Best £100-ish high-gain pedal.

[Nolly]

I second the BB preamp. Fantastic sounding pedal, really has the cranked marshall tone with the gain and levels up. Can get really filthy, yet is a perfect clean boost with the gain all the way down.

[_tom_]

Depends what sort of high gain you're after I guess but I think a basic tubescreamer type overdrive might work for you? Tim posted a clip of him playing Miracle Man in his Ozzmosis band with a zakk wylde 800 with Keeley SD1 in front and its probably the best metal tone I've ever heard.

I had a Crunch Box and when I set the gain on my Laney low it sounded almost exactly the same as when I had the Laneys gain turned up. That may be a good or bad thing for you :lol: It sounds very 80s rock if thats the sort of high gain youre after. Barber pedals look quite good, the Burn Unit and Direct Drive in particular

[HTH AMPS]

I've got a mkI Guv'nor and a Crunchbox - the latter is a WAY better sounding pedal.

Also, the cool thing about the CB is that you can set your amp fairly loud, then kick in the CB with the volume low and the tone is juicy as hell (volume & tone controls are fairly interactive too).  I've not heard a better pedal for Marshall tones than the CB AND the price is right.

[Twinfan]

I've got a mkI Guv'nor and a Crunchbox - the latter is a WAY better sounding pedal.

Funny - I thought the opposite so I sold my CB!

[sambo]

^Ahhh good ol' opinions!


Don't suppose you want to sell your Hilborne boost, TwinF? :D

Got a bit more cash today so I'm ready to pull the trigger on:

BB Preamp
Hilborne Boost
or potentially CB/Guv'nor.


What is the Hilborne actually capable of? The internal adjustments look very useful.

[hamfist]

I've got a mkI Guv'nor and a Crunchbox - the latter is a WAY better sounding pedal.

Funny - I thought the opposite so I sold my CB!

I also didn't think much of the Crunchbox. It easily got lost in a band mix when I used it.

[Twinfan]

The Hilbourne boost is a very powerful clean boost with a treble boost/cut knob.  It has a hit of fuzz character about it, so it's not great into a clean amp as it just sounds edgy.  Into a dirty amp however, it pushes it into singing lead lines and a tight bass if you increase the treble.  The dip switches inside alter how fat or fuzz like it behaves.

Mine's not for sale, even though I don't use it that much.  It's a handy thing to have around!

It's a shame you're not local, I've got all three of your options (minus the CB) that you could try  :(

[sambo]

^AND you have that AD9! :(


Okay so Hilborne compared to the BB-P; BB is presumably a more typical overdrive and can be used with both clean/dirty amp?

That's what I find attractive about it over the Hilborne I think.


EDIT: Hamfist- out of interest- what pedal(s) are you using now if any?

[TwilightOdyssey]

I can make a clip using the Hilborne if you want.

[sambo]

That would be absolutely awesome TO!

Off/On comparison specifically too, would be great :)

[sambo]

Sambo - where are you in the South East?

I'm in Hertfordshire- little town near Stevenage. :)

[Twinfan]

Okay so Hilborne compared to the BB-P; BB is presumably a more typical overdrive and can be used with both clean/dirty amp?

Yep, exactly that  :)

[hamfist]

EDIT: Hamfist- out of interest- what pedal(s) are you using now if any?

I have a Blackstone Appliances Mosfet Overdrive (amazing pedal !!) and a CMATMODS Brownie for use into a clean amp. Although I haven't had a chance to try them into a driven amp yet, as both the pedals are fairly new, and I'm still awaiting delivery of my Ceriatone 2204.
  Recently, I had been using an MI Audio Blue Boy Deluxe and an SPF Ego Booster into a dirty amp. Both pedals, I would highly recommend.
  The BBD is a highly tweakable TS-9 like pedal, which can range from clean boost thought to extra overdrive, with all sorts of EQ options (having 4 EQ knobs). You don't have to have the mid-hump, bass loss of a TS-9, that's for sure. It can take a while to dial it in, but it is very versatile.  This pedal has worked well with every dirty amp I have ever used it with. It sounds truly horrible into a clean amp though !
  The Ego Booster is a very nice Clean Boost, with options to use it as a treble or bass boost instead.

Both pedals should be easily available.

[mikeluke]

Sambo - ah - if you were closer to me (Hampshire) then I was going to offer you a loan of my Guv'nor - Herts is a bit of a schlep....

Good luck with the choice/decision

[Roobubba]

Hertfordshire is a little town near Stevenage?