Some would say you don't. You could use your guitar's volume knob to control the drive and/or maybe add some sort of boost pedal to push the amp into overdrive.

RobbieZ wrote: I am waiting for a few more components then I will start with my 18W valve build. It will be equipped with a VVR. ?

There is something that I have been thinking about. The nice thing about a valve amp is that at the bottom 25% of the volume range it has a clean tone. From there it becomes crunchier until at full volume when it is in complete overdrive.

My question: Why would I still need an overdrive pedal? :-\

It depends. I use my 18 watt at gigs with my Tele. With the Tele at full volume I set the amp so that it gives a medium drive sound. So from there I roll the volume knob back to get clean and open it again for drive. During some solos I want a treble boost so that I can cut the mix better so then I engage my overdrive pedal, which is set pretty clean with the treble boosted and the bass cut.

if you just want to go between clean and drive then no pedal is required. If you want more drive than the 18 watt can give then you need a pedal. The 18 watt cleans up gradually with the guitar volume knob so you can practically go clean -> mild drive -> MOAR drive by just using the guitar knob and cranking the amp up a bit more.

I'd try the amp for a while first, learn to use the volume knob (you'll pretty much have to with a Les Paul, it will drive even at low volume settings even at full power), then decide if you want a pedal.

Some amps only overdrive very slightly at max volume. An overdrive or boost pedal can help you get more overdrive...

aja wrote: Some amps only overdrive very slightly at max volume. An overdrive or boost pedal can help you get more overdrive...

The 18 watt is not an amp like that though, it drives a LOT.

Here's the thing Robbie is going to build. His will (I think) only have the Normal channel


=

RobbieZ wrote: My question: Why would I still need an overdrive pedal? :-\

- To get more drive than the amp alone is capable of reaching

- To get a different kind of drive character or change the tonality. Marshal-style amps have more of a distortion character to their drive and a bit of an upper mid hump - both of which facilitate soloing, while a more Fendery smooth drive and mid-scoop can leave more space for the vocals during the song itself.

- To easily jump volume or drive levels for solos at the kick of a switch. While you can do this from your guitar's volume, if you need rapid changes back and forth, nowt beats a pedal.

In short... for variety.

Ive got an OCD to help the Plexi drive at non ear bleeding volume levels, i mostly use the OCD in the mix as a clean boost. It sounds absolutely killer with the Telecaster.

ez wrote: Here's the thing Robbie is going to build. His will (I think) only have the Normal channel


=

Which 18 watt kit would you recommend?

/walks off muttering about itchy soldering hand

ez wrote: Here's the thing Robbie is going to build. His will (I think) only have the Normal channel

Yes, that is correct, I will only have Channel 1 with a additional VVR.

It does look like I need to experiment a lot before I make any final desitions on a pedal.

Thanks guys.

shaunf wrote:

ez wrote: Here's the thing Robbie is going to build. His will (I think) only have the Normal channel


=

Which 18 watt kit would you recommend?

/walks off muttering about itchy soldering hand

I will start with a thread as aoon as I have all my components that I need to start. I did not opt for a kit. I found a decent drawing, ran it past a few knolageble people on the forum and took it from there.

shaunf wrote:

ez wrote: Here's the thing Robbie is going to build. His will (I think) only have the Normal channel


=

Which 18 watt kit would you recommend?

/walks off muttering about itchy soldering hand

I don't think you need a kit for an 18 watt. I'd buy the PITA stuff (Chassis, transformers, get all from the same place) from somewhere that just has them (place that sells kits) and get the rest wherever you can get it the cheapest. The 18 watt uses an oversized hifi OT so that part is a must. The rest of the parts are basically up to you to choose what you'd think sound best and look the coolest ?

ez wrote:

shaunf wrote:

ez wrote: Here's the thing Robbie is going to build. His will (I think) only have the Normal channel


=

Which 18 watt kit would you recommend?

/walks off muttering about itchy soldering hand

I don't think you need a kit for an 18 watt. I'd buy the PITA stuff (Chassis, transformers, get all from the same place) from somewhere that just has them (place that sells kits) and get the rest wherever you can get it the cheapest. The 18 watt uses an oversized hifi OT so that part is a must. The rest of the parts are basically up to you to choose what you'd think sound best and look the coolest ?

That sounds like a good idea. I reckon I've got 70% of the parts required already.

Any suggestions on where to start looking for decent chassis's, transformers etc ? Haven't delved into the 18watt thing at all and don't really have the time to do loads of research before the time, so any advice that would shortcircuit this would be appreciated.

+1 on Alan's post

Its about the character too, not just 'overdrive'. Its about colour to a canvas.
Songs written can be inspired by a pedal tone. Plenty times I find myself playing differently because a pedal has added a new shade to my existing colours.

shaunf wrote: That sounds like a good idea. I reckon I've got 70% of the parts required already.

You guys will be able to start an 18 watt club soon ?

Sean wrote:

shaunf wrote: That sounds like a good idea. I reckon I've got 70% of the parts required already.

You guys will be able to start an 18 watt club soon ?

? Forget a circuit specific amp club. I think it would be just cool to have an amp builders club where we could swap ideas, try out each others builds, swap parts, do group buys etc.

man i love eavesdropping on these conversations. i have a boss bd-2 that i use with my vox ac4-tv, with the fdr-1 and a vox wah in the line-up as well. i've been experimenting with the overdrive and the amp alone for a while, and you guys have given unto me a GPS (GearPathSeeker) for this mission.

spanks a lot!
dh

I'll make you guys your own board if you want. ? Maybe for amp & pedal builds?

Alan Ratcliffe wrote: I'll make you guys your own board if you want. ? Maybe for amp & pedal builds?

Maybe not a bad idea ? lots of DIY stuff going on, guitars, pedals, amps, switches, cabs etc.

Alan Ratcliffe wrote: I'll make you guys your own board if you want. ? Maybe for amp & pedal builds?

That's very generous of you Alan, thank you!

I don't want to be presumptuous and suggest that this would actually work, or whether its something that people would even want, because I haven't really thought this through. I was really just thinking aloud.

In the short space of time that I have been building amps though, one thing that I've noticed is that there are a number of forums around, where the communities organize themselves to make it economically viable to get things like chassis's made, supply parts etc, but inevitably there needs to be some kind of commercial arrangement, although the person who often supplies the stuff is likely to only cover costs or make a little bit of pocket money out of it, as opposed to making a living from it. I don't know that something like this would be compatible with the rules of this forum, or whether you would be prepared to allow something like this on this particular sub forum.

It would be really great to be able to do stuff like this locally as opposed to having to always get stuff from overseas, especially things like chassis where it's not viable to get a single unit made.