Not harsh distortion pedal

[2804Penn]

Help me out folks, researching distortion pedals is not my forte’, not really a fan, but when playing cover tunes, one has to be a chameleon.

Current band has me revisiting some 80-90’s rock tunes. Ive been pretty much a country chicken picker the last 10 years. I play a Tele/strat through a DRRI, mainly clean with a touch of amp breakup, but sometimes with a very mild overdrive (caline pure sky) and compression. However this doesn’t get that rock sound I seek. What is a cheap non-harsh distortion for something like the solo’s on “every rose has its thorn”? Lol

 

[Hoodster]

Mooer Black Secret on Turbo mode.

 

[Rich_S]

Ha. I was going to say Rat. Same difference.

 

[hopdybob]

if i may believe my Nux MG300 modeler the JHS morning glory could be in your ballpark

 

[NoTeleBob]

First, I'd suggest never, ever playing "Every Rose Has Its Thorn”. Good gawd, man!

But to get that sound, get a TS909 and drive it with the Caline. Humbuckers would help.

 

[stormsedge]

Rat.

 

[cyclopean]

Distortion + is a very 80s sounding distortion too. Both Bob Mould and Randy Rhodes used one.

 

[JohnnyThul]

I would try a Fulltone Plimsoul. Can be set very smooth, or harsh and everything in between.
I used one for quite some time with a PRRI and it could nearly get me liquid gain sounds .
The blend pot for hard to soft clip makes it really very versatile.

 

[D_Malone]

I would try a Fulltone Plimsoul. Can be set very smooth, or harsh and everything in between.
I used one for quite some time with a PRRI and it could nearly get me liquid gain sounds .
The blend pot for hard to soft clip makes it really very versatile.

I’ve never tried the newer version, but I had the original for years and loved it. I think it was misunderstood, and overshadowed by the OCD. It is a fantastic dirt pedal, and a good recommendation.

 

[sinecrafter]

What is a cheap non-harsh distortion

I'd say that's something of an oxymoron, but actually, the RAT circuit is pretty good at not being too harsh at lower gain settings. Top of my pedal acquisition list is a tc electronic Magus Pro. I intend to remove the silicon clipping diodes (the Classic mode), which is my preferred RAT sound, but I'll leave the LED (Turbo RAT mode) diodes in there, which is my second most favorite RAT sound.

And the RAT is, of course, one of the most prevalent distortion pedals of the 1980s era.

 

[northernguitar]

Another vote for a used Fulltone Plimsoul. Or a Wampler Pinnacle Deluxe.

 

[2804Penn]

First, I'd suggest never, ever playing "Every Rose Has Its Thorn”. Good gawd, man!

But to get that sound, get a TS909 and drive it with the Caline. Humbuckers would help.

I think this is the best advice! It’s really painful re-visiting some of this 80-90’s stuff. A few hidden gems that I forgot about, but mostly…ehhh

So I am just turning up the gain setting all the way on the caline, and it’s good enough. I really like a minimal board.

The other effect I dislike from the 90’s is chorus. But some of these tunes require it, so a chorus pedal might end up eating the one open slot on my board.

Band prior to this was pretty much a Waylon tribute band, easy-peasy, Caline + Phaser + slight compression, all that was needed

 

[BelindasShadow]

MXR Super Badass Distortion will do almost everything you want if you fiddle with the knobs a bit, it's amazing.

 

[mambosun]

The best OD I could recommend is the barber Direct Drive v4 I currently use. Fat and dynamic OD for riff and solo with plenty of tone shaping options.
It's not dead cheap but for me it's a good investment as I don't need to upgrade or change for another one and will keep it on my board for many years.