Bright, glassy OD/distortion pedal recommendations, please

[D_Malone]

I like bright, glassy dirt pedals. A lot of pedals can be plenty bright if you turn up the tone/treble, but more often than not you just end up with a harsh, fizzy sound. I want clarity, bite, and kerrrrang. I’m looking for bright and glassy (OD or distortion, not fuzz) but in a pleasing way. I realize this is subjective, but just to give you an idea of what I’m after, here are some that have worked well for me;

-DOD Carcosa. It is a fuzz pedal capable of some gnarly tones, but I dial it in more like a distortion. I absolutely love the high end this pedal delivers. It cuts like a knife in a very musical way IMO. The downside is the clean-up with the guitar volume is not great. It’s still one of my favorites, and its high end response is what I’m looking for in other pedals.

-ZVEX Distortron/BoR.

-Timmy

-EQD Plumes

-Vahlbruch Kaluna

If you have experience with the above, especially the Carcosa, you’ll know what I’m after. Thanks!

 

[northernguitar]

While not technically an OD, a treble booster sure acts like one. Mine is a simple Rangemaster clone with a germanium chip. I like it into a highly overdriven tube amp or muff-fuzz. It’s the secret sauce to Tony Iommi, Glenn Tipton and Brian May’s tone.

 

[Vibro Chimp]

The Joyo American Sound, used as an overdrive in front of an amp, is very bright and glassy. The only issue is that it is a bit noisy if you crank the gain past 2:00.

 

[D_Malone]

While not technically an OD, a treble booster sure acts like one. Mine is a simple Rangemaster clone with a germanium chip. I like it into a highly overdriven tube amp or muff-fuzz. It’s the secret sauce to Tony Iommi, Glenn Tipton and Brian May’s tone.

Thanks. I should have mentioned that I use a Catalinbread Naga Viper. It’s a staple on my board, but if the dirt pedal it’s pushing has a nasty, fizzy high end then it’s pointless.

 

[Killing Floor]

What @northernguitar said. Try a treble boost like a Rangemaster. Or I personally use a WestCo Silver Spur when I need it.
I also have Ground Control’s Amaterasu which is equally great.

Or a Durham Sex Drive. More full range. Mine is “always on” on my board.

 

[blowtorch]

If there are recorded examples of bands/songs with the sounds/toanz you would like to approximate, hit us with a yootoob

also thanks again for turning me onto the Vahlbruch Kaluna. that one's really something

 

[tlsmack]

I wonder if the DOD Looking Glass might be in your wheelhouse.

 

[Lies&Distortion]

EQD Special Cranker?

 

[Cosmic Cowboy]

 

[northernguitar]

Thanks. I should have mentioned that I use a Catalinbread Naga Viper. It’s a staple on my board, but if the dirt pedal it’s pushing has a nasty, fizzy high end then it’s pointless.

Try that baby with a muff-fuzz. I use my clone with a Russian muff and the result is a very musical distortion. I also use it with a Sunn amp in a pedal and the result is pleasingly ferocious.

 

[D_Malone]

I’ve heard the Looking Glass has a nice bright high end. I might have to grab one. Thanks all.

 

[D_Malone]

Try that baby with a muff-fuzz. I use my clone with a Russian muff and the result is a very musical distortion. I also use it with a Sunn amp in a pedal and the result is pleasingly ferocious.

Oh I have, and it’s great. I pretty much have the Naga Viper on any time I’m using a dirt pedal. Sorry I didn’t mention that in the OP.

 

[kevsonic]

Lovepedal Kalamazoo scratches that itch for me!

 

[uriah1]

Greer light speed.

 

[bluesholyman]

Not a fan of harsh and fizzy, but love the bite and clarity you talk about. Here are ones I currently use I think worth considering:

Menatone Red Snapper - more open, less compressed.
Free The Tone String Slinger - more compression than MRS, but plenty of clarity.
Barber Small Fry (anything Barber really, based on what I've read.)
Greer Lightspeed.

 

[Kingpin]

I'll second the Menatone Red Snapper.

 

[rdjones]

 

[Jared Purdy]

I like bright, glassy dirt pedals. A lot of pedals can be plenty bright if you turn up the tone/treble, but more often than not you just end up with a harsh, fizzy sound. I want clarity, bite, and kerrrrang. I’m looking for bright and glassy (OD or distortion, not fuzz) but in a pleasing way. I realize this is subjective, but just to give you an idea of what I’m after, here are some that have worked well for me;

-DOD Carcosa. It is a fuzz pedal capable of some gnarly tones, but I dial it in more like a distortion. I absolutely love the high end this pedal delivers. It cuts like a knife in a very musical way IMO. The downside is the clean-up with the guitar volume is not great. It’s still one of my favorites, and its high end response is what I’m looking for in other pedals.

-ZVEX Distortron/BoR.

-Timmy

-EQD Plumes

-Vahlbruch Kaluna

If you have experience with the above, especially the Carcosa, you’ll know what I’m after. Thanks!

I found the Demon Pedals "Kondo Shifuku" D-Style pedal fits that bill. Very high quality, hand wired build.

 

[richiek65]

I wonder if the DOD Looking Glass might be in your wheelhouse.

Amazing pedal

 

[mjcyates]

The first blues breaker circuit that I built was this:

Mashall BluesBreaker | General Guitar Gadgets

www.generalguitargadgets.com

It definitely had a "glassy" character to it, more so than any other overdrive I have tried.