Overdrives that also work into clean amps

monquixote

The dirtbox world tends to split into those pedals that work really well at pushing an overdriven amp but don't sound that great into a high headroom clean channel (i.e. When pushing the amp to drive ain't going to happen) like the Tubescreamer and those which sound awesome in to a clean amp, but sound muddy into a dirty channel for example the Crunch Box. 

What pedals do you know of that work equally well in both situations?

The closest thing I've heard is the Prince of Tone which is magic into a driven channel and still pretty good into clean. 

The Liquid Sunshine is also good at both, but needs to be set slightly differently to get the best out of it for each application. 

Things I'm interested to try include the AC Boost and the Signadrive. 

randomhandclaps

I've always thought the OCD works well in both situation. Also the beastly H&K Tube Factor.

dindude

Signa drive is a very good choice, the 3 mode switch allows tuning to both situations. I would say the Signa Drive is in my top two drive pedals I've had or tried (and I've had lots). Must own another one day.

EricTheWeary

Zvex Distortron probably. Does a good Marshall in a small box impression and plenty of people use it as an OD.

monquixote

randomhandclaps said:

I've always thought the OCD works well in both situation. Also the beastly H&K Tube Factor.

The OCD doesn't have enough midrange for the kind of push I'm after, but then I've never really been an OCD fan. 

monquixote

EricTheWeary said:

Zvex Distortron probably. Does a good Marshall in a small box impression and plenty of people use it as an OD.

Would like to try a Distortron. I'm a big fan of the BoR and the more controllable bass should make it a better OD.

geepers0677

I use the Xotic BB preamp Andy Timmons Signature for just this and it's lovely through the Fender twin.

Kebabkid

Well, I'll go with the Liquid Sunshine MKIII and also with the OCD. I did have a Landgraff Dynamic Overdrive (I hear screams of TS derivative, TS derivative etc etc) and the 3 switch options were very good and that had more mids but it sounded nicer than a regular TS. These days I find adding a Keeley TS-808 on low gain to the LS or OCD really helps and gives them a push and a nice sting.

Have you thought of adding an Xotic EP to your overdrive and using it to push/thicken the sound rather than it acting like a solo boost or possibly the Wampler Dual fusion, which would be an all-in-one/best of both worlds solution because of the Euphoria and Paisley (TS) side.

JohnPerry

Kingsley Jester for every application ever, into anything

Megii

Hope it's not hi-jacking the thread to much if I also ask what people think are the best pedals for use just with a totally clean (solid-state) amp, and getting a smooth liquid kind of lead tone?

photek

EricTheWeary said:

Zvex Distortron probably. Does a good Marshall in a small box impression and plenty of people use it as an OD.

I really didn't like it into an overdriven amp, it is however one of the best into a cleanish one.

monquixote

Kebabkid said:

Have you thought of adding an Xotic EP to your overdrive and using it to push/thicken the sound rather than it acting like a solo boost or possibly the Wampler Dual fusion, which would be an all-in-one/best of both worlds solution because of the Euphoria and Paisley (TS) side.

At the moment I'm using a Liquid Sunshine, a DLS and a Route 66 into a clean amp.

The LS is set quite low and gives a slight Tweed breakup for when I don't want total clean.

The DLS is set to a Marshally rock rhythm and goes to a slightly more aggressive sound with both on.

The Route 66 pushes either of the other two pedals into an awesome sustaining mid humped lead sound, but on it's own sounds quite fizzy and bass light. 

I'm quite happy with the setup, but I wondered if there was anything that would sound good in it's own right. 

monquixote

Megii said:

Hope it's not hi-jacking the thread to much if I also ask what people think are the best pedals for use just with a totally clean (solid-state) amp, and getting a smooth liquid kind of lead tone?

Done a lot of research into this:

The Riot (or US Dream clone) for liquid shreddy

The Crunchbox for JCM800 JDB/Slash sounds

The Plimsoul is ace for mid humped smooth blues rock sounds (probably my top pick)

The Pinnacle does a great EVH in a box

Any of those would do the job depending on preference. 

Megii

monquixote said:

Megii said:

Hope it's not hi-jacking the thread to much if I also ask what people think are the best pedals for use just with a totally clean (solid-state) amp, and getting a smooth liquid kind of lead tone?

Done a lot of research into this:

The Riot (or US Dream clone) for liquid shreddy

The Crunchbox for JCM800 JDB/Slash sounds

The Plimsoul is ace for mid humped smooth blues rock sounds (probably my top pick)

The Pinnacle does a great EVH in a box

Any of those would do the job depending on preference. 

That's appreciated, cheers, I will look into all of those. The Plimsoul sounds interesting from what you say - I'm kind of thinking along jazz-rock lines in terms of use. And the Riot might be an interesting "thinking out of the box" choice too.

monquixote

Megii said:

That's appreciated, cheers, I will look into all of those. The Plimsoul sounds interesting from what you say - I'm kind of thinking along jazz-rock lines in terms of use. And the Riot might be an interesting "thinking out of the box" choice too.

The Riot with the gain pulled back and the tone rolled off is actually very fusiony as it's not an overtly Rock/Marshall type sound. 

There is a US Dream in the classifieds which is a clone worth taking a punt on.

Megii

monquixote said:

The Riot with the gain pulled back and the tone rolled off is actually very fusiony as it's not an overtly Rock/Marshall type sound. 

There is a US Dream in the classifieds which is a clone worth taking a punt on.

Hmm, I may well take the punt you suggest, that could be fun to try. Thanks for your help!

John_P

+1. On the riot, pinnacle and crunch box into a clean amp. I'm using the riot and pinnacle intoa fender twin and used to gig with a crunch box - all very good at sounding like distorted amps.

mike_l

The MXR Distortion 3 works very well into a clean amp, less so into a driven amp.

 

Having said that, I've recently had some pleasing noises fron a Boss SD-1 into a Marshall Valvestate (set clean)

 

Or a Boss SD-2, set crunch/lead into a clean amp, gives the best of both worlds (within limitations)

jmaster

I find the fulldrive 2 works quite well in both situations, you have to tweak the settings slightly and it's better into a dirty amp, but it's good for both

monquixote

Oh yes agree with that, especially in MOSFET mode. 

Bit big for the space I have unfortunately. 

jmaster

I've never actually tried a MOSFET one, mine's one of the older ones.