Overdrive Pedal Selection - Your Criteria?

[patrickgm60]

Slimming down, want to go with only overdrive, wah, tuner, and, perhaps compression. Starting over, as to overdrives and am curious, as to what some of you look/listen for, if you were looking to go with only one. I do know one criteria is that it needs to be able to dial back to very subtle OD.

Thoughts? Suggestions? Thanks.

[blue]

I firmly believe you don't need anything more than a Boss SD-1 which is one of mildest and least expensive quality pedals out there. Here's a cool comparison between the SD-1, the Bad Monkey, and the Klon. The dude is very balanced in his analysis. There are of course advantages to each of them.

[muscmp]

that's slimming down?

as far as overdrive, i prefer the fulltone fulldrive 3. best one i've found.
play music!

[Graeme]

My fav is the Carl Martin Hot Drive 'N Boost MK3. The only Overdrive pedal i use. it also has a boost facility which is brilliant for solo's

[jim1960]

Originally Posted by patrickgm60

I do know one criteria is that it needs to be able to dial back to very subtle OD.

That was my only criteria when I was selecting an OD pedal. After much research and trying out a bunch of pedals, the one that really fit the bill was the Hermida Zendrive.

[jricc]

My personal criteria for an overdrive is to be able to turn the Drive down to get a semi clean boost. I think the Electro Harmonix Soul Food (a supposed Klon clone) is a great bang for the buck overdrive, and it does a pretty good high gain thing too. Around $70.

[dmbfan32]

My 2 favorite & both on my board are my Boss BD-2 and an Ibanez TS-9. The TS9 gives more of a warmer OD sound (goes great with my Strat), while the BD-2 gives a good crunch with my LP.

[blue]

Originally Posted by dmbfan32

My 2 favorite & both on my board are my Boss BD-2 and an Ibanez TS-9. The TS9 gives more of a warmer OD sound (goes great with my Strat), while the BD-2 gives a good crunch with my LP.

Very good point on humbuckers vs. single coils. My SD-1 is the only one I like on my single coils, but is also great on humbuckers.

But while I can use my MXR distortionIII/Classic Overdrive (same pedal as far as I can hear) on humbucker guitars, I really don't like it on my single coils, which are my primary guitars.

[redir]

Sounds to me as though you want a TS9. The TS9 is mild compared to the next gen OD's that all pretty much mimic the TS9 but with extras. The TS9 with a good tube amp will retain your playing technique and push the amp just enough to over drive while retaining your guitars tone.

I've had many OD's in the last 25 years and finally got a vintage TS9 about a year ago and wondered why I never got one sooner. But like anything in guitar tone you have to find what you like best and it's really trial and error.

[J Patrick]

...i've owned at least 30 overdrives...many of the spendy ones by some great pedal makers...when i decided to go with just a single do it all OD on my board the Barber Gain Changer made the final cut...check one out...

http://www.barberelectronics.com/gainchanger.html

[patrickgm60]

Thanks for all the replies.

I forgot about the SD-1. Had one, many years ago; was looking for fuzz, rather than OD, so it wasn't a fit; need to revisit.

The TS just doesn't do it, for me; I've tried standard and modified ones.

Haven't heard of the Klon, ZenDrive, MK3, or the Barber; will see what I can find, online, as to samples.

Yesterday, was able to borrow from a friend who as gone the Line 6 Variax route, a: Fulltone Fulldrive 2, MI Tube Zone, and a Fulltone OCD. Those 3 should keep me occupied, for a while.

I play mainly a Strat, and I know what I'm listening/looking for. Will report back, even if no one cares. : )

[jricc]

Originally Posted by patrickgm60

Thanks for all the replies.

I forgot about the SD-1. Had one, many years ago; was looking for fuzz, rather than OD, so it wasn't a fit; need to revisit.

The TS just doesn't do it, for me; I've tried standard and modified ones.

Haven't heard of the Klon, ZenDrive, MK3, or the Barber; will see what I can find, online, as to samples.

Yesterday, was able to borrow from a friend who as gone the Line 6 Variax route, a: Fulltone Fulldrive 2, MI Tube Zone, and a Fulltone OCD. Those 3 should keep me occupied, for a while.

I play mainly a Strat, and I know what I'm listening/looking for. Will report back, even if no one cares. : )

I've owned about 15 different overdrive or distortion pedals and most of them sound fizzy (not fuzzy) to me. That thin, distorted sound, I'm just not crazy about. BTW, The Klon is crazy expensive.

[patrickgm60]

Originally Posted by jricc

That thin, distorted sound, I'm just not crazy about. BTW, The Klon is crazy expensive.

Same here. Tests for me include subtlety (starting at clean, then slight saturation) and the nature of the pickup positions still being heard.

I'll check out the Soul Food; thanks.

[iim7V7IM7]

My criteria:

- It depends on the type of guitar and pick-up type (single coil, P-90 or Humbucker)
- It depends on the tube amplifier circuit type EQ (Blackface, Tweed/Marshall)
- Depending on above, some pedals work better for me than others
- I always look for touch sensitivity in an OD

Some OD pedals that I like that can work with all of the above are:

- Analogman King of Tone v4
- Maxon OD-820
- Menatone Red Snapper
- Xotic Effects RC Booster

[catdaddy]

If you're looking for versatility check out the Carl Martin DC Drive. It's an OD pedal with switchable Fat/Regular drive control, a foot pedal clean boost and bypass, as well as tone, level, drive, boost knob controls. I've found the clean boost with level control to be ideal in pushing an amp from just on the edge of breakup to overdrive in a way that is perfect. I seldom use the drive functions of the pedal and let the boost allow the amp to do the work.

Here's a demo: