Author Topic: Overdrive Pedal order in effects chain (Read 4551 times)

everton_fc · « **on:** February 24, 2006, 09:09:17 AM »

Hi

Was playing around with my two overdrive pedals last night. Usually I place my more mild overdrive before my heavy overdrive. So when I'm playing and need a lead boost I just kick in the heavy drive.

Last night though, I placed my heavy drive before my weak drive. I had been playing around with tone drive settings all night, and I dont know if my ears were "tired" by that point but I swear the tone sounded better?!?

Am I talking out of my arse hear or not? Should there be no difference in tone which overdrive pedal goes first? Is it wrong to have the Heavy drive feeding into the weaker drive?

If anyone has any pearls of wisdom about what heaviness of overdrive pedal goes into another I'd love to hear from you guys.

Many thanks, rock on!

Brow · « **Reply #1 on:** February 24, 2006, 12:06:36 PM »

I use 3 different overdrive pedals on my current pedalboard and I played about with the order of them ALOT! 8)

My ears preferred the tone of running the 'weaker' OD into stronger 1's, but if it works for you the other way, then leave it like that :D

everton_fc · « **Reply #2 on:** February 24, 2006, 12:51:16 PM »

I guess my thinking has always been low drive > into heavy drive too.

Anyone experience swithcing them around - I found the sound to be more "open" for a wierd reason??? Or my ears were tired and I just convinced myself??

Anyone else got any comments to add?

Cheers guys

Twinfan · « **Reply #3 on:** February 24, 2006, 01:11:20 PM »

There's no right or wrong - just go with what sounds best to you :)

Brow · « **Reply #4 on:** February 24, 2006, 05:02:28 PM »

Whenever I tried a weaker Overdrive AFTER a heavier Overdrive I found it gave more of a volume lift and a gain boost and I didn't like it.

So I changed them round and now use a weaker OD as a gain boost into a heavier 1 :)

Floyd Pepper · « **Reply #5 on:** February 26, 2006, 04:52:04 PM »

The great effect guru RG Keen has written this article on effects order http://www.geofex.com/effxfaq/fxorder.htm

If you want to learn how effects work check out Keen's Technology of the Fuzz Face http://www.geofex.com/Article_Folders/fuzzface/fffram.htm and Technology of the Tube Screamer http://www.geofex.com/Article_Folders/TStech/tsxfram.htm

This guy knows his stuff!