• Registered: 2009-10-27
  • Posts: 250

Re: Help me decide on the best distortion pedal

I don't think there's a huge difference if comparing two high quality OD pedals, it's just the last 10-20% that differs...is that little bit really important to you and or is it the fun to keep the endless search alive and feed your GAS as it was for me? 

I learned the hard way, I laugh now when I think back at how I was so comfortable buying great Strat after another and big dollar pedals, but yet content with my Tweed Blues Jr......really funny.  My advice to some, stop buying pedals and guitars and save your money for a great amp.  Here's a good rule of thumb I just thought of, your amp should cost at least the same as your most expensive guitar you own.  So if you're a Strat player and have a Beck Strat that's valued at $1,500.00 and want a Dumble style amp, go get a Ceriatone, if you have a $4k guitar, go get a Two Rock.  A great guitar will not make a bad amp sound good, a great amp will make a bad guitar sound good.

The last thing to buy is pedals when in the budget, I tried years ago to make my pedals get me the sound and realized when I first got my Ceriatone, the tone I wanted, I really didn't need the pedals, the tone was in the amp already.

I hope this helps 1-person in the world.

NPB_EST.1979 wrote:

After hearing that pedal, and my Fulldrive II MOSFET, I'm starting to think all these sound the same.
How much extra is worth "better?"
Have I cured my GAS?  hmm

38 Reply by aussiemeats (edited by aussiemeats 2010-11-10 09:26:26)

  • From: Los Angeles
  • Registered: 2010-03-19
  • Posts: 105

Re: Help me decide on the best distortion pedal

Good Day,

Alex.....

Firstly, I have a LP, a 339 and a Strat with Lace Hot Gold Sensors, and I use them all with my

Zen2 and they sound great.

The main difference between the Zen2 and the FullDrive Mosfet IMHO is that you can get

more Clarity with the Zen2. Again I like both pedals, and both would probably

help you find your tone.

What the ZenDrive 2 will do for your Blues Jr is, give you additional boost ,and

tonal coloration options, that you don't currently have and,

an option for just pure "Clean Boost" which may all you need to get "your sound"

Sometimes you just need to push the front end a bit more, than what the amps

standard setup allows.

Look, if you don't like the ZenDrive 2, you can list it on TGP and you'll have

no problem selling it....

OR better yet...call Alf at Hermida Audio and speak with him about what your looking

for, sound-wise, and he'll suggest something for you. He makes several great pedals

with different sonic flavors. Alf's a heck of nice guy, and VERY knowledgeable.

There's a bunch of sound bytes on his site of his different pedals..check it out.

I'm telling you...it's a great pedal. if you don't like it...off it.

Cheers

39 Reply by Jon

  • Jon
  • Bronze Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2007-03-19
  • Posts: 39

Re: Help me decide on the best distortion pedal

I have a zendrive - great with humbucker guitars, but not so good with single coils.

For me the Barber Direct Drive is the best all round overdrive/distortion, with a wide range of sounds. Can sound very smooth but still with enough bite to cut through - sort of a Marshall-meets-Dumble vibe for me.

  • Registered: 2010-05-06
  • Posts: 60

Re: Help me decide on the best distortion pedal

Thanks mate!  I have made my mind up and am getting the Zendrive 2.  I  was always happy with my sound it just need a little more and the blues driver, which is great, but wasn't cutting it.  Like I said, I am getting 50's wiring, 10% 500K pots and paper in oil capacitors in my working guitars this week which should give me more tone and control over my knobs.  I think the Zendrive 2 will complete the circle for now....  Thanks for all of your feedback!! 

aussiemeats wrote:

Good Day,

Alex.....

Firstly, I have a LP, a 339 and a Strat with Lace Hot Gold Sensors, and I use them all with my

Zen2 and they sound great.

The main difference between the Zen2 and the FullDrive Mosfet IMHO is that you can get

more Clarity with the Zen2. Again I like both pedals, and both would probably

help you find your tone.

What the ZenDrive 2 will do for your Blues Jr is, give you additional boost ,and

tonal coloration options, that you don't currently have and,

an option for just pure "Clean Boost" which may all you need to get "your sound"

Sometimes you just need to push the front end a bit more, than what the amps

standard setup allows.

Look, if you don't like the ZenDrive 2, you can list it on TGP and you'll have

no problem selling it....

OR better yet...call Alf at Hermida Audio and speak with him about what your looking

for, sound-wise, and he'll suggest something for you. He makes several great pedals

with different sonic flavors. Alf's a heck of nice guy, and VERY knowledgeable.

