Tone sucking batteries on a Dano OD

[Justinvs]

Afew weeks ago I used my old SR at a gig instead of my Marshall and was blown away by the sound I had, especially with pedals. I ran a TS for overdrive, a cheapie echo pedal and a Dano distortion (can't remember whcih part of the food chain, but it's red, cheap and usually sounds great) for heavy dirt and slide playing. I was happy!

Last week I used the same set up and it absolutely sucked. Different room, obviuously, and lower volumes, but I could not get any tone I liked. At the time I just turned up the TS a little and used it more, but in retrospect I think the battery in the dano might have been the problem. Normally it's so hot I barely crack the overdrive or level, but the other night I had to turn it much higher and it still didn't sound right. I should have pulled it from the chain, but I was pretty rushed, so I just avoided using it.

Now I'm wondering if it was causing my loss of tone even though it wasn't on. FWIW, the amp didn't sound fuzzy or lose any volume, it just was weak with poorly defined lows.

Justin

[TheGoodTexan]

Easy enough to figure out... just try a new battery.

[Justinvs]

Yep, first thing I'm going to try. But, just to be on the safe side I'm using my Marshall at tomorrow night's gig.

Justin

[Justinvs]

Quick update. I swapped the battery out and the dano was back to it's usual noisy self. I ran it through my Marshall last night, not the SR, but I'm sure it was the problem.

If I have one complaint about this pedal it's that the volume is so hot. You justy barely crack it and it's already louder than everything else in the chain. But, for such a cheap pedal, I love the sounds I get from it, especially for playing slide.

Justin

[vjf1968]

Originally Posted by Justinvs

Quick update. I swapped the battery out and the dano was back to it's usual noisy self. I ran it through my Marshall last night, not the SR, but I'm sure it was the problem.

If I have one complaint about this pedal it's that the volume is so hot. You justy barely crack it and it's already louder than everything else in the chain. But, for such a cheap pedal, I love the sounds I get from it, especially for playing slide.

Justin

What kind of battery were you using, a carbon one (cheap ones you find in the dollar store) or an alkaline? That can have an effect on performance and how long the battery lasts.

[Chiogtr4x]

Originally Posted by Justinvs

Quick update. I swapped the battery out and the dano was back to it's usual noisy self. I ran it through my Marshall last night, not the SR, but I'm sure it was the problem.

If I have one complaint about this pedal it's that the volume is so hot. You justy barely crack it and it's already louder than everything else in the chain. But, for such a cheap pedal, I love the sounds I get from it, especially for playing slide.

Justin

That's the Dano FAB (Red) Distortion right? This pedal has got a great sustaining smooth distortion as wel as a pretty powerful cleaner OD boost, and you are right about the "hot" Level controls- I think all "Dano Dirt" is like this- I have the FAB Dist, The CC Transparent OD V.1 , and a French Toast- pedals from 3 different series and with all of them I need only to turn the Volume controls up to about 1/3 to be louder than the pedal-bypassed amp volume- but I can deal with it, rather have it that way than not enough Level on tap...

[Justinvs]

Yeah, definitely. The knobs are a little tough to use, especially on an unlit stage, but once you've got them set they stay where they should. All in all, given the price of this pedal, I love it.

Justin