• Benc
  • Bronze Member
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  • Registered: 2007-09-20
  • Posts: 28

Topic: Overdrive pedal For Single Channel Matchless ?

Hi, Im a big fan of Big tone, Im seeking some advice from those that love the Big tone too ! .
  I play a Les Paul and SG's and up till now ive used a Mesa 5.25 Head and 4x12.. The Mesa has 2 Channels which I like and have got used to having a footswitch.. Ive ordered a Matchless Lightning reverb to Replace my reverb broken Mesa... Any recommendations for a good distortion pedal please ? Will I need a tube distotion pedal such as a V twin to get a good overdrive or will a Non tube pedal like a Tubescreamer be just as good ?

2 Reply by JBJHJM (edited by JBJHJM 2009-01-22 14:40:45)

  • From: Germany / Hamburg
  • Registered: 2008-08-11
  • Posts: 494

Re: Overdrive pedal For Single Channel Matchless ?

My favourite overdrive pedals are built by www.rodenberg-amplification.com .

The pedals:
707 - Clean Boost
808 - TS808-Like
909 - Like the 808, but more gain


You don't have to buy a tube pedal for a nice overdrive, especially cause you already have a tube amp, you need a boost pedal or a ts (boost and some overdrive).

If you'd only have a solid state amp, it would be harder to get "perfect" sounds out of it...

So my suggestion is to buy either a ts808 or a Rodenberg GAS-808.

Here are my tabbed songs by "Smokin' Joe": http://www.jbonamassa.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=7236
I LIKE MUSIC! big_smile big_smile big_smile
  • Registered: 2008-08-29
  • Posts: 13

Re: Overdrive pedal For Single Channel Matchless ?

Fulltone Mosfet 2 is two pedals in one and is impressing me very much. Very TS-808 ish overdrive with a second button to boost that signal as well. Very organic sounding.

4 Reply by jgalvan8804 (edited by jgalvan8804 2009-01-23 04:16:00)

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

Re: Overdrive pedal For Single Channel Matchless ?

OCEAN EFX PEARL DRIVE.
  It sounds like you like heavy full overdrive.  The Pearl is an excellent option for this.  Very balanced, thick overdrive with a tight low end. Similar to a Fulltone OCD but it is better balanced.  Without question better if you use humbuckers.

For lighter bluesier Overdrive.

OCEAN EFX TEXAS DEUCE.

I am not kidding this is the best overdrive pedal I have ever played. Corby is on the site here and can answer questions.  I own the deuce and am waiting for the vintage echo.

google=  ocean efx

His prices kill anything you can think of.  $179 I think. 

This pedal kills the Fulltone Fulldrive.  I own both.  Destroys the TS808.  I own it too.

I am probably going to order a 2nd Deuce soon to have a back up.  It's a fantastic overdrive and you will not be disapointed.

If you have to spend more money then the Deuce I suggest the Barber Burn unit $229. Its great also.

  • From: Mt Clemens Michigan
  • Registered: 2006-09-12
  • Posts: 572

Re: Overdrive pedal For Single Channel Matchless ?

I just bought a Zvex Box of Rock and am totally in love with that pedal. It was modeled to get you the sound of a Marshall Plexi. Also, a guy in Nashville named Paul Cochrane makes these OD pedals called the Tim and The Timmy. These pedals are very sought after as you will pay Paul $155 for the Tim and can resell on Ebay for close to $300. The only problem is the witing list. It can take sometimes up to a yaer to get one!

All my tears they fell like rain, cant you hear them falling?
Led Zeppelin: Since I been Loving You
  • From: Earth
  • Registered: 2008-10-24
  • Posts: 33

Re: Overdrive pedal For Single Channel Matchless ?

Hey Bro, I have used almost everything cool out there fro the zendrive(which I still use with my twins) to the TS Reissues, but for the Matchless I think you would really like the Vox Distortion/Booster pedal, I do not know if they still make it or not, but they sound unbeleivable through the Matchless, like they are supposed to go with the amp. Anyway I also like the OCD by Fulltone, but thats a OD pedal, but you can leave them on all the time and use the guitar volume to clean up, which you can with many pedals, but back to Matchless, I own a 96 Cheiftain and I love it, I use two tone tubby alnico's and the vox peadal and its heaven, I also have used my Lee Jackson Gain pedal and Lee Jackson LaGrunge and that sounds pretty good, but for the price if you can find one, the VOX!!!
Sincerely, Big B

  • From: Earth
  • Registered: 2008-10-24
  • Posts: 33

Re: Overdrive pedal For Single Channel Matchless ?

By the way, its the vox v830 pedal from around the late 90's you can find them around in pawn shops and ebay and such, bye, good luck, get one for your Matchless if you don't like it I'll buy it from you, Big B

  • Registered: 2006-05-12
  • Posts: 74

Re: Overdrive pedal For Single Channel Matchless ?

The Rodenberg is a great pedal although new they are about $350 and up if memory serves me right. It's kind of funny, because I passed on one that a friend has 2 days ago. If interested, email me. He still has it for around $250. Also, the Fulltone OCD is a very nice pedal and the Box of Rocks is a fantastic pedal too. So many options. I play a strat and a LP through a '79 JMP w/ Greenbacks and I use a Vox Satchurater and a Fulltone FatBoost 2. No, I don't sound like Satch (nor do I try to), but the Satchurater is a fine, inexpensive and versatile stompbox.

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

Re: Overdrive pedal For Single Channel Matchless ?

I just picked up the newest incarnation of the Fulltone Fulldrive II Mosfet...a very flexable pedal that covers a lot of ground.  It has a blendable overdrive and boost function so you practically get two very usable sounds at your feet, not to mention the different voicings.  I kinda feel dumb for buying my TS808 for more money...Fulltone is making some serious stuff at awesome prices. My Fulldrive II Mosfet and OCD both rock! The awesome thing is now a lot of the large music chains (namely The Evil Giant) carry Fulltone in stock so they are very accessable.

