Using amp distortion and(with) pedal distortion.

[RedKlouD72]

I NEVER use a distortion pedal simultaneously with the dirty channels on my amp.

However! I am willing to give it a try.

Tell me now, who here likes to use a pedal distortion and the Mark V distortion at the same time?

AND,,, let me know how you make it sound good. i.e. what pedals you like to use in conjunction with which channels, amp settings, pedal settings, if and where on the FX loop... u know.

 

[SteveO]

I use a Nova Drive as a switchable boost for all three channels, but I don't have one specific setting (the ND is controlled by my G-System, so I have different drive presets to play with). Mainly, though, it is a boost with little or no dirt added. I have tried that, too (adding dirt at the pedal), and it works well.

Using even a clean boost takes the V into a type of gain that it doesn't readily do on its own, as you're hitting the input stage harder than with a straight guitar signal. It's tighter and punchier, and to some extent even "creamier" than normal.

 

[eudaimonia02912]

In my experience, most amps benefit from using an overdrive in front. You might need to turn the amp's gain down. Using a level-boosted, perhaps slightly dirty signal into a high gain amp can do great things.

Many people around here like the Xotic BB with the Mark V. I've also had good results with a TubeScreamer, fuzz, and a Danelectro Transparent Overdrive V1 (the Timmy clone).

 

[screamingdaisy]

I've tried really, really hard to find an overdrive pedal that I like in front of an amp, but I've yet to find it. Once your in a band mix all the nuance is lost anyway, so what you're left with is basically nothing but a sustain booster. My solos tend towards the bluesy side, so I don't need crazy sustain to achieve what I'm after and prefer to stick with straight up amp dirt.

That said, I do like the Mark V's solo boost feature. Lets me step out just a bit without increasing the dirt already present in the preamp.

 

[Oldschool]

I´m using a Keeley modded TS9 and a Fulltone OCD - both to give a little crunch to the clean channel and as a boost for the lead channel (for a more liquid lead tones).

Works very well if you don´t use to much drive on the pedals (more as a semi-clean boost).

 

[boogieman60]

I use a Tube screamer for a couple of options...on R1 for a quick lead line, just punch it in and out.. on R2 for a cascading grain sound and when I want more sustain without changing my basic Crunch sound, don't use it on R3...plenty of gain there..Use it right through the front end. That being said, it dosn't mean I don't think the amp sounds are not good enough..just gives me more flexability. 90% of the time just using the amps distortion.

 

[Scary]

I use a bb from time to time, but the FIVE sounds best w/o any extra help IMO. Other than delay of course. =)

 

[SBG200]

I use a Tube screamer for a couple of options...

Yeah, tube screamer pedals are great for this. I have a Toadworks Texas Flood which is basically a modified TS-808 circuit and keep it at low gain and unity level, giving just a little bit of dirt on R1, and shooting R2 into lead range. It's definitely not required on the Mark V but it's nice to have the option. And whoever said it's a nuance that gets lost in the band mix: not true. The differences come through loud and clear on mine. Probably depends on how you have the amp set though...

 

[HeadlessAxeman]

I tried hooking up high gain distortion pedals just for the heck of it..(Metal Zone/DS2)...meh...spoils the sound and the growl in the tone.

I stuck to using the tube screamer OR the DS1 and use very little gain and level if any and that too, I just have it sitting in the loop...barely ever switch it on when I'm in channel 3 (mark IV or EXtreme mode).

You may need a tube screamer for some solo/leadsy shreddy stuff..but..u really have everything you need in the amp. Dial back the gain on Channel III to no more than 1 or 2:00 and let your strumming hand bring the balls into the distortion..thats where all the sound is. Technique :twisted:

 

[Chester]

Fulltone FD II works best for me - versitile and complements natural amp distortion. Tried a bunch of pedals before I settled on the Fulltone

 

[eudaimonia02912]

The more I use my recently acquired Xotic BB MB, the more I love my amp. It does magical things to channels 2 and 3.

 

[jb's 52]

I got rid of distortion and od's, for that matter, after I got the MV. On it's
own, the MV establishes the distortion I was trying to get w/these pedals.
Plus, I like being more minimalist on pedals these days.

One thing I can't live w/o though is my Mastotron fuzz. It sounds good on
ch1 and ch2, but kinda gets lost on ch3.

 

[LesPaul70]

Back in the days when few amps could produce high-gain distortion out of the box, i.e., the 1980s, I relied on a ProCo Rat (the original version 1) as my main source of distortion. The same pedal that was used by Jeff Beck, Metallica, and a number of other blokes. I'm almost ashamed to admit that its distortion actually sounded better than some pretty decent (and expensive) amps back then, at least for hard rock/metal purposes. I'm glad that I haven't needed that pedal since the 1980s. Not that there was anything wrong with it, I just prefer sweet, rich and full tube preamp gain.

That said, I am using an OD pedal with my Mark V: the Visual Sound Route 66. So am I not happy with how my Mark V sounds? Of course I am! The way I see it the Visual Sound pedal is just an extra that provides me with even more sonic options on tap.

The Route 66 is actually a combo pedal: it combines the Visual Sound Route 808 which is, obviously enough, a Tube Screamer derivative (but with a twist), and a the Visual Sound Comp 66 compressor. The cool part is that both functions have separate on/off footswitches so you can choose to use just one or the other or both (or neither).

The overdrive section is basically a very faithful replica of Ibanez TS-808, but it has an extra function for people who are not so keen on the high-mid emphasis of the original TS-808: a switchable bass boost. So you can use the OD section as a TS clone or a bassier version of the TS. The compressor is very neutral and transparent enough and gives you tons of sustain - but it also has a tone control for those who want one. Again, the tone control can be separately switched on or off depending on whether you want a neutral compressor.

This combination of pedals makes a lot of sense to me. And there are so many ways I can use it! Add some Tube Screamer overdrive to the clean channel for instant blues. Boost the 'Marshall modes' on channel into metal/hard rock distortion with the TS overdrive. Tighten up and give an edge to your channel 2 / channel 3 high-gain rhythms with the TS. Make your channel 3 legato leads more liquidy with the compressor. Etc, etc. I especially like that, with this pedal, I can dial my Mark V preamp Gain pretty low - if I need more gain/compression/sustain, I can kick in this pedal.

The downside: the pedal is manufactured in China. It looks and feels sturdy enough, and has never let me down so far, but it is noisy as h*ll. Hissss, hissss. In a rehearsal, my bandmates are always asking "Where's that hiss coming from?" "Umm, from my Visual Sound pedal." That actually isn't too bad when playing live (the hiss drowns easily in your band's music and general noise) but this pedal is not something I would take with me into a studio.

The Route 66 is currently the only pedal in my regular live pedalboard in addition to a delay pedal (and the Mark V floor controller, obviously).

I still have the Rat (although it is in a pretty bad shape due heavy gigging - it works 100% but looks terrible). Maybe I should try it with the Mk V, just for laughs?

 

[Deaj]

I occasionally use an overdrive pedal to boost the amps overdrive. Doing so allows me to set the amps overdrive for lower gain and thus increases versatility. It really depends on what I want / need to get out of the amp.