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Post by G'OlPeachPhan on Nov 7, 2005 10:45:38 GMT -7
Try the Catalinbread Supercharged Overdrive... I just picked one up used after getting some great advice from a couple cats I trust, and they were right on the money!
The Ghia obviously doesn't need any pedals at all, but I've been searching for a pedal with a great voicing that works to get a little more footstompable versatility in the gain department, and this is IT.
The countour control really helps you shape the response of the pedal to sound great with the Ghia at any setting both on the amp or the pedal... Really compliments the way the Ghia's own tone control is voiced. The way the pedal is designed, it doesn't squish your tone like most OD's and distortions, limiting frequency range and response making your tone smaller.
This pedal also really retains the great reponse of the Ghia... Honestly, I finally feel like I found a dirt pedal that meets all my requirements with the Ghia, with no shortcomings. The Java Boost stays for it's 'almost fuzz' full-range boost mode, but the SCOD takes the drivers seat as all-purpose go-to for more gain/harmonics...
Here is the single best thing about this pedal:
I'm a player that uses the guitar volume knob to control overall gain from the amp... When you step on this pedal, it's just the right amount of gain/harmonics and slight volume increase over where you were at before you stepped on the pedal... So the pedal DOES clean up, but it's dirtier than before you stepped on the pedal no matter where your guitar volume knob is at... This is the first pedal I've ever found that cleans up so proportionately with the volume knob, and still has the overally tonality that I'm looking for in a distortion pedal, and it doesn't squish your tone.
Boosts usually don't squish your tone, which is why I've long preferred the dirty sweet Java Boost, but that pedal cleans up TOO drastically when you roll off the guitar volume knob... This makes for a cool more sparkely present variation on your clean tone (similar to a fuzz face with the volume knob rolled back), but that didn't do me any good when I wanted to step on a pedal for more dirt no matter where my guitar volume knob was... I dig a great boost, and will keep the Java Boost for all of what it does, but I was seeking a pedal that functioned differently than boosts usually do...
Other distortions/overdrives I've tried often had the tonality I wanted, but they didn't retain the Ghia's response/dynamics/feel like I wanted, and often seemed to constrict the Ghia's voice. Some other pedals that I looked to in this category include: keeley rat, keeley bd-2, bjf emerald green distortion machine, bjf baby blue, everman fuzz drive, fulltone distortion pro, visual sound jekyll and hyde, barber burn unit, hao rust driver, tonebone classic, and finally the VERY close MI Audio Blue Boy...
The Blue Boy was ALMOST there, but cleaned up just a hair too much at all points when rolling back the guitar volume. Also, when I'd get to a setting on the pedal that sounded perfect with the guitar volume wide open, it wouldn't sound quite right with the guitar volume rolled off. Conversely, when I got a great sound with the guitar volume rolled off at various points, it didn't sound quite how I wanted it to with the guitar volume wide open. That said, what I was looking for in this light was very specific and subjective, and I could see a lot of people really digging the way the Blue Boy responded in this regard.
The SCOD is just right... FINALLY. I truly feel like the search for added dirt is over, other than for the fun of trying new pedals just to try them. I can't see anything topping this pedal for what I was looking for -- after about almost 3 years of looking for a pedal that functions as I've described, I finally found "the one."
I thought about posting the "Effects" section, but I've only used it with a Ghia so far, and thought it might be a great device to try for all you Ghia fans out there as there are a number of threads in the Ghia forum regarding this topic... OK, gotta go play the axe some more, and then head to the woods for the rest of the day. As always, I'm happy to answer any questions. ;D
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Post by prowler on Nov 7, 2005 11:49:01 GMT -7
I've always been a fan of the Timmy.
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Post by G'OlPeachPhan on Nov 7, 2005 13:39:13 GMT -7
I've always been a fan of the Timmy. OK... ? |
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Post by steveinnashville on Nov 7, 2005 23:07:23 GMT -7
Have you tried a Crowther Audio Hotcake?
It's a pedal that I found to work head and shoulders above many traditionally-favored OD pedals with this amp. Very responsive boost, natural sounding OD. The Presence knob can adjust the "voice" independently from the gain or volume controls. Works well for the very dirty, yet somehow "clean" at the same time sound that is my favorite about the Ghia. Absolutely kills for Allman Brothers sound (my main objective when trying out the ODs). Sound just sings through the Ghia, seems to hit it in all the right places and just works really well with the amp.
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Post by myles on Nov 8, 2005 8:40:35 GMT -7
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Post by G'OlPeachPhan on Nov 8, 2005 11:29:31 GMT -7
I'm really using the SCOD as a true distortion for a pretty over the top sound... sort of like what a Rat pedal could do, but not as harsh or quite as spikey at high gain settings, and a bit more "transparent" (I really hate that cliche). The Ghia can get quite a bit of dirt, especially cranked, but I wanted more gain than it could offer on it's own. Plus I wanted to be able to leave the Ghia running a little bit cleaner on it's own (about 2 o'clock on the volume control instead of turning it up to "11").
