looking for an overdrive pedal

[Alexi]

Ok, I first should say that I've never even owned a pedal before. The only thing I've had are the built-in digital effects on my Crate RFX30, which I just recently sold to buy a fender blues junior(the tweed kind). The amp is really amazing but it only has one channel and only gets enough distortion to play classic-rock type stuff, so I'm looking to get an overdrive pedal so I can play some of the heavier stuff I could play on my old Crate.

I've spent most of my money on the new amp, but I still have around $100 left over, so Im looking for a decent, mid-priced overdrive pedal. Ideally, I just want a pedal that sounds like my amp would if it had more gain, so something warm and tube-like, I guess(i dont really know what "tube-like" means but I hear people say it all the time).

So far, based on the video walkthroughs, I really like the Ibanez TS-9.

[Nubus]

For really heavy distorted guitar tones you need something more along the lines of a Proco Rat IMO

[robotnerd]

i'm not a HUGE fan of the rat, it's not bad, but just not my flavor. if you're thinking of going for a tubescreamer... i suggest dropping the extra 10-15 bucks and getting the ts9dx. it's the 4 knob version, it's got a seperate mode select that allows you to do standard ts-9 mode, + mode, hot mode, or turbo mode. it's probably the best overdrive pedal in that price range i've used. but if you're looking to go heavier, i would suggest checking out penny pedals (myspace.com/pennypedals)... it's this guy that just started out, and he offers a modded boss ds-1 that is really incredible. especially if you're looking to go loud and low.

all that aside, my best suggestion is save up some more money and buy a fulltone ocd. you'll never need another overdrive.

[dolivas]

I gotta agree with Nubus for distortion you can't go wrong with a Proco Rat. I used to have a Turbo Rat which I'm kicking myself for letting go. It had the perfect kind of thick distortion good for alternative to whacked out.

If not I would suggest the Digitech Bad Monkey which is a like a more modern sounding Rat with smudge less output.
http://www.digitech.com/products/BadMonkey.htm

[dagosto]

can you describe the tone or player you want to sound like? this may help us give a better suggestion.

[Alexi]

Originally Posted by dagosto

can you describe the tone or player you want to sound like? this may help us give a better suggestion.

I guess I want something warm sounding...not fuzzy or modern...more soft...As for artists, the distortion sound on Wilco's rock tracks, like "I'm a wheel" and "At least thats what you said"...or anything by Loose Fur, Spade, Birdmonster, etc

[dagosto]

Hmm. Sounds like you want more of an amp distortion. The tube screamer could be nice for this. The TS-9 is fine if you are looking to save a little. I actually prefer the TS-9 to the TS-808 for my setup. You may also want to try the Boss Blues Driver. Even though I'm not a big fan of the Boss pedals that is one I like. It was nice and bassy through all the amps I tried.

You could also buy a clean gain pedal like the MXR Micro-Amp. This will drive the pre-amp of the bassman harder and increase the distortion that you are already getting. Of course if you want to distort it at low volumes this is probably not the answer.

[robotnerd]

yeah, i'm with dagosto about the amp distortion sound. what you're describing is one of jeff tweedy's sg's going through an ac30, and strumming hard enough to overdrive the amp. some of the bassier stuff on "i'm a wheel" was most likely done with one of his jazzmasters on the neck pickup. probably still with his ac30, however, it's possible he used an ac15 as well (he has one of the handwired ones (droool)). it's tough to get that sound at lower volumes for sure, you can get close with an amp with a master volume, but then you lose some of the power tube grit. i'm not sure EXACTLY what he used on "at least that's what you said"... but he has a bsm treble booster, which sounds pretty similar to the solo tones on that track. he's also got a crowther prunes and custard, and a few other fuzz type boxes. but a lot of the sound you're describing is the amp. as for that more "warm" sound... i've personally never found it in the ts-9... it always sounded kinda thin to me. the blues driver might be a good choice though, like dagosto, i'm not a big fan of boss pedals, but that might be an affordable way to get a sound similar to what you're looking for.

[Alexi]

thanks for all the advice so far...It looks like the ts-9 and bd-2 are the two things to check out in my price range, so I'm just gonna go to GC and test them back to back...but since theyre both relatively cheap and I've promised myself never to settle on tone I'm thinking that I might end up not liking either, in which case Im probly gonna have to save up some more money and buy a twin tube (which btw would be sweet if you guys could review) or something similar

also, thanks robotnerd for posting the info on Tweedy, ive always wanted to know what gear he used

[dagosto]

Originally Posted by Alexi

thanks for all the advice so far...It looks like the ts-9 and bd-2 are the two things to check out in my price range, so I'm just gonna go to GC and test them back to back...but since theyre both relatively cheap and I've promised myself never to settle on tone I'm thinking that I might end up not liking either, in which case Im probly gonna have to save up some more money and buy a twin tube (which btw would be sweet if you guys could review) or something similar

Sounds like a real good plan.