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Overdrive/distortion pedal for solid state?

  • 27-12-2010 09:27PM
    #1
    MetalDog
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 904 ✭✭✭


    Hi I have a solid state Marshall MG50 and I know that its not the best Marshall amp out there but I'm on a tight budget.

    Anyway whats the best od/dist because I want a sound different from the od channel on the amp?
    whats the poor man's tubescreamer.
    I already have a Bigmuff and MXR distortion, but want to try something different. (I might put them on adverts actually)

    thanks


Comments

  • #2
    zafo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 276 ✭✭zafo


    Digitech Bad Monkey is a very decent poor man's tube screamer and there's also the TS7 Tube Screamer. I'm not overly familiar with the Behringer range but I'm sure they'd have something suitable as well. Maybe something like the Behringer V-Tone GDI21 which based/cloned off the legendary Sansamp GT2 would be a better investment til you can afford a new amp. for 29 euro you can't go to wrong there.

    Ideally I'd get rid of the MG50 and get a second hand 30 Watt tube combo or even something along the lines of a Peavey Windsor. I picked up an old Laney LC30 II for 200 euro last year which is a vastly better amp tha what you have at the moment, just a matter of keeping an eye on adverts til something you like and afford pops up.


  • #3
    Squidgy Black
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 21,812 ✭✭✭✭Squidgy Black


    zafo wrote: »
    Ideally I'd get rid of the MG50 and get a second hand 30 Watt tube combo or even something along the lines of a Peavey Windsor. I picked up an old Laney LC30 II for 200 euro last year which is a vastly better amp tha what you have at the moment, just a matter of keeping an eye on adverts til something you like and afford pops up.

    It depends what he's using it for, if he's an at home leisure player, who isn't really bothered about the holy grail of tone, and just wants to make some cool sounds for fun, there's no point in a tube amp for him, especially if he's on a tight budget.

    I used to use a Boss SD-1 in front of my Peavey Bandit 75 before I sold them both, and it was nice for the price I paid.


  • #4
    Seziertisch
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,180 ✭✭✭Seziertisch


    I'm not sure if a Tubescreamer style pedal is what you are looking for. It is an overdrive pedal meant to overdrive the preamp stage of the amp. I don't know how well it would work with your amp.

    Otherwise, a few examples of the kind of sound you are after will probably mean that people will be better able to advise you.


  • #5
    zafo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 276 ✭✭zafo


    stetyrrell wrote: »
    It depends what he's using it for, if he's an at home leisure player, who isn't really bothered about the holy grail of tone, and just wants to make some cool sounds for fun, there's no point in a tube amp for him, especially if he's on a tight budget.

    I used to use a Boss SD-1 in front of my Peavey Bandit 75 before I sold them both, and it was nice for the price I paid.

    I suppose I was making a few assumptions there but I'm not a fan of the MG series amps at all. I actually think the Bandit is a much nicer sounding amp in the world of solid state. But anyways they're looking for a pedal so perhaps we should leave the amp discussion out for now.


  • #6
    Squidgy Black
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 21,812 ✭✭✭✭Squidgy Black


    Yeah the mg's aren't the best of ss amps at all.

    What exactly is it you don't like about the amp's overdrive MetalDog? A pedal won't exactly sound much better through your amp as it'll be just driving the preamp signal, not far off the overdrive on the amp.

    Your best bet I think would to try and pick up a cheap Line 6 POD or something like it second hand and run it through the effects loops as a different preamp and just use the power section and the speaker of the MG.

    Or as said before, change your amp. If you're on a low budget, the Vox Pathfinder's are amazing amps for roughly 120 quid, and will sound A LOT better with a pedal than your mg.


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  • #7
    MetalDog
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 904 ✭✭✭MetalDog


    Thanks for the advice lads, yea I play at home for leisure but I jam a bit with other people now and again. I'd like a pedal for a good blues sound and also a good gain saturated metal sound so using it to boost the amp as well as on its own, used to have a EHX Metal Muff but didn't like it.

    I don't dislike the amps overdrive I just want a different range of sound.


  • #8
    zafo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 276 ✭✭zafo


    The more I think about it the more I reckon the Behringer V-Tone GDI21 would be great for what you want.


  • #9
    Seziertisch
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,180 ✭✭✭Seziertisch


    The Blackstar distortion/overdrive pedals would also be worth a look. They cover a lot of ground from light crunch to full on metal distortion.

    There are demos up on youtube.


  • #10
    zafo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 276 ✭✭zafo


    Seziertisch wrote: »
    The Blackstar distortion/overdrive pedals would also be worth a look. They cover a lot of ground from light crunch to full on metal distortion.

    There are demos up on youtube.

    They also very expensive for someone on a tight budget. they are great though and if we're adding them to the list I'd add the Tech21 Character Series pedals.


  • #11
    darrenw5094
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,126 ✭✭✭darrenw5094


    The Blackstar pedals can be found all over adverts.ie ;)

    And the Tech21 pedals too.


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  • #12
    Zombienosh
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,911 ✭✭✭Zombienosh


    Seziertisch wrote: »
    The Blackstar distortion/overdrive pedals would also be worth a look. They cover a lot of ground from light crunch to full on metal distortion.

    There are demos up on youtube.

    I fully recommend Blackstar HT Pedals, They have valves in them so even if your using a solid state, in this case(pretty crappy MG!:P) You'll be able to get that tube distortion tone, They run on 16v adapters which can be slighty annoying if you have a chain of 9v pedals, and they're a little pricey compared to standard BOSS pedals but when you hear the tones out of them you'll be amazed. I recently got a HT-DIST-X Pedal, I can't even bring the gain past about 4 and the tones blow every BOSS pedal I've ever had(I've tried almost every dist pedal) out of the water.

    I'm converted to blackstar for life now.


  • #13
    shaneraff
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 40 ✭shaneraff


    Why not try a boss bd2 . I had one in front of my cube 30 and it was great
    Everything from roaring lizzy leads to smooth overdrive rythms. Highly recommend it.


  • #14
    MetalDog
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 904 ✭✭✭MetalDog


    Recently acquired a Blues Driver, and I like the sound I'm getting out of it. :D
    Might rip into Parisian Walkways now for Gary Moore.


  • #15
    8k2q1gfcz9s5d4
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,616 ✭✭✭8k2q1gfcz9s5d4


    zafo wrote: »
    They also very expensive for someone on a tight budget. they are great though and if we're adding them to the list I'd add the Tech21 Character Series pedals.

    true, ive a HT dual, got it for 120 on adverts. amazing pedal though! its so versatile


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