warm distortion pedals

[MarshMesa]

Hi all,

Just recently someone pointed out that the Proco Rat (which I wanted because Graham Coxon uses it with his Plexi heads), doesn't sound warm at all. I've always used overdrives as my distortion pedals if needed, because they truly sound warm.

Anyway, what distortion pedals out there sound warm to your ears that have a lot of gain? I'm NOT looking for the Boss Metal zone sound, if that gives you an idea of what I want to avoid. Are there any distortion pedals that don't sound plastic-like and stiff?

Any suggestions will be appreciated.

 

[MarshMesa]

 

[b0nkersx]

What exactly do you want from it?

I use one of these:
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/guitars/radial-engineering-tonebone-hot-british-tube-drive-effects-pedal

If you stick it in the dark mode and give it the full mid boost (I like scooped voicing with 12db mid boost) it's super warm and smooth.

You can also get a BK butler tube driver. They're very warm.
http://www.butleraudio.com/tubedriver.php

 

[MarshMesa]

Rather than try to explain, I'll give you sound sample to listen to. The first 30 seconds has that warm, thick high gain sound that is supposedly a Proco Rat and a Marshall Plexi.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AH6s1CUdqPE

As far as high gain sounds, this is one sound I'd like to achieve someday.

 

[b0nkersx]

Honestly that sounds like a RAT and plexi. He's probably using it as a booster with the amp turned up loud rather than a straight up distortion pedal.

Another thing with RATs is that they've been terribly inconsistent in their design throughout the years. You can get them modded by Robert Keeley - his mod supposedly makes them meatier and gives them a more vintage character.
http://robertkeeley.com/product.php?id=7

 

[MarshMesa]

Thanks!

I've heard that about the old pedals, like the MXR distortion +. Guess if I really want that sound, I'll have to use my Marshall on the classic gain channel with one of the good Rats and crank it. It sucks living in an apartment where you can't turn your amps up past 1.

 

[gonzo]

Try one of the Barber pedals

http://www.barberelectronics.com/


highly suggested:

Direct Drive Super Sport

LTD

custom Cool

 

[MarshMesa]

Thanks Gonzo. Just curious, how does the pedal compare to the Rat? I'm thinking of adding one more pedal to my line up, but I'm not sure which distortion unit I want yet. I already have two overdrive pedals, so no need to buy another overdrive.

 

[gonzo]

i had a RAT for several years, when i played with a top 40 cover band....

i had the boogie, but it's overdrive was smooth.

i needed something to turn my smooth drive, into more of a marshall sound, to cover certain songs.....the RAT pedal did that, to the mark2b lead tone.

so, i'd say it's harsh.
grindy.
edgy.

not warm.


the barber pedals, are so well made, and so well voiced, that you can go from RAW to really REFINED with them.


i like the DDSS as a mid-high gain, because it has the internal trims that let you dial in (4) tone parameters, which in my case, are just the ones i'd want to tweak.

but it is a more aggressive pedal than some of the other models....

The LTD's are all low gain with LTD SR being the flattest eq, LTD Silver slight mid bump, LTD v1 biggest mid bump, LTD v2 between v1 and Silver. The Direct Drive and Direct Drive Super Sport are the same circuit with the exception of internal trimmers in the Super Sport. The Tone Pump is a low to mid gainer with two sets of gain and volume controls. The Burn Unit is mid to high gainer with two sets of gain and volume controls. The 1/2 gainer is basically an LTD V2 with mid control and two sets of gain and volume controls.

plus, dave offers custom combinations of (2) pedals in one housing.

me, i'd go low gain and high gain, or maybe the Linden EQ pedal, along with a Burn unit.
LOL

 

[gonzo]

honestly, if you already have overdrive/distortion covered, consider a boost pedal.

i use a Fulltone Fatboost III

love it

find that it is the ONLY pedal i need, with EITHER clean, rock rhythms OR rock SOLO if i dial my boogie in for each track accordingly, and push the boost in front.


and, it stacks really well, with my barber pedals.
I GET REALLY INTENSE TONES, RUNNING INTO MY DDSS AND INTO MY FATBOOST.



other good options for boost:

BARBER LAUNCHPAD

XOTIC EP BOOST

 

[MarshMesa]

Wow, thanks for all that information! I might look into testing some boost pedals that don't color the sound.