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

Re: Overdrive pedal For Single Channel Matchless ?

LOTS of great choices there!

    Some of the cooler choices? VOX Satchurator, Full Tone FD2, Pedalworx Tejas, Timmy, Eternity, MO'd, RAT, etc.

    But, the beauty of such a cool single channel amp like the Matchless, is how you can control the Drive from your GUitar's Volume Knob. A pedal may just take away from the Amp's own righteous Tones! Sometimes, less is more.

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
  • Benc
  • Bronze Member
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  • Registered: 2007-09-20
  • Posts: 28

Re: Overdrive pedal For Single Channel Matchless ?

Budda wrote:

LOTS of great choices there!

    Some of the cooler choices? VOX Satchurator, Full Tone FD2, Pedalworx Tejas, Timmy, Eternity, MO'd, RAT, etc.

    But, the beauty of such a cool single channel amp like the Matchless, is how you can control the Drive from your GUitar's Volume Knob. A pedal may just take away from the Amp's own righteous Tones! Sometimes, less is more.

Indeed , Thanks for all your replies.. I will look into your suggestions, As said above.. I want to keep the true Matchless tone that I may loose through a pedal.
Thanks Again

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

Re: Overdrive pedal For Single Channel Matchless ?

F......k a volume knob.  If you lighten your picking technique you never have to touch the volume.  And if you get good pedals you never have to worry about losing tone.

Tone is not just  GUITAR+AMP. 

Tone  =  Player + Picking technique + fingering + guitar cable + Pedal + Amp or Amps + Room + PA + Rest of the band combined. 

I dont understand where this argument comes from. Tone this magical word that somehow people think is so overly simple.  I dont think Joe Bonamassa loses tone when running thru his pedal board. I dont think he would gain tone if he plugged right into a Amp. 

Tone is not a mountian top.  More like a mountian Chain.  There are lots of good tones and they come in all shapes and sizes.

Sorry for the rant.  I love talking dirty with you all.

  • From: Pittsburgh
  • Registered: 2008-05-22
  • Posts: 261

Re: Overdrive pedal For Single Channel Matchless ?

Wow...such anger towards a volume knob.  Frankly I use my volume knob A LOT.  I really don't use pedals at all.  I have a Fuchs ODS and I can go from clean to OD with either a picking variation or playing the volume knob.  All these pedals mean there's a lot of tap dancing going on.  Nothing against pedals...I just received a Pearl Drive from Corby and it sounds AMAZING!!!! and it'll be permantly in my rack soon but that's about it.  The Fuchs sings sweetly on it's own..everything else I've tried gets in the way.

DannyG's Website

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

Re: Overdrive pedal For Single Channel Matchless ?

I dont have any anger toward a volume knob. I am just not skilled enough to worry about it all the time.  I set it and have to use picking to adjust how loud I am.  I watch Joe fiddle with it 40 times a song and I think wow how does he remember to sing and play and mess with the volume. I'm just not that skilled.

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

Re: Overdrive pedal For Single Channel Matchless ?

Danny I bet you just got the Pearl I returned to him. Wonderful pedal.  I fell in love with the Texas Deuce and the Pearl is a different animal.

I am waiting for a Vintage Echo which should be here soon.  Corby is making some fanastic stuff.

  • From: Pittsburgh
  • Registered: 2008-05-22
  • Posts: 261

Re: Overdrive pedal For Single Channel Matchless ?

jgalvan

Serial#0001.   Didn't you LOVE it!  Corby might need to come to Pittsburgh to get this one out of my hands.
I have a Rockin' Horse sitting here too but didn't try it yet.  Can't wait.  I'll need to check out the Duece.  From the sound clips it didn't sound like what I was after but you really can't tell from those...

DannyG's Website

17 Reply by jgalvan8804 (edited by jgalvan8804 2009-01-26 14:48:30)

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

Re: Overdrive pedal For Single Channel Matchless ?

DannyG

You got the 0001.  I didnt get that one. Mine was 17 I think.  I would have kept the 0001.  Just to have it when its worth 5000 dollars in a few years.

I use to use a lot of overdrive.  So much that I was getting frustrated with my lack of cutting thru the mix. I used and OCD and some Heavier stuff.

Then one day I plugged into a Fulltone Fulldrive and kept the overdrive light.  It was mecca. I used it all night.  Just that and a Vox AC30.  I found the Texas Deuce while trying to find the pearl at a store in Baltimore. I tried it and a Barber Burn Unit.  I loved the Deuce.  It has the most wonderful lead sound with a Les Paul I've ever heard. Its creamy but still tight on the low end and clear on top. I play thru a Twin and AC30 both on clean.  I later bought a Burn unit too and I'll switch between the Fulltone, Burn unit and Texas Deuce  depending on the overdrive needed.

I'll probably buy another Texas Deuce this year.  Just as a backup.

The Pearl is an amazing pedal... but I didnt think I was going to use for my current gig. I wanted to have pedals from Corby that I could use often.  The Echo seemed like a good bet.  I'll let you know what it sounds like when I get it this week.


-Jeremy Galvan

  • From: Pittsburgh
  • Registered: 2008-05-22
  • Posts: 261

Re: Overdrive pedal For Single Channel Matchless ?

Jeremy
Yea I agree.  Sometimes that over saturated over drive sound gets washed up and doesn't cut.  That's why I love the Fuchs ODS.  Not too much gain, just enough to make it fat but still sing.  All the notes are clear...even in a big chord you can hear all the notes.

DannyG's Website