Guitar Distortion Pedals?

Question

Hey guys, I am currently looking for some preferably high-end guitar distortion (or whatever is needed) type of pedals to get a few different sounds of music. I have a Dean Warbird and a Schecter Hellraiser Special C1-FR (incase you need to know) going through a marshall 100-watt amp (hoping to eventually upgrade to a half-stack, but ill post another question for that when the time comes). I have a distortion pedal, but it is one of those do-everything pedals that is electronic and doesnt specialize in anything in particular, and hoping to upgrade. I have saved up a little money, and want to get some new ones. I am in a band that plays rock (to appease to the bar setting that most of our gigs are at), metal and postcore/deathcore stuff occasionally (very ranged genre type, i know). I was hoping to get pedals that really make my sound great for all of those. If possible, I am hoping to get a pedal that would have great tone and crispness for classic rock, but with enough distortion to play modern rock. The second pedal I want is one that has great gain/distortion and would have the dark and very distorted (but not sooooo much that it is unbearable and undistinguishable) sound that bands like Attila/Within the Ruins would use. I would also like one (for me, not really for the band) that would have the right sound and tone for, say, Avenged Sevenfold type of songs, with lots of solos and preferably made to sound geat with drop D.......... I know this is asking a lot, but if you guys could compile maybe a list or at least answer to one of those, that would be really,really helpful....... Thanks.

Answer 1

First off, let me tell you something very important: no guitarist, in the history of the world, has ever needed a 100W amp. Tube amps sound the best when they are cranked, and you will never be in the situation where you can crank a 100W amp. Even if you're playing a giant football stadium, you won't need a 100W amp. If a 30W amp can't fill the venue, you're getting mic'd... plain and simple. Once that microphone goes down, your volume has to follow.



So don't waste your money on a bunch of extra wattage. It's really nothing more than a marketing ploy for the ignorant. Most high-end amp manufacturers have matured and dropped away from the BS that was 1980's amp marketing and have returned to making high-quality, low-wattage amps... Marshall hasn't. The lowest wattage tube amp they make that isn't a reissue of a 50 year old Jim Marshall design is 50W, which is still more power than most guitarists will ever really need.



All those Zeppelin, Sabbath, Cream, Hendrix, Blue Cheer, etc etc albums were recorded with amps in the 5-15W range. If you really want the best sound possible, find yourself a high-quality amp in the 20-30W range... like the Vox AC30 or the Laney LH20. The ONLY reason to buy anything more powerful than 50W is if a lower wattage version does not exist or if you need to feel like you've got a big penis.



Anyways, different distortion pedals react differently with different amps. Are you going to use a combination of pedal and amp distortion (like Stevie Ray Vaughn) or pull all your distortion from a box (like Joe Satriani)? Both are perfectly valid approaches, but you wouldn't use the same pedal for each situation. If you're just looking to give your amp an extra kick in the *** to hit the preamp harder, you want something like the Ibanez Tube Screamer (or the Maxon OD9, a VERY nice replica of the originals... closer than what Ibanez makes today actually). If you want all your crunch from the pedal while keeping the amp really clean, you want something with a little more bite, like the Boss DS-1 or the ProCo Rat.



I recommend that you try out different distortion pedals while you're shopping for your new amp. You should buy an amp that sounds good on its own too. You shouldn't be looking to pedals to save a boring sound. They are meant to enhance your sound, not define it.

Answer 2

I used to fairly like distortion pedals, and had the hallowed Boss MT-2 steel Zone, the BD-2 Blues motive force, an unique Tube Screamer, and made my own pedal from schematics as quickly as (it replace into exceptionally exciting... you may desire to aim it). i'll tell you: not something beats a certainly overdriven amp. when I have been given a Vox AC15 and started in line with its unique, tube-pushed classification A overdrive I supply up worrying with reference to the pedals. although, over my Roland JC120 - that's designed to be a impartial sounding amp, and so is sweet sized for consequences - I did fairly like the MT-2's selection. in case you have have been given an amp with an excellent inner overdrive, i would not f it up with loopy pedal setups, as you lose tone with each and each connection you're making, and after it quite is long handed by some pedals, you're listening to the pedals, not lots the guitar. i could nevertheless feed into the two the Tube Screamer or my selfmade pedal (a duplicate of the Maestro Fuzztone; fairly elementary, 60's circuit... as heard on "delight" by the Stones) with the AC15, yet it is approximately each and all of the overdrive/distortion i could throw it, using fact it sounded so super by itself.

Answer 3

Check out the Texas Twister Tube Driver, it is made by Sullivan Music Equipment. It is a perfect match for a 100 watt amp this too loud, it has two clipping channels and a clean boost channel.