Screw the Overdrives, Back to cable straight to amp baby!

[crwnedblasphemy]

So yesterday I tracked my guitars for another new song we have on our album coming out soon, and for the past week or so I have been playing my Quickrod straight in. I used to always play with an overdrive, but man I am digging it without. I sold my BB preamp cuz it added a lot of noise, and my only overdrive at the moment is the Tonefreak Abunai(which I like)...But the feel without is a bit more open, and I gotta tell ya, my guitar tracks sound excellent! I get enough compression through the sm57 itself when recording, so I am happy camper.

 

[Badronald]

It's all about the application.

I cannot imagine using a boost pedal with a QR. I get why people do. Different colors. I wouldn't.

I use a Triple Rec and I know many guys boost them for ultra heavy. I don't play ultra heavy so I wouldn't boost it. It's massive without a boost.

When I use my JTM45 it's a cleaner amp and boost pedals sound incredible with it.

 

[maddnotez]

It's all about the application.

Sometimes you just dont need it. Its usually more organic to not use one. (I have only tried a few OD's and they didn't include complete transparency)

But I always end up going back to the OD for my tastes and with my amp.

 

[rocknrolla]

I've tried a few OD pedals on several amps trying to see what all the fuss was about but I just don't get it. It always feels/sounds so unnatural and distant no matter what settings or brands I tried.

 

[Crunchity]

I'm right there with ya now. Been going through this over the last few weeks as well. I love a good clean boost pedal, won't be ditching my RC Booster anytime soon, but I think I'm also done with the gain/drive pedals being the majority of the distortion source. That Rivera amp I picked up cured me of that I reckon. I've already sold off my Jetter Red 2 because as cool as it is into a clean amp for that thick, middy, blusey crunch with just the right amount of chirp thing (ala the Dumble), the Rivera's clean channel with some dirt from the drive knob, its boost or from the RC is well, much better, it's 'modded Fender' all the way, just sounds superior to the pedal. As for high gain, my ChewpaCameron is a dream amp for that, and the Rivera is no slouch at that either, so there's one more pedal to sell off - the Bogner Red. I'm knee deep in the middle of recording a tune with it but when I'm done, b-bye! Yeah, I prefer the rawness of the guitar > amp, and if anything more is needed, a lil 'clean' boost for other flavors.

 

[Kapo_Polenton]

The key is to have an amp that is tight enough and has enough gain for the application... a splawn is def. both of those!

 

[BrokenRomeo]

I prefer the tone and simplicity of going straight into an amp too...

 

[jerrydyer]

yep. no doubt in my mind thats where its at.

 

[wizardy]

For a live application overdrive arent really a must but when you record metal music i think it's a must have
Boost are used to tighten the bass and add sustain to the leads while keeping the gain low on the amp for recording

 

[Gadzz]

I love my Street Rod straight in! A lil delay in the loop! Just incredible!

 

[JimmyBlind]

It's all about the application.

This.

There are certain tones that you cannot deliver from an amplifier without boosting the input signal going into it.

Boost & overdrive pedals can definitely over-compress though.
From my experience the tones that record the best are those with least gain & least compression. For me, recording is about getting that good blend of playing feel that also records well, requiring minimal production. You might not lay down/feel a solo as well with a really dry signal, but you can add post-production effects. Conversely, you can dial in loads of great stomp compression & sustain that is not as easily post-produced once it's laid down.

 

[Ventura]

I prefer the tone and simplicity of going straight into an amp too...

This.

And I find the better the amp, the less need for any additives.

 

[Heritage Softail]

They are all tools. Funny thing was this morning I was playing the crunch channel on my Gemini with the gain at 9:00, barely on, clean boosted, and pretty loud. Ok, really loud. And it was cooling that Thin Lizzy Jailbreak tone. I took the clean boost out, and I had to turn it way up to get that same crunch.

The clean boost just saves volume for the most part. Practicing early in the morning, even in a house on a large lot, there is only so loud ya wanna get it.

But yes, straight in cranked has a magic....

 

[leib10]

There are times when I prefer my amps without an OD, but generally speaking I like to use my Maxon OD 808 because it really does make the amp more playable.

 

[Shark Diver]

Just depends. Live it's hard to get a lot of different tones just with a guitar volume. But if you didn't need a lot of different tones...

Recording I think I would almost always just use the amp alone.

 

[stompboxfreak72]

Put a Majik Box Rocket Fuel pedal in front of your QR. The pedal is stupid expensive for an overdrive but sounds sweet with Splawns.

 

[wizardy]

Put a Majik Box Rocket Fuel pedal in front of your QR. The pedal is stupid expensive for an overdrive but sounds sweet with Splawns.

How does it compare to an OD808 or a BB pre ?

 

[mbman]

I always thought that with a good tube amp dirt pedals are unnecessary.

Martin

 

[adrianher]

I've used many OD pedals because many tube amps I had didn't give me what I wanted.

Now that I got the amp I consider the best for me, I don't even need a booster

IMHO when you get the amp that can give you what you are looking for, no additionals are needed

 

[crankyrayhanky]

They are all tools.
The clean boost just saves volume for the most part.
straight in cranked has a magic....

agreed
The use of clean od boost really depends on the riff, I like it on or off depending on the material (and the amp of course)....but the louder the amp is, the less the pedal is needed.