Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum
Forum Ringside => Guitars, Amps and Effects => Topic started by: indysmith on May 16, 2006, 12:46:11 AM
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I'm looking for an overdrive pedal for my JCM800. Just something to thicken it up at bedroom levels a load. I have a HotPlate which has helped, but after seeing the effects of a good OD pedal in front of a JCM800 at LGS t'other day I'm really hooked on buying one.
Basically - I'm using this amp mainly for home use (overkill i know), i want to cover straight balls-to-the wall rock'n'roll sounds to screaming old-skool metal sounds. The OD's in the title are the ones i've considered. I've tried (briefly) the ZW44 and the Keeley, and i liked both to be honest. The Maxon OD-9 sounded great in the Nailbomb clip, and the Big D, as we all know is highly recomended by Ben, and seems very versatile indeed...
Any help would be greatly appreciated. I know tone is subjective, but guys, come on, which is the best bet for me? My main gear is in my signature if that helps...
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Don't overlook the HBE Power Screamer
It's their version of the Tube Screamer and works really well with a JCM 800
At the LGS I had a Big D and a Power Screamer running into my Marshall 2205 JCM 800 Split channel and both sounded ace. If I had to chose just 1 then i would go for the Power Screamer - for the stuff i like - classic rock and Schenker/Lynch type stuff
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this maybe a slightly unusual(?!) choice, but i'll suggest it anyway because i think it works really well for me and my JMP50 (Steve :) )
i'm using an EQ pedal (actually an MXR 6band eq). this allows you to not only boost the level, but gives extremely versatile tone adjusting which is obviously a good thing on these amps. use it as a treble booster, warm up the bass, fix problems caused by lame pickups etc etc.
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I have a Powerscreamer and they rip the guts out of any other TS based model - But for versatility I'd say a Big D (I would have got one myself by the fender tweed Powerscreamer was too tempting :wink: )
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Don't overlook the HBE Power Screamer
It's their version of the Tube Screamer and works really well with a JCM 800
At the LGS I had a Big D and a Power Screamer running into my Marshall 2205 JCM 800 Split channel and both sounded ace. If I had to chose just 1 then i would go for the Power Screamer - for the stuff i like - classic rock and Schenker/Lynch type stuff
Hey that power screamer sounds good actually - i guess i thought if i'm getting a tubescreamer it was gonna be the maxon; has anyone A/B'd these two, are just tried both.
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this maybe a slightly unusual(?!) choice, but i'll suggest it anyway because i think it works really well for me and my JMP50 (Steve :) )
i'm using an EQ pedal (actually an MXR 6band eq). this allows you to not only boost the level, but gives extremely versatile tone adjusting which is obviously a good thing on these amps. use it as a treble booster, warm up the bass, fix problems caused by lame pickups etc etc.
I'd considered this actually - I'd really like to try before i buy though; I'll ask around and see if anyone has one i can borrow. Fix problems caused by lame pickups? thats what the BKPs are for :wink:
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I have a Powerscreamer and they rip the guts out of any other TS based model - But for versatility I'd say a Big D (I would have got one myself by the fender tweed Powerscreamer was too tempting :wink: )
Could you get powerscreamer-esque sounds out of the Big D? It has these five positions for 5 different sounds; are these loosely based on any other overdrives? are they all up-to scratch/useful or are some just sounds yu'd never want to use?
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I've got a Danelectro Fish n Chips EQ pedal (about £25) and Maxon OD-9 (about £95). With those two you could really thicken your sound up and shape it how you want without paying boutique pedal prices.
The Maxon is a great pedal - smoother and warmer than the Ibanez OD-9.
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I'd have three recommendations to beef up your Marshall:
All these links cover sound samples
(I own 1. and 2. and have tested 3 some while ago and will get it soon)
1. Simple but fantastic: HAO Rust Driver (Plexi in a box) - http://www.jes1988.com/hao/sound_us.html
2. The versatility-and sound quality king: Diamond Drive - http://www.diamondpedals.com/products/legacy/drive.html
3. The I-can't-stop-playing-it's-so-addictive: Okko Diablo - http://www.stompbox.de/diablo_e.shtml
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that diablo sounds verrrrrry nice. So much choice - kinda wish i was born when there was the tubescreamer or nothing, lol
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Hunter, that Dialbo sounds amazing! Cheers for showing that link, really want one now :D
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The G2D pedals (www.g2d.co.nz) from New Zealand are great for pushing valve amps over the edge.
I have 1 of their 2 channel Custom OD pedals and it's awesome when used infront of my gritty Orange amp.
I paid £120ish with shipping etc, so not THAT expensive when compared to some other alternatives :)
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Re Diablo: Yeah indeed, But be prepared to pay 199 / 235 EUR (235 with extra boost button/poti).
In fact, the Diablo is one of the few Overdrives that also sound good in front of a totally clean amp.
I would actually think about running it straight into my Palmer PDI-09 for recording.
