AC30 Overdrive

Hey Guys,

Been looking around for an OD for my AC30 and I've come to a loss at which pedal to go with.

I'm looking for something that doesn't colour the tone much, almost like a boost (maybe that's what I need :?: ). I'd like something that has a wide range that could act like a boost, but has the potential to give a nice, crunchy gain; something that could fit well with rhythm/lead playing would be awesome.

Here are some I've been looking at:

- Voodoo Lab Sparkle Drive
- ProCo RAT
- JHS Morning Glory
- Black Arts Toneworks Black Forest
- Philosophers Tone

I'll be ordering from an online retailer as my local guitar shop doesn't have any of the pedals I'm looking at.

Any opinions or different pedal suggestions that you think would work for me would be great.

Thanks :lol:

Rory used a Dallas Treble Boost ( a 1-transistor diy job) or the Hawk Boost with his AC30

I've never been able to get a decent sound out of a TS style OD like the Sparkle Drive with my AC30. Others report better results. Zvex Distortron seems to work much more smoothly to my ears, plus it goes to 11. Low budget, I've had good luck with the Austin Gold.

Here's an expensive, off-the-wall suggestion: /13 Switchazel. It's an a/b/y switcher with a built-in clean boost and a muting tuner out. Turns the AC30 into a channel-switching amp, plus the boost will goose the front end for solos. Lots of different sounds are possible. It's what I've been using lately.

I'll throw my hat in the ring for either the Wampler Paisley Drive or a Paul Cochrane Tim/Timmy. The Paisley has plenty of gain, but it's not fizzy or muddy. I will say not to discount it as a Brad Paisley pedal, because it's waaay more versatile than BP-in-a-box. If you like the OD of your amp, I'd suggest the Tim, mainly because of the boost feature. It sounds EXACTLY like my amp on 7 with the great OD and sustain (I use a Dr. Z RXJr)

HIGHLY recommend the Visual Sound Open Road.

http://www.visualsound.net/index.php/products/guitar_effects_pedals/v2_open_road/

Crowther Hot Cake

Rat or Big Muff

I have a Big Muff also, forgot to mention beforehand.

Any opinions you guys have would be great :smile:

Rat. Maybe an EHX Germanium OD, or Screaming bird if you want a treble booster.

I have a Menatone top boost in a can 8 knob version. I know it seems redundant to have an AC30 style drive into an AC30, but it sounds amazing and matches the amp perfectly. The real beauty of the 8 knob version is that it also has a built in boost!

One of the tricks with an AC30 is not an OD pedal but to boost the signal so high it over-drives the pre-amp stages of the AC30, that makes the thing sing. It does have to be cranked up and a cranked up AC30 is very, very loud.

I use a MXR Distortion III with my AC15 and am very happy with the results.

One of the tricks with an AC30 is not an OD pedal but to boost the signal so high it over-drives the pre-amp stages of the AC30, that makes the thing sing. It does have to be cranked up and a cranked up AC30 is very, very loud.

+1

I have an AC15, not a 30 but in my experience I agree with this. Although, I've found every overdrive pedal I've used on my AC15 sounds pretty good.

Agree that the Tim / Timmy is incredibly transparent and willl not color your tone.

I don't have an AC30, but the Visual Sound Rt66 and it supplies a good (TS-esque)(T-esque?) OD and a compressor that does a clean boost impression when dialed in properly.

Happy Hunting

I really enjoyed the Crowther Hotcake when I used a Korg era AC30 with alnico blue speakers, very cool sound with a Tele. I also loved the same Tele into Hotcake with a Valvetech Hayseed 30 with Weber alnico blue dogs.

I don't care for TS type pedals with English amps.

The 2nd best solo sound I ever had with my Tele into the Top Boost channel of my AC30 was a Tubescreamer set gain-lowest/tone-flat/level-full.
But you have to be able to run the amp HARD. Around 2/3 volume to flat out.
IME, YMMV, etc, etc.

I don't have an AC30, but the Visual Sound Rt66 and it supplies a good (TS-esque)(T-esque?) OD and a compressor that does a clean boost impression when dialed in properly.

Nowadays in Quietworld, I use the OD side of a RT66 into the TB channel for dirt. Haven't really bonded with the comp side. I use my GE7 clone for a clean boost at the end of the line.
So I'd say if you're a Top Boost channel guy, get a TS or TS-based pedal. They're pretty good.
If you're a Normal channel guy, go for a treble booster, ala Rory G.

And the absolute best solo sound I've had is a GE7 (or clone) set virtually flat (extreme top and bottom sliders down around 3db) with the level up about 10db.
Into the TB channel with the volume all the way up:twisted: