue. It was ALRIGHT. I wasn't too impressed, though. I STILL have it and use it.

 

I just recently bought the Boss Metal Zone. I'd have to say it's by far the best I've tried! :thu:

 

Of course I am constantly reaching for that no-mid, scooped distortion which I have always tried to achieve. The Boss can dial that in, as well as many others!

 

Until I hear something "scoopier" than the Boss, I'm stickin' with it!

 

Peace

"Treat your wife with honor, respect, and understanding as you live together so that you can pray effectively as husband and wife." 1 Peter 3:7

 

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Originally posted by BiC:

I just recently bought the Boss Metal Zone. I'd have to say it's by far the best I've tried! :thu:

 

Of course I am constantly reaching for that no-mid, scooped distortion which I have always tried to achieve. The Boss can dial that in, as well as many others!

 

Until I hear something "scoopier" than the Boss, I'm stickin' with it!

 

Peace

BiC,

 

You might want to check out the DOD Death Metal Pedal, it really does the scooped mid sound! It's kinda limited though, you've just got level and tone controls to use, there's no gain knob. However, you can use the volume knob on your guitar to get it to clean up some. Three band EQ, so it's versatile for a lot of different tones (they're just all super high gain!).

BlueStrat

a.k.a. "El Guapo" ;)

 

...Better fuzz through science...

 

http://geocities.com/teleman28056/index.html

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Originally posted by DIAMOND DUST:

Mine is the Ibanez Tube Screamer, but I am really starting to get attached to my "SPARKLE DRIVE" and "DS-1" :D:thu:

i love my sparkle drive, too. i like to drive an amp hard and use distortion pedals to give the input tubes a little push.

 

i don't really dig that sort of "fake" distortion sound most pedals have. i swear i'm not a vintage/tube snob! :D but you have to get some air moving to get the whole effect.

 

just my three cents.

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I've noticed that you really have to use these pedals in certain ways to get the most from. For example, the venerable Tube Screamer really wants to play with a sweaty tube-combo, you know, like a cranked-up bf Fender. It excells at bluesy and classic-rock type-tones, not metal, etc. And you've gotta find those "sweet-spots" on the controls, where the pedal and the amp (not to mention your guitar) most pleasingly interact. And the settings with one amp might not work with another- maybe that's why I haven't been pleased with any other EH Big Muffs since I sold the oldie way back when...

Ask yourself- What Would Ren and Stimpy Do?

 

~ Caevan James-Michael Miller-O'Shite ~

_ ___ _ Leprechaun, Esquire _ ___ _

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