Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

Forum Ringside => Guitars, Amps and Effects => Topic started by: hhcave on May 19, 2008, 11:01:14 AM

Title: Please help me choose an OD pedal:
Post by: hhcave on May 19, 2008, 11:01:14 AM
Hi,

I'm about to pull the trigger on an OD pedal

I will be using the pedal to boost/tighten up the distortion on my Mesa Boogie F-50 and the guitar i use is a Les Paul Custom with HIGH output pickups (18k Miracle Man set). I will mainly use the pedal for melodic death metal tight stuff (in flames, dark tranquility, insomnium etc.) but will also quite like to occasionally use it as simply an OD pedal as the amp doesn't have a great OD sound...

I was thinking either:

-Bodenhamer Ibanez TS9 Chaos + True Bypass mod

-Keeley Ibanez TS9 Mod Plus

-Keeley Ibanez TS9 Baked Mod

-Bodenhamer Maxon OD808 Chaos mod

-Keeley Ibanez TS-808 mod

What do you think and why?

Also, i was told that the Maxon OD808 sounds dark and smooth - does this mean it will not work well for fast palm muted stuff?

PS: i will use the pedal OVER the amps distortion to tighten it up therefore i will hardly use any gain on the pedal itself
Title: Please help me choose an OD pedal:
Post by: Ratrod on May 19, 2008, 11:08:50 AM
One more to add to your list:

The MXR Zakk Wylde overdrive. It was designed to boost an already overdriven amp.
Title: Please help me choose an OD pedal:
Post by: hhcave on May 19, 2008, 11:53:49 AM
... Okay and that then!

Any opinions?
Title: Please help me choose an OD pedal:
Post by: DeanS on May 19, 2008, 01:55:19 PM
And another to add Xotic BB preamp.................
Title: Please help me choose an OD pedal:
Post by: Jonny on May 19, 2008, 03:17:33 PM
If you have MMs, I think the ZW would be a good complement.
Title: Please help me choose an OD pedal:
Post by: Stevepage on May 19, 2008, 03:20:17 PM
I'd say go for Bloody Murder from Bodenhamer. Or if you want more gain from a pedal then the Boss DS-1 with the Behemoth mod done by Bodenhamer.
Title: Please help me choose an OD pedal:
Post by: maverickf1jockey on May 19, 2008, 03:21:58 PM
The Blackstar overdrive is quite good, if expensive.

It starts as a quite clear overdrive sound and then works up to being a fuzz pedal on the higher gain settings.
Title: Please help me choose an OD pedal:
Post by: _tom_ on May 19, 2008, 03:59:45 PM
I'd go for the cheapest one that has good bypass. Tbh I am fine with my Behringer tubescreamer copy for boosting an amp, it sounds fine but the bypass is a bit cr@p and it can be noisy at times.
Title: Please help me choose an OD pedal:
Post by: hunter on May 19, 2008, 04:18:27 PM
I love my Guv'nor V1 a lot these days, it's got that raspy Marshall vibe.

Other than that I prefer any OD on the grittier side, good experiences here with boosting input stages using

Fulldrive OCD (fat),
MI Crunch Box (fluid and cutting),
RC Booster (clean and punchy with loads of overtones),
Box of Rock (no sustain but great crunch),
Fulltone Soul Bender (fat, creamy, violiny).

Listening to this forum I guess you should consider the Blackstart HT series too.
Title: Please help me choose an OD pedal:
Post by: hhcave on May 19, 2008, 04:21:27 PM
I don't want to use the pedal for fuzz or anything - its for tightening up the amp's distortion ie. pretty much no gain on the pedal... Hence the decision not to go for the DS-1

Also, i can't go for the Bloody Murder because i can't afford to wait that long for it

From the list, plus:

-Xotic BB Preamp

What would you recommend?
Title: Please help me choose an OD pedal:
Post by: _tom_ on May 19, 2008, 04:44:23 PM
If you're good with soldering, how about a BYOC Tubescreamer? Only costs £50 and its a replica of a TS808 only with true bypass and they include other parts from popular mods :)
Title: Please help me choose an OD pedal:
Post by: Frank_C on May 19, 2008, 04:48:40 PM
another you should look at is a reezaFRATzitz by emma electronics, its not ba pice wise and sounds great too!
Title: Please help me choose an OD pedal:
Post by: Brow on May 19, 2008, 05:09:17 PM
Quote from: Frank_C
another you should look at is a reezaFRATzitz by emma electronics, its not ba pice wise and sounds great too!


It sounds great as a standalone pedal but it wouldn't be my 1st choice to use as a booster.

Something like a BOSS SD1 Super Overdrive could be a good (and cheap) option for you.
Title: Please help me choose an OD pedal:
Post by: Daniel G on May 19, 2008, 05:24:45 PM
I'd say Keeley Ibanez TS-808 mod.
Second guitarist in my band has one, and i seem to keep borrowing it whenever we play gigs.
Title: gain pedals
Post by: jt on May 19, 2008, 05:48:21 PM
:D Hi there guys. Your not going to believe it but i`m selling a couple of my gain/distortion pedals ! I`ve got a :

Keeley modded Boss OD with keeleys little blue light.It`s the yellow pedal but I can`t remember weather it`s model 1 or 2. It`s a great pedal very subtle and you can adjust the gain on it so it doesn`t have audio impact that your own amp is getting. I`ve also got a:

DHA Purist valve pedal that I got off of Steve from this very forum ! Great gain pedal, again can be as subtle as you want it to be  :) It can also & a little darkness to your tone if you want it to. There both available to buy to anyone on the forum guys if your interested then drop me a PM.

