Pedals

Originally Posted by: indiemanwat is the diffrence between a distortion and overdrive pedal?

Same theory for both , but in the guitar world , we use the word overdrive to describe lighter distortion sounds (blues and rock&roll tones) , and the word distortion for heavier distortions (hard rock and metal).

Originally Posted by: indiemanwat is the diffrence between a distortion and overdrive pedal?

I've always thought of overdrive more as a saturated tube amp sound (e.g. cranking your amp to 10) and distortion as an artificial tone. So, I agree with SLY in that overdrive is lighter than distortion, but I've always felt that overdrive is also different tonally (creamier, warmer, smoother).

Another way to look at it (if you know the tonal differences) is overdrive = power tube distortion(cliping), distortion = preamp tube distortion(cliping). Power tube distortion is warm, smooth, and crunchy. Preamp tube distortion is that over the top searing saturation, but can also be crunchy and somewhat warm, but not quite as smooth.

This might help:

www.bossus.com

look under "interactive">Virtual distortion grid

I prefer overdrive over distortion myself. For the reasons stated above (warmer, smoother, style of music). But i feel that there has been a meshing of the two over the years as overdrive is being pushed more and more into high gain territory.

There is one undespited fact that disortion it can make a bad guitarist sound good! :)

Just a few comments on a multi-effects pedal (if Lucien didn't get what he wanted for x-mas). Here's a lesson on the Boss GT-3 (the GT-6 works the same way). Also to add to the comments from the good Dr. and Sly. You need to be a little "computer literate" to really get the most from the unit but it can really get the job done. Sorry if I get carried away.......

Using a Boss GT-3. Drawbacks - Grouped effects. There is a way around it but that's a whole other topic. Rarely do you want a Limiter and Compressor at the same time however..........

Chaining effects - For live performances - Chain can be altered mid song via your preprogrammed patch select. This is not (realistically) feasible with single pedals.

Control via expression pedal- This gets a little nuts. The GT3 has an onboard expression pedal, plus I have added another Sub Expression Pedal (Roland EV-5). Expression pedals are sweepable, give you the ultimate in flexibility as they are assignable to practically any parameter from any effect, not just on-off (but they do that too). i.e.- Rotary speed, reverb depth, DD time, OD gain, etc. They're not just for master volume any more. This deals with the pedal assign section on the GT-3 and can become rather detailed and confusing. You can actually assign multiple parameter changes to occur simultaneously with a single pedal (i.e. OD level and reverb depth for a big swell). Single pedals do not offer this.

The CTL (Control) pedal (switch) & Manual Mode- Note-I also have added another sub dual CTL switch (sub CTL 1 & 2) in addition to the expression pedal. (This gets crazy and your programming skills will be tested). The onboard CTL pedal can be assigned to put the entire unit in "Manual Mode", i.e. each of the remaining onboard pedals (Bank up, Bank Down, 1, 2, 3, 4 AND the expression - for a total of 7), can be assigned an individual effect for on-off (or parameter control on expression pedal). This means you can, with a single foot stomp, turn the whole unit into a "pedal board" with 7 effects of your choosing, chained the way you want. This also includes Bypass & Noise Sup on-off. Add the Sub CTL 1 & 2 switch and you get 9 (which is about the max you have access to). Adding the Sub CTL 1 & 2 pedal (or sub expression) adds the flexibilty of changing the effect parameter via pedal assign, i.e. changing PreAmp "type" from 5150 to Twin. The onboard CTL has the ability to be assigned this as well but cannot be used in conjunction of putting the board in manual mode (that's a pure on-off deal). All of this comes without the program load delay you get from a patch change. Individual effect on-off is seamless. You just can't alter the chain while in manual. Confused yet?

Multiple Assigns on the CTL pedal- Like the expression pedal, the CTL's can have multiple assigns for effect on-off or parameter control, i.e. one stomp, turns off the chorus, turns up the OD drive by 20, level up by 5 and pumps the reverb depth by 10. i.e. hans Solo!

GT-3 Midi - What can I say - If you Midi, this thing will do it all. Patch changes are very smooth. With midi, tools like EQ plot and patch editor can be used on your computer to program the EQ or patch parameters. Saves your back and is much easier on the eyes! Add a midi controller and the sky's the limit.

