Distortion pedal into high-gain amp (Peavey)

[Dave Sloven]

I'm actually quite happy with the Maxon OD-9 into the lead channel of my Peavey, and just want something for those moments when I want to go OTT with the gain without adding any of that horrible fizz to the fizz that my ISP is already trying to cut out!  That considered some kind of EQ or boost that I can place after the Maxon and kick in as needed sounds like it will do the trick.  Next I just have to work out the best place in the signal chain for my compressor.  some people like to put it before the dirt pedals and after the wah.  Well it's definitely going after the wah  (and the phaser) but I'm not sure if it should go before or after the Maxon.  I'll certainly put it before the boost.  As the Maxon is true-bypass and I tend to turn it off when playing clean it may not matter too much in terms of using compression on cleans anyway.  Kicking in the compressor together with the booster though might be a cool effect.

[Dave Sloven]

I have come to the unfortunate conclusion that distortion pedals sound like complete ass through my rig.

None of them sounds as good as the lead channel with a simple boost from my OD-9, or even as good at the lead channel without the screamer mid hump.

They are only useful as feedback generators!  I tried playing the Black Secret and Metal Muff through my clean channel, and they both sounded awful.  On the lead channel they can be useful if you are playing a real noisy divebomb or hammer-on lead, that's it.

I have an MXR Distortion+ (script reissue) coming in the mail, I'm predicting that will be as bad.  I'm just going to keep them - together with the MXR 6-band EQ, which is just too noisy - for my Peavey Bandit if I can ever get that fixed for a reasonable price, and purely then only for crust punk stuff, where a cr@ppy distortion pedal through a solid state amp is the sound.

[GuitarIv]

Amps with a good OD channel usually don't sound any better with Distortion pedals through the clean channel - I find a good OD channel boosted with a Tubescreamer always works best.

[Dave Sloven]

What surprised me was how lame it sounded through the clean setting rhythm channel.  Just really thin and it seemed like there was a volume drop.  Anyway, I'm done experimenting with distortion pedals on this amp.  I guess I should be pleased that I have a choice of three that I can use with that old Bandit if I ever get the clean volume control and reverb fixed

[Dave Sloven]

The babyshite brown MXR Distortion+ script reissue arrived in the mail today.  Only runs on a battery and has the wired board, the funny bit of foam, the whole deal.

Still sounds like rubbish through my Peavey :-/  Not as bad as the other two, but not as good as the OD-9 as a boost the lead channel.  I have it hooked up at the moment but I think I will free that space on my board up for a flanger.  At least it probably will sound good and I will use it more than a distortion pedal.

It joins the pile of distortion pedals in the box waiting to be used on the Bandit or some other solid-state.

[ericsabbath]

have you tried different settings on the od9?
like NOT cranking the level, adding actual gain from the pedal and lowering the gain in the amp?

[JimmyMoorby]

The wampler pinnacle deluxe is an excellent overdrive pedal.  It's meant to be an 'an amp in a box' and does the EVH brown sound well but it goes from mega scooped tones to harsh and abrasive but its always cuts really well.

I have an ornage rockerverb which has a ton of gain but for shredding solos I always use the wampler pinnacle just to make the amp saturate more.  If youre playing a solo and dont stop (I.e any thing slower than a slow blues solo) you wont get fizz.  I use this at gigs and practises and for home use.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxfWniBACsM

This is also a vid of me playing if you watch from 6:15 onwards im using the overdrive of the amp maxed out with this pedal and it doesnt sound fizzy but its definitely a lead sound rather than a rythm sound.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcPwBBM2vUo

[ericsabbath]

well, the pinnacle is a modified marshall guv nor, like the MI audio crunch box

[JimmyMoorby]

I didnt know that.  Works for me any way

[dave_mc]

well, the pinnacle is a modified marshall guv nor, like the MI audio crunch box

I don't think so? I thought the plextortion was the modded guvnor. Most of the other wampler dirt pedals are jfet-based, I think.

[Dave Sloven]

have you tried different settings on the od9?
like NOT cranking the level, adding actual gain from the pedal and lowering the gain in the amp?

Not really, although I have heard it on other settings when I have accidentally bumped the knobs moving stuff around on my board.