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overdrive/distortion boost pedals? help!

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5/4/2000 2:10 AM
Dave	overdrive/distortion boost pedals? help! i was wondering between the boss SD1 and ibanez tubescreamers and fulltone fulldrive pedals. which ones are the best at boosting/overdriving the distorted channel of an amp?

5/4/2000 2:36 AM

They're all best, and all adopt the same basic design. Of the 3, the SD-1 is probably the most competitively priced as a 2nd hand item. Fulldrives are cherished by their owners, and have some added flexibility, but you pay for that. If you have money, then the Fuller product probably won't disappoint. If you pay $40 for it, neither will the TS or the SD-1. If you pay $200 for a green TS808, you probably *will* be disappointed. If all you have access to is new versions of any of these, and money is an issue, get a TS-5 Soundtank pedal, go to RG Keen's website (www.geofex.com), read the article and do the mods to it.

5/13/2000 1:30 AM
Kate Ebneter	If you pay $200 for a green TS-808, please let me know where you found it. Someone sold one on eBay not long ago for $625. That's not a typo. sigh Kate Ebneter Collector of Noise Toys

5/4/2000 3:15 AM

I just played with the three you mentioned the other day. I also added in a Boss DS-1 in my little shootout, but it's a different animal altogether and doesn't really fit in with the other three.

The SD1 and the TS-9 reissue I have sounded very similiar, didn't think either was stellar but they were nice to have to throw in if I didn't have the Fulldrive2.

FDII kicked both of thier collective butts. Bigger, fuller(no pun)/thicker, and warmer than the TS-9 and the SD-1. I remember playing these for about five minutes and going next, couldn't do that with the fd2. Add in the boost mode on the fd2, I really enjoyed what it was doing, just made it thicker and more alive feeling. It's also 4X the price of the SD-1 and about double the TS-9. Between those I would pick the SD-1.

FYI. I picked up the SD-1 for $45 bucks and a DS-1 for $35--no shipping from Zzounds--the folks sponsoring the Harmony Central site. I quickly glanced at musicians friend and Zzounds were $10 bucks lower for the DS-1--I couldn't find the SD-1 at MF. I really reccomend their service too, very good.

bw

5/4/2000 5:49 PM

I might also recommend checking out the new Ibanez TS-7... it has a boost switch on it for a little more bottom.

However, a couple of my faves are 1) Boss OD-3 overdrive... a very under rated OD pedal IMHO and has been my favorite OD pedal for at least a year now which is a record for me. I have 2 of them on my pedal board... great dynamics and smooth tube like sounding pedal.

2) Boss BD-2 blues driver... has more gain on tap than most OD type pedals but really cuts trough the mix in a heavy blues type of way if you want and can almost get into DS-1 distortion territory when cranked... good dynamics too.

5/13/2000 12:13 AM

I love the SD-1 for clean boosting an O.D. signal. I picked mine up for $35 and it's been on the floor by my amp ever since. I set mine at: full volume, tone at 12:00 and the O.D. at '0'. I already love the sound of my Marshall and this pedal is just perfect for just a bit of extra fatness for soloing. I don't care for it as a stand-alone unit but I think this pedal was primarily designed for goosing and already 'good' overdrive tone. - Jeff L.

5/13/2000 4:56 AM

I have the fulldrive 2 flat mids. I also have the Mesa V-twin and an 808. I use the fulldrive the most and the v-twin second. The thing I dont like about the v-twin is the amount of gain going to the solo mode. Other than that the pedal is great and depending on what kind of sound I am looking for that night will determine the selection of which pedal I will use. Like I said the fulldrive is my main pedal of choice...quiet and great sound.

M/J

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