overdrive pedals?

MissyWhoopass · Post by **MissyWhoopass** » Mon Sep 27, 2004 3:38 pm

...NOISE....?

Remember folks, as Gain goes UP, so does the noise.

Tubes naturally generate lots of harmonics, which make guitars sounds
yummy. The draw-back is the high voltages required to make those
Itty-Bitty electrons jump the vacuum, also "pull" up lots of noise
at the molecular level and at the electrical field level.

Remember that Valves are voltage controlled devices and transistors
(bipolar ones any way) are current controlled devices.

Voltage controlled devices are subject to capacitive coupling from
external (external to the Valve) noise sources.

Shielding helps alot. The "best" high-gain tube amps cover their
pre-amp tubes (usually 12AX7's) with shielding "cans". These cans
also help conduct some of the heat from the tube to the chassis.

Try to get the sound you want with as little Gain as possible, to
help minimize the noise. Also, if you use a compressor, put that
FIRST in the signal path from your guitar.
Also make sure your guitar is properly shielded (some are like that from the factory, others need a little tweaking), and that your
cables are of good quality.

My Friend Skip recently got a High Gain Tube (Valve) amp (Mesa Boogie
50 Caliber+) switching from a Marshall ValveState 8080.

The Marshall 8080 is 98% solid state, with a single 12AX7 tube (for
coloring) in the pre-amp stage. Skip loves the sound of the Boogie
but "feels embarrassed" about the amount of noise he gets when NOT
playing.

There is some technique required. Noise gates only gate-out noise
that comes in to them, they have no effect on noise generated down stream. Compressors are actually voltage controlled amplifiers,
that turn the Gain UP when the input signal level goes down.
This obviously will make a low-noise-floor sound like a busy city
street.

Ok, I'm rambling. I just wanted to point out that with extra Gain
comes extra noise, which requires some finesse to deal with.

~{:o)

sambulance · Post by **sambulance** » Mon Sep 27, 2004 4:39 pm

has anyone tried the snarling dogs pedals? their wahs look cool cos of the foot shaped plate, but is that just a gimiick?

irish_admiral · Post by **irish_admiral** » Mon Sep 27, 2004 7:12 pm

Haven't tried them personally, but the fact that very few people (ie. artists) endorse them or use them probably says all you need to know. I suspect they're OK, but not up to the standard of a good Vox, Crybaby, or Morley wah. Then there's the boutique wahs...

Don't tell me the best way, just tell me the cheapest way...

indravayu · Post by **indravayu** » Mon Sep 27, 2004 8:17 pm

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
has anyone tried the snarling dogs pedals? their wahs look cool cos of the foot shaped plate, but is that just a gimiick?
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>

I own one - I really dig the sound (it's very versatile, IMHO), but it's not for everyone. The only drawback I can see is that there is an important plastic piece inderneath the foot pedal that is apparently rather weak and susceptible to breaking off with too much excessive wear (other than that the pedal is built like a damned tank!). I'd recommned checking one out if any of your local dealers carry it - compare it to a Vox and a Crybaby to see if it's up your alley. I used to use a standard Crybaby, but I now feel that my Snarling Dog blows it away tone-wise. Plus it looks a hell of lot cooler!

- Chris

sambulance · Post by **sambulance** » Tue Sep 28, 2004 11:27 am

thanks guys, i'll try one out sometime... as for that whole plastic thing, let me know if yours breaks!

irish_admiral · Post by **irish_admiral** » Tue Sep 28, 2004 11:35 am

If you've got a pedal you're going to be standing on a lot, you don't want plastic bits inside... an accident waiting to happen there, I reckon!

