Hey Pedal Geeks!

[Ed A]

OK... wonder if anyone has invented yet a pedal that I need... Ive had Klon, Rat, Catlinbread, old bluesbreaker, super overdrive and more and still havent found what Im looking for to solve my problem... Here is the issue: My gigging amp is a Tech 21 Trademark 60 with a vintage JBL D120... dont crucify me for playing solid state.... I have an all original 69 100w plexi, a Friedman, a Royal Jimmy Page Hiwatt, modded Blues Jr and Ive had Matchless, Bogner, Blockhead and bunch of vintage Fenders and Marshalls... but these days with my age, bad back, effed up shoulders, the Tech 21 serves me well and is surprisingly close to perfect.... its versatile, light weight, great tone at any volume.... But the one thing that is NOT perfect is that although it has great gain and sustain (I can get a really great vintage type Marshall tone out of it) its just a little TOO smooth sounding! Missing a bit of that loose grind...

SO..... has anyone invented a pedal that will not change the tone of my amp or add more gain but will add just a little bit of rasp and edge?... I wanna be clear that Im NOT looking to play the amp clean and use this pedal to simulate a driving amp... the amp will be already driving and the pedal will just add some grit... this would be a leave on all the time pedal.... THAT IS THE QUESTION FOR YOU ALL!.... thanks!

 

[jrgtr42]

Maybe a fuzz box of some sort may help?
|I seem to recall that one of the big pedal builders, Boss or DOD, years ago had an analog (for lack of a better word) pedal, that IIRC would give a bit more oompf to a solid state amp.
I could be making that up out of my head, though., it would have been easily 25+ years ago.

 

[renderit]

Origin Effects Cali 76. Perfect. For ANY amp.

Hell, they even make DRUMMERS sound better.

Also an Origin Effects Revival Drive.

 

[Ed A]

Origin Effects Cali 76. Perfect. For ANY amp.

Hell, they even make DRUMMERS sound better.

Also an Origin Effects Revival Drive.

Thanks for the opinion!.. I wanna be clear that Im NOT looking to play the amp clean and use this pedal to simulate a driving amp... the amp will be already driving and the pedal will just add some grit... you still think that this one would be good for that purpose?

 

[CK6]

OK... wonder if anyone has invented yet a pedal that I need... Ive had Klon, Rat, Catlinbread, old bluesbreaker, super overdrive and more and still havent found what Im looking for to solve my problem... Here is the issue: My gigging amp is a Tech 21 Trademark 60 with a vintage JBL D120... dont crucify me for playing solid state.... I have an all original 69 100w plexi, a Friedman, a Royal Jimmy Page Hiwatt, modded Blues Jr and Ive had Matchless, Bogner, Blockhead and bunch of vintage Fenders and Marshalls... but these days with my age, bad back, effed up shoulders, the Tech 21 serves me well and is surprisingly close to perfect.... its versatile, light weight, great tone at any volume.... But the one thing that is NOT perfect is that although it has great gain and sustain (I can get a really great vintage type Marshall tone out of it) its just a little TOO smooth sounding! Missing a bit of that loose grind...

SO..... has anyone invented a pedal that will not change the tone of my amp or add more gain but will add just a little bit of rasp and edge?... I wanna be clear that Im NOT looking to play the amp clean and use this pedal to simulate a driving amp... the amp will be already driving and the pedal will just add some grit... this would be a leave on all the time pedal.... THAT IS THE QUESTION FOR YOU ALL!.... thanks!

Hi Ed, what about the Wampler Tumnus? I haven’t used it with a solid state amp but it may do the trick.

Do you guys mike the guitar amps when you play? If so, you could get a Fender Pro Junior as it is light and sounds great.

Cheers

 

[ourmaninthenorth]

Ed, what about a Rangemaster, or a Tone Bender?

BAE do a combined pedal with both called a Hot Fuzz, a Rangemaster on one channel and a MK4 Tonebender on the other.

I've got one and use it as you describe to supply a bit of hair on an almost clipping amp.

Shame you're not in the UK, I'd be delighted to send it over for a few weeks so you could experiment and see if it does the job you're looking for.

 

[zacknorton]

Acclam Dr. Robert. or even better... pharmerfx on instagram get his version called "abbey road". INCREDIBLE pedal.

holy shit! ourmaninthenorth!!! your pedal board is making me dizzy. Big Trees! and that delay!!! what' the Neve looking pedal?

 

[ourmaninthenorth]

Acclam Dr. Robert. or even better... pharmerfx on instagram get his version called "abbey road". INCREDIBLE pedal.

holy shit! ourmaninthenorth!!! your pedal board is making me dizzy. Big Trees! and that delay!!! what' the Neve looking pedal?

That's the BAE Hot Fuzz mate.

 

[el84ster]

If I were on this same quest, I’d look for a pedal that was basically a clean gain stage but that would be biased to promote odd order harmonics and a touch of grind.

Not sure what’s out there that does that, but that sounds like the direction you need to go. I’ve built several boxes with a single 12ax7 for a similar reason but not sure what’s available commercially.

Actually, a range master type pedal but with a flat response (just a cap swap) could probably do this very well. Would give you the harmonics that tend to be missing with SS amps.

