Best distortion pedal for a plexi

kelpbeds

Got a JMP 50 Watt Plexi Head. I'm using a Maxon overdrive and Carl Martin Plexitone through it which both work really well for an overdriven sound. But I can't get a distorted sound I like. Currently using a Boss DS1, have tried a MXR Fullbore Metal (which was terrible!) 
The sound is just thin and doesn't cut through. Any suggestions?
Ta

ThePrettyDamned

What volume? At high volume, a ds-1 will push a crunchy plexi into a great, cutting, sustaining lead tone  

If you want crunchy rhythm you will want something a bit thicker  

kelpbeds

I want more of a full on distorted sound - at fairly high volumes. Don't really want crunchy sound more a thicker distorted sound.
thanks

ICBM

Boss SD-1 into DS-1. Instant hard rock/metal harmonic mayhem.

Or if you haven’t tried stacking the Maxon into the DS-1 yet, do that first...

kelpbeds

so maxon first then ds1? I've got ds1 into maxon at the mo.

RandallFlagg

A good Klone with the volume up very high and then bring up the pedals gain to thicken to taste

ICBM

kelpbeds said:

so maxon first then ds1? I've got ds1 into maxon at the mo.

Yes, definitely overdrive into distortion, not the other way round.

kelpbeds

ok cool thanks

guitarcookie1

Have a listen to the recent “That Pedal Show” on this very subject. 

kelpbeds

Nice one - thanks

jaysmith

Maybe something like a Friedman BE pedal or EVH 5150 overdrive would suit ?

Reverend

I have an MXR 78 custom badass. It's based on the ds1 but sounds better the  the one I have. May well be worth having a look at. 

kelpbeds

Thanks chaps

rico

The OCD can get nice and thick with the gain up above halfway. 

Hoof

OCD, Rat, WH Fat Sandwich. All these work really well on mine.

Limehouse_Blues

Take a look at the DS1X. Totally different beast from the DS1 and much beefier. I have a 1x12 with a V30 in it yet the DS1X makes it thump like a 4x12 with ample bottom end.

ICBM

Limehouse_Blues said:

Take a look at the DS1X. Totally different beast from the DS1 and much beefier. I have a 1x12 with a V30 in it yet the DS1X makes it thump like a 4x12 with ample bottom end.

I just tried one of those - I liked the extra thump, but for me it had a very irritating 'separation' between the distortion and an underlying cleaner sound, so it sounds like a layer of fizz on top. It's something I find with most analogue solid-state distortion too, so I was hoping it might be different.

polotska

ICBM said:

Limehouse_Blues said:

Take a look at the DS1X. Totally different beast from the DS1 and much beefier. I have a 1x12 with a V30 in it yet the DS1X makes it thump like a 4x12 with ample bottom end.

I just tried one of those - I liked the extra thump, but for me it had a very irritating 'separation' between the distortion and an underlying cleaner sound, so it sounds like a layer of fizz on top. It's something I find with most analogue solid-state distortion too, so I was hoping it might be different.

I had the same experience with an OD-1X recently—I thought the basic sound of the overdrive was good (if a little characterless) and it had a nice dynamic response, but it has the same sort of separation that you describe. I had specifically hoped that it would be better in that respect than analog overdrives, but sadly that wasn’t the case.