Distortion pedals

[obired]

Ooh, my first ever pedal

I need to get a distortion pedal and I know nothing about pedals at all.
Something not too pricey would be nice, unless the extra is really going to be worth it in the long run.

Any advice or suggestions would be much appreciated!:)

[stark]

Diff pedals react differently with different guitars and amps, so whatever recommendations you get, you should try to check them out with your own guitar and amp if possible.

[IkeKrull]

What kind of music do you want to play?

distortion runs from heavy overdrive to ultra-gain scoop. (e.g. from heavy rock to death metal).

Also, depending on your views on modelling vs, digital vs analog vs tubes, various pedals will be either in or out.

Also, whats your budget. you can buy a pedal for $50, $500 or anything in between.

Personally, i'd say check out the boss pedals first - DS-2 Turbo Distortion (think nirvana) and MT-2 Metal Zone (think Metallica). These should make a reasonable benchmark from which to judge other pedals.

If you want variety, try the Digitech DF-7 Distortion Factory. If you want vintage cred, maybe try the MXR distortion or the proco RAT. If you are feeling rich, try the ToneBone tube-driven pedals.

Pretty soon, about 15 people are going to weigh in on why the only true distortion pedal is their personal favourite boutique unit, and that also if you want real distortion you shouldnt buy a pedal but instead spend $5000+ on a Mesa sextuple-rectifier or whatever.

Anyway, hope that helps.

[Jenesis]

Mesa sextuple-rec sucks!!! Get an octuple-rec!!!

[obired]

Cheers guys.

It'll be my squier strat for now, until my dot studio finally arrives in the country

Definately the rock end of the scale so I guess I'll use the DS-2 Turbo Distortion as a starting point.

Much obliged!

[Bg]

Proco Rat, DS-1 are probably my favourites....

[Timi]

Proco Rat, DS-1 are probably my favourites....

Second that, although I much prefer the rat, sounds "nicer" to me in general and rolls off better. I just modded mine for less gain and more dynamics, I love it.

Ive owned a distortion+, found it similar to the ds1 but no tone control. They have tons of high end, you can adjust you amp to suit but if you turn the pedal off you are left with mud.

Perhaps one of those Boss OD20's could be good, emulations of all the classics......

[The Scarecrow]

The Marshall pedals (modern Jackhammer, older Shredmaster) aren't bad either.

I had a Jap DS1 a few years ago, wicked starting point. RATs are a bit better and smoother sounding IMO, but only the older ones.

[ash]

I'm not pedal snob... I just don't care enough about them. But yesterday I tried what must be the worst pedal ever made. It was incredibly bad. Unusable.

Even my reject '70s Gunn Bass Octivider is more useful than the vile DS-30.

[Bg]

yeah I prefer the Rat over the DS1, thats why its on my pedalboard. I've got a jackhammer which does od/distortion, more of a jackhammer of all trades - doesn't do either particularly well

[Trueman]

Just try a few pedals out at Rockshop to see what you like first. In the end its what you think sounds good. My first pedal was a Boss DS-1 from dollar dealers.

[TMG 03]

here is a good cheap one to start you off.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Music-instrume ... 938169.htm

[Tsuken]

Rat is excellent.

But ... Fatal Tube!!! Only available online (to us in NZ) afaik. Gelato found a site that sells them, and it'd be around $250 including shipping I think. Good sound clips of that and all their other pedals (the California Sound - mesa in a box, seriously - is also awesome), so bug Gelato to post the link, and check them out. You'd obviously have to wait for shipping, but much much much more betterer than a Boss or similar.

[slash-ed]

METALZONE!!! The best beginner's introduction to GAIN.

[Tsuken]

Fatal Tube >> metalzone