Greatest Distortion

[MTM105]

A terribly subjective poll.

I have Boss ME 50 multi effects and I find myself tapping into other distortions, rather than actually playing.

I had an Ibanez Fat Cat during the 90's and used that exclusively, so I lean towards the Rat sound. But the Guvner is really good also.

My apologies if your obivous choice isn't listed.

[Punkavenger]

I like my Blues driver ... but thats probaly because there is no gain knob on my champ!

I do have a great RAT pedal from the 80's ...

I was told this model is the "good" one

$100.00 if you're interested ... I payed more than that for it

[Guest pirateflynn]

Right now I'm plugging straight into my Blockhead Firstborn with the volume at around 6. Great natural tube saturation but sometimes I use a P.E.I. Germ pedal for the boost.

[Hamer95USA]

Hey guys,

I own an Analogman SD-1/808 modded pedal, an Analogman DS-1 Super modded pedal and a Keeley BD-2 Phat mod pedal. I used to use them along with my H&K Tubeman preamp pedal. Now I hardly use any of them except the BD-2 Phat mod pedal for a clean boost. The DS-1 Super mod I've had forever and it will stay in the collection. I'll probably use them again if I have to use a tube amp that is totally clean and needs overdrive/distortion pedals. At this point, I have a decent collection of amps so I won't be using or borrowing anyone else's amp.

I mostly use my modded ADA MP-1 preamps (3TM & Mod 4 MarkII), the Marshall 6101 1x12 combo, the Omega Amps modded Hot Rod Deluxe or the Rocktron Vendetta (modded by Bruce Egnater, thanks Kurtsstuff!!). The best overdrive sounds, IMHO, comes from tubes being pushed hard. I've gone down the road of the clean amp being slammed with overdrive/distortion pedals and I've found myself dissatisfied with that tone. If it works for other people, that's cool.

Guitar George

[princeofdarkness56]

I go for the inexpensive stuff. My two favorites are the Dano Black Paisley Liquid Metal, which is built like a tank, and for my Vector with EMG's, I like the Rocktron Zombie.

[savethematches]

I voted Rat since I used to have the dual rack mount unit. If I could vote for a second one, I'd pick the Guvner, the original black one. My brother still has his and it rocks.

[Submariner85]

RAT

[DavidE]

I bought a RAT new in the 80's. Smaller box, no LED. Still have it. Hated it for years. It's the perfect box for my Naylor and what I went to 80% of the gig last weekend and will probably do the same this weekend.

But I think it all depends on the amp. Give me a Fulldrive II with a Fender or almost anything else.

My Tim and Timmy are also fantastic, but somewhat different.

[raymund]

I love my MI Audio Tube Zone and Blues Pro as well as my Tech 21 Sans Amp GT-2 and my 70ies Ibanez OD-855 Overdrive (the daddy of the Tubescreamer)

[tomteriffic]

I mostly turn the amp up too damn loud these days, but I've tried almost all of the more common types of buzzbox out there. Faves: The original Rat, but it's finicky, Univox Super Fuzz (from the late '60's), Digitech Bad Monkey is a pleasant suprise, Keeley modded TS-9 (but it took him a couple of tries to get it where I wanted it, Tech 21 stuff and the XXL in particular is relentless and the Double Drive is uncommonly flexible and ballsy, and the Dano FabTone. The Visual Sound Route 66 and Jeckyll and Hyde would make it on to my pedalboard if I was in the market right now.

I never met up with an original Guv'nor. I wouldn't nmind giving one a spin.

Mike Lee's Fulldrive 2 was a lesson in flexibility and subtlety. There was one setting there (I think the one with the compression dialed out of the circuit) that was just yummy.

Edit to add that I have a black and yellow Tube Driver that, when placed in front of a crappy little SS practice amp, and just *barely* cracked open on the drive knob, does a great job of turning the crappy little amp into a Blackface Fender. Little-known trick, that.

[kanegon]

I used to hate tube screamers cause I thought they sounded shrill and boxy. But I did a mix the other day with the Studio through a friend's Deluxe using a Nobles ODR... I was surprised how much character it added to our setup; bottom, treble and I dunno whatchacallit - color? to the middle. Just more room to maneuver in general.

I'd say use'em both and see how it works, especially when everyone else is cranked. Can't say I've used them all, but I recently returned an OCD.

