need a new overdrive/distortion pedal

[peskypesky]

so my Boss OS-2 has apparently died. gives me an excuse to get a sweet new overdrive/distortion pedal. any suggestions for one that's around $100 or less?

[mkgearhead]

I've heard some good things about the GFS ones, and if they suck, you're only out about $50. Do a search on youtube, there's some demos.

[KevinV]

If you're driving a tube amp, I'd suggest checking out the Ibanez TS-9 Tubescreamer. It's my favorite. I've also got a Tech 21 Sansamp Tri-AC that is highly touted by maker and users alike, but it doesn't come close to the TS-9. And knowing you're a bluesman, I think you'd dig the Ibanez...awesome drive at both ends of the spectrum.

[Hoss]

I LOVE my Digitech Bad Monkey. It's cheap, and it's amazing!

[Bullitt]

Id take it apart and look for the obvious and maybe its a simple repair and put the money for a new CV custom Tele.

[photoweborama]

I've owned quite a few...
A TS-9, TS-9 DX, Dano stuff, Bad Monkey, etc..

My favorite of all is also the cheapest... The Arion Tubeulator. I don't think they make them anymore. When they went down to $9.00 each, I stocked up, but gave them away as gifts. I only have the original one I first purchased.

The Bad Monkey is really good too, but in the end, I kept the TS-9DX and sold the Bad Monkey.

Right now in my "overdrive/distortion" loop, I run the Tubeulator into a modified DS-1, into the TS-9DX into a Dynacomp. I've slimmed down my whole board recently and got rid of a few I never really used.

[kurdt]

boss ds-1.

[telepath]

Yep those GFS pedals look good for the money - True Bypass too.

@ Photoweborama & Hoss
What was it about the BM you were not so keen on / keen on?
Ive been wondering about getting one, but I'd have to get it off the web.
People seem to really like it - or they don't!

Re the Arion Tubeulator - absolute steal at $9 !
I have a similar situation - I have a 'Dinosaur' (heh!) cheap OD pedal which actually sounds amazing. Keeps a good bit of bottom end, but with a Tubescreamer mid and top note. Cheap plastic-y thing.
Unfortunately its noisy as heck in the chain, and definitely sucks a lot of tone when not in use.
So I dont use it.
I might try rehousing it as a little project sometime.

[HohnerFan]

How about this:

YouTube- BehringerVT999

[Hoss]

Telepath: There's nothing I don't like about the Bad Monkey. I love it and I still have it after 3 years.

[peskypesky]

hmm, since Digitech is having a buy two get one free special, the Bad Monkey might be the way to go.

http://www.digitech.com/Offers/BUY2GET1/index.php

but i swore i would never buy another Digitech pedal after my delay from them turned out to be a lemon.

[MikeR]

I'm having a lot of fun with a Marshall Guvnor MK II at the minute. Cheap and sweet. Not a screaming monster, more like the late 60s early 70s Keef -Midnight rambler sound.

[photoweborama]

Nothing wrong with the Bad Monkey at all. I like the bass adjustment.
All analog. I checked with digitech.

I just felt for me, the TS-9 DX covered some of the same territory in some of the turbo modes.

I seldom buy pedals, also. usually people trade them to me for working on their guitars.
This was a trade doing work on a UniVox.

[peskypesky]

thank you for the suggestions, peeps. anyone else have a recommendation?

[Hugh]

Well, you know me. For distortion I like the Dirty Bomb. It's 100 bucks

YouTube- Barber Electronics DIRTY BOMB guitar...

[Hugh]

Here is a guy demoing it with a strat on a low gain setting.

YouTube- Dirty bomb low gain setting

[AllroyPA]

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/p...dal?sku=580208

[motoman45]

bad monkey.... blues driver...super overdrive

[Axeaddict]

I like my ProCo Rat..Picked up a bad monkey yesterday for 30 bucks and a big muff for 42 bucks on ebay today..Like shooting fish in a barrel..

[jmiller475]

GMD Luther Drive
Cmatmods Signa Drive

[boujsquier]

Being a fan of the TS-9 as well, I also like something that is similar with a bit more edge to it gain wise and some bass adjustment ..that said check out the Danelectro Cool Cat Transparent overdrives...

