AC-15 users...what's your hi-gain 'ROCK' pedal?

[Flying Panda]

So I play thru an AC15cc with the Celestion Blue, and do P&W stuff, mostly in a large (3,500-seat) church, and I need to cover a lot of bases. Obviously the AC15 does a great job as a starting platform tone-wise, and I use a Burst Eternity for low-gain, an OCDv3 for the medium, I have a Das Fuzz Ge for when the mood strikes, and a Crunch Box for the hi-gain, which is what gets used the least. As I was practicing the other day, going through different pedals, I was struck for the first time with a feeling that maybe the Crunch Box just isn't quite "IT". I've messed around with the trimpot a bit and found a better setting that thickens it up a bit, but I still think it's just maybe not as 'chunky' as I'd like. I have to admit that the Crunch Box did sound better with the Wharfedale speaker, but everything else just kills with the Blue, so I'm not going back. So...what else is doing it for you? BoR? BSIAB? Crunch Box at 18v? Something else?

[Caribou]

I've heard that that the CMATMODS Brownie is "it," though I've been really happy so far with the Crunch Box.

[megatonic]

I play the AC15 with the Blue & love it. The Alnico Blue does have a bit more pronounce midrange than the Wharfdale which might explain why the Wharfdale sounds a liitle "better" for high gain sounds; it gives closer to a "scooped" sounding midrange. I use the OCDv2 with an AC Booster, though there are many different flavors of "high gain", so this combination may not get the "high gain" you're looking for.

[Hugo Da Rosa]

I have the Blue in my AC15 and love it too. Much more clarity when doing overdriven lead work. For high gain stuff, if I wanted to keep the character of the AC15 as much as possible, I would use the Z Vex SD2in1 to just layer gain boosts and push my amp into overdrive. But most of the time I find myself using the Catalinbread SCOD. It's a great thick sounding pedal but it definitely doesn't sound like an AC15 - more Marshall/Fender overdrive sound.

[Rob Eadgbe]

I have a UK made RI with a greenback in it. I'm currently using a Mosferatu, but I've also used a original version Crunchbox and a BB Preamp.

The Mosferatu would probably work well with the voice knob near 12 o'clock. Unfortunately I don't run mine that way. I run voice nearer to 2 o'clock, so I'm not sure if it gives the kind of chunk you're looking for. Plenty of gain on tap, and nice signing lead tones though.

The BB worked okay, but past noon on the gain knob, and you get more compression and not a whole lot of articulation. It really works well with certain amps, my Maz 38 Sr. for example. Through the AC 15 it was pretty good as long as the amp was cranked a bit.

It's also possible that the older Crunchbox might have a bit more girth than the current version. I say this only because low end wasn't a problem at all for me when I used the CB.

[guitarpkr67]

Low Gain= Tim

High Gain= Brown Rabbit

I play a Suhr Strat and I also play P&W.

[Flying Panda]

Low Gain= Tim

High Gain= Brown Rabbit

I play a Suhr Strat and I also play P&W.


I just KNOW I'd love a Tim, but the Eternity is just SO GOOD....

I'll have to hunt clips of the Brown Rabbit.

[markom89]

I enjoy using a Tim w/ my AC-15 while cranked.
Also enjoy using a /13 Dyna Ranger and Durham Sex Drive.
I only use pedals on my AC-15 while it's cranked.
Rarely do I use OD/Dist pedals on it at lower volumes as they all sound crappy like that, IMO. That said, fuzz pedals and AC-15's are a match made in heaven.

[guitarpkr67]

I just KNOW I'd love a Tim, but the Eternity is just SO GOOD....

I'll have to hunt clips of the Brown Rabbit.

The Brown Rabbit is pretty cool. It's another rat-based pedal. I had the Mo'd, which I loved, but I actually had to sell it to get my AC-15. So I got the Brown Rabbit to replace it. I prefer the Mo'd, but the BR is a good substitute. I want to try the Lovekraft Chupacabra too, but haven't gotten around to it.

[dahn8]

I had good experiences with the Maxon Distortion Master (DS830) before i sold it (i kind of regret it...). It's a little pricey but if you look around, you can find them for decent used prices.