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Post by redzsrock on Jun 12, 2022 20:07:07 GMT -7
Just curious…. What is your process for dialing on a new overdrive pedal? Also, how hot do you run your OD’s? Gentle nudge to volume, or a big boost?
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Post by premiumplus (Dave) on Jun 13, 2022 1:06:39 GMT -7
For me it depends on the amp/pedal combination. Either way, I try to get a meatier more focused tone and a boost in volume. If the amp is already gained up it needs a much harder boost to get more volume. Cleaner amps need dirtier pedals and dirtier amps need more of a boost, not more distortion. My $.02
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Post by detuned on Jun 13, 2022 7:57:05 GMT -7
I like to experiment with the extreme settings of each knob to try and get a feel for what I can get out of the pedal. Then you can adjust to taste.My amps are generally set with as much gain as I can get away with *without* breaking up - but my style (such as it is) is based around funk and soul rhythm playing, so I'm not an "edge of breakup" guy. As such, my pedals are generally set grainy-er than most since they're not pushing the amp for dirt.
If there's a decent sound person, I'll keep my levels uniform to keep them happy in front of house, but if there's no sound person or someone with less ability, I'll have one OD set a little over unity gain to make sure my solo gets heard.
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Post by loucardguitar (Johnathan) on Jun 13, 2022 15:56:41 GMT -7
Just a little background for me. More often I have my amp set, clean-ish and use pedals for my dirt. When I get a new dirt pedal, which I do have a few... ;-) The first thing I usually do is try to get an idea of where unity is on the level knob. I have usually found that most OD pedals like to be at unity or just past. Afterward, I try to get an idea of the range of the other knobs and try to find the sweet spot. I have found that most pedals have at least one sound that they are excellent at. Some have quite a few. Then from there just determine if it has a sound that I want or not at the current time. On a pedal board I usually like to have at least one fuzz, a lighter OD that's almost set up as a boost, then more of a medium OD. Then I have the lighter OD going into the medium OD to juice the gain on it. That usually gets me most of the sounds I want. I also like to have my lighter OD pushing the amp a bit when I use my fuzz.
But short story though I would say find unity first, then find the sounds that the OD is really good at by playing around with the knobs. See how bright or how dark the tone knob is. See how the knobs interact with each other. In other words, just get to know the pedal, then it will be easy to dial in a good tone on it.
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Post by "Z" Steve on Jun 13, 2022 17:52:12 GMT -7
I've learned the hard way to try any new OD pedal at live gig volume. I haven't played too many loud gigs over the recent years so a lot of pedals I purchased because of demos I've watched don't work out for me. The handfull I still have sound great at the lower volume as well as the loud volume (but even better).
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Post by doctorice on Jun 14, 2022 10:52:03 GMT -7
I've learned the hard way to try any new OD pedal at live gig volume. I find this applies to my entire rig. Playing at volume (sound pressure level, not the knob with that label) changes everything. One tip about setup I found really helpful was something from Steve Kimock. Matt Schofield does something similar and has demoed it on an episode of That Pedal Show. Here's the thread that includes Kimock's method link; it's near the bottom. I find it works pretty well for OD pedals as well as amps.
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Post by Chilly Gibbons (Todd T.) on Jun 14, 2022 13:38:37 GMT -7
For me it’s easy. I plug it in hoping I’ve finally found the “it” pedal. Switch it on, fiddle with it for awhile, realize it’s clipping off the highs and lows then unplug and into the drawer it goes, not to be seen for awhile. Rinse, repeat.
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Post by KeithA on Jun 14, 2022 14:43:02 GMT -7
For me it’s easy. I plug it in hoping I’ve finally found the “it” pedal. Switch it on, fiddle with it for awhile, realize it’s clipping off the highs and lows then unplug and into the drawer it goes, not to be seen for awhile. Rinse, repeat. Lol….this is almost a better truth than red tolex winning/leading the favourite cabinet colour poll 🤣
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Post by helmi on Jun 14, 2022 17:00:07 GMT -7
For me it’s easy. I plug it in hoping I’ve finally found the “it” pedal. Switch it on, fiddle with it for awhile, realize it’s clipping off the highs and lows then unplug and into the drawer it goes, not to be seen for awhile. Rinse, repeat. Lol….this is almost a better truth than red tolex winning/leading the favourite cabinet colour poll 🤣 I don’t know which one of your guys post is funnier!
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