What's the best OD/Dist/Fuzz pedal?

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blackcloud45
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Post by blackcloud45 » Wed Jul 29, 2009 7:21 pm

Yeah, I think the title of the post is misleading (and, I probably didn't know what I really wanted... I did watch that video and I think I liked the Crunch Box the best of the three. I had an OCD for a while, it reminded me of a sterile version of my Rocker 30.
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Foef
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Post by Foef » Wed Jul 29, 2009 7:27 pm

blackcloud45 wrote:Yeah, I think the title of the post is misleading (and, I probably didn't know what I really wanted... I did watch that video and I think I liked the Crunch Box the best of the three. I had an OCD for a while, it reminded me of a sterile version of my Rocker 30.
There you have it.
I love the OCD and think the Crunch Box is too bass heavy.
And i love the ibanez TS9 reissue.
They're both a mainstay on my board.
But i must say that i think these PGS vids are something you could use as a guideline. I like them. Made me try out the Hardwire Chorus and the MXR Carbon Copy, which i bought both.

Have fun shopping around!


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blackcloud45
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Post by blackcloud45 » Wed Jul 29, 2009 7:49 pm

I didn't hate the OCD, I just find all the Fulltone stuff a little harsh. It's all so subjective though :D
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Foef
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Post by Foef » Wed Jul 29, 2009 8:01 pm

blackcloud45 wrote:I didn't hate the OCD, I just find all the Fulltone stuff a little harsh. It's all so subjective though :D
That's what i meant to say. It's all subjective! :D

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Post by Spratty59 » Thu Jul 30, 2009 3:35 pm

GMD Luther Pedal is a TS9 circuit board with some modifications to make the top end ring out a bit.

Do a search for it on youtube and you can hear it there.

I think i like the purple plexi 800... But i just cant decide!
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blackcloud45
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Post by blackcloud45 » Fri Jul 31, 2009 6:16 pm

Ok, I finally got to GC to try out some pedals. As I've said, I don't think I really knew what I wanted to begin with. I tried out the following:
Disclaimer: I'm not trying to piss anyone off, these are all just IMO. What works for you may not work for me. I played these all through a clean Fender amp, so it was nothing but pedal. Some of these probably would have been better w/ an amp already on the verge.

Fulltone Fulldrive 2 Mosfet - I had the older version of this before, so nothing new here. Good pedal that works better with an already dirty amp.

Fulltone GT-500 - See above.

Fulltone Catalyst - More of a boost IMO, nothing Earth shattering here.

Ibanez TS9, Ibanez TS808 - Wow. I was really disappointed in these two given all the hype (especially for the price). Overrated.

Zakk Wylde Overdrive MXR - Really just tried this one because it was there already set up (I am not a ZW fan by any means). Waste of money. Low gain (to the point of non-existence).

Boss Metal Core, EH Metal Muff - Both of these would be cool if I was into bone crushing metal.

Boss DS-1 - Great pedal for $39.99. Is it just phenomenal? Nah, but for $39.99 it is great!

Boss Blues Driver - Eerily similar to the DS-1, but twice the price? I guess if it says 'blues' on it, that makes it more...

Foxx Fuzz Tone Machine - Definitely the coolest pedal (covered in a green fuzzy material) aesthetically speaking. Some nice fuzz / ring modulator type stuff going on here. Really not cool enough for the $250 used asking price.

Subdecay Flying Tomato Fuzz - Really cool fuzz w/ adjustable bias, low, highs, volume, and fuzz. It also has a switch that makes it buffered or unbuffered so it plays nice w/ other pedals in any order of the pedal chain. I am buying this one.

I should also note that I bought an MI Audio Crunch Box as I am have to see what it sounds like in real life. Will advise...
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blackcloud45
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Post by blackcloud45 » Sat Aug 01, 2009 8:33 pm

Well... bought the Subdecay Flying Tomato. It did 'Tush' really well. Does not play well w/ other pedals, especially boosts. Wasn't near as cool when I got it home. I took it back and tried the following:

Z-Vex Mastotron - Cool fuzz w/ a lot of tuning available, ultimately not for me though.

Z-Vex Distortron - Really cool pedal! Would probably work really well on an amp on the verge of break up or with a boost. Honestly, it provides a really transparent low gain by itself that is reminiscent of Allright Now, Funk #49, Led Zep, etc. on a clean amp. If I hadn't already bought the Crunch Box (I'm waiting to get it before I make the call) I might buy this one.

