1 Topic by Big E (edited by Big E 2009-10-01 19:42:53)

  • Registered: 2008-10-02
  • Posts: 373

Topic: Looking for a low to mid gain over drive & a boost

OK so I got a few things worked out in practice, got the jub cutting trough the mix a little better with some tweeks. But I still want to use my clean channel with a slight break up and I would still like a boost pedal, perfer all in one unit but I might do two pedals so give me your thoughts. Also want to keep the pedal around $100 -$150

What I have tried:
Bad Monkey - not bad, can be muddy
OD-1 - To boxy
Marshall Drive Master - to much drive to thin sounding
Blues Driver - Can be very shrill
Zinky Drive (something or other) Again to much drive
Fulltone GT-500 - Really like this pedal, the Distortion side has a hair to much gain even at the lowest setting and it out of my price range.

I have tried TS-7,9,10 - Its been awhile but I think I am looking for something different, I have thought about the OCD but it seems like it has to much gain even at its lowest setting. So give me your thoughts. OH the Hot Drive and Boost is still an opinion but I won't get to try before I buy, which sucks.

  • Registered: 2007-09-30
  • Posts: 556

Re: Looking for a low to mid gain over drive & a boost

The Overdrive channel on the Jubilee is perfect due to the fact that if you set your gain and input gain knobs moderate, it cleans up very well.  You might want to try that and use your guitars volume and tone knobs to roll in grind, then to boost it I would grab an 808 Ri.  Plus it will add a decent amount of midrange and you'll be sure to cut through then.  Do you use both channels, or just the clean?  I think the only time I ever used the clean on mine was to make sure it worked lol.  The dirt channel is where its at on these bad boys.

Ben

  • Registered: 2008-10-02
  • Posts: 373

Re: Looking for a low to mid gain over drive & a boost

I use both, I have one song with a lot of delay that I have to use the clean channel on it, think U2 Streets have no Name. I have the Dirt channel dialed in for the big rock tones, but would like a cleaner tone as well for a couple of the other songs. I have tried the volume trick but I am no good at it at all! HA

  • Registered: 2007-09-30
  • Posts: 556

Re: Looking for a low to mid gain over drive & a boost

Thats a tough one dude, the volume/tone knobs is a must use...  The way I approach the gain levels of my sound is on 5 on the guitar volume its should be a broken up, good rythm sound, cleaner lead, and very articulate.  Anything more on the volume is more grind and rockin', anything around 3 should be clean.  Use your fingers and roll off some tone too, it mellows your attack and smooths out the sound.  There are infinite # of sounds in the guitar just by using the knobs on it.  If you are totally set on needing a clean sound, you're prob. better off just getting another amp for cleans. and A/B-ing them for Dirty and Cleans...

Hope that helps you out some man,
Ben

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

Re: Looking for a low to mid gain over drive & a boost

The OCD can be very transparent if you want it to be.  It has the "LP" mode with is pretty low gain and does a very good job as a transparent clean boost.  There are unreal amounts of dB boost (something like 30 db in HP mode) available on the OCD.  I personally prefer my Fulldrive II over any other overdrive right now.  I have a TS808 RI (and its great) but I can dial my FD2 in to be almost identical plus you get the boost function.  You can find them used or factory blems in your price range. If you are looking for transparency then I would avoid the tubescreamer pedals.  A lot of guys like the MXR Micro Amp for a straight up clean overdrive boost.  The BBE Green Screamer is a great TS style pedal on a budget (I have one of those too, I'm a TS whore).  The Boss Blues Driver pedal is surprisingly nice IMO and to my ears sounds similar to a cranked Bassman or JTM45.  Kind of wooly, ratty (in a good way), with tons of low end and gain.  All are very good, it all depends on what you are looking for.

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

Re: Looking for a low to mid gain over drive & a boost

Sorry I forgot to mention that I did a shootout a while ago between a lot of nice OD's.  Check it out and see what you think!  Don't mind the repetative and crappy playing, I'm just trying to show the differences in tone.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCGhBZQ3j1Q

'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: 2008-10-02
  • Posts: 373

Re: Looking for a low to mid gain over drive & a boost

Something transparent is what I am shooting for, anytime I have tried a TS it just seemed to add Mud. The blues drive is ok but it can get really ratty fast, I have though about getting it modded, but for the price I rather just get another pedal! HA

And Ben I do use the volume knobs I just often miss the mark, I have one song which required me to go from a big fat lead to a mellow cleaner sound quickly and sometimes I just don't get there fast enought with the volume, I made it work last night using the Lead Channel on the jub then jumping to the clean with the bad monkey. But that pedal isn't really transparent enought.

  • Registered: 2009-02-10
  • Posts: 470

Re: Looking for a low to mid gain over drive & a boost

Boss GE-7.
I'll leave it at that lol

  • Registered: 2007-11-04
  • Posts: 404

Re: Looking for a low to mid gain over drive & a boost

I would recommend the Ocean EFX Texas Deuce.  It has a boost only if thats your thing, it also has a great overdrive as well.  You can go from very light overdrive to blazing lead tones.  It sounds fantastic with a les paul. 

I also have a Fulltone Fulldrive, OCD, Barber burn unit.  All are great pedals however the Ocean EFX TD is by far the most versital and is very reasonably priced.

As for the volume knob thing... I've tried to use my volume on my R8 Les Paul and it totally sucks.  If I back off the volume on the bridge pickup I get cleaner but I get very very muddy. And my tone completely changes.  I find that I use two different overdrives and get a clean, light overdrive and a lead tone.  I dont touch my volume the entire gig.  I have never missed it.
But thats just me.