So I'm using it as a pretty heavy distortion pedal for rock... I do dig the Allman Brothers, but I find the Ghia can really get to those tones on it's own. I'm using this for heavier, more modern stuff (NOT mid-scooped nu-metal or anything like that) that goes pretty far past the Allman Brothers in terms of gain... Frames of reference for the types of tones I'm talking about would be Foo Fighters, Queens of the Stone Age, Radiohead, Incubus, Stone Temple Pilots, etc. I'm also finding some great Tom Petty and Counting Crows type tones with the guitar volume rolled back as well... though the Ghia is capable of getting to many of those tones on it's own, this adds a particular different flavor that I've been looking for.
I'm finding that the "Contour" knob in function shapes the tone in a somewhat similar fashion to the Ghia's own tone control, though it's much more subtle than the Ghia's. I like that simplicity, and that concept, which is well executed in this pedal to make the sound and feel just right.
I've been curious about the Zen Drive as I've heard a lot of great things about it, but does it really get into the higher gain distortion territory? If it's got a wide range (assume you meant frequency), that's part of what I like about the SCOD as well... very wide range, very open.
I've heard the Hot Cake can get pretty nasty, but that it's best tones lay in using it as more of a boost...
Not saying these aren't great pedals too, I'm just saying it's going to be really hard for me to top the SCOD, as it's exactly what I've been looking for to use with the Ghia based on the types of tones I described above.
Myles & Steve - have you guys tried the SCOD? It sounds like you're both happy with what you've got, so I'd be curious as to how it compares to your favorites.
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Post by G'OlPeachPhan on Nov 8, 2005 13:41:02 GMT -7
By the way, I'm not trying to sound like a know-it-all or the ultimate authority on this topic by any means. I'm just excited about finally settling on another component in my tonal equation that really works for me!
Man would it be fun to get ALL of us here on the Z forum together for a week long Z amp and complimentary accessories taste test and jam... A guy can dream!
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logan
New Member
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Post by logan on Nov 8, 2005 13:43:12 GMT -7
I've always been a fan of the Timmy. OK... ? GOPP--- Whoa, now you're almost republican!?? Anyhow, I tried the timmy with my ghia... it didn't do much for me. True I could boost the ghia and I could change the eq (to thin out the ghia and cut through)... but I can do this with my volume knobs, tone knobs and the ghia's tone control knob. The timmy is just too transparent and the Ghia's natural overdrive is just that good. I think the timmy is probably best used with a slightly cleaner, brighter amp. I could see how it would shine then. I test drove the timmy for 2 weeks before I decided to trade it out. Long story short, I moved on and it won't get you anywhere near the distortion you speak of (at least I don't think so). Although I have used the Addrock Fuzz effectively with the Ghia... the Zendrive is intriguing though.  |
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Post by G'OlPeachPhan on Nov 8, 2005 14:03:48 GMT -7
GOPP--- Whoa, now you're almost republican!?? Anyhow, I tried the timmy with my ghia... it didn't do much for me. True I could boost the ghia and I could change the eq (to thin out the ghia and cut through)... but I can do this with my volume knobs, tone knobs and the ghia's tone control knob. The timmy is just too transparent and the Ghia's natural overdrive is just that good. I think the timmy is probably best used with a slightly cleaner, brighter amp. I could see how it would shine then. I test drove the timmy for 2 weeks before I decided to trade it out. Long story short, I moved on and it won't get you anywhere near the distortion you speak of (at least I don't think so). Although I have used the Addrock Fuzz effectively with the Ghia... the Zendrive is intriguing though. Logan - LOL on the GOPP/Republican joke! ;D That was a good one, and I haven't heard it yet. Right now I'm a Republican, but if we elect a Democrat president, then I'm a Democrat. I always support the president. I find little use for political party's other... Although, if they had a political party that was all about Sportsman's and Musician's best interests, I think I'd be affiliated with that party. How's that for an OT aside?  Thanks for the details on the Timmy in use with the Ghia... That was helpful. I didn't think that pedal was intended to do the same things as the SCOD, but I wasn't sure. That's why I was a little confused. |
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logan
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Post by logan on Nov 9, 2005 7:44:27 GMT -7
Logan - LOL on the GOPP/Republican joke! ;D That was a good one, and I haven't heard it yet. ;D Thanks, I'll be here all week.... |
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Post by stoneystomp on Nov 9, 2005 10:09:01 GMT -7
Glad you're still loving it, Peach..
for those of you that don't know..this gentleman is a true class act..