 

[Wilko]

I know, I know... very common pedal, but get great results like you're describing with a Keeley modded Blues Driver. About 1/8 turn of the gain knob. I'm not using it with SS, but with all of my amps running a medium grit sound. I'll hit this as a slight lead boost or to play dirtier than my regular "Mike Campell-ish" tone.

Here's a sample. You'll see me step on it at about :28. adds a tiny bit more of that fizzy "hair" at the top of the the tone.
Amp is Marshall 2204 into ~1970 basketweave with two original and two 55hz RI greenbacks.

 

[renderit]

Thanks for the opinion!.. I wanna be clear that Im NOT looking to play the amp clean and use this pedal to simulate a driving amp... the amp will be already driving and the pedal will just add some grit... you still think that this one would be good for that purpose?

The Cali 76 just flat out makes everything sound better.
No drive added.
You notice nice harmonics from the simulated tube compression it nails perfectly.
I mean it when I say EVERYTHING just sounds better through it.

The Revival Drive can be used to just add flavor all the way up to making a Deluxe sound like a fully cobbed Marshal stack.
It is awesome in that respect, but is a Swiss Army knife for tone in the right hands.

I might also suggest a Slide rig from Origin Effects.
It is like 2 Cali's chained together to let you dirt it up even more.

I have all three.

I would ditch all my others and keep these certainly.
I almost never play without the Cali, Slide Rig or Revival Drive.

I honestly think Origin Effects equipment is the best built equipment out there BY A MILE.

 

[corpse]

Ed- last year i bought a Way Huge Overrated Special (Joe B was involved in the development). What you mention is what it was designed to do- and they are inexpensive. I use it at low volume with other OD pedals- mixing distortion with OD, or fuzz, or sometimes even by itself. It was specifically designed to use in conjunction with an overdriven amp. I love it.

 

[Ed A]

Hey guys, thanks for all of the great suggestions and videos etc.!… I decided to try first the Earthquaker Speaker Cranker… It’s on its way to me. Company description says it adds grit without changing the tone and every demo I’ve heard it seems to do just that… Will try that first and if not it’ll get sold and I’ll try another one of the suggestions here… Many thanks!

 

[JLee]

The Timmy can get pretty gritty with the drive turned up. It’s claim to fame is it’s ability to be a transparent boost, but I preferred it for its grit as an overdrive.

 

[El Gringo]

I know, I know... very common pedal, but get great results like you're describing with a Keeley modded Blues Driver. About 1/8 turn of the gain knob. I'm not using it with SS, but with all of my amps running a medium grit sound. I'll hit this as a slight lead boost or to play dirtier than my regular "Mike Campell-ish" tone.

Here's a sample. You'll see me step on it at about :28. adds a tiny bit more of that fizzy "hair" at the top of the the tone.
Amp is Marshall 2204 into ~1970 basketweave with two original and two 55hz RI greenbacks.

Oh Amy wow , It's been so long since I heard Amy ! Such a good rocking version . Love your tone and playing ! Which Les Paul are you using ? and may I ask what are the pickups ? Vocals sound just like Craig Fuller's from Pure Prairie League . Your video is awesome , as it looks like you are having the best fun !

 

[Wilko]

Which Les Paul are you using ? and may I ask what are the pickups ? Vocals sound just like Craig Fuller's from Pure Prairie League . Your video is awesome , as it looks like you are having the best fun !

Thanks for the kind words. Very silly version with exagerrated moves and all. Totally fun gig. Dec 5 this year!

That is the 1956 that I Bursted. 1961 PAFs.

Wilko's 1956 top stripped!

Well guys, Here's what was under that refin on that 56 I just got from ebay:

www.lespaulforum.com

I sold to it member "Progear" He refinished it

 

[El Gringo]

Thanks for the kind words. Very silly version with exagerrated moves and all. Totally fun gig. Dec 5 this year!

That is the 1956 that I Bursted. 1961 PAFs.

Wilko's 1956 top stripped!

Well guys, Here's what was under that refin on that 56 I just got from ebay:

www.lespaulforum.com

I sold to it member "Progear" He refinished it

Oh my goodness no wonder the tone is so rich along with your playing as you are totally rocking and having a blast which is most infectious in the best way possible ! Bravo !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Sol]

Way Huge Red Llama, provides grit without..erm.. fussing with your tone..

If not, have you considered paying the original Marshall Bluesbreaker another call ? Its not as transparent as the Red Llama, but subtle grit is its middle name..

All the very best.

 

[Stephens]

Ed- last year i bought a Way Huge Overrated Special (Joe B was involved in the development). What you mention is what it was designed to do- and they are inexpensive. I use it at low volume with other OD pedals- mixing distortion with OD, or fuzz, or sometimes even by itself. It was specifically designed to use in conjunction with an overdriven amp. I love it.

+1

This has been my main OD since they first came out about 5 years ago. Really works well when you already have the amp cooking. Joe showed me how to set it up and I’ve been sold since!

 

[DrewB]

Colorsound Overdriver sounds like what you're after to me. Strat first, skip ahead for Les Paul.