Dedicated overdrive/clean boost your Marshall thread.

[cooljuk]

Anyone have any experience with all tube clean boost pedals? I've seen them here and there, but they don't seem to be too popular. I wonder why?

[solarburnDSL50]

Originally Posted by cooljuk

I can't listen to the clip at work, but it's labeled as an "overdrive" and has separate drive and volume boost controls. Not really a "clean" boost, right? Then again so does a TS and we're talking about those here too.

Maybe I shouldn't speak without playing the clip first, though? I could be wrong.

Check it out for sure man. It is really open sounding compared to a TS. Remember this thread is about overdrive pedals too, not just clean boosts.

[cooljuk]

Originally Posted by solarburnDSL50

Check it out for sure man. It is really open sounding compared to a TS. Remember this thread is about overdrive pedals too, not just clean boosts.

hehe, oh ya. Helps to read the title. I was stuck on clean boosts from another forum. I'll check that clip out when I get home today.

[LesPaulopolis]

Originally Posted by HOT TUBES 70

hows the SD-1 working !

Man, I borrowed my buddy's MIJ SD-1 and BOOM goes the dynamite! Great to kick on for solos and sustain for days when coupled with the 900's gain channel. Swapped him my DS-2 so we'll see. He's an acoustic guy mostly, so I'm hoping buy this one off him since the MIJs just seem to have more mojo in them.

[HOT TUBES 70]

Originally Posted by LesPaulopolis

Man, I borrowed my buddy's MIJ SD-1 and BOOM goes the dynamite! Great to kick on for solos and sustain for days when coupled with the 900's gain channel. Swapped him my DS-2 so we'll see. He's an acoustic guy mostly, so I'm hoping buy this one off him since the MIJs just seem to have more mojo in them.

did you ever get your SD1 , modded ?

cause your modded sd1 should sound bigger and fuller than
a stock MIJ. i'v done the shoot outs on this topic .

i pm'd you a mod did i not ??

[LesPaulopolis]

no PMs in my inbox

The "SD" I was referenceing in my orig. post was a Sparkle Drive. Don't own a SD-1, but could buy a new one and mod if you think it's better than a 90's MIJ one.

[Hollowbody]

I love the way those knobs move around on that video so you can see the settings on the Visual Sound.

I am now expecting a package with one CTO-1. Should be here Tue. or if I'm lucky on Mon.

[solarburnDSL50]

Originally Posted by Hollowbody

I love the way those knobs move around on that video so you can see the settings on the Visual Sound.

I am now expecting a package with one CTO-1. Should be here Tue. or if I'm lucky on Mon.

Oh shit! Look out. If it sucks there goes my reputation...

Yesterday I got to turn loose the DSL(everybody was gone)and I boosted with the CTO-1 on the red channel lead 1 & 2. Good lord have mercy! Made me not like the amps own gain by itself again. Guitar roll off is solid. Responsive pedal. When you get to play around with it will trade some settings.

Hope you dig it man. Make sure you realize the treble and bass nobs are stacked on each other. Found that out a few days after using it. Sometimes reading about the pedal a little is the right thing to do.

[Hollowbody]

Well, I got the Dano pedal yesterday and was messing with it all evening.

I had all ready got the Danelectro "Fab Echo" a couple of months ago just for kicks, thinking about daisychaining a few of those and see what happens. So I knew what I was getting in to. I even have an old Ibanez Soundtank delay. I wired an expression pedal to a jack where the "time" pot was so I could control it with my foot and make space sounds.

I like either really high grade kinda pricey 'boutique" gear to use on gigs or in the studio, stuff that you put in a hard case and treat like a baby. But also super cheap stuff that I can mess with and not worry too much if it doesn't work out or if I kill it with my soldering iron. (Jeckyl and Hyde syndrome)

But this CTO-1 suprised me, it's not a cheap pedal. It has the typical Dano 50's space retro look. The case is metal which was cool because I wasn't paying attention during order and I thought it would be plastic like some of the others.

I think it could hold it's own at gigs so I'm taking it out this weekend.

It really is a cool tool and I appreciate the heads up on this one Solarburn. I'll spend some more time with it and then give the best description of how it is with my gear that I can.

[solarburnDSL50]

Originally Posted by Hollowbody

Well, I got the Dano pedal yesterday and was messing with it all evening.

