TS-9, 808, Original RATT - Top 3 dirt boxes?

[hotrodkid]

I posted a thread a few weeks back titled "Which pedal has been on you board the longest?" I was surprised to see very few of the above mentioned pedals as such. I also noticed this trend while looking at the, Show us your pedal board thread. Alot of newer/boutique stuff out there.

The current market hype/prices would lead you to believe that these "Cult Favorites" are a must have and part of the "guitarist ultimate gig survial kit".

However, this forum has me thinking that in reality, a gigging "dirt box short list" would look something like this..

1. PG Tim/Timmy (pick em)

2. Wampler Ecstasy

3. Fulltone OCD

4. Digitech Bad Monkey

5. Fulltone Fat Boost

What do you guys think?

[telepath]

A Timmy, a TS and a RAT should cover most OD > Rawk requirements I'd guess±

Most decent players could get what they need from that three, and most audiences will tap their feet and nod their head muttering appreciative phrases like 'wow ! - sounds exactly like ____'

I'd guess ;)

[hotrodkid]

Originally Posted by telepath

A Timmy, a TS and a RAT should cover most OD > Rawk requirements I'd guess±

Most decent players could get what they need from that three, and most audiences will tap their feet and nod their head muttering appreciative phrases like 'wow ! - sounds exactly like ____'

I'd guess ;)

I agree. But I'm talking about what guitarist are in reality spending their money on, bringing to gigs and keeping on their pedal boards for extended periods.

[artdecade]

Rat and DOD 250. (Riffing and Leads)

[hotrodkid]

Originally Posted by hotrodkid

However, this forum has me thinking that in reality, a gigging "dirt box short list" would look something like this..

1. PG Tim/Timmy (pick em)

2. Wampler Ecstasy

3. Fulltone OCD

4. Digitech Bad Monkey

5. Fulltone Fat Boost

Btw, I don't mean all of these pedals on the same board. Just that these might be the current top picks out there right now?

[Green Lantern]

TS-808 clone and Big Muff (if that counts). That's enough for me in a live situation where I must pick and choose select gear to bring, but I do like to have other options at hand for recording, to get more variance in my distortion sound from song to song.

[studio1087]

TS-808 style pedal..................... (overdrive)
TS9 style pedal ..........................(boost/overdrive)
Rat or more of a distortion pedal.....(distortion)

[max_twang]

I think you're correct that there's a lot of hype, and that's reflected in the boutique pedals you noticed on other peoples' boards. And I don't mean to take anything away from the boutique pedals either -- I love playing with new toys.

Having said that, my board usually has a BYOC ODII (a hyper-modded TS, with a clean boost), and a fuzz (MXR 108). I also change things up from time to time by rotating in a TS-9 (modded to 808 specs), a Boss BD-2 (used mainly as a cleanish boost) and a Dano TOD (Timmy inspired OD).

I've never played a Rat, Tim/Timmy or an OCD but they're on my list of pedals to try. Never liked the Bad Monkey the few times I tried one (YMMV).

[K Scott]

Originally Posted by Green Lantern

TS-808 clone and Big Muff (if that counts). That's enough for me in a live situation where I must pick and choose select gear to bring, but I do like to have other options at hand for recording, to get more variance in my distortion sound from song to song.

+ 1

My Luther Drive (808 clone) and Little Big Muff get the most use and never come off the board

[gypsyseven]

Maxon OD-808.I don´t need more...

[surfoverb]

rat or ts808 would be all I need. I havent gigged in a while but my set up was always SG>Rat>el84 amp.

Now I have a twin reverb so I use tube screamers, marshall-voiced pedals, and a timmy. But I could do without anything but a ts808.

[MatTele]

MXR Distortion+ has been on my board or in my gig bag since 1988.

[hotrodkid]

Originally Posted by MatTele

MXR Distortion+ has been on my board or in my gig bag since 1988.

Wow. Nice that you stuck to your guns!

I have a 27 year old Ibanez SD9 I recently picked up on my board right now. And I'm loving it! And that's after going through a bunch of newer boutique stuff!! Talk about full circle..

[uriah1]

Yea..length of stay on board...hmm..seem to always have a 808 on the final
leg for leads..no matter what is in front for boosts , overdrives and dirt....
but the longest thing would have to be a tuner...ever since they came out.

[Skotem]

I like the Vox Saturater , it reminds me of an original Rat, but with less of the harshness that makes Proco's Rat less usable.

[Paul in Colorado]

I think all three of my dirt pedals have a Tube Screamer in their DNA.
Barber Direct Drive
BBE Green Screamer (Replaced a TS-5 that I'd had for years)
Zendrive

I also have a pedalboard in the works with an Ibanez Tube King (TK99US) and an MXR Distortion +. I can cover a lot of ground with that.

[sbpark]

Originally Posted by Green Lantern

TS-808 clone and Big Muff (if that counts). That's enough for me in a live situation where I must pick and choose select gear to bring, but I do like to have other options at hand for recording, to get more variance in my distortion sound from song to song.

funny, because this is my thoughts as well. recently scored a Bad Monkey on the cheap so there's my TS clone, and then also have a vintage RAT and just added a Big Muff to the board. thats all i need.

[telepath]

Originally Posted by Skotem

I like the Vox Saturater , it reminds me of an original Rat, but with less of the harshness that makes Proco's Rat less usable.

I like RAT's - any of 'em, though I'm fairly sure that I prefer the re-issue RAT.

Seems less brittle.
Not a popular viewpoint, I accept

[ghall]

Originally Posted by max_twang

my board usually has a BYOC ODII (a hyper-modded TS, with a clean boost)

+1 on the BYOC ODII

[sbpark]

Originally Posted by telepath

I like RAT's - any of 'em, though I'm fairly sure that I prefer the re-issue RAT.

Seems less brittle.
Not a popular viewpoint, I accept

i had never really been a fan of the 'newer' RAT pedals because I have always just used them cranked and wide open. My vintage RAT does sound amazing when cranked, but recently found that it is also such a nice overdrive pedal with transparency at really low gain settings, which is making me also want to give the newer RAT pedals another try. i thought the exact opposite as you though. the older ones, at least to my ears had balls, crunch and umph, while i feel like the newer ones when cranked are more fizzy, metal sounding. The older ones are more hard rock to me, like a cranked JCM800 or something, but now that i am realizing the versatility of these pedals I may give the new ones a shot as well!