Interested in a new OD/drive- got opinions?

[Laskyman]

When I set up my board, I really catered my effects toward the Roadster head, and now am discovering that my Deuce doesn't need/benefit as much from the pieces I own, and I want to maybe venture out a bit into some new territory:
I have a Maxon OD808, which is flat out a great pedal and does have merit on my board, but I was thinking of checking out a Barber Direct Drive, BB Pre, or an MI Audio Crunch box (basically to use as a 3rd channel for my Deuce). I dont need the OD808 mid-range hump- the Deuce slices through any mix alone.

Any of you use one of these pedals with the Deuce? If not, what are you using?

I dont need to boost my high gain channel to get mad singing lead tones anymore, the Deuce is capable right out of the box, but if I feel the need to goose it- I can set up the Tone Press as a pure clean boost...just want a good "crunchy" pedal for rhythm on the clean channel. I love Barber quality and build, I just want some other options. Being in MT, I cant just run out to a store and check everything out, so I appreciate your comments-

Thanks- this board is the best....

 

[Chris McKinley]

Laskyman,

Why choose? Get 'em all! :mrgreen:

I haven't played with the MI Audio Crunch Box or Barber Direct Drive, but have heard good things about them. The BB Pre is excellent. If you could have only one, that would definitely make my short list. I have a v.4 OCD that's really great for Marshall-ing up a clean channel by itself. I sometimes like to run it on my TR's clean channel Pushed to get some great classic rock/metal crunch tones.

You might also consider, since you have a Stilletto, putting an EQ, graphic or parametric, in your loop not so much to dramatically alter the sound, but simply to tweak the emphasis from song to song so it sounds just that much more authentic to the original. A programmable EQ like Boss's EQ-20 might be ideal for that purpose.

 

[Laskyman]

You might also consider, since you have a Stilletto, putting an EQ, graphic or parametric, in your loop not so much to dramatically alter the sound, but simply to tweak the emphasis from song to song so it sounds just that much more authentic to the original. A programmable EQ like Boss's EQ-20 might be ideal for that purpose.

I have a 10 band, but still dont feel that the Deuce lacks without it. With my Roadster- the EQ is absolutely necessary IMHO, but not so with a Stiletto- amd I dont observe the same problems with "high end" as other Stiletto users have...
So my 10 band becomes expendable as do my modulation pedals as I have a Modfactor en Route....I think my Maxon may become tradable as well...I like the BB and Barber- the MI Crunch box seems a little less dynamic and from what I have heard on the net....
Thanks- keep the opinions coming-

 

[KH Guitar Freak]

I love the Stiletto just straight up IMHO...

 

[jab]

I tried the MI and Xotic products and went with the AC+ on my Ace. Other guitar player in my band uses Barber LTD - sounds good but not to die for (on his rig anyway). I use it for what you describe which is putting a crunch in my clean channel. I was looking for something to crunch my tone, not change it, thus the AC+ was the winner. I find myself liking the left side of the AC+ so in hindsight, I may have just purchased the regular one button AC pedal (which is not 100% apples/apples to the AC+ so do a little research there).

So why not a BB? Well, the owner of the pedal shop I go to (and it is truly a specialty pedal shop) said the Stiletto's have so much gain, that a BB would be over the top so suggested the AC for what I was looking for. The gain levels on Xotic products go up beginning at RC to AC to BB. The RC pedal sounded great but I had to dime the gain to get pretty crunchy, the BB was hot, and the AC was just about right. Kind of like the porridge analogy in Goldilocks and the 3 Bears, but I digress. I'm running the AC at about 10:00 gain & volume on Fat Clean with the channel gain around 2-3:00, and actually it's my favorite "always on" tone now. I've got clean/crunch on Ch.1 and it sounds just like Stiletto's distortion too. I've never had the gain past noon on the AC+ as then it goes beyond crunch and I might as well be on Stiletto's Ch 2. I noticed a ton of guys in Nashville use the AC too, seems like the preferred pedal when those guys crunch it up.

 

[Laskyman]

Jab, my friend, thats the kind of info a guy could use. I was looking at the AC+/BB+, but just not quite enough info for the AC....- now its time to research-
Thanks-

 

[SonOfIAm]

You really can't go wrong with any of them but if you want my opinion, I have the MI Audio Crunch Box, Xotic BB, a Barber LTD and a CMATMODS Brownie. I looked at the Direct Drive but was not really wowed by it but it is a nice pedal. I used the Crunch Box and Brownie for a while but now I only run the BB and LTD on my board into a Lonestar Classic 2X12. If you're looking for a straight distortion pedal, the Crunch Box is one of the best but I like the Brownie more because you can really feel the bottom end with it. If you're looking for an overdrive to push your amp, the LTD and the BB are by far the best I've tried. Both are very transparent and compliment each other very well. If I had to choose only one, it would be the Xotic BB, it lives up to the hype.

 

[flieger67]

I think the BB is a very cool pedal. As for it being too "over the top", well, ain't that what rock-n-roll is all about? :mrgreen:

But think about it this way: Andy Timmons uses the BB with his Lone Star and his Deuce. Though "Resolution" was recorded with the BB pushing his Marshalls, you can find several clips on youtube of Andy using the BB with his Mesas and showing precisely how he uses them. And his live performance of "Resolution" that's available on DVD also demonstrates how well the BB works with the Mesas in his setup.

 

[gonzo]

gotta throw the Barber Direct Drive SS pedal out there....

my favorite to date, i've tried most of them, except the higher end boutiques, which i wouldn't pay for anyway.....

 

[KH Guitar Freak]

I think the BB is a very cool pedal. As for it being too "over the top", well, ain't that what rock-n-roll is all about? :mrgreen:

But think about it this way: Andy Timmons uses the BB with his Lone Star and his Deuce. Though "Resolution" was recorded with the BB pushing his Marshalls, you can find several clips on youtube of Andy using the BB with his Mesas and showing precisely how he uses them. And his live performance of "Resolution" that's available on DVD also demonstrates how well the BB works with the Mesas in his setup.

I thought he used the BB mostly with the Lone Star? I know that he does use the Tubeworks overdrive pedal with the clean channel of the Stiletto...

 

[Laskyman]

I know that he does use the Tubeworks overdrive pedal with the clean channel of the Stiletto...

Yep...you are right. But he does have a signature BB coming out (like Hendersons signature RC...). I will see him tomorrow night and I am bringing the camera......I really like the clips and reviews I have heard and read about the BB and/or BB Plus- I want to hear one through a Stiletto head- may just pull the trigger....

 

[flieger67]

Yep...you are right. But he does have a signature BB coming out (like Hendersons signature RC...). I will see him tomorrow night and I am bringing the camera......I really like the clips and reviews I have heard and read about the BB and/or BB Plus- I want to hear one through a Stiletto head- may just pull the trigger....

The Andy Timmons Signature BB Preamp was just released in May. It was a limited run of 1000 units and I was lucky enough to get one. According to the people at Xotic, it is voiced differently from the current BB: more compression being one of the key ingredients.

If you check youtube, you can find a clip of Andy demoing his BB with both the Lone Star and the Stiletto. As I recall, Andy says that he uses the BB to push a slightly broken-up tone on the LS and also to drive the Stiletto into more distortion. If he's really using a Chandler or Tubeworks pedal, I can't say. But according to his own words in the youtube clip, he's using the BB with both amps.

If you get to see Andy and take some pics, please post the "intel". I'd be very interested to read it and see the photos.