How to get a fatter lead tone on my Rectifier?

[Dino.]

I have DR with EL34's that sounds very "Marshall" (IMO).
I tried different settings for months, trying to get a good lead tone, tighter gain, more sustain ... nothing worked.
The amp sounded GREAT but leads were just lacking something.
Then I bought a TS9.

With the gain set on zero, tone at 12:00, and the level maxed out, the TS9 tightens the gain, adds sustain, and still maintains the tone of the amp.
It's totally transparent (to my ears).

So you bought a stock TS-9?

Yep, just a stock TS-9 and it made a WORLD of difference!
Trust me dude ... I went through the same thing you're going through.
I spent months tweaking, EQ'ing, and nothing helped.
I was so frustrated, I almost sold my amp.

 

[papersoul]

I just got another OD-808 and will go for a TS-9 next.

What about a Cusack screamer?

I have DR with EL34's that sounds very "Marshall" (IMO).
I tried different settings for months, trying to get a good lead tone, tighter gain, more sustain ... nothing worked.
The amp sounded GREAT but leads were just lacking something.
Then I bought a TS9.

With the gain set on zero, tone at 12:00, and the level maxed out, the TS9 tightens the gain, adds sustain, and still maintains the tone of the amp.
It's totally transparent (to my ears).

So you bought a stock TS-9?

Yep, just a stock TS-9 and it made a WORLD of difference!
Trust me dude ... I went through the same thing you're going through.
I spent months tweaking, EQ'ing, and nothing helped.
I was so frustrated, I almost sold my amp.

 

[KiwiJoe]

I just got another OD-808 and will go for a TS-9 next.

What about a Cusack screamer?

According to the pedal aficionados at TGP the Timmy is the most transparent OD out there. I've also read good things about the Fulldrive OCD in that regard.

If none of that works, sell the big Recto and get a Mini Rec. Pedals not required. :mrgreen:

 

[papersoul]

I prefer less gain and bite. I am not a big OD fan. I only use the to boost for some low gain mid boost leads so all I need is some saturation and volume with some mids. For anything gainy, I am 100% an amp guy. For my mesa I just use an EQ for keads.

 

[boss4]

You can use a good OD (not necessarily a maxon or a Ibanez), a Fulltone (OCD, Fulldrive2, etc) or even a Boss SD-1, DS-1, OD-3, etc); a good delay (Maybe analog like a MXR Carbon Copy) and to smooth things up, a good compressor (Keeley, Xotic). Adding a compressor in the chain will make all the difference in sustain and in "liquifying" your sound.
Hope that helps!