Post agian later JT

 :D  8)
Title: Please help me choose an OD pedal:
Post by: Nolly on May 19, 2008, 06:12:24 PM
Go with the Bodenhamer Maxon OD808. Joe designs his mods specifically with the metal guitarist in mind, and that is his personal favourite of the modded tubescreamers he does. Should be just the job.
Title: Please help me choose an OD pedal:
Post by: 38thBeatle on May 19, 2008, 07:45:38 PM
I would endorse JT's comments regarding the DHA Purist. I have one too and it is a great pedal (if a little bulky). Not high in gain but is great for cranking things up.
Title: Please help me choose an OD pedal:
Post by: hhcave on May 19, 2008, 07:55:09 PM
Hmmm i think i'm going with Nolly's suggestion - because Joe is a metal guitar player so i guess his pedals are suited for the genre.

Nolly have you ever played of of Joe's pedals and if so, how was it?
Title: Please help me choose an OD pedal:
Post by: Nolly on May 19, 2008, 08:02:19 PM
No, I can't say I have I'm afraid. All reports I've heard have been excellent, and Stevepage's clips sounded very good, especially considering he was boosting his POD.
I'm definitely going to be putting in orders for one of two of his pedals in the near future.

While a lot of people answering this thread are suggesting great pedals, I'm not sure that they are quite grasping the way you will be using your OD.  You are looking to use the OD simply as a tone-shaping tool - setting the drive to 0 or just above, and letting the inherent bass-cut built into the pedal tighten the low end, while using the tubescreamer's midrange to thicken the sound, add focus and punch.

This is exactly the usage that Joe has designed his pedals for, and that is the reason I'd recommend his stuff.
Title: Please help me choose an OD pedal:
Post by: hhcave on May 19, 2008, 08:30:07 PM
You're right Nolly that's what i want the pedal to do and quite a few people are making suggestions under the assumption that i want to use it only as an overdrive/distortion pedal.

What do you reckon you'll buy? I think for me it's really between the TS9 or OD808 - what do you think?
Title: Please help me choose an OD pedal:
Post by: Roobubba on May 19, 2008, 09:31:00 PM
I must say, his Maxon 808 with Chaos Mod sounds mighty tasty. He mentions downtuning and seven strings, I presume that means it'd be suitable for going down to A-E-A tuning...

Roo
Title: Please help me choose an OD pedal:
Post by: hhcave on May 19, 2008, 10:00:19 PM
Haha well thats perfect for me - i usually play Drop A# (2 steps down)! And occasionally C standard haha
Title: Please help me choose an OD pedal:
Post by: Nolly on May 19, 2008, 10:54:02 PM
Quote from: hhcave
What do you reckon you'll buy? I think for me it's really between the TS9 or OD808 - what do you think?


Personally, I'll probably be going with a bloody murder and DS1 in one rackmounted unit. Should be pretty sweet.

Of the TS9 and OD808, I'd probably go with the OD808, they're renowned for being great sounding, and I prefer the more compact design. If Joe says they're the best sounding out of the box, I'd take his word on it.
Title: Please help me choose an OD pedal:
Post by: JJretroTONEGOD on May 19, 2008, 11:38:14 PM
I think the Marshall JH1 is a really good allrounder, both Overdive and Distortion in one pedal, true bypass, 3 band EQ (sweepable mids). I now massivley regret selling my old Jackhammer, I think I paid £45 for a new one.
Title: Please help me choose an OD pedal:
Post by: steve gray on May 20, 2008, 03:07:13 AM
the divided by 13 range master clone is pretty amazing.. you can some very dark and thick boost tones while keeping it very transparent
Title: Please help me choose an OD pedal:
Post by: hhcave on May 20, 2008, 08:14:17 AM
Nolly i'm guessing you'll be using the DS-1 in the same way i plan to use my  OD pedal? Or would it be as an  extra gain boost? Or a new distortion in itself? (probably not the last because i know you have a Diesel VH4/Herbert!)
Title: Please help me choose an OD pedal:
Post by: Nolly on May 20, 2008, 10:12:50 AM
Quote from: hhcave
Nolly i'm guessing you'll be using the DS-1 in the same way i plan to use my  OD pedal? Or would it be as an  extra gain boost? Or a new distortion in itself? (probably not the last because i know you have a Diesel VH4/Herbert!)


Yeah, I think it'd be pretty cool to have different boosts for different flavours.. Probably end up using one for rhythm and one for solos or something. Oh, and I only have one Diezel, the VH4, not both!
Title: Please help me choose an OD pedal:
Post by: hhcave on May 20, 2008, 11:13:13 AM
Hah, yeah i heard great things about the Bloody Murder but i can't wait for months..and i don't really dig the paintjob.... (although i know he could change it)

OD808 it is then! I hope to get a review in when it arrives! Thanks guys for the advise!
Title: Please help me choose an OD pedal:
Post by: Nolly on May 20, 2008, 11:32:56 AM
Yeah it's a shame the wait time is long on the Bloody Murders. Still I guess it's good news for Joe! He's doing pretty well at the mo, modding pedals was just a hobby of his until a few months ago, seems word is spreading around.

The Bloody Murder graphics aren't really my thing either, but Joe can do them in any colour, and you could have whatever you want written on them. He even said he'd happily supply them unpainted.

Congrats on the 808, I think you've made a great choice there. Looking forward to hearing how you get on with it.