I'm looking for something that'll get me in the ballpark of a plexi (or Bassman, for that matter) type sound. Not a hot-rodded high gain 'Marshall' or early EVH sound. I have pedals that can get me there pretty well, already. More the sort of low to mid-gain crunch, think Malcolm Young or Hendrix in his less fuzzed out moments, that I can stack with other pedals.
Partly triggered by picking up a Catalinbread DLS and deciding it's not for me.
Stacks wonderfully with fuzz and other style pedals -- I've never heard some of my other pedals sounding so good -- but the core tone with just the DLS on its own, doesn't quite get tight enough in the low end, or even quite clean enough for me. I expect it'd be perfect with another guitar, or another person's style. But ... it doesn't quite get me to the sound I want to hear.
Recommendations? I'm happy to make things (from PCB, kits, or on vero) if need be,
Matt
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Probably the Wampler Plexidrive Deluxe is your best bet, or the Wheebo JTM drive?
But, with my main guitar (ASAT with the big MFD pickups, which produce a fair bit of low end) I don't find I can get it to clean up enough, or be quite 'crisp' enough in the low mids and low end. I did a fairly exhaustive comparison of the sound of the pedal with videos of some plexi tones, and it gets it pretty spot on, I think, but it's not quite what I wanted.
(Ironically, I do actually have a 50w plexi head, but I want a pedal for volume and convenience reasons, as without a lot of attenuation, and maybe some kind of cab simulator, I couldn't get anywhere near that tone at flat volumes).
Wheebo JTM gets recommended on The Fretboard a lot, I think. Will check it out.
Now I use a Boss df-2. This is very responsive and likes other pedals, but isn't really marshall voiced as such as more a generic responsive crunch sound from a big amp.
I've heard the weehbo is very good but never tried one.
I happen to have one for sale...
Eqd Speaker Cranker clone
Monte Allums TR-2 Plus mod kit
Trading feedback: http://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/60602/
can also recommend the new Rockett Animal for a great slightly pushed open sounding plexi.
Not something anyone would accuse the Weehbo JTM of. Some people flip them because they lack gain.
For me that's a big plus, and besides they stack magnificently with a boost in front.
The new Origin Revival is the only pedal I would consider replacing mine with
Gotta add that the Origin Effects Revival Drive does look mind blowing let good.
The OP mentioned the DLS in the top post. I tried the Mk3 with the three-band EQ and I just didn't like it as much as the Mk2. Instead of a three-band, the Mk2 just has "fullness" and "presence" controls which I guess equate somewhat to bass and treble but I think they do a cut rather than a boost. There's something about the OD in the Mk2 which I liked better and I've stuck with it.
The DLS still takes fuzz style pedals better, though.
Listening to vids, of the recommendations above, the .45 Caliber, Weehbo (various), and the Origin Effects Revival all have the right kind of tone.