oops, I did it again. Wrote another book. (added before posting). I tried to refrain from my personal opinion as I prefer a more direct line of signal path (i.e. guitar + cable + amp and nothing in between. I will make an exception when running multiple amps though. Some are buffered like the Mesa Switch Track or Radial Engineering ABY or even the EarthQuaker Devices Swiss Things, or non-buffered isolator units like the Lehel P-Split.). Then again, a double tracker effect is a cool thing to use too like the Strymon Deco, TS Mimiq and others, never tried a Boss Harmonist or Keely 30MS. I have used the Deco and Mimiq but more so with a multiple amp setup than mono.
I have to stop doing this... TMI post stuff. My apology in advance. (added before posting).
Just for reference: I never saw this website but it has some videos on the products.
https://www.guitarpedalx.com/news/g...-double-tracker-pedals-for-your-consideration
https://www.guitarpedalx.com/news/gpx-blog/18-of-the-best-distortion-pedals-for-your-consideration
Mesa used to have videos of their pedals, this was before the Gibson takeover. Search for Mesa Boogie Legacy and you will find this: Most of the pedal videos may be with the Filmore, or TransAtlanic. I have not seen many with the Mark series of amps though. It could be at the time they only had the Mark V90 when the videos were made. The grid slammer and flux drive pedals do work really well with the JP2C but not necessary (this is with the two gain channels, did not focus any attention using them with clean except for the Badlander).
https://legacy.mesaboogie.com/pedals--related/drive-pedals/index.html
https://legacy.mesaboogie.com/pedals--related/boost-pedals/tone-burst.html#
Flux Drive will give you much more compression and gain structure. I have used it with the Mark V90 and the JP2C. Grid slammer, got that one too. Same, Mark V90 and JP2C. Both the Flux drive and Grid slammer have some really nice effect on the JP2C, all channels too. Same with the Badlander. I have not tried them with the Mark VII yet. I am sure it will work just fine with that too. As for the compressor/sustainer, I like them but, again do not use them much. Combo amps may benefit more with some pedals on the front end vs the head with cab (212 or 412). Compressor/sustain pedals seem to be more useful with combo amps as that amp-guitar coupling is not as apparent than say with a head and a 412 cab. If you have a Strat SSS, a compressor/sustain pedal may be of a benefit. HSS perhaps not as much.
As for OD or distortion pedals, most will lack the dynamics you get from just direct to amp characteristics. Depends on the end goal. If you are one who just maxes out the guitar volume then it probably does not matter. I tend to be more of an expressionistic player so I want that dynamic character in my sound, roll back guitar volume and the amp cleans up, play on the hard side and it grinds due to change in signal strength or roll the guitar volume up for that full tilt distortion of the amp. Sometimes the front end pedals will take that away from the player so I can understand why many are just guitar + cable+ amp and nothing in between.
The other factors that come up but often get ignored in general are the type of pickups. Passive or active. Actives may have more output signal level than passive pickups. It varies. Some guitars that have passive pickups may also have active tone controls like a Carvin DC400 series, or Charvel 1986 Model 4 as an example.
I get the point, just pointing out the other aspects that may be in the mix and not disclosed as why this pedal is better than that. Does it have a dynamic response or is it flat out fizz, fuzz, or distorted sound that does not change in respect to signal level.
Then there is studio/practice or just by yourself indulgent or are you in a band and need to stand out ? Some amps may get lost in the mix when it comes to a full band setting. It gets more complicated when there is more than one guitar player. What comes up most often are the Boss Super overdrive SD-1 and the Ibanez Tube Screamer TS9 (akin to Ibanez TS808 made by Maxon), probably more common with the Rectifier users than Mark users.
https://boogieforum.com/threads/mesa-grid-slammer-vs-maxon-od808.66570/