There's a bunch of sound bytes on his site of his different pedals..check it out.

I'm telling you...it's a great pedal. if you don't like it...off it.

Cheers

  • From: Florida, USA
  • Registered: 2008-06-04
  • Posts: 1,420

Re: Help me decide on the best distortion pedal

Jon wrote:

I have a zendrive - great with humbucker guitars, but not so good with single coils.

I've heard that to be true but a few players like Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Brad Paisley seem to get great tones with theirs.  Especially Brad, man his tone was killing when I saw him a few months ago.  The Zendrive seems to be a staple in his ever changing rig.  I'd love to try one to see what all the fuss is about.

'67 and '74 Fender Twin Reverbs, '74 Marshall 1987 lead mkII, Metro Superlead 100. Pedals from TC Electronic, Ibanez, Dunlop, BK Butler, Electro-Harmonix, Fulltone, Maestro/Gibson, Loopmaster switching, VoodooLab, Boss. Gibson and Fender guitars, Dimarzio pickups.
  • From: Scotland
  • Registered: 2009-02-11
  • Posts: 453

Re: Help me decide on the best distortion pedal

stratpaulguy86 wrote:
Jon wrote:

I have a zendrive - great with humbucker guitars, but not so good with single coils.

I've heard that to be true but a few players like Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Brad Paisley seem to get great tones with theirs.  Especially Brad, man his tone was killing when I saw him a few months ago.  The Zendrive seems to be a staple in his ever changing rig.  I'd love to try one to see what all the fuss is about.

Brad was featured in guitarist magazine a few months back and there was no signn of a zen drive on his board. Did he use one in the past?

  • From: Los Angeles
  • Registered: 2010-03-19
  • Posts: 105

Re: Help me decide on the best distortion pedal

Good Day,

Justin....My turn to recommend something to you....

The Zen Drive 2 is a great pedal...even with ALL the gear you ALREADY have

it will add something "new" to your arsenal.

Like I said before..once you understand the ZD2 and find the "right"

Tube for it, (I have a NOS Mullard in mine....)You won't want to Off it.

Seriously, it's a GREAT pedal. I like the boost and clarity it gives, as well

as the harmonic overtones, I can obtain pushing my Marshall with it.

I LOVE mine...It's KILLER with the Marshall,  Mids up abt 7-8, Treble about 5, bass to taste.

Alf is down there in your neck of the woods...give him a call.

Cheers

  • From: Florida, USA
  • Registered: 2008-06-04
  • Posts: 1,420

Re: Help me decide on the best distortion pedal

aussiemeats wrote:

Good Day,

Justin....My turn to recommend something to you....

The Zen Drive 2 is a great pedal...even with ALL the gear you ALREADY have

it will add something "new" to your arsenal.

Like I said before..once you understand the ZD2 and find the "right"

Tube for it, (I have a NOS Mullard in mine....)You won't want to Off it.

Seriously, it's a GREAT pedal. I like the boost and clarity it gives, as well

as the harmonic overtones, I can obtain pushing my Marshall with it.

I LOVE mine...It's KILLER with the Marshall,  Mids up abt 7-8, Treble about 5, bass to taste.

Alf is down there in your neck of the woods...give him a call.

Cheers

Yeah I'd love to try one for sure.  My pocketbook is currently in shutdown mode unfortunately, so I'll have to hold off on trying any new pedals for a little while.  It's funny, I sold my old Hiwatt 1x12 combo amp to some guy locally that personally knew Alf Hermida, he said he could get the hookup.  I should have taken him up on that!

'67 and '74 Fender Twin Reverbs, '74 Marshall 1987 lead mkII, Metro Superlead 100. Pedals from TC Electronic, Ibanez, Dunlop, BK Butler, Electro-Harmonix, Fulltone, Maestro/Gibson, Loopmaster switching, VoodooLab, Boss. Gibson and Fender guitars, Dimarzio pickups.
  • Registered: 2007-11-04
  • Posts: 404

Re: Help me decide on the best distortion pedal

I have to agree that you really need to get your guitar and Amp tone nailed before you  begin looking at pedals. I just reciently traded all my amps in for two that I really wanted.  I had to sell off all my pedals too except for a Fulldrive, Ocean EFX Texas Deuce, Ocean EFX Vint. Echo and a Nova Delay.  Everything else went. 

I could not be happier.  Great amps make pedal searching so much easier because you are less dependant on your tone coming from the pedal but you use the pedal for a specific purpose.

I like my amps clean almost broken up.  Then I add a light overdrive.  The Fulltone is my main pedal now but that might change when the TIM pedal shows up.