I had all ready got the Danelectro "Fab Echo" a couple of months ago just for kicks, thinking about daisychaining a few of those and see what happens. So I knew what I was getting in to. I even have an old Ibanez Soundtank delay. I wired an expression pedal to a jack where the "time" pot was so I could control it with my foot and make space sounds.

I like either really high grade kinda pricey 'boutique" gear to use on gigs or in the studio, stuff that you put in a hard case and treat like a baby. But also super cheap stuff that I can mess with and not worry too much if it doesn't work out or if I kill it with my soldering iron. (Jeckyl and Hyde syndrome)

But this CTO-1 suprised me, it's not a cheap pedal. It has the typical Dano 50's space retro look. The case is metal which was cool because I wasn't paying attention during order and I thought it would be plastic like some of the others.

I think it could hold it's own at gigs so I'm taking it out this weekend.

It really is a cool tool and I appreciate the heads up on this one Solarburn. I'll spend some more time with it and then give the best description of how it is with my gear that I can.

Glad to hear you find it has some mojo in it. I didn't think I was crazy for liking such an inexpensive pedal. Like I said it works well with both my amps which are very different. I still want the Visual Sound Open Road but I will have to wait for my pedal money to build up again.

Right now the CTO-1 has ousted my Bad Monkey, Boosta Grande and my HT Dual although I will be keeping them handy off to the side.

Definitely keep me posted on what you think about it Hollowbody and how it fits in with your line up.

[solarburnDSL50]

Just got a VS V2 Route 808.

With the Marshall:

This pedal lights up the red channel. Not much else to say other than its all good. It sounds good on the crunch channel. Good ole' blues or rock. On the clean you can get some on the edge of break up blues tones.

With the Night Train:

No good here. Dull and flat no matter where the pedals EQ is or the amps. Just average as hell and uninspiring.

The only pedal that sounds good with the NT out of all mine is the CTO-1. It improves the amps tones.

I was going to send the Route 808 back because I got it for the NT specifically. Then I tried it on the DSL and it gave me enough of a variation to the CTO-1 that I decided I could make use of it as another gain flavor and be happy about it.

Almost done()with my pedal board. I think the only pedal I still want is the Barber LTD for break up and midgain flavors although the CTO-1 handles all that. The LTD will be a different shade of boost though.

[Hollowbody]

Is that 808 nomenclature an indication that this model's sonics are from the "screamer" family like the TS-808?

...just curious.

[solarburnDSL50]

Originally Posted by Hollowbody

Is that 808 nomenclature an indication that this model's sonics are from the "screamer" family like the TS-808?

...just curious.

Yeah. Its Visual Sounds version of the TS:


"Faithful re-creation of a classic overdrive!
As the name implies, the Route 808 re-creates and improves on the classic sound of the TS-808. Merging the overdrive channels from Jekyll & Hyde and the Route 66, the Route 808 accurately reproduces the sound of the TS-808 Tubescreamer, but with a bass boost switch and far more output volume than the original, adding Visual Sound's proprietary tone sweetening ingredients for even better tone. 9V battery operation is available or the Route 808 may be powered by optional AC power supply".

Puts some wamp on the red channel of the DSL. A bit more compressed and not open sounding like the Dano. Still it offers something I like.

[cooljuk]

I read a cool comparison of the Timmy and the RC Booster over here:
RC Booster& Timmy: What's the difference?? - The Gear Page

Both are on my list of toys to play with.

[solarburnDSL50]

Originally Posted by cooljuk

I read a cool comparison of the Timmy and the RC Booster over here:
RC Booster& Timmy: What's the difference?? - The Gear Page

Both are on my list of toys to play with.

There is also a comparison of the CTO-1 being based on the Timmy just like the Danelectro CO-1 Cool Cat Overdrive being based on the OCD.

[Hollowbody]

That CTO-1 is badass. It has great response to my picking dynamics and does well with the guitars volume taper. It can be shiny so if I break out in a chickin' pikin' session it could sound authentic (just kidding, I can't).

The knobs on the front don't bother me. I opened it up and it looks like true bypass, not "fake" true bypass but the real deal.

It just brings out more of my actual guitar tone for less dinero.

Solarburn, how do you run your rig. Do you use both amps in stereo or one for clean one for dist, or both simultaneously. Or do you use the amps separately?