[BLuesBuster]

The sound of a distortion box depends in great measure on the guitar and the amp. I found that different boxes change character if I switch amps or guitars (or both). For my ears the Tech21 stuff matches Fender and some Mesa amps and are ballsier with humbuckers but fine with single coils too. The Rat was made for Marshalls and humbuckers. The Fuzzface... I'm not sure what that works with. Boss and EH can be buzzy and thin.

Usually I plug in the Rat and/or XXL

[wyldbil]

The natural high gain from my 5150 gets me there and I do mean all the way there. For such a (relatively) inexpensive piece of gear, it sure did solve my problems!

[mudshark]

Voted RAT from choices on list, but I've used the same stock TS9 for a lot of years and it's my favorite.

[Brewmaster]

For distortion I have a Fulltone Distortion Pro and a newer OCD pedal. I use the OCD more .

For OD I have a Kelley TS-9 and Blues Driver, Menatone Blue Collar, and Foxy Brown pedal. I'm keeping the TS_9 because it works well with my RI Tweed Bassman. The Foxy Brown is a GREAT pedal with all of my guitars and amps as is the Blue Collar. The Foxy Brown is supposed to emulate the OD of an 18 watt Marshall but I don't think it does, at least not with my gear. Plexiesque and Marshally I guess you could say but a very unique sound IMHO. The Blue Collar is a TS type of pedal but much fatter.

Best bang for the buck is the Tech 21 Double Drive. Very amp and guitar friendly with tons of tones available for under $100.00.

[Phantom Hawk]

Back in the day, I ran a Digitech Digital Metalizer through my Marshall halfstack. The pedal had a really cool chorus effect on it along with distortion. Was the best setup I could afford at the time. Now I go with a GNX4 through a Marshall power amp. Never been happier with my sound.

[RobB]

Punkrock:

VAC22 1x12 combo. LP Std or LP Spcl.

Rhythm- Neck: 6-7, Bridge: 10

Lead- Toggle to bridge p/u for boost.

Corporate Casual Band:

Stiletto Duece w/any guitar.

Ch. 1- Fat clean w/some crunch, 100w setting.

Ch. 2- Fluid drive, gain around 2o'clock, backing off the presence. 50w setting.

Lead-Ch. 2 w/Xotic RS Booster.

I guess I don't really use a "distortion" box. If I had to cover a lot of ground with a simple set up (BF/DLX or similar) I'd prolly go with a two stage OD like an FDll, Zinky True Grit, DoubleDrive or similar to get the "faux 3-ch." deal.

I hate it when the distortion kicks in and is really compressed. I always used the CompCut on the FDII. The extra headroom made the amp a lot happier.

[teleman]

Radial Tonebone Classic - I've had a bunch over the years and this thing just gets it done the way I like it! Extremely versatile tone machine.

[MTM105]

Radial Tonebone Classic - I've had a bunch over the years and this thing just gets it done the way I like it! Extremely versatile tone machine.

I forgot to list tonebone. Kinda pricey. Never tried it. Good reviews on Harmony Central.

[Jeff R]

I like Rat pedals too. Either OD or dist depending on how you dial it,

I haven't played an 80s Rat since the 80s - anyone care to tell me the difference in the "good" vintage Rat versus the current "Vintage Rat Reissue?"

[MCChris]

I only use ODs/distortions to add compression for leads; everything else I get what I need from my amp. Right now I'm liking the Bad Monkey and have rediscovered the simple pleasures of an MXR MicroAmp.

[SirDouglas]

seems some forgot the Ross Distortion pedal.... more rangy than the mxr+ but less sustian than the Muff... but all around a good solid pedal... if you can find them...

but i use 3 distortions the Ross ,Mxr Dsit +, ANd the EH Muff

dont cripple yourself with 1 sound...

Randy

[pesocaster]

3 faves>

Original (or reissue .. same thing) Butler Tube Driver

Ibanez Tube King (TK999US) .. The Tube Works Denver made units

Tech 21 GT-2 ... my fave solid state box

[serial]

Perhaps it's because I grew up on the old MXR Distortion + sound, but my fave is the cheapee Dano Fab Tone. I don't use distortion boxes at all, but if I do, that one is like instantly switching on Smashing Pumpkins. It adds really interesting "colors" that most boxes don't offer.