Gain/boost/distortion pedals/effects

[hunter]

I actually like all of my drive pedals except for one (Rocktron Rampage).

Here is my descending order of preference for the pedals I own:

Xotic RC Boost (not a drive pedal but this one was on most of the time)
ZVEX Box of Rock
Fulltone OCD
MI Crunch Box
Diamond Drive
Fulltone Soul bender (depending on the amp it pushes, it can be higher up the list)
Marshall Guv'nor original
 
Now my current problem is that I bought an Axe FX and they are all useless, but it's really hard to say goodbye to them beloved pedals ...

[hamfist]

Bob, I think it depends hugely on what amp you are playing into, and also whether you are using the amp clean or dirty.
   For example, I really like the OCD V3 into a Marshall-type circuit, but not into a Vox Top Boost circuit.  I love my MI Audio Blue Boy Deluxe boosting an already dirt amp, or boosting another pedal, but it's generally horrible at providing the dirt into a clean amp.

But in general, some very special pedals that I have really enjoyed are :-

MI Audio Blue Boy Deluxe into a dirty amp
Zvex Box of Rock  into a clean Amp
Jetter Gain Stage Red - into a clean or dirty amp
SPF Ego Booster - clean boosting a dirty amp.

All of these are very amp like in their own way, and clean up reasonably with the guitar's volume knob. They also let the sound of your guitar and amp come through, but just enhance it in their own way.

  There is such a huge choice of pedals out there at the moment. Sometimes it seems a bit daunting to choose the right one. Good Luck !

[MrBump]

HT Dual again - I fall in and out of love with this pedal.  I think that I'm coming to realise what it is - the red channel DOES colour your tone a little, but what Im finding is that the green channel is actually not a bad mild crunch/TS type pedal - particularly if the amp is cranked.

Waiting for an OLCircuits Orange Peel kit to arrive (http://olcircuits.com/olc_orangepeel.html).  Quite excited about that, will give it a write up when I's built and tested.

Mark.

[sgmypod]

Interested to hear the orange peel...not that I need another pedal...but

[badgermark]

I've been putting together a OLC Slow Century kit, all together but doesn't work. It's a pretty difficult build, especially since my PCB looked nothing like the one in the instructions. Oh and colour coded resistors are an utter badword when you can't tell the difference between red/orange and black/blue.

[Fikealox]

That OLC site looks awesome. So many things to lust for :D I wish they made a DR103 pedal, though... well, I kinda don't wish that, because I'd have to buy it. Why are pedals so addictive?

[Bob Johnson]

Thanks for all the input. My reason for asking is that I'm increasingly being asked to fit this type gear onboard guitars that I make and I haven't been very impressed by many, no, any of them. There's too much stuff out there for me to stay in touch with so an information gathering exercise like this is very useful in helping to develop our own circuitry that is designed to be installed onboard but can also be fitted in a stomp box.

Thank you all very much. :)

[MrBump]

Just had a look at your website Bob - nice guitars!  And you're just down the road from me (I live just outside Rayleigh).

Mark.

[headtheball]

I know exactly what I want, but I can't find the pedal to do it.

[indysmith]

I know exactly what I want, but I can't find the pedal to do it.

enlighten us...

[headtheball]

Ah, right. I see the rest of that post went missing...

I want a pedal that gives a smooth, "flutey" tone, a stoner tone, for want of a better term, but, at the tap of a toe, regains grit and jagginess, without increasing in gain.

That being said, I've always been more of a "Run the amp until the valves start to bleed a little" kind of guy.

[Bob Johnson]

I know exactly what I want, but I can't find the pedal to do it.

Tell me what you want and our guitar playing electronics wizard, Tom, will take a look at it! Maybe we can custom build something for you.

Cheers,

[Roobubba]

I'm still waiting for my Bodenhamer Bloody Murder (how many months and counting? :( ), but as and when I get it, I'll post a review up here.


Roo

[gwEm]

seems like this threads almost finished... anyway, the three pedals i've been using the most recently are:

MI Audio Crunchbox - great fun, I also like it for late night time practise, sort of generic marshall distortion sound. fender single coils dont sound nasty through it either, which can happen on my marshall unless your very careful.

Xotic RC Booster - got it yesterday evening from twinfan, I think it will be become a favourite. best thing i found for boosting my marshall so far. other pedals work well in certain situations, but the four controls on this give it real versatility. i doubt i'll use my old favourite monte allums EQ much more. i wonder about the other pedals in their range.

Hilborne Fat TB - like this alot with low output pickups, gives a really nice ompf. Sucks for high output pickups, however this is where the RC comes in.

[CaptainDesslock]

I know exactly what I want, but I can't find the pedal to do it.

Tell me what you want and our guitar playing electronics wizard, Tom, will take a look at it! Maybe we can custom build something for you.

Cheers,

Are you serious?  Custom build a pedal? Could you custom build a fuzz pedal that can go from warm 60's fuzz to God-like pound your face into the ground heavy fuzz with a custom knob that does nothing more than oscillation for crazy Matt Bellamy fuzz factory sound? ala ~2:27  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pt17DjHrz1w

I would be seriously interested in purchasing such a thing, no joke