Wylde OD with Express 5:50

captain_jim · May 5, 2009

I am considering getting a Wylde OD to boost the gain/tighten up my tone for my hi-gain channel. I can't try the pedal out due to not having any good music stores around and money is tight so I can't buy a $200-300 tube screamer. The sound I am looking for is a John Petrucci/ Dream Theater type of sound. Would this pedal give me enough gain to boost into a reasonable (for this amp) hi-gain sound and would it tighten the amp up nicely? It sounds (without testing any pedals) liken I would like to have a little bit more of a mids based type of sound to tighten it up. Would this do me well? Thanks!

Chris McKinley · May 5, 2009

More or less, yeah. Any Tubescreamer-based OD design will do that. However, just an OD by itself isn't going to turn that amp into something that will sound particularly accurate for a Petrucci tone. At the very least, get a graphic EQ along with it, if not a treble booster as well.

lerxst88 · May 6, 2009

200-300 bucks for a tubescreamer!? Unless you are a vintage gear guy, I wouldnt pay more than $75 for one. look on craigslist and theyre going for $60 to $75 lightly used. If you want the vintage tubescreamer sound check out generalguitargadgets.com . they have a tubescreamer clone modelled off of the old ones as well as an MXR distortion + kit (which the wylde OD is based on).

If youre bad at soldering take the kit to a guitar shop and ask them to build it for you. If youre around chicago I would be glad to put it together for you for cheap!

Geiri · May 7, 2009

The zw will do the trick. I not so sure about the treble booster tho, The express is a pretty bright amp by nature. I had 5:50 and used the zw to boost it. It worked fine but since the zw is rather bright itself you'll need to make some adjustments to the higher frequencies.

captain_jim · May 8, 2009

As far as the pricing issue goes, I live in Canada and to buy a good tubescreamer it is at least $200 (that's tax included). Now I do know the express sounds fairly generous in the high frequencies. When I said I wanted a more mid type sound I think I don't want too much more highs added as well. Would you say that this pedal would add too much more highs,that's without adding an eq?

Geiri · May 8, 2009

I would seriously consider the ac booster. I've been a/b-ing the ac against the zw and I'm positive that the ac will fit the express better the stiletto likes the ac alot better.