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Post by steveinnashville on Nov 9, 2005 11:03:01 GMT -7
I haven't tried the SCOD, I didn't see one at the music store that sells boutique stuff that I stop into sometimes. I did just get my ToneFactor Hellbaby boost pedal today, however. I played for a few minutes (loud!), I think I'm going to use it as a clean booster (it boosts the mids some, too) and relegate the Hotcake to an OD boost, and next weekend I'm going to get a Hellbilly, which is like a cross between a fuzz face and rangemaster treble booster, that will probably have to go in front of both of these, at some as of yet undetermined setting...  I didn't turn the Ghia up more than halfway, but when I did, look out! ZZ Top was incarnate in my music room. Only problem is the room! Everything vibrates (no drums, either, just all the other s*** in there!), maybe I need the Auralex pad. Or a baffle in front (the folding kind)... Or a real rehearsal space... I like the Hellbaby so far with the boost kind of low and the volume a couple/few notches higher than unity gain. I don't really ever use the higher gain settings on the Hotcake, unless I just want some drive at the lowest of volumes, but that doesn't really count. They get a little fizzy, but that's probably because the "presence" control sounds best turned up some, but you have to compensate a little as you turn the drive up by turning the presence back down, the "presence"/treble will make the drive's contour seem a bit thin/fizzy (the boys are back in town). Not bad, just not as versatile. I could see it being a very cool sound in some cases, just not something I would leave it on or probably use very much in my playing. I'm really looking forward to trying the Hellbilly, but I had to get the Hellbaby first because there were only about 8 of them left. I will report more, maybe record some samples. |
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Post by Curt on Nov 9, 2005 12:39:29 GMT -7
Hey GOPP ! Slight Hi-Jack here. Curt here in Texas.Howz that Z-Best treatin' ya  I've been away from the board (and music) since mid Sept., made a JOB change after 8 years and been real busy. Did get done in the studio...man does the Ghia do well...it's on EVERY cut....the other cat never even plugged his Bassman in !!! LOL I'm a Tele guy, but my fav tone came from a $340 pawn shop Jimmie Vaughn sig. Strat I bought the day before we went in..after tweakin' pup height etc, straight into the ghia cranked..smokin' The Z-28 is on there a bunch as well. Hope all is well with ya. Curt |
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Post by G'OlPeachPhan on Nov 15, 2005 7:23:34 GMT -7
Thanks Stoney! Right back atcha! steveinnashville - the Hellbilly is VERY cool with the Ghia. I used to have one, now owned by our very own tasweigan. I really dig that pedal... Haven't tried the Hellbaby, but I'll bet that's a sweet booster if it's anything like the quality of the 'billy. Those McBroom/Tonefactor pedals are such a great bang for the buck. Hey Curt! Sounds like a great time in the studio... Those J. Vaughn Strats are great guitars - maybe my favorite Fender Strat I've ever played, though the SRV model I played several years back was very nice too. Glad you got the good tonal mojo working well for you in the studio! Any songs to share via links? I'd love to hear the music. I'm loving the Z-Best - it's by far my favorite cab with the Ghia. Thanks again! Hey, PM me some time and tell me about that new job! OK, sorry folks... back to topic. Still loving the SCOD. Really got it dialed in perfect now with the Ghia. Works great as a more of a boost or mild overdrive as well, but I'm just loving the higher gain tones this thing pushes my Ghia into... I'm using it as kind of a cross between a boost and a distortion in that I've got some good gain dialed in from the pedal, but I've also got the volume up a bit past unity to hit the amp a little harder... Running the Ghia's volume at 2-3 o'clock, this gives me some added versatility - almost like a second channel, but the differences are somewhat more subtle than that. Albeit on different settings, it sounds great through my Lovepedal 1/2 watt Vintage amp too. This thing may very well be my "desert island dirt pedal." |
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Post by steveinnashville on Nov 15, 2005 13:53:47 GMT -7
I've really liked the Hellbaby, it should provide a good contrast to the Hellbilly, as it definitely boosts the mids a bit more, whereas the Hellbilly will let me boost a favored range. I ordered the Hellbilly yesterday, hopefully it will have the limited copper finish, but that's not really important. I've got a clean sound with a CompROSSor going in parallel to my dirty sound, I might move the Hotcake to that side, as it's the most transparent clean boost I have currently (adjustable mids with presence knob) and just leave the dirty side to the Hellbaby and Hellbilly (not in that order, probably). It should make for an interesting sound to be running both of those sides in parallel into the front end of the Ghia! I'm dangerously close to having everything running at the same time, at which point I will try and post some media/reviews. |
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Post by myles on Nov 17, 2005 13:37:12 GMT -7
I've really liked the Hellbaby, it should provide a good contrast to the Hellbilly, as it definitely boosts the mids a bit more, whereas the Hellbilly will let me boost a favored range. I ordered the Hellbilly yesterday, hopefully it will have the limited copper finish, but that's not really important. I've got a clean sound with a CompROSSor going in parallel to my dirty sound, I might move the Hotcake to that side, as it's the most transparent clean boost I have currently (adjustable mids with presence knob) and just leave the dirty side to the Hellbaby and Hellbilly (not in that order, probably). It should make for an interesting sound to be running both of those sides in parallel into the front end of the Ghia! I'm dangerously close to having everything running at the same time, at which point I will try and post some media/reviews. I just gave you a karma point just because you are from Nashville. I work with a lot of Nashville folks and they are ALL great ... every single one of them. Now the folks from my neck of the concrete ... Los Angeles .... well, a lot of them are great folks but there are many that know three power chords, only play downstrokes, start at 110dB and end at 110dB and profess their great guitar skills to anybody that will listen |
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