3 wire method. Provided your amp has an effects loop, this uses the GT-3's extenal OD/DS loop to utilize your amp's preamp section for the natural distortion. This is NOT like using the amp's effect loop where the GT-3 is placed between the preamp and power amp section of your trusty ear bleeder. Nor is it like plugging the GT output to your amp's input. This isolates your amp's preamp and places it ANYWHERE in the effects chain you want it, then injects the GT-3 output directly into the power amp section. Again, it's chain location can be moved from patch to patch. Added bonus, you can add other outbaord effects in this loop (prefer post preamp) but keep it simple. The 3 wire -If you like your amp, now you get to keep it.

Anyone want more GT-3 tricks? E me.

i got a boss me-30

If you are looking for distortion usually amp distortion is best in my opinion...as for distortion vs. overdrive...just get the boss overdrive/distortion pedal and you can go overdrive, distortion, or any combo of the two.

Originally Posted by: AkiraIsn't an Overdrive pedal meant to imitate the sound of overdriven speakers, and Distortion the sound of an overdriven pre-amp? Or something?

[font=trebuchet ms]Overdrive is usually a clean signal that is boosted to a level that is high enough to push the preamp into distorting.

Distortion pedals send a distorted signal to the preamp. Not necessarily strong enough to overdrive the preamp, but it can be.[/font]

i have an rp-12 from digitech..i bought it used for 150.00..it has more than what you need including wah and expression..really mean distortion sounds.. it is not the best digitech has,but worth way more than what i paid for it and would be perfect for some one that does not want to spend they're money..here is a picture of it..i would go the used route and find one of these or an rp in this class (with these featuresand sound quality)..here is a link so you can see it.. http://groups.msn.com/randyraudenbushandfamily/shoebox.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=5

what about the new boss gt-8? has ne one tried it yet?

I reviewed it in the gear review section...

I am not sure why so many are saying avoid Zoom. I just picked up a Zoom 505II, because the Digi RP50 just doesn;t give me enough EQ options. The Zoom sounds WAY better.

Peace,

------------
Legato

Originally Posted by: LegatoVibratoI am not sure why so many are saying avoid Zoom...

[font=trebuchet ms]We'll see how you like it in year or so... if it still works by then[/font]

Hey!
Im after some new pedals, been looking at the rocktron Silver Dragon, Rampage, Zombie, Metal Planet, also the Wah... anybody got any feedback for these pedals?? which is better for a crisp metal crunch!, need good for rythm, also good for lead....
Are the Morley wahs any good? Jim Dunlop or Morely? or which?? How about the rocktron wah??

Cheers!


{editor's note: no sales pitches please, except in the Gear Wanted/For Sale thread, and then only after you've been here long enough to have 100 posts.}

Originally Posted by: lucien762O.K i want to get my parents to get me a pedal for christmas and im wondering what i should get . keep in mind im prety much a beginer and i dont want to spend to much. i might be looking for a multi FX pedal or just something like a chorus ? what should i get ?>??? :)

Thats up to you my man. It all depends what style of sound your after. As for me. I learned a long time ago to keep it simple. I use a Pro Co distortion box, a Mxr flanger, and a Mxr Time delay. I can achive a vast aray of tones out of my Peavey 185 pratice amp. Good luck to you. Hope you find the sound your looking for out of affects pedals. P38

What kinda music do ya (want to?) play lucien?

You might want to check out the Boss OD-20 if you want distortion / overdrive. I have one and it is a good buy.

I also have the new Boss flanger (BF-3), though I think I prefer the BF-2 (I had 2 of them !). The Boss phaser is one of the nicer ones I have tried however beware of the Autowah and the pitch shifter (both of these are currently sitting in a draw rather than in my pedal board). I use the Dunlop 535Q wha and really like it. Previously I have had the standard Dunlop Wah and still have the Hendrix Fuzz-wah (back in the UK). The 535Q is currently my favorite.

I plan to get a Digitech Whammy (which is another really nice pedal) to replace the Boss pitch shifter.

I also use the CE-20 (double chorus), RV-5 (digital verb), DD-6 (delay), CS-3 (pretty crappie compressor) in my setup at the moment and on the whole Im quite happy with it.

Other cool stuff:
Boss CE-5 Chorus. Very vice, Boss MZ2 metal zone, very nice but not as versatile as the OD-20. Ibanez TS(3?)DX turbo tube screamer. This pedal was not for metal but still sounds very nice. Again the OD-20 nails the sound perfectly.

Stuff to avoid:
really budget gear called Maxx, avoid it like the plague. Also the Boss GP-20 amp factory was an absolute disaster. I also got burned by using the Boss GE-7 EQ though that was probably because of the other pedals I was using as well. Needles to say it found its way onto eBay. Ibanez tone-lock (snicker) distortion pedal (the grey one). Sounded as bad as the tube screamer sounded good. I ended up giving this one away.