And if you do use them together how do you split your signal, are you using the VS and the CTO on each amp?

Sorry for all the questions but I have a Marshall and an el84 single ended amp that I am using together in various ways with the Danelectro and the Fulltone as my boost pedals so I am just looking for what options others prefer.

[solarburnDSL50]

Originally Posted by Hollowbody

That CTO-1 is badass. It has great response to my picking dynamics and does well with the guitars volume taper. It can be shiny so if I break out in a chickin' pikin' session it could sound authentic (just kidding, I can't).

The knobs on the front don't bother me. I opened it up and it looks like true bypass, not "fake" true bypass but the real deal.

It just brings out more of my actual guitar tone for less dinero.

Solarburn, how do you run your rig. Do you use both amps in stereo or one for clean one for dist, or both simultaneously. Or do you use the amps separately?

And if you do use them together how do you split your signal, are you using the VS and the CTO on each amp?

Sorry for all the questions but I have a Marshall and an el84 single ended amp that I am using together in various ways with the Danelectro and the Fulltone as my boost pedals so I am just looking for what options others prefer.

Did I not tell ya it is the shiznit man. The picking dynamics are A1 man and great with volume roll off. Well now I am running them separate and I'm not gigging right now. Just learn'n more tunes and jamm'n with friends. The Night Train is really different voiced than the Marshall and I would prolly only use it in small settings for blues jams when playing out. Its only 15 watts so it is limited unless miced.

The Marshall I use for everything. So I'm definitely using the CTO-1 with it and the Route 808 for another gain flavor. By the way I can hear tone being effected using the 808 when its off. Just a hair different from going straight into the amp. With the CTO-1 I can't detect any difference from going straight in when the pedal is off.

I have to say the Dano really makes the NT a better playing amp. The tube change helped of course but the pedal made the biggest difference with it. It is so finicky I don't think there is another OD pedal that can meld with it. So I don't use any of my other OD's with it. They just don't sound good enough.

Right now I just play my amps separately and put the Dano in front of which ever one I'm playing. I have it set up at home to be an easy change but no A/B switch which would be easier. I just don't own one yet. If I were to run them both I would use an A/B pedal to switch between them. I don't think I would play them in stereo together. Voiced too differently. I don't know. Guess I'd actually have to try it to be able to say for sure.

[Hollowbody]

Originally Posted by solarburnDSL50

Right now I just play my amps separately and put the Dano in front of which ever one I'm playing. I have it set up at home to be an easy change but no A/B switch which would be easier. I just don't own one yet. If I were to run them both I would use an A/B pedal to switch between them. I don't think I would play them in stereo together. Voiced too differently. I don't know. Guess I'd actually have to try it to be able to say for sure.

I know what you mean about different voicings. It's like comparing a motorcycle to a semi truck.

I found that I like the combination of the different voicings but I may tweak them both differently than you. I try to find a tonal middle ground between the two amps. I like having different effects on each one and the stereo chorus on both (whenever I use it which is rare).

Technically, My Marshall is 45 watts and the Dr. Z is 18 watts so it's a little stretch but not too bad though headroom could be an issue.

The way I figure. They are both enough to fill a club or a studio and if I am on a real big stage they are getting microphones put in front of them anyway.

[solarburnDSL50]

Originally Posted by Hollowbody

I know what you mean about different voicings. It's like comparing a motorcycle to a semi truck.

I found that I like the combination of the different voicings but I may tweak them both differently than you. I try to find a tonal middle ground between the two amps. I like having different effects on each one and the stereo chorus on both (whenever I use it which is rare).

Technically, My Marshall is 45 watts and the Dr. Z is 18 watts so it's a little stretch but not too bad though headroom could be an issue.

The way I figure. They are both enough to fill a club or a studio and if I am on a real big stage they are getting microphones put in front of them anyway.

Yeah I'm just going to have to try it to see. It sounds like you know how to get the best out of both of yours.

One thing for sure is the NT is alot smaller sounding than the DSL at the same volume level but it really cuts. Just sounds small. The Marshall sounds so much bigger and open I'm afraid it would make the NT come off like a moped to a Harley.

It did sound good in a mix with my buddies amp so it may be fine. It would definitely need to be miced though. I love play'n the blues on it.

Those Dr. Z's sound nice man. I bet it is a good mix.

