what boost/overdrive are you guys using? suggestions?

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mooncobra

mooncobra

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I have had a cusack screamer that I have really liked for around 6 years or so. recently it has started crapping out, it used to be quiet, not it is noisy, crackles, and hisses. obviously I will have to get something sooner than later if I want to avoid the irritating noise created by the pedal, its really too bad because I really like the pedal. I use it for leads. It gives me that little extra amount of touch sensitivity while not changing up the tone. it also seems to tighten up the amp as well. all around I have really liked it. I also will use it while playing with a clean tone to push it into a really slight gainy/bluesy type tone and it works great for that also.

what are you using, why?

what would you suggest?
 
Cusack is a great company, email Jon...I'm sure they can fix it.

I have the V2 and its great!
 
I am a Maxon 808 lover. I am not a pro with OD pedals but I had a very expensive Ibanez 808 and immediately sold it as soon as I compared it to the Maxon.

I have heard raves about the EH Soul Food pedal. People saying it is the best for the money.

I really want to start trying alot of different OD's so I will be watching this thread.

I have also heard the "Klone" is the best Klon replica around. I find a perfectly transparent boost interesting to try.
 
right now the JColoccia Horus overdrive...great pedal in my opinion. great price too.
 
mooncobra":143wb96m said:
I have had a cusack screamer that I have really liked for around 6 years or so. recently it has started crapping out, it used to be quiet, not it is noisy, crackles, and hisses. obviously I will have to get something sooner than later if I want to avoid the irritating noise created by the pedal, its really too bad because I really like the pedal. I use it for leads. It gives me that little extra amount of touch sensitivity while not changing up the tone. it also seems to tighten up the amp as well. all around I have really liked it. I also will use it while playing with a clean tone to push it into a really slight gainy/bluesy type tone and it works great for that also.

what are you using, why?

what would you suggest?

I have 3 boost/distortion/gain pedals that I really l like for various reasons.
FullDrive Fulltone 2
Bogner Ecstasy Red
Wampler Triple Wreck
And I had a Boss Metal Core

FullDrive is a boost + distortion pedal, and can be used as a clean boost only.
Great sounding pedal, excellent clean boost, especially when running it at it's 18V capability. At the higher voltage is feels a bit tighter, but sounds great at 9V as well. It's distortion is a great classic power tube break up to earlier hard rock. Plenty of tweekable options.

Bogner Red is a fantastic distortion pedal. LOTS of tone shaping adjustments, and lots of different types of distortion and gain options.
This pedal will easily do anything from a light crunch to gritty blues to hard rock to 80's metal and higher to modern metal.
With certain settings I can run the Fulldrive pedal into the Red and get some really cool overly distorted and compressed tones.

Wampler Triple Wreck is THE go to pedal for the heaviest and deepest saturated distortion for Metal or for singing solo's.
The Red and Triple Wreck are both capable of heavy saturated distortion, but where the Red may end the Wampler takes over and drives it over the top.
The distortion even when very high is creamy, harmonic and full to tone.
It too can be dialed back for more classic rock and gritty blues tones that offer a different flavor over the other 2 pedals.
Not as much tone shaping as the Red, but no slouch either even though it has less buttons.

I had the FullTone first as I wanted a boost pedal for my Egnater Vengeance and it delivered nicely.
But then I wanted to try some good and highly rated non digital, non diode distortion pedals, so I got the Red and TW thinking I would send one back or sell one. NOPE. After playing with these 2 pedals and hearing the great sonic differences they offer, both pedals stay on my pedal board and will not be taken off for the foreseeable future.

There are a lot of great pedals out there and even more opinions on which one/ones to get.
The only true way to actually know what you may like is to get a couple and just try them out at home with your own gear.
Maybe try 2 completely different types of pedals and decide which way you want to go, then read reviews and comments that point to gear in the direction you want to go.

Obviously I recommend the pedals I have.
But no need to get all 3.
Get the FullDrive 2 for the boost and classic distortion it gives, and get the Bogner Red.
These 2 will give you a great idea of what a boost can do, and the distortion options will given you an idea of what's possible.
Then, if you want heavier you'll know, or if you want something more classic you'll know.