Don't tell me the best way, just tell me the cheapest way...

sambulance · Post by **sambulance** » Tue Sep 28, 2004 11:44 am

do we actually stand ON pedals? i dont mean to sound picky but i dont think i actually put much of my weight on them. the only exception i suppose is when some little kid puts one foot on the wah and one on the volume and goes "hey look at this, its like a treadmill or something" <img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>

...and then wonders why you are annoyed?

bossdjay · Post by **bossdjay** » Tue Sep 28, 2004 2:08 pm

Speaking of overdrives,
I recently bought a BOSS OS-2 pedal. Its decent, and I'll probably keep it around for certain things, but I can't see it as being my main pedal. Its funny because I'm having such a hard time finding the right overdrive for my tone. I have neither the money or time to pursue ALL the products I'd like to..(I'm sure you all can relate). Does anyone know what overdrives Clutch uses. I love that tone! That's kinda what I'm going for at this point. The Boss pedal gets me close in a way but.....not quite there. If any of you listen to Clutch, do you think he doubles all his guitar tracks...I was listening to it (alot lately) and I'm not sure. Maybe he does on some songs but not others. Anyway...any ideas???

irish_admiral · Post by **irish_admiral** » Tue Sep 28, 2004 2:34 pm

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote> do we actually stand ON pedals?<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>I do <img src=icon_smile.gif border=0 align=middle>

Depends how good your balance is otherwise! I'm relatively heavy - pushing 14 stone (for the benefit of our friends across the Pond, that's almost 200 pounds) so i'll put a fair bit of weight on a pedal.

Don't tell me the best way, just tell me the cheapest way...

Bassfingers · Post by **Bassfingers** » Sat Oct 02, 2004 5:37 am

I use a Boss sd1-1 with the Keeley Electrronics 5 upgrade. It is very quiet and covers from a clean boost to mega heavy. Great with a Lp or Tele on my AD30TC. They go for about$120US new but are on Ebay alot. Ilove mine better than the high end boutique stuff I've tried.

haze015 · Post by **haze015** » Sat Oct 02, 2004 9:50 pm

A Zvex Super Hard On would be appropriate, its a completely transparent clean boost I think, I have a Zvex Fuzz Probe which can be used as a boost or a volume pedal depending on the settings you use and its THE greatest fuzz pedal I've used.
If you don't want to spend large amounts of cash, a Boss BD-2 Blues Driver is a great boost pedal, which has more volume than an SD-1 and a little more gain if you need it.

Thats about as much help as I can give unfortunately, as I only really use my Fuzz Probe for distorted sounds at the moment and it cuts through so well you don't really need a boost for it (Plus its very compressed on some settings, a boost won't affect the volume much, but you don't need it from my experience)

S3A · Post by **S3A** » Tue Oct 05, 2004 6:01 pm

Yes the Z-Vex SUper Hard On make a really nice job in the clean boost !

For the moment i have some good effect to push my Orange Retro 50 in heaven tone:

For the Tube secreamer territory: Maxon OD 808

For a TS with more balls: Frantone Brooklyn overdrive

For clean boost: Z-Vex Super Hard on

For clean boost/ soft overdrive: Klon Centaur

For treble booster: 2 BSM RM Model

For distortion: Ibanez Tube King TK999

For Fuzz: BSM FuzzBender ( and i have the MkII from ProAnalog in order )

All this effect work really well with my amp.

Now your taste are the best indicator for your choice !

Bladen · Post by **Bladen** » Tue Oct 05, 2004 8:43 pm

If you've got the money, the Klon Centaur is a fine overdrive pedal. Probably the most transparent one out there. I own the Jekyll and Hyde and I'm not really a big fan. The overdrive isnt heavy enough. It doesnt give enough drive and i hate using the distortion it offers. Anyone know any other overdrive pedals that really drive things up?

S3A · Post by **S3A** » Wed Oct 06, 2004 8:11 am

Yes the Klon make a really great job !

But the problem with this pedal: the price.

In the same you have the Xotic RC Booster, the Maxon OD-820, the Burriss Booster and the Pete Cornish Boost, but this last are more expensive than the Klon.

rasku · Post by **rasku** » Mon Oct 11, 2004 6:38 pm

Try the King of Tone by Analog Man. Great Overdrive! Does not lose bass fundament when kicking it in (like the TS9). Has two overdrives to dial in, a drive and a tone knob and two volume knob, one for each overdrive. I tried many overdrive / distortion pedals: TS9, Fulldrive, DistortionPro, BigMuff, the BOSS things and on and on ... The King of Tone is the Holy Grail and doesn't take away the sound you love!
Ralph

overdrive pedals?

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