What is your favorite distortion pedal?

Robert**** · March 27th, 2009, 07:46 AM

Name only one, and why it is your favorite.

For me, I am not sure. Probably my Maxon SD-9 because it can do both overdrive and high gain distortion tones really well.

**Jimi75** · March 27th, 2009, 08:01 AM

This thread comes right in time for me to learn from you guys, 'cause I am looking for a distortion pedal to get "high" gain sounds.

Rob, is the SD-9 really capable of producing high gain sounds? I was about to check the Digitech Metal pedal...

Robert**** · March 27th, 2009, 08:04 AM

Jimi, it does a really good solo tone if your amp is already a little overdriven.

**sunvalleylaw** · March 27th, 2009, 08:17 AM

Hands down, DVM's Rabid Rodent. It has a stock rat clone mode, but many, many other modes (6 distortion, 6 overdrive) that sound great, and make it very versatile. The overdrive mode colors the sound much less than my other overdrive, my Bad Monkey, so it gives me that too.

I still enjoy my DS-1 (my first distortion pedal) for certain things, but usually in combination with other pedals. Either the chorus to pick up a grunge sound, or using my Bad Monkey after it to smooth it out. But as a stand alone pedal, it cannot stand up to the Rodent.

**Blaze** · March 27th, 2009, 08:20 AM

I love my DVM R_R , versatile & powerful too..

I tried the Digitech Hothead , cheap powerfull disto but you must tweak a bit for good tone , colored the sound too..

**Suhnton** · March 27th, 2009, 08:45 AM

Red Llama, although it's not really a distortion pedal, more of an overdrive-y fuzz.

**schenkadere** · March 27th, 2009, 09:40 AM

Effects Pedal Boutique SRB 808 Plus 2 in 1 Dual OD...I stack od1 set in the TS808 mode into od2 in the Marshall mode and bingo!

duhvoodooman*** · March 27th, 2009, 10:36 AM

I do indeed love that Rabid Rodent modified Rat, though most of the credit goes to Keith Vonderhulls at BYOC for an outstanding kit design. All I did was change a couple of the clipping arrays and install the "Ruetz mod" switch, which isn't original, either. I will take credit for building them pretty well, though.

Sumi, You'll have yours next week!

:

Among commercial pedals, I think the Marshall Gov'nor Plus is my favorite. Best EQ section I've come across in a pedal. Amazing bottom end. And they're not expensive. $70 most places, though they seem to have been discontinued....

**oldguy** · March 27th, 2009, 01:00 PM

So far, it's my ZYS by duhvoodooman. After having time to evaluate it against all my other pedals, it wins hands down........ I like it better than the Bad Monkey, and even the Plexitube, both of which I'm thinking of selling now.
Maybe I can sell those and try out the Rabid Rodent.
The ZYS doesn't "throw a blanket" over the speakers like the others, if you know what I mean.

I've had people ask me.... "can you hear a difference in those videos?" when I get on Youtube and hear pedal/amp demos. Usually I can, sometimes I can't. But when I play here at home, I most definately can. The Monkey and the Plexitube sound good until you A/B them with the ZYS. You can EQ them 'till they don't really "color" the sound, but you can't kick them in w/o noticing that they muffle the sound, they kill the big, wide open sound that the amph gets naturally.

Robert**** · March 27th, 2009, 03:22 PM

The ZYS is not a distortion pedal however in my world - it's an overdrive pedal; a tubescreamer. For overdrive pedals, the ZYS is my favourite too.

**Algonquin** · March 27th, 2009, 03:38 PM

If the Marshall Guv'nor Plus is considered a distortion box... I'd have to pick that as my favourite.

As mentioned in other posts, it has tremendous EQ properties, and it makes my tele bridge p/u sound freakin huge! It does a great job with buckers too... very versatile when I want to have a hard rocking moment and crank it up loud.

Huge deep base, and incredible drive... all at an affordable price.

It's a keeper

:

Robert**** · March 27th, 2009, 03:49 PM

You guys are making me want a Guvnor Plus!

Spudman*** · March 27th, 2009, 10:07 PM

Radial Tonebone Hot British. This pedal is completely over the top for distortion and it's a very high quality at that. It's not subtle - it's a distortion pedal!

**Suhnton** · March 28th, 2009, 06:07 AM

Originally Posted by Spudman

Radial Tonebone Hot British. This pedal is completely over the top for distortion and it's a very high quality at that. It's not subtle - it's a distortion pedal!

I listened to some MP3's on the Tonebone site after I saw your pedalboard. That thing smokes.

Spudman*** · March 28th, 2009, 09:14 AM

Originally Posted by Suhnton

I listened to some MP3's on the Tonebone site after I saw your pedalboard. That thing smokes.

Shades of every British artist you've heard.

**Blaze** · March 28th, 2009, 09:52 AM

Originally Posted by Spudman

Radial Tonebone Hot British. This pedal is completely over the top for distortion and it's a very high quality at that. It's not subtle - it's a distortion pedal!

Looks like they have a more small & compact version now ...

Spudman*** · March 28th, 2009, 02:22 PM

Originally Posted by Blazes

Looks like they have a more small & compact version now ...

Except that they are solid state. The Hot British has an oh so yummy tube.

**Suhnton** · March 28th, 2009, 07:52 PM

Originally Posted by Spudman

Shades of every British artist you've heard.

Rick Astley?

Robert**** · March 28th, 2009, 08:00 PM

Boy George?

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