I have both the V1 and the V2 and they go really well with my strats;

Gearmanndude of youtube fame has a great video up comparing the two...

Check it out here

[arealhack]

Originally Posted by Bullitt

Id take it apart and look for the obvious and maybe its a simple repair and put the money for a new CV custom Tele.

Ditto that.First and easiest to check and fix are the battery connections and the in/out jacks.

Did you like the OS2? I picked one up at my favorite pawnshop hunting grounds a few years ago, but could never warm up to the pedal.

[hunter rose IV]

hey pesky..
you might like a boss sd-2...
2 pedals in one,one side has a very tubescreamer type of sound,and the other has a very marshally sound to it.both sides of the pedal have their own volume/tone/distortion pots,and you can footswitch in and out of them.

you can find 'em on fleabay for about 50-60 bucks...worth every penny.

i also like the rat as well,but try it first,there's a lot of sound variation between the pedals for some silly reason.

good luck!

thom

[edandis]

+1 on the Digitech Bad Monkey, you can't beat it for the price.

[manticus]

Check out the MXR Zakk Wylde overdrive. It's pretty killer. Not as high gain as most people would think. He actually uses it as a boost in front of his cranked stack, lol. Sound great on it's own, nice growl and very transparent.

[fenderfreak]

MXR Distortion....the one I use is a vintage from the 70's, awesome.

[tjnugent]

Pesky,

The next pedal I am going to buy is the Luther Drive from Gearmandude on Youtube. he is the guy that has done over 600 video pedal reviews and sells his own 808 style pedal called Luther. It sells for $100 and it is hand made and sounds great. I can get you in touch with him if you want one. Just PM me... Trust me on this one bro... This is good and HW..

here is a video...

YouTube - Geramanndude's Luther Drive...

I know the guy.

TJ

[Hugh]

Well, it's been a year since you asked lol.

What did you get ?

[Bassman96]

Originally Posted by tjnugent

Pesky,

The next pedal I am going to buy is the Luther Drive from Gearmandude on Youtube. he is the guy that has done over 600 video pedal reviews and sells his own 808 style pedal called Luther. It sells for $100 and it is hand made and sounds great. I can get you in touch with him if you want one. Just PM me... Trust me on this one bro... This is good and HW..

here is a video...

YouTube - Geramanndude's Luther Drive pedal demo with Orange Tiny Terror and Fender Telecaster

I know the guy.

TJ

The pedals he sells are prebuilt BYOC kits. They are worth the money but you can save $40 by making your own. That Is the exact pedal as the one I made here http://www.squier-talk.com/forum/buz...2798-byoc.html and is their "Classic Overdrive" kit http://buildyourownclone.com/overdrive.html which is a TS808/TS9 overdrive. I love it and it's fun to say "I made that" lol.

[peskypesky]

Originally Posted by Hugh

Well, it's been a year since you asked lol.

What did you get ?

damn! its been a whole year? what the hell? where did that year go?

well, ummm, still haven't bought a pedal. mainly cause i'm mostly playing through my Line 6 Pod Studio and using the built-in distortions. i recently learned about the Ibanez Tube-King and was very impressed by the sound.

http://www.ibanez.com/reviews/Review_TK999HT.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8a046Jy08Q

also still considering the GFS Greenie

[guitar guy]

Originally Posted by peskypesky

hmm, since Digitech is having a buy two get one free special, the Bad Monkey might be the way to go.

http://www.digitech.com/Offers/BUY2GET1/index.php

but i swore i would never buy another Digitech pedal after my delay from them turned out to be a lemon.

you judge a company by one bad product when everything else they put out is good. Anyway, My favorite ods are the Dano Pastrami, Boss OD-3, Dano T-Bone Distortion, and the TO800, BO100, OD400 Behringer Pedals. I like the sound of cheaper pedals over the more expensive ones, so sue me!

[rompo420]

Originally Posted by peskypesky

thank you for the suggestions, peeps. anyone else have a recommendation?

Marshall Guv'nor GV2. I had one for nearly 6 years or so and loved it.

[AllroyPA]

Originally Posted by guitar guy

I like the sound of cheaper pedals over the more expensive ones, so sue me!

The big pedal companies are rollin in so much dough, they might ... lol
I've got my 3rd Modtone pedal coming all under $30 at auction ...