Another which OD pedal with my AC30 thread...low volume edition

[TimH]

Ok so I've read the past threads and there has been some great info. Right now the only OD pedal I have is a BYOC Mighty Mouse (RAT) which is kind of cool but I'm learning more and more that I'm not a "distortion guy" I mught prefer OD's or pedals that respond like amps. I've got several high value pedals on the way to me right now that will either end my search for OD's or prove to be excellent trade bait to get some other pedals. Those pedals are the Zendrive, TIM and Timmy.

The biggest problem I have is that I play mostly at lower volumes (church gig) so I need pedals that don't need a cooking amp to sound good. Mostly I'd like the sound of my amp to shine through and I'd like it not to be thin, tinny or raspy really. Chimy is ok...but not thin :nono. Right now I'm thinking of going with the BJFE stuff if the Zen/Timmy thing doesn't work for me...maybe a HBOD and EGDM? Do those pedals stack well? I'd want something to act as the slightly broken up rhythm sound and one to be my driving rhythm sound and hopefully the two stacked could be a lead sound? What do you think?

[speed12]

Barber Ltd would probably take care of your slightly broken up rhythm...ive got an Ltd SR coming which will be paired up with an AC-15 for just that use. I'll soon be getting a Subdecay Liquid Sunshine to deal with slightly higher gain rhythm stuff and then all being well sticking the two together for a lead sound (the LS apparently likes being booted with another OD/booster). So that could possibly work for you!

I play at church as well and I know what you mean about getting stuff going without cooking the amp. I've found, after a while of not really believing people (stupidly), that your guitars volume is your friend. I can now set my AC-15 so that its cooking nicely, roll back teh volume on my Tele by about a quarter and the amp is lovely and clean, but it sounds a million times better with an OD pedal than setting the amp clean with the guitar volume all the way up...so you might want to try taht aswell?

[Curt]

There are quite a few pedals that will "work" with a Vox, but there are only about three pedals I've found that will work great with a VOX.
They are:
Gaspedal Carb, Hotcake and Eternity.

My Zendrive didn't make the cut.

[TimH]

keep it coming!

[theraygun]

Once you get your Timmy, I think you'll be set. Otherwise, Blues Driver (stock, Monte Allums, Keeley), Barber LTD SR are some other options.

[Fan-Man]

+1 on the carb and the eternity

I use both into an AC30 at church. I love my carb! It is a great low gain OD. They both stack well together also. The eternity can sound kind of fizzy to me at real low volumes...but is a great pedal for what I do.

My analogman blues driver sounds good through an AC30 also...but I replaced it with the Eternity.

I still have problems getting a sound I really like at as low of a volume I have to play at church. So, I am looking into a Hotplate. I'll let you know if this helps any.

[jayn]

When I had an AC30-like amp, I used a combination of Hotcake, Landgraff DO, and Timmy (or, sometimes, an AnalogMan Juicer set with a bit less compression than from AM to goose the Hotcake and add sustain).

I think at a gig I wound up with the Landgraff alone more often than not. I'd usually use the volume control on my Tele to go from slightly broken up rhythm to lead tones. Check out a MojoDrive for similar tones at lower price point too.

[Teahead]

The Honey Bee and Emerald Green do stack nicely, I prefered EGD > HB myself, but they work equally well either way. Something worth mentioning, unity gain on the HB's volume control is around 1 o'clock, so it can give you the feel, tone and response of a sweaty, smaller amp without kicking your amp with serious volume output. It will reduce the headroom of your AC30 and is almost custom made to do what you're asking here.

[Stressfest]

Timmy & Eternity are a great combo with the AC30 :AOK

[radcliff]

Eternity

I am not a fan of the Timmy, I think a flat mids 12v fulldrive or a COT does that light breakup sound much better

[starfish]

+1 Eternity, Hotcake, and BJF Honey Bee. All three are exactly what I have on my board right now in front of a 1963 AC-30 and 1993 DC-30. I also have used a Fulldrive 2 with great results. Amen brutha.

[nsriley]

Glad to read this thread, as I just got an AC30CC2 and was experimenting with OD's last night and found most of what I have now didn't work right, although my Skreddy Screwdriver sounded great with it. I have a BJF HB coming and an Eternity as well, so I'm excited to use those with it. :)

[todaystomorrow]

Tim and Timmy should be great for you... i love my Tim.

[mcdes]

i play with my ac30 at church too, i've found hotcake too gritty so i use and ac booster which gives as much overdrive (or little) as you want yet it stays real creamy and smooth and not harsh at all.

[Tonemeister69]

I play in several worship bands and mostly at low volumes.

Check the sig ;)

[scottcw]

For my EL84 amp, it begins and ends with the Hotcake.

Tried and sold:

BJF HB
BJF PPF
BJF Dyna Red
BJF Model R
Zendrive

Of those, I liked the HB and the PPF the best. The HB is a cool pedal for slight break-up tones. The PPF can cover everything from OD to fuzz.

[LowWatt]

Hotcake was designed around an AC-30. Put the 2 together and it's obvious.

[mild]

Timmy & Eternity are a great combo with the AC30 :AOK

Bam! Ya nailed it. :BEER

[Bulldog]

Just wait til your timmy arrives. =P

[I'm Incinerator]

I've tried

FD 2
BJF EGDM
Carb
MXR Distortion +

I've sold them all and actually have my second EGDM and a HB being built or on a list :). Currently using a BJF RRB and my guitar volume for shades of drive.

I actually use a Tophat Club Royale 2x12 which is based on the AC30TBX pre-amp section but has 2x EL84's.

[TimH]

Just FYI I got my Tim and Timmy and they're great! The Klon is working well too. I'd really like to try an E again with this amp but I doubt I'm going to get the chance.

[saucyjack]

Hotcake.
I've tried to kick it off my board a few times but for low gain grit/bit crunch it's tough to beat.

[tzamosti]

I'll add in the Telenordia TA-100...really enjoying mine.

Otherwise, the Carb is great, as is Timmy and HB. My all-time low-gainer favorites into an AC30.