I hope some of that helps in your quest. :)
 
For an OD I prefer the maxon OD9 or Boss SD1. Most prefer the 808 but for me I like the little extra bite the OD9 give you. As far as clean boost, I love the Seymour Duncan Pickup booster. Cheap I know, but it's stood the test against many boutique pedals.
 
I am still hanging with the KoKo boost and my early 80's Boss SD-1.
 
Koko Boost and a Modded TS-9 (modded to exact TS-808 specs by AnalogMan). I use the Koko Boost more than I do the TS-808 though.
 
The caroline haymaker knocked my maxon 808 off my board. It has an open uncompressed mode of boost that totally leaves your tone natural but still gives it just more... I just got it dialed in last night with the deliverance and was shocked how well it worked with the amp.

Steve
 
KOKO BOOST RELAODED! I love using the clean boost around 9 oclock on my evh 5150III into the bleu ch. The Mid boost sounds great on all three positions it just depends on what i want when i am soloing or just going for a different sound. Keeping the q knob around noon just adds enough something with out altering the sound too much.
 
I use a JOYO Ultimate drive. I also have an OCD...but I find the Ultimate drive to be so close that I leave the OCD at home. 40 bucks? Seriously great bang for the buck...that plus a 20 dollar Danelectro eq pedal are what I gig with. Very transparent combination. And cheap to replace...just in case.
 
metalmaniac93":2wo47kpn said:
Koko Boost and a Modded TS-9 (modded to exact TS-808 specs by AnalogMan). I use the Koko Boost more than I do the TS-808 though.


I have been looking in to the koko boost, it is definitely one of the front runners. the clips I have heard sounded good. I think I heard someone recently talking about some super overdrive called like the mk.23 or something along those lines? anyone know what I am talking about? the guy talking about it could not say enough good things about it, but I also think I remember him saying there was a limited number made. anyone have a clue as to what I am talking about?? thanks guys!!
 
mchn13":33jw6u32 said:
The caroline haymaker knocked my maxon 808 off my board. It has an open uncompressed mode of boost that totally leaves your tone natural but still gives it just more... I just got it dialed in last night with the deliverance and was shocked how well it worked with the amp.

Steve


definitely going to have to look in to this one, it sounds great!
 
mniel8195":1gd6rwp4 said:
KOKO BOOST RELAODED! I love using the clean boost around 9 oclock on my evh 5150III into the bleu ch. The Mid boost sounds great on all three positions it just depends on what i want when i am soloing or just going for a different sound. Keeping the q knob around noon just adds enough something with out altering the sound too much.


what are the big differences between koko/koko reloaded? is there that big of a difference? does the reloaded cost more than the reg koko?
 
I've got a couple of different rigs, first is a Fulldrive 2 and a a tube screamer. Other rig is pretty similar, MXR GT OD and a Maxon 808. I've got some other drive pedals that supplement those, but those are the primary OD\gain devices I use. A Wampler Velvet Fuzz and Sovereign on one board (covers the fuzz and if I want a saturated liquid lead tone) and an OCD on the other. OCD is used the least, I have a real love\hate thing with that damn pedal lol
 
I using the EHX soul food right now, it's a clone of the Klon...check it out, reasonable priced and sounds fantastic...
 
mooncobra":54zsjxih said:
mchn13":54zsjxih said:
The caroline haymaker knocked my maxon 808 off my board. It has an open uncompressed mode of boost that totally leaves your tone natural but still gives it just more... I just got it dialed in last night with the deliverance and was shocked how well it worked with the amp.

Steve


definitely going to have to look in to this one, it sounds great!

I wish i had a way to do clips right now. Its ridiculous! I. Has a three way toggle so you can get a tubescreamer boost, the open boost which i dig, and a hard clip distortion mode. Ive used that maxon for damn near ten years.

Steve
 
Dude there are tons of options for you, isn't the Cusack Screamer a fuzz pedal?, have to look that one up. I am with you on pedals tightening up the sound, I run a pedal in front of everything,, a Timmy pedal is fairly transparent, what kind of amp are you using?
 
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