Distortion Pedals

Peen Simmons

Peen Simmons

Let’s Get Obtuse!
Feeling the itch to pick up a new dirt box. Looking for something solidly in the distortion family vs. OD or fuzz of amp in a box. Mid to high gain. Not gonna be used for metal or shred. Mostly big dumb riffs and wall of sound stuff. I have a DS1 kicking around somewhere so probably not looking for a variation in that. Looking for something maybe tighter and thumpier.

Anything you all like beyond the usual suspects/circuits?

I’ve got a lot of fuzzy, fizzy options and looking for some chunk.
 
I have found two that I use on my board and love.

Danelectro Roebuck - This is a clone of the Ibanez Mostortion which is a MOSFET based Distortion. The Ibanez unit was only in production from around for a few years around '91. Most of the Country Rockers are using the Mostortion or variations and I have to say it has been the best OD/Distortion unit that I have used and continue to use. I love using it cascaded as well as by itself.



The other one on my board is the Xotic SL. This unit is a beast out of the box. Makes the hair sit on end by itself or when cascaded it is totally insane. I haven't even messed with the internal DIP switches at all. Just pleased with the stock settings.

 
I was surprised to find that the Boss Metal Core gives some nice tones with the dist turned down.
 

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The classic Suhr Riot and mini Riot sound good in front of a clean amp. I like to stack my Riot into a Mad Professor Sweet Honey and feed both into a Fender amp set clean.

Obviously, the Sweet Honey is not a distortion. It’s a low to mid gain OD. Sometimes, I like to smooth out the sound of the Riot with the Honey.

P.S. I don’t play metal or shred. But, sometimes, I like to play with high gain.



 
Modern Saint said:
I have found two that I use on my board and love.

Danelectro Roebuck - This is a clone of the Ibanez Mostortion which is a MOSFET based Distortion. The Ibanez unit was only in production from around for a few years around '91. Most of the Country Rockers are using the Mostortion or variations and I have to say it has been the best OD/Distortion unit that I have used and continue to use. I love using it cascaded as well as by itself.



The other one on my board is the Xotic SL. This unit is a beast out of the box. Makes the hair sit on end by itself or when cascaded it is totally insane. I haven't even messed with the internal DIP switches at all. Just pleased with the stock settings.

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Both of these sound really nice!
 
If you decide you crave something a bit less usual, the Catalinbread Katzenkonig combines a Rat circuit with a Tonbender circuit.



Another road less traveled is the Tech 21 Boost Distortion.

 
I still love the ISP Theta.

Me gushing over the Theta and some weirdo reminisces about Chucktavia here.

NPD ISP Theta preamp pedal

Cobbled together a power supply for it before work. Was hopeful, barrel that plugs in to pedal was too big, started looking for something to sacrifice. Turns out a Boss style is too big too. That means the idiots at GC Boston couldn't have hooked it up to DC. Pluged it in and the lights...
markweinguitarlessons.com

Also, rereading it, I'm reminded how much I liked the Sabra Cadabra and the Keely Filaments
 
I like RAT tones. and I have liked this, with all the JHS'ness, good or bad depending on your view. But I like the pedal.

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Lerxst said:
Snag a used DOD boneshaker for under 75 duckets
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I have one of these if you’re interested will sell for $50 plus shipping. I’m driving diving down tomorrow for the 4th where it’s store. Let me know if interested and I’ll send pictures and sounds to show it works. Probably don’t have the original box though.
 
Knox in Box said:
There's always the white lower priced one, that has a built in voltage drop iirc, or was that the fuzz?
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The three series. That one is a Rat variant. I have the fuzz which is a solid old school fuzz. I initially read it was Face-based, but more recently the word is that it’s a Tonebender variant. At any rate, it’s cool and vintagey.
 
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