Love my new Zendrive clone, but what could I get for a different overdrive flavour?

Megii

Recently snagged a Big Knob Zed Drive pedal (zendrive clone) and it's everything I hoped for - a really smooth, fat-sounding, responsive low to mid gain overdrive, with a touch of natural compression. It's really nice for my needs. And I need nothing more really, but somehow, I'm still kind of GAS-ing for another overdrive pedal - they seem kind of more-ish. What else might be recommended - obviously I don't want to buy anything too similar, but I would like to stay in the low to mid gain kind of thing - just with a bit of a different character. Maybe something with a little more edge and grit, while still musical and sweet-sounding. Perhaps if the two pedals stacked well to give a higher gain sound, that would be cool also. And nothing too expensive either, under £50 would be good, under £30 even better.

mike_l

I'm not really familiar with the ZD. But if you want something which is different, then MXR do some fantastic dirts.

I have a Custom78 badass and a Distortion3, both of which are awesomes. Neither is as high-gain or dirty as they sound either. I'd happily use either at a blues jam and not feel the gain or tone were out of order. I wouldn't use either for full-on metal, but blues, blues-rock or classic rock are well covered.

Megii

mike_l said:

I'm not really familiar with the ZD. But if you want something which is different, then MXR do some fantastic dirts.

I have a Custom78 badass and a Distortion3, both of which are awesomes. Neither is as high-gain or dirty as they sound either. I'd happily use either at a blues jam and not feel the gain or tone were out of order. I wouldn't use either for full-on metal, but blues, blues-rock or classic rock are well covered.

Cheers @mike_I - full on metal is not something I'm wanting to get into anyway, just not me really! I'm guess I'm thinking of something that would maybe have a little more edge and grit to it, compared to the ZD, but still responsive and articulate for soloing use - blues/blues-rock/classic rock does sound like something I could be interested in (especially the blues) so thanks for that.

mike_l

It'd be worth trying a Custom badass overdrive as well as the distortion, it's a lower gain, pedal.

 

The Boss sd-1 is also worth a look. I like it most as a lead boost into a crunchy/dirty amp. But it can get a clean amp slightly crunchy too. Quite possibly the most common dirt pedal anywhere.

mike_l

Also I like the Zvex Distortron with a Strat for Pink Floyd rhythms, boosted with a Toadworks Mr.Ed for leads.

 

Hopefully something in these is what you want.

Megii

Cheers for the further suggestions @mike_I - I'll investigate them all. A mate does have an SD-1 so I have tried that - I found it a bit too "hairy" sounding somehow, for my taste - just a bit undefined. Of course it's all down to individual taste I know. Will investigate them all anyhow though, and thanks again for your thoughts.

mike_l

I deliberately stayed away from the lairy pedals.

My gut feeling is the MXR's would be what you're looking for.

 

DesVegas

@mike_l nice profile pic!

Corvus

Zen > Timmy is a great tone (slight bias praps, mine being in the classifieds). Finding my newly-acquired TC Spark is a great addition; it has gain (dirt) plus bass & treble and a 3-way switch. Gets different tones out of filth pedals. Used ones are in budget.

Megii

Corvus said:

Zen > Timmy is a great tone (slight bias praps, mine being in the classifieds). Finding my newly-acquired TC Spark is a great addition; it has gain (dirt) plus bass & treble and a 3-way switch. Gets different tones out of filth pedals. Used ones are in budget.

Cheers @Corvus - I think the Timmy probably is a pedal I would like if I tried it.

ThePrettyDamned

Wisdom for @mike_l, I really love mxr drives. The dist 3 is a really great overdrive/mid gain distortion, push a driven amp with it and it'll sound huge, but it can also be the only source of clipping and sound great. Very underrated pedal.