Distort me!

[CanneryKid]

So I have heard a bit of BOSS DS-1 bashing around the traps and I figured I'd throw down the question - what's the best (in your opinion) digital/analog distortion pedal out there?

I do own a DS-1 and have used it a lot, I like the really dirty buzz-saw sound it gives, I like to play a lot of simple Ramones type pop-punk stuff but I'll admit it's not perfect.

So fire away ladies and gents....

[mitch_m]

Well I haven't really heard other people's opinions about it but I own a TC Electronics Nova Drive and I love it! It's an all analog pedal with an overdrive circuit and a distortion circuit that can store 18 presets and route the two pedals as od>distortion, distortion>od, or both parallel (no affect on each other). It's also MIDI controllable and can work with a G Switch to bring up presets on the fly. It's super gig friendly and I don't have to worry about dialing up different tones, I can just recall them!

[RawjerLee]

I don't like using the DS-1. Instead, I run two SD-1s (Super overdrive), but I will soon use a TS-9 to drive and SD-1 to give myself the crunchy sound.

[mnutz]

Originally Posted by CanneryKid

I like to play a lot of simple Ramones type pop-punk stuff

I play a lot of the same kinda stuff, and I have tried the DS-1 (and a lot of other really expensive pedals) and did not like it. But I really like the tone of the SD-1. I think that is perfect in front of an already crankin' tube amp. I think of it almost like mixing all the good stuff from a Tubescreamer and a DS-1.

[CanneryKid]

I'd love to try one the old 80's TS9's I have a TS7 tube screamer one of those silver Tone Lok ones, it's woeful. The sound is so thin and boring.

[DOGMA Dunn]

Any old distortion should work for distortion. If you have a amp with midrange focus and play hot humbuckers, you should get a great distortion when cranked up.

Check out the old Marshall 1974x (AKA 18 watt clone) videos on the youtube.

[cellrebral]

Mxr fullbore metal

[Suicideking]

2 tubescreamers....

[TeleBrew]

RAT

[MojoMonster]

Originally Posted by TeleBrew

RAT

+1.
Get a Deucetone (2 Rats in one pedal with You Dirty Rat and Turbo Rat clipping options)and swap out the opamps for a couple of LM308s or get the BYOC Mouse, Rat clone kit. It comes with mod options.

MM

[k tone]

Hardwire SC-2

[metalicaster]

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^this goes out to the DS1 bashers

[PigBoy]

+1 on the RAT.

[cellrebral]

Originally Posted by metalicaster

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^this goes out to the DS1 bashers

Is that an ascii facepalm?

[ObjectBlue]

Had a ds1 that i ran with my old cybertwin. It sounds great through ss and modeling amps but has been way too thin and hairy sounding on my blues deluxe and blues jr. However tight compressed and balanced distortion with my cybertwin. Sounded great i wore out the footswitch on the first and bought a second.

[Carvalho Diablo]

The only dirt pedal I have on my board is a Radial Bones London.

It really does give that big, warm, British / Marshall plexi tone. Also very, very nice with the drive rolled way back, given just a hint of OD.

Love it.

[CanneryKid]

Yeah the MXR Fullbore is very high on my list of MUST HAVES!!!

[imsilly]

I've had a DS-1 and SD-1 both were pretty terrible. Well they sucked with my setup (a Telecaster and vintage Fender amps) anyway. They really thinned out my sound and left it with that tinny sound that resembles listening to music on an old portable transistor radio. I also found they were difficult to tune in and their controls did relatively little to alter their overall character.

For that kind of pop-punk sound i use some kind of boost into either a very good overdrive pedal or a dimed amp. For boosts I'm using a distortion pedal called the D*A*M Sonic Titan, but with it's distortion at minimum and it's volume maxed. I also use a D*A*M Red Rooster, which is a Rangemaster type pedal. Both have tone controls so I can make sure there is enough bass or mids around to prevent my sound getting too thin.

[cellrebral]

Originally Posted by CanneryKid

Yeah the MXR Fullbore is very high on my list of MUST HAVES!!!

I love mine, has a built in noise gate that is adjustable via internal trim pot, has a mid scoop button, and you can control lows, mids and highs with the knobs as well as volume, tone and gain. It is one of the sickest distortion pedals I have ever owned. It is however pretty aggressive and cannot be tamed. Some distortion pedals you can use as a clean boost or slight distortion, not happening with this pedal. Once it is engaged, you are in metal territory and there is no middle ground.

[jjlikesguitar]

+1 on the ProCo RAT, most "musical" distortion I've ever played!

Used to own a DS1 way back... nice, cheap but sounded too digital