  • From: Manchester, UK
  • Registered: 2008-04-07
  • Posts: 136

Re: Looking for a low to mid gain over drive & a boost

Big E wrote:

Something transparent is what I am shooting for,............. But that pedal isn't really transparent enought.

For transparent take a look/listen to the Xotic RC Booster.. Very transparent in my opinion to the extent that sometimes you can't hear it until you take it away... If that make any sense. The Xotic AC Boost can also achieve a similar effect with the gain kept low but it's slightly darker than the RC to my ears.

Pete

  • From: N. Little Rock, AR.
  • Registered: 2007-03-02
  • Posts: 463

Re: Looking for a low to mid gain over drive & a boost

Some good advice so far. I'd just add, that I really dig my Timmy for many of the reasons you mentioned.

Early 80's 1957 U.S. Vintage Reissue Stratocaster (Surf Green)-Warmouth Soloist  Pearly Gates Neck, Pearly Gates Bridge- Larrivee D-03 (Mahogany/ Spruce)
Carmen Ghia Head- Marshall 112 Cab W/G12H 30  or  Custom 4 X 6v6 Head  or  Budda Twinmaster Plus Head-Traynor 212 Cab w/Eminence Texas Heats. 
Mo'D-Eternity-Blues Pro- Timmy-BYOC Chorus/Vibrato- TC SCF- Korg DT 10 Pedal Tuner
  • Registered: 2008-03-07
  • Posts: 508

Re: Looking for a low to mid gain over drive & a boost

Jimi_lp wrote:

Boss GE-7.
I'll leave it at that lol


#1 on that the Boss GE7 makes the clean channel usable . on a Jube

"Everybody's entitled to my opinion. wink
  • Registered: 2008-10-02
  • Posts: 373

Re: Looking for a low to mid gain over drive & a boost

SoftMC,

How do you use the GE-7 in the loop or in front of the amp, how do you have it set?

E

  • Registered: 2009-02-10
  • Posts: 470

Re: Looking for a low to mid gain over drive & a boost

Big E wrote:

SoftMC,

How do you use the GE-7 in the loop or in front of the amp, how do you have it set?

E

I know I'm not SoftMC but I'll put my input anyway lol
In the loop the pedal won't give gain boost, but will act as the EQ section on the amp does.
Infront of the amp it will boost your gain quite a bit if needed. It depends how high the volume on the pedal is set and how high a boost the frequency boosts are set.
I prefer infront of the amp. (after wah)

I've got mine set as a midboost for solos. Can be set however you like it though, it's extremely versatile.

  • Registered: 2008-03-07
  • Posts: 508

Re: Looking for a low to mid gain over drive & a boost

Jimi_lp wrote:
Big E wrote:

SoftMC,

How do you use the GE-7 in the loop or in front of the amp, how do you have it set?

E

I know I'm not SoftMC but I'll put my input anyway lol
In the loop the pedal won't give gain boost, but will act as the EQ section on the amp does.
Infront of the amp it will boost your gain quite a bit if needed. It depends how high the volume on the pedal is set and how high a boost the frequency boosts are set.
I prefer infront of the amp. (after wah)

I've got mine set as a midboost for solos. Can be set however you like it though, it's extremely versatile.

YES I agree the GE-7 Works great as tone shaping boost as described ,
however I run both jubilee and dumble clone with mids set high so when
I change to clean channel  it is icepicky (and the jube is actually louder in clean mode)
so I set the GE-7 with mids dropped around 800k and volume dropped for a nice clean
sound works great for me.
DEREK

"Everybody's entitled to my opinion. wink
  • Registered: 2007-09-30
  • Posts: 556

Re: Looking for a low to mid gain over drive & a boost

I still think the only way you will be happy with your tone is by using an amp set for strictly straight cleans.  The Jubilee isn't really a clean channel amp if you will.  You can roll it down to a cleaner tone, ie slightly overdriven rythm tone, if you bring the volume on your guitar down to about 3 it cleans up.  It's a rock machine.  Its got sick gain and grind, but rolls off wonderfully.  What you are describing is something a long the lines of a Fender clean.  The clean channel on the Marshall is ok, but IMO it's a one channel amp.... DIRT!  Listen to Eric Johnson Elevator Sky Movie off of the Alien Love Child album.  I think thats the idea your looking for as far a amp set up goes.  Clean amp, Dirty amp....  Pretty simple, yet effective.

Ben

  • Registered: 2007-09-30
  • Posts: 556

Re: Looking for a low to mid gain over drive & a boost

PS - What kind of guitar are you using?

  • Registered: 2008-10-02
  • Posts: 373

Re: Looking for a low to mid gain over drive & a boost

I am using a Les Paul Traditional Plus, great guitar. I picked up a Carl Martin Hot Drive and Boost and jammed with it for a couple of hours and got things dialed in. The big test will be live tonight. The OD is good but the Boost is amazing! So I dialed in a good big rock tone on the lead channel then when I hit the clean channel I used the HDB for a slight grind and it controls my volume problem. So far so good, real test in a few hours.

I do have a fender bassman head that needs retube to running both amps into my 412 isn't out of the question in the future. But tonight I will see how it goes with this set up.

Also running the Vox and my DL 4 in the loop, I do think the vox is adding some highend to the mix, got it to a good point at the space I think I can work with it for tonight and more tweek.

It never ends! HA