racman
As the subject states, I need a nice smooth, fat overdrive but also a nice crunch sound for the rhythm work. Is my only solution to use two pedals (your seuggestions welcome) or are there any two channel pedals that will do this. I was looking at possibly the Full Drive 2 but I have no idea if it would suit us or what else is there available?
Johnny-B
RoyC wrote:
As the subject states, I need a nice smooth, fat overdrive but also a nice crunch sound for the rhythm work. Is my only solution to use two pedals (your seuggestions welcome) or are there any two channel pedals that will do this. I was looking at possibly the Full Drive 2 but I have no idea if it would suit us or what else is there available?
Hi, Roy. I have a BYOC TS-808 clone with a 3-way selectable bass-cut frequency ( normal, fat and fatter). It also has a separate built-in clean boost. This may suit your requirements and you would be welcome to try it out. I also have a spare Timmy if you would like to try it.
AlanRatcliffe
Two pedals are almost always going to be better than one. What kind of gain range for each?
Warren
I use a TC MojoMojo, and TS808 as my over-drive stack (I also have a Vox Ice 9, but don't use it that much at the moment though it's on the board). I also have the amp's drive and more drive channels, so that's a lot of drive options and combinations.
I find myself doing the following:
1) I almost exclusively use my Deluxe Hotrod's drive channel, with the gain set to give me a warm, very slight breakup. That's my base.
2) For additional grindy, crunchy tone, I step on the TC MojoMojo. The drive is pretty transparent, so it's almost like it's boosting the amps natural pre-amp gain.
3) For a tighter, more mid-focused crunch, I step on the TS-808. This is useful for solos because I set the volume on the pedal a little higher, and because the TS has that natural mid-hump.
Notes:
- With both the TC MojoMojo and TS808 on together, I get a pretty thick, chunky gain tone.
- With the TS808 on its own, I can get a crunchier, tighter rhythm tone.
- With the TC MojoMojo on its own, I can get a looser, warmer (more bass-heavy) tone.
- If I stand on my amp's "more drive" switch, I can get into pretty high-gain territory indeed. Don't use it much, but it's there.
So yes, two pedals are great. I like the idea of one fairly transparent pedal (like the TC MojoMojo or a Timmy) and one more "colourful" drive pedal (with a TS-type sound, like a TS or a Sparkle Drive etc.).
Another technique I picked up a few months ago that I now cannot live without: using my Strat's volume knob. Everyone suggests this, but I got a nice, practical tip or two off MusicRadar a while ago:
- I set all my tones up with the guitar's volume at 8. Rhythm tones, clean tones, lead tones etc. I make sure I'm happy with each pedal's volume in relation to each other, and that I get the right level of crunch etc.
- Now, in addition to standing on pedals, I can just make a very small adjustment to the volume on the guitar to go from a nice, middle-of-the-road crunch to something with a lot more top-end definition and articulation, more volume and generally a lot more ZING!
The tone really thickens and warms up with the volume dialled back, and then when I open up the pot I get much more of the pickups' natural presence. This has been extremely useful considering how bright my Strat naturally is. So, regardless of which drives you eventually go for, give the above ideas a try, it is working very well for me.
AlanRatcliffe
BTW, I like using a smooth, amp-like overdrive (Currently a Lovepedal OD11, but a Timmy works too, someone mentioned the VOX Big Ben over the weekend, which is another of my faves) with a gritty, edgy distortion (hard to beat a Rat), both set at fairly low gain ranges for rhythm and stacked together for higher gain lead stuff.
eric-vaxxine
Here is a cheap video of my Craig Vintage Green pedal.
It is my gigging crunch rhythm, this is only a home
demo at low volume, but gives you an idea of what it does
add to a clean tone to start with.
As you will see, just minimal gain and tone,
lots more up the sleeve.
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Greg
Yeah, buy local! Craigamps makes good stuff.
arjunmenon
Greg wrote:
Yeah, buy local! Craigamps makes good stuff.
Amen! I've got a Dual Drive (with Vintage G cascading into the Dextortion) which i'm really enjoying.
The G is akin to the TS9 and the Dex is comparable to the Lovepedal Redhead.
Good luck with your quest Roy!
racman
Looks good. Benj (CraigAmps) and I are busy discussing one or two "projects" at the moment one of which is a VintageG and VintageR combo but we'll see what develops.
eric-vaxxine
Just a demo of ideas....
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