[Ace]

Okay just jumping on this train since I'm in an experimenting phase with boosters in front of overdriven amps. A Marshall 6100LM (and besides that a Carvin Legacy). Atm, I put them in front of the Lead channel, gain around 6-7. Most pedals drive about 10oclock, drive 3oclock, tone a notch to the bass side of tone unless mentioned otherwise

Boss SD-1: stock for now, I must say I'm really surprised by this really really cheap pedal. I like the base character of the pedal, it's nice and crunchy, might sound a bit harsh from time to time. I'm thinking of throwing Monte Allumns GT mod in it. I'm also looking at HotTubes recommendations.

Ibanez TS-9: stock. Feels more metal oriented and a bit colder sounding to me. I've not really found a setting on it for now that would make this a keeper. Still have to toy around with this thing and how it reacts to the pickups I use. And how it could work to use in combination with the SD-1.

Proco Rat Vintage Reissue with LM308N: The LM chip made a difference, it just sounded bad before. Now really gives a gritty percussive sound that is more defined. Tone set almost completely to bass side. Works quite nice with my Washburn N4 for a Nuno Bettencourt sound. If you like that kind of tone, check it out. Don't get the Rat2 of today as it seems crappy build quality since they are made in China. Youhave to keep the drive rather low on this one. (before clean channel with lots of drive it sound like crap to me)

Ibanez Jemini: Phew... still have to toy around with this one. definitely no TS9 on the overdrive side as was previously said. But I'll have to come back and talk about this some more after I experimented some more.

I use none of them in front of a clean as I don't like that. If i put it in front of the crunch channel, I'm looking for a knob that would make the amp sing more, hence I push lead button.

Besides that I just acquiered a Line6 UberMetal and Vox Satchurator, but since these are more distrotion pedals so I won't go into them, unless someone would like to.

So, not really kinky pedals but hopefully some good info for newcommers in the boosting art (like myself )

[solarburnDSL50]

Originally Posted by Ace

Okay just jumping on this train since I'm in an experimenting phase with boosters in front of overdriven amps. A Marshall 6100LM (and besides that a Carvin Legacy). Atm, I put them in front of the Lead channel, gain around 6-7. Most pedals drive about 10oclock, drive 3oclock, tone a notch to the bass side of tone unless mentioned otherwise

Boss SD-1: stock for now, I must say I'm really surprised by this really really cheap pedal. I like the base character of the pedal, it's nice and crunchy, might sound a bit harsh from time to time. I'm thinking of throwing Monte Allumns GT mod in it. I'm also looking at HotTubes recommendations.

Ibanez TS-9: stock. Feels more metal oriented and a bit colder sounding to me. I've not really found a setting on it for now that would make this a keeper. Still have to toy around with this thing and how it reacts to the pickups I use. And how it could work to use in combination with the SD-1.

Proco Rat Vintage Reissue with LM308N: The LM chip made a difference, it just sounded bad before. Now really gives a gritty percussive sound that is more defined. Tone set almost completely to bass side. Works quite nice with my Washburn N4 for a Nuno Bettencourt sound. If you like that kind of tone, check it out. Don't get the Rat2 of today as it seems crappy build quality since they are made in China. Youhave to keep the drive rather low on this one. (before clean channel with lots of drive it sound like crap to me)

Ibanez Jemini: Phew... still have to toy around with this one. definitely no TS9 on the overdrive side as was previously said. But I'll have to come back and talk about this some more after I experimented some more.

I use none of them in front of a clean as I don't like that. If i put it in front of the crunch channel, I'm looking for a knob that would make the amp sing more, hence I push lead button.

Besides that I just acquiered a Line6 UberMetal and Vox Satchurator, but since these are more distrotion pedals so I won't go into them, unless someone would like to.

So, not really kinky pedals but hopefully some good info for newcommers in the boosting art (like myself )

Nice write up man. Enjoyed reading it!

[rockinr0ll]

For fans of the DOD 250 is there any other pedal out there that is around the same simplicity but even better?

[Nilo]

the dod and MXR dist + are almost identical, just a few different components...

otherwise, if you don't want to pay for a vintage 250, get the YJM308, it's a clone of Yngwie's favorite grey 250.

[rockinr0ll]

Thanks for the suggestion. I was hoping to find some more pedals like the DOD 250 but I think that YJM308 seems like the winner.

