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Post by quinto on Jun 17, 2006 11:33:06 GMT -7
I'm using an OCD right now. Have used Jekyll&Hyde, Tonebone, and a few others. None of these quite do it for me. So, what do you like?
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Post by texblooz on Jun 17, 2006 13:05:30 GMT -7
I tried several with my Maz 18, including FT Distortion Pro, Tonebone Brit and MXR Wylde, but didn't like any of them nearly as much as the amp's natural distortion with volume up around 3. For a little xtra kick, I am using a Maxon CP 101 compressor. All my other distortion pedals are going up on the 'bay. ;D PM me if interested
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Post by southpawtone on Jun 17, 2006 14:50:35 GMT -7
Currently, i am using a Menatone Red Snapper as a boost/slight overdrive, and for full on overdrive/lead stuff i kick in a Maxon OD820 Overdrive Pro. Both are fantastic pedals, quiet, and transparent.........though the Red Snapper is more transparent as well as ballsier and has more amp-like qualities to its tone. I know a lot of people here recommend the Xotic boost pedals, those are pretty cool too. In any case, you cant go wrong with Menatone, Keeley, Xotic, Analogman, etc. There are so many great choices these days.
Luke
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Post by LeftyLang on Jun 17, 2006 22:16:30 GMT -7
I'm using an OCD right now. Have used Jekyll&Hyde, Tonebone, and a few others. None of these quite do it for me. So, what do you like? I am using the OCD on the HP mode. What do you not like about it??
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Post by quinto on Jun 17, 2006 22:41:43 GMT -7
I like it pretty well, but sometimes I seems maybe a little buzzy. Not very much but just a bit. Perhaps I'm just looking for someone to talk me into, or out of keeping it if you know what I mean.
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Post by LeftyLang on Jun 17, 2006 22:53:53 GMT -7
I find with the OCD..you have to run the tone at 9 oclock or less to make it sound good.
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Post by cheycaster on Jun 18, 2006 6:16:21 GMT -7
Latley I have been using an Xotic BB up front and an Xotic RC at the end of the chain with a borrowed OCD in the middle for lead boosts and I think it works really well for that. I'm using it in the LP mode like that but I use it in the HP mode for sitting back watching the tube playing with a Roland JC77 2x10 amp for some really great sweet sounding Strat blues on the cleaner side. The Roland amp dont do smokin' blues for nothing but with the OCD in there it really is impressive, it makes the Roland come alive and fatten up big time. I have fooled every friend I have called on the phone asking them "what amp am I playing this time?" they all guess wrong. I just may may get an OCD yet for myself.
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Post by billyguitar on Jun 18, 2006 8:00:52 GMT -7
I like the clean sound of all those little Rolands like that. One man's sterile is another man's pristine. If anyone ever wants to improve their playing play a good clean amp for 6 months. Most guys won't do it. I played for 5 years with an Evans amp and it really turned my head around. I'll never sell that amp and as a matter of fact I really want one of the new designs with a tube preamp. The tubes are for tone not distortion. For a little o/d these clean amps love a good pedal and a little compression. I actually used to get more "what amp is that?" questions when I used the Evans than I do with the Z! There I go off-threading AGAIN! I'm the worst! SORRY!
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Post by jzguitar on Jun 19, 2006 1:45:31 GMT -7
I've had good luck with the MI Crunch Box and the Xotic BB Preamp. A Timmy stacked into a Zendrive sounds really nice, too.
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Post by jatmosphere on Jun 19, 2006 6:15:02 GMT -7
been using early versions of the Menatone Red Snapper and Blue Coller for 9 years, and both are really awesome. I keep the RS on all the time as a buffer/pre booster, post wah-wah to shape the amp tone and give life back to the pups through pedals, then into an old MXR Dyna Comp for twang and sustain boost, then an Xotics RC booster for low gain stuff and the BC for heavier gain stuff. adding the DC to either when needed for "that push over the cliff".
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Post by guitarman1 on Jun 19, 2006 6:53:03 GMT -7
Barber Custom Shop LTD for dirt and 4 knob Menatone Blue Collar or Stampede SOV-1 for heavier OD.
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Post by countrybilly83 (Ty) on Jun 19, 2006 9:29:41 GMT -7
I just started using a Keeley DS-1 for the hi-gain sort of sound and it works great, still need to tweek something with it for the right tone for live playing. Before that I was just using a Marshall Bluesbreaker II, by itself or with my Keeley TS-9 at the same time.
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Post by Lefty on Jun 19, 2006 11:33:54 GMT -7
I picked up a Keeley DS-1 this weekend and have been comparing it to the AM DS-1. They are pretty much night and day, but the Keeley is a little more transparent/new schoolish and the AM is a little bit more midrangey/old school. Still trying to get my head around the Keeley a bit though.
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Post by 6strang (aka Paul) on Jun 19, 2006 13:31:49 GMT -7
+1 on the MI Audio for heavier tones. The Timmy and the Zendrive stacked does sound great too. I also have a BB Preamp that works good with the Timmy as well! A lot of OD options for sure! 6strang
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Post by countrybilly83 (Ty) on Jun 19, 2006 17:15:01 GMT -7
I picked up a Keeley DS-1 this weekend and have been comparing it to the AM DS-1. They are pretty much night and day, but the Keeley is a little more transparent/new schoolish and the AM is a little bit more midrangey/old school. Still trying to get my head around the Keeley a bit though. Lefty, that a really good description of the Keeley DS-1, thats the main reason I got it, to see if it could cover the Marshall/Mesa hi-gain territory. Working with the Maz Jr, it comes pretty close but still needs some tweeking. Its pry just my playing abilites. lol
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Post by quinto on Jun 19, 2006 18:42:22 GMT -7
That MI Audio Crunch Box looks pretty cool. There is a local store selling them so I must go and see...