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any opinions on the Keeley SD-1? if yu check out the site, it looks like they've updated it lately. Hayden's clip is pretty yummy too, and i liked it at LGS a lot...
http://www.robertkeeley.co.uk/overdrive_bsd1ge.htm
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The Zakk Wylde pedal is very overpriced, mainly because it says Zakk Wylde on it, i'm sure you can find better ones or one more or less of the same for much cheaper.
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The Zakk Wylde pedal is very overpriced, mainly because it says Zakk Wylde on it, i'm sure you can find better ones or one more or less of the same for much cheaper.
I actually really liked how it sounds, and i know a few others on the forum do too. i think it was HJM that told me that it was probably the best value for money overdrive out there a while ago...?
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I tried out a line 6 Ubermetal and it turned a single coil strat into DIMEBAG. The Zakk didn't seem to have enough gain, even when drive channel was on. THe Uber, on the other hand, did Dime on the clean chennel. It has three different gain settings, and It it weaighs and looks like a Panzer Tank
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I tried out a line 6 Ubermetal and it turned a single coil strat into DIMEBAG. The Zakk didn't seem to have enough gain, even when drive channel was on. THe Uber, on the other hand, did Dime on the clean chennel. It has three different gain settings, and It it weaighs and looks like a Panzer Tank
yu know the zakk is designed to be run in front of an already overdriven amp right? I'm not digging the ubermetal. I'm thinking a more jcm800 sounding thing. i don't want to mask the raw jcm800 sound - just enhance it...
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Hunter, that Dialbo sounds amazing! Cheers for showing that link, really want one now :D
+1! I've long nurtured lust for an Analogman Maxon mod, but the Diablo sounds pretty smokin'! Plus, it's named Diablo ... 8)
Oh, mierda, I just checked out the Basstard pedal, too .... I'm a sucker for overdriven bass! :twisted:
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Zakk first uses the active preamped pickups, through the ZW pedal, and then into a JCM800 thats madly overdriven.
The amp is also fitted with 6L6`s that sounds a bit more "fuzzy", While the cabinet is fitted with his signature EV speakers.
So the ZW pedal is made exclusively for Zakk`s rigg.
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I thought Zakk had 6550 valves in his amps
they are big and beefy sounding - same as used in the Ampeg SVT amp
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IMO, the ZW overdrive is very poor for the money. I was looking for an overdrive to both boost, and to work well alone also.
I bought the ZW, played it for two days, and then returned it. It was noisy, and it made a very annoying popping noise whenever turned on and off (not at all usable to smooth gigging). I actually didn't like the overdrive very much either.
I tried the stock Boss SD-1, and it was like every other boss pedal.....good, but missing a few things.
Then, I stumbled upon Keeley, and I've never turned back. The keeley SD-1 is an amazing overdrive, and really pushes my rectifier into crazy overdrive at low volumes. It's an amazing boost, and works perfectly on its own too, for a very smooth and creamy overdrive.
IMO, Keeley is the way to go!
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Dunno whether you guys speak any German, but there is this guy in DE who has tested them all, a real geek, and he's a big fan of the Okko Diablo>
http://www.dietside.de/OVERDRIVETEST.htm
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I thought Zakk had 6550 valves in his amps
they are big and beefy sounding - same as used in the Ampeg SVT amp
You are correct :)
As far as OD pedals go I really like the Fulltone Fulldrive 2, G2D Custom Overdrive and a modified Ibanez TS9 which kicks out alot more gain and better tone than a stock Tubescreamer :)
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Ahh, sorry guys, 6550 tubes are correct. Im mixing all these tubenames, 6l6, EL34, ECC......
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apparently Tubescreamers really tighten up the sound of a JCM800 - this sounds good. Will the Keeley SD1 have the same effect? Bearing in mind that it now comes with both the Burr-Brown chip and the TI RC4558P which is in the TS-808...
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I'm not sure about this, but I'd reckon that TS pedals appear to 'tighten up' JCM800s because of the bass drop off. If that's true, then whether or not the modded SD-1 does the same would depend on whether mr. Keeley has 'improved' the bass response of it.
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I'm not sure about this, but I'd reckon that TS pedals appear to 'tighten up' JCM800s because of the bass drop off. If that's true, then whether or not the modded SD-1 does the same would depend on whether mr. Keeley has 'improved' the bass response of it.
the jcm800 has very loose bass; i think mr.keeley said the TI RC4558P chip is supposed create a more focussed sound. I'm pretty much settled on a keeley sd-1 and a danelectro fish'n'chips. Thanks for all your help guys - i'll tell yu how it turns out at the end of july (after my birthday, lol).
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Anyone tried the Barber Electronics Direct Drive? this clip that _tom_ sent me is delicious http://barberelectronics.com/SShamer.mp3
they're also handmade, with true-bypass, double sided circuit board, full size pots, and ONLY $120
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I've heard some good things about the barbers (particularly with engls), but alas I haven't tried them, since Northern Ireland sucks for gear... I think stringsdirect is the only place to get them in the UK...