[MaidenStrat02]

I use the Electro Harmonix LPB-1 cranked all the way up into the green Crunch channel. Gives me that perfect 70's-80's British Heavy Metal tone I love so much. I used to use a General Guitar Gadgets TS-808 Clone I made but it colored my sound a bit and quit useing it. Don't get me wrong, I still think a good 808 used properly is awesome but I just wanted a nice loud, clean boost to push the front real hard.

[solarburnDSL50]

This can't be on the second page...

[Ace]

Anyone who has used Proco Rats in front of lead channels ? Nuno Bettencourt used to push his DSL with it and I always found he has real fat and crunchy tone.

Also wondering if there is that much difference between Rat2's from 80-90, 90-00 etc.

[MaidenStrat02]

Warren DiMartini used a Rat in front of his Laneys and Marshalls in the early days.

[TubeStack]

Great thread!

I picked up a used Route 66 pedal and have gotten great tones with it - really cool little two-in-one unit, overdrive and compression with separate controls & switches for each. Got it for $120 Canadian, sells for $190 new. Love this pedal!




Pretty sure the overdrive is a TS808 clone, I really dig it. Works great for a little extra gain on a dirty channel, or for a nice warm, slight overdrive on a clean channel. Has a bass-boost switch to help with the usual 808 loss of lows, has some noise-reduction circuitry, as well.

With my old Carvin X100B head, I usually had the following overdrive settings: gain-9 o'clock, tone-12 o'clock, and volume 10 o'clock. I used it both with and without the bass-boost feature (sometimes at high volumes, the bass boost would cause the microphonic pickups on my '74 SG to honk and squawk.)

Just got my JCM 800 2204, so I'm still in the midst of messing around with the settings with the new setup.

I use the overdrive side the most, but the compression is fun, too, every now and then. You can add a bit of sustain & smoothness to high-gain leads, or compress the hell out of clean/twang sounds for that classic Nashville thing.

Apparently, Johnny Lange is a fan and uses this pedal.

And, I'm not a huge U2 fan (though I respect The Edge and their early work), but this is a fun story from the Visual Sound website:

"A while back Fraser McAllister, guitar tech for U2, called us saying that The Edge, apparently, had heard great things about the V2 JEKYLL & HYDE and V2 ROUTE 66 pedals. He wanted to give them a test drive, so we shipped them to Ireland and waited to hear the verdict. A week later, Fraser called back to say that The Edge liked both pedals a lot and was especially in love with the V2 ROUTE 66. He also said that Daniel Lanois, U2’s producer, loved the V2 ROUTE 66 pedal so much that he wanted to know “would it be OK if we bought another one?” Was he kidding? Anyway… off went another V2 ROUTE 66 pedal to Ireland. We have it on good standing that the pedals have become not only a part of U2’s live show, but are also used in several places on their Grammy Award winning CD’s!

[solarburnDSL50]

Originally Posted by TubeStack

Great thread!

I picked up a used Route 66 pedal and have gotten great tones with it - really cool little two-in-one unit, overdrive and compression with separate controls & switches for each. Got it for $120 Canadian, sells for $190 new. Love this pedal!




Pretty sure the overdrive is a TS808 clone, I really dig it. Works great for a little extra gain on a dirty channel, or for a nice warm, slight overdrive on a clean channel. Has a bass-boost switch to help with the usual 808 loss of lows, has some noise-reduction circuitry, as well.

With my old Carvin X100B head, I usually had the following overdrive settings: gain-9 o'clock, tone-12 o'clock, and volume 10 o'clock. I used it both with and without the bass-boost feature (sometimes at high volumes, the bass boost would cause the microphonic pickups on my '74 SG to honk and squawk.)

Just got my JCM 800 2204, so I'm still in the midst of messing around with the settings with the new setup.

I use the overdrive side the most, but the compression is fun, too, every now and then. You can add a bit of sustain & smoothness to high-gain leads, or compress the hell out of clean/twang sounds for that classic Nashville thing.

Apparently, Johnny Lange is a fan and uses this pedal.

And, I'm not a huge U2 fan (though I respect The Edge and their early work), but this is a fun story from the Visual Sound website:

I have the Route 808 which is the overdrive side of the Route 66. Good TS derivative.