Z-Vex Box Of Rock - Nice pedal but not for me. It was a lot like the Distortron, but I felt like the Distortron had a touch more gain, transparency, and a bit more character. The boost really didn't help either.

The search continues...
Last edited by blackcloud45 on Sat Aug 01, 2009 11:00 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Wired
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Post by Wired » Sat Aug 01, 2009 10:07 pm

The Zvex Distortion is the Box of Rock without the boost... probably why it was so similar....

If you havent yet..

check out:

Diamond Jdrive MKIII (I'm lovin this one right now)
Diamond Fireburst (mmmmmm....fuzzy)
Crowther Hot Cake (my fav)
Catalinbread Hyper Pak


you should also check out this site:
http://www.axeandyoushallreceive.com/

awesome dude to deal with! he has amazing products to sell too!
-LK
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mr_william
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Post by mr_william » Sat Aug 01, 2009 11:07 pm

i like the tc electronic vintage distortion... (same as the mudhoney)...

it'll do clean boost, low gain drive, good rock distortion, fuzz and treble boost!..

works with a clean amp or one on the verge... works nice with a boost infront too!..

the tone nob only affects the top end, leaving the lows intact..

its one you should try out if u can...
Will.
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LeonC
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Post by LeonC » Sun Aug 02, 2009 9:30 pm

While nothing like a tube screamer electronically, the Okko Diablo is my favorite OD/Dist pedal for mimicing that sound. I don't actually use it that way that often, but I just got done monkeying around with it in that context and the thing still blows me away. It's amazingly versatile. You can set it to do hard rockin Crunch Boxy type stuff ... but back down the "body" and you can do some great TS type sounds with it as well. All my guitars sound great with it (i.e., single coils, P90s and humbuckers). Very responsive to changes in guitar volume and pick attack. Just a fantastic pedal.

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Post by Van Cleef » Mon Aug 03, 2009 4:29 am

my holy trinity of drive/dist


dod juice box
keeley ds-1 (keeley ultra mod)
mi audio crunch box...

it is impossible for me to say which i prefer over modded ds-1 and the crunch box as their voicing is quite different, but equally awesome... if gun to head... probably go with the ds-1...

and the dod juice box ias still the best od i have ever tried... better than the cool cat drive and better than any of the tubescreamers / TS ripoffs i have fapped around with... (all in my opinion

in fact

as much as it depresses me

i officially have nothing to buy :(

found my dream guitar x2
perfect amp
pedal board is complete
plectrums i like
good guitar strap and leads...

i think the dishes are done


although i may swap out the PS-5 for a pog2 at some stage

there you go - i still have something to GAS for so not all is lost
LIKE SPACE ROCK? = VAN CLEEF @ BANDCAMP http://vancleef.bandcamp.com/

blackcloud45
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Post by blackcloud45 » Mon Aug 03, 2009 11:04 pm

Just got my MI Audio Crunch Box (version 2). Wow! What a cool pedal. Very dimed Marshall-esque. Not overpowering (borderline transparent), very cool pedal indeed. Reminds me of an OCD, but not as harsh (not as much gain either). Give me a coupla' days to absorb it and I will update. As of now, I am very excited!

Still want to try the Okko Diablo and Wampler Pinnacle II though...
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jamison162
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Post by jamison162 » Tue Aug 04, 2009 1:51 pm

Crunch Box not as harsh as the OCD? Hmm, these are two boxes I had a couple yrs ago..V3 OCD vs. V2 CB. The CB didn't last long at all, has the OCD changed that much?

I've tried all the Wampler stuff and I'm just not into his voicings. Or maybe it's his component selection...way too hi-fi and somewhat sterile bordering harsh. Unless you are looking for that processed hi-gain JCM800 type of tone. Also, all the pedals basically had the same tonality and gain structure...the all sounded basically the same to me.

I have a Diablo on the Way based on Leon's steady support of this pedal.

Also want to try the DLS. Which color: Orange or Purple?

BlackCLoud: Where are you located? I still have the pedals from the Wampler Tourbox I can send out to you. I think I have the Cranked AC, Ego Comp, Pinnacle II and Plex or Ecstasy. There's 4 of them. Email me: [email protected]

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corky newman
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Post by corky newman » Tue Aug 04, 2009 4:16 pm

The Abunai II pedal is all I use these days..
I still love my Barber DDSS on some amps...and the G2D Cream tone pedal is one of the best for lots of classic tones...

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Post by lamp » Tue Aug 04, 2009 9:29 pm

For me the Crunch Box and Dirty Little Secret cover all my distortion needs - for the first time I am happy with my pedal drive sounds.

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