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Post by rodeoclown on Jun 19, 2006 20:06:56 GMT -7
I LOVE my 4 knobber Hermida Mosferatu!
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Post by skydog958 on Jun 20, 2006 19:00:17 GMT -7
I have an older MI Audio Crunch Box and I like it. It's my main live sound right now, because I need the heavier distortion, but I find it a bit noisy. Anyone else notice that? And does anyone know if they are true bypass?
I also own a BB and I love it, but its better for lead than heavy rhythm to me. I use the BB and Crunch Box for different flavors of high gain.
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Post by real oldster on Jun 20, 2006 23:32:38 GMT -7
While the Legendary SquishTone remains in development I rely on my Danelectro Fab Distortion. It's the little blue pill for guitars!
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Post by 6strang (aka Paul) on Jun 21, 2006 8:57:53 GMT -7
Roger that Skydog. I do the same thing. I was told the pedal was true bypass...and I am under the impression that it is? Anyone else? 6strang
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Post by bks on Jun 21, 2006 14:36:26 GMT -7
Hot Cake.
Thick and gooey.
Got a "regular" one and a "Bluesberry" that's a bit more mellow. Regular does the crunch, Bluesberry does a little edge. Both at the same time gets close to out of control, when the mood's right...
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Post by quinto on Jun 21, 2006 19:28:23 GMT -7
Tried the Crunch Box. I like the OCD better. I even tried it with a Matchless amp(the model escapes me). On to the Xotic dealer.
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Post by garyh on Jun 24, 2006 9:42:39 GMT -7
I'm using an HBE Power Screamer. It has what I was looking for. I wanted a distortion pedal to fatten up my bridge pickup on my strat. Took home a Diamond Fireburst and the Tonebone Hot British. Both were close but I found even the minimum settings too much for my taste. I bought the HBE on ebay wihout trying one and lucked out. It sounds a lot like a distortion pedal rather than an overdrive and I can dial the gain down or up and has other cool features. I still like my Boss OD-3 on my neck pickup though. The OD-3 is more transparent and crunchy while the Power Screamer has that smooth overdrive, tight, slightly compressed sound. The combination works well; gives me a lot of variability, they stack well and adding my compressor to the mix gives me more options. I also have an HBE Germania (rangemaster clone) which is not on my board right now but it really knocks things up another notch in front of the overdrives in full boost mode. I was lusting after a Zendive and a BB preamp and maybe a Timmy but I'm pretty happy right now with these toys.
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Post by tjstrat on Jun 24, 2006 10:11:49 GMT -7
The Power Screamer goosing the OCD for a real power boost kills too (I know, this sounds like I'm making it up...). I have a fat modded, Brown chip PS in front of my OCD. The OCD can be dialed back to a near sparkley clean setting using the volume on my guitars, dialed up to a pretty good crunch tone, and then into a very fat Trower-y saturation and infinite sustain with the first channel of the PS. This works great with a Ghia set either spanky, or cranked and attenuated.
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Post by quinto on Jun 24, 2006 17:21:58 GMT -7
Well I went out and bought a BB Booster. Got it home and it is pretty transparent, but it doesn't have as much gain as my OCD did. My Keeley Blues Driver has a little more gain than the BB. It's going back tomorrow. I think I will give the Crunch Box another try, but on my rig this time.
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Post by (8^D) on Jun 25, 2006 20:02:56 GMT -7
Quinto-
You might look into a Barber Direct Drive. Base design, it's like a transparent tube screamer if that makes sense...has the smooth TS OD character w/o the mid boost (keeps the original guitar tone).
HOWEVER, there is a harmonic mid boost on the pedal that just kills! Pull it up and the pedal goes into a killer high-gain character...controls really allow a lot (A LOT) of flexibility. With the one pedal, you can go from a light country kind of transparent grit to a smokey blues to that early Eddie VH brown sound, high-gain Marshall sounds. Loves every amp I've tried it with (AC30, Maz Jr, Rt66, Mesa DC3, Matchless DC3).
Right now I'm using the OCD or Keeley BD-2 for light-gain, Keeley TS9 or DS-1 for med-gain and the DD for high-gain.
Quiet pedal.
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Post by texblooz on Jun 26, 2006 12:38:38 GMT -7
I am using an AC Booster with the gain at halfway and treble boosted just a hair. The AC is is just enough to thicken your tone and let some harmonics pop out without too much coloration. Definitely worth a try if you play classic rock and blues.
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Post by skydog958 on Jun 26, 2006 13:08:43 GMT -7
Quinto
You probably noticed the same thing I did with the BB. It has gain, but there is a softness to the tone, like tube sag in a way. Even when you whack up the gain, it still isn't bonecrushing, althought it will cause serious feedback. The CB has a similarly flavored tone but with that extra grit and grind that is not on the BB. I like the BB for bluesy stuff myself.
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Post by Curt on Jun 26, 2006 13:14:44 GMT -7
Keeley BD-2 followed with an RC booster is enuf fer me.
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Post by janinedoubly on Jun 26, 2006 21:39:01 GMT -7
My vote for a good "Marshall stack ina box" is the Keeley DS-1 Ultra mod. Its got a nice Silver Jubilee voice to it with the tone control down low. If its not enough gain, boost its front end with a Katana Boost.
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