Distortion

[Huw]

What is everybody using to create their drives sounds for guitar (or bass)?

Good experiences/bad experiences?

I've heard a Boss Metal Zone, MXR Double Shot, Proco Rat and a TC Double Dist.

The first two have their moments, but lack clarity. Both the last two are great. The TC can sound amazing, but i reckon a lot of it is down to your amp and guitar. Your tone definitly shines through at low gain though.

[Alkaline]

I prefer overdrive myself, i use a Tubescreamer, but i've been looking at getting a distortion pedal again. The only band i've heard use a Metal zone and it not sound crap are Caspian. I am interested in getting a RAT though, are the new ones any cop or am i going to have to buy vintage?

[britheguy]

I think I prefer overdrive as well. Though depending on your amp setting you can get good sounds out of the Jekyll and Hyde pedal. But as I say it depends on your amp settings. It's meaty as hell through a mildly overdriving channel, but vicious on a clean channel. Plus you get two pedals in one It works for me, but I don't play metal etc, more early punk and rock.

[doobie]

i've always used amp gain for distortion, none of the pedals i've tired have beaten it, tired the big muff (black russian one), boss metal zone, boss ds-2, almost came close to replicating the sound i was using on my amp with a home made thing but it was prone to picking up noise and caught fire once as well.... only one i use regularly is a modified big muff for making doooom noises

i prefer using amp gain for simplicity and i just prefer the amp tone as i think it sounds a bit fuller than a wee buzzy pedal, been using a tech 21 tradmark 60, a laney gh100l and a homemade low watt valve job (although that runs clean).

[Eriatarka]

I've used Boss DS-1, DS-2 and SD-1, Pro Co Rat, Crowther Hotcake, Ibanez TS-7, Maxon OD-808 and an Electro Harmonix Little Big Muff.

I still have my SD-1, but I don't use it. I run my Maxon OD-808 in front of my Mesa Boogie as a boost.

I liked the Rat on its own though.

[WoodyRATM]

On bass i've used Rats, Ashdown drive, odb3, metal zones, sd-1, muffs among others.
but i use my sansamp now. it gets me the tone i want consisdering modding the metal zone though, it supposedly sounds ace on bass once modded, and using that as insane drive with the sansamp.

Guitar all ive used is a metal muff (which wasnt mine), metal zone and sd 1. or just the amp..

[davetherave]

On guitar I've used all sorts, but lately I use two Boss SD1 pedals, one for rhythm and then kick the other one in for solos.
Also used an American Woman pedal by Tech 21 for long sustained type solos, cool pedal for some songs. The other thing that works for me is to use the gain on my amp for rhythm and then a Boss DS1 for solos.

[Old Gold]

I recently a T-Rex Mudhoney which gives a nice fuzzy yet full distortion, although it can do slight velcro fuzz if I roll the gain down. I play a strat through it, so the single coils make for super jaggy sounds.

I've also got a Boss OD-3 which I really really like. Mmm yellow.

[Graham]

i really like the vox cooltron big ben valve overdrive pedal. sounds great on its own or using it to boost the overdrive channel on my valve amp. was pretty cheap too. use to be over £100 but i got mine for only £39 from sound control.

[unbroken]

i got an awesome sound out of using my sansamp and metal zone at the same time.

got the sansamp to give a cult of luna type clipping valve overdrive sound, then on the metalzone, drove it home with a dash of high mids, low trebles, and a wee push of bass.

Got a sound thats akin to the bassist from Minor Times, or Botch sometimes. Was great.