I want to add some grit, but not change the tone???

[stevel]

I hear the word "transparent" tossed around a lot.

What I'm looking for is a overdrive/distortion/fuzz pedal that will simply add some overdrive to my amp.

I spend hours and hours (and days and weeks and years) getting my guitar to sound right with my amp.

I have 4 amps that I really like the sound of - playing them clean or right at the edge of breakup.

My luck has been, that none of the amps sound that good breaking up themselves (some better than others) - if they did, I just turn them up or boost them.

So I want a pedal I can step on that will not change the essential tone of my amp and simply "add" some overdrive (distortion, etc.) in.

I have a Fulldrive II (pre-mosfet). It drops off the bass and boosts the mids. The effect is less exagerrated when the drive is set lower (or it's in Comp-Cut mode, or 18v) and becomes more pronounced when the drive goes up.

I've also got a Line 6 Distortion Modeler, which has TS, Rat, Muff, etc. etc. emulations. These are not bad sound in and of themselves, but they all do something drastic to the basic tone of my amp.

When I play through some cheap Boss or DOD (Digitech) pedal, it sounds as if I'm listening to a recording of my guitar, not my guitar, if you know what I mean.

Do I need something like a Sparkle Drive so I can have my Amp's sound, and then "layer in" as much gain as I like? This of course would only work if the SD's clean side doesn't affect the tone.

Now, I know you get into tone suck with pedals and cable runs, but I find most of my amps too bright, so losing a little high end isn't deadly - it's the bass and mid dips or humps - and don't need any treble humps.

Suggestions?

Steve

[TheLemon]

Tim.

[GTSR]

TIMMY:banana

[dosmun]

TIM
Hotcake

I use the TIM for this duty with my Budda.

[mobis8]

First, when I hear the word transparent, I don't think of non-tone changing, I think of the ability to not muddy up the strings (i.e. all of the strings will sound through in a chord). Why use an effect if it isn't going to change the tone??

Regardless of the meaning of the word transparent... I would recommend a Timmy. By the way you have described what you were after, it seems perfect. The EQ on that pedal is amazing... Will give you the sound of your amp, just pushed if you want it to.

[mobis8]

oh... another to try for what you are describing is the Keeley Katana with the knob pulled out... check out the proguitarshop demos of that... may also work...

[dewman]

timtimtimtimtim

[nibus]

Tim or Timmy is EXACTLY this.

[aziltz]

Subdecay Liquid Sunshine

[dirtytony]

tube od

[Dexter.Sinister]

Barber launch pad set to drive first gain stage of amp to OD. Set volume of amp with volume knob. Back down level at guitar to get back clean. Very transparent.

DS

[jads57]

Big plus 1 Timmy or Tim!

[beachwail]

absolutely agree with most posters:

TIMMY

[jonlarsen002]

ds-1 stock

[thetangmang]

oh... another to try for what you are describing is the Keeley Katana with the knob pulled out... check out the proguitarshop demos of that... may also work...

I agree.

[steinwand]

obvious: TIMMY FTW

[rust1975]

D.B.A. Interstellar Overdriver. Check out the demos online. Plus, it'll roll off the high end a little, in a good way.

[drbob1]

I'm goint to go out on a limb here and say "it depends". I've not found an overdrive that reacts the same way to every amp I own. For example, my SIB Varidrive sounds really good with a Fender style amp, I don't much like it with a Vox. My Klon is easy to dial in with a blackface amp, takes a little more effort to get it perfect with a Marshall. So, do I think there's one pedal that will be the perfect match for all amps? Not really. Here's some I've had success with:
1. Timmy: you're able to match the frequency response of the original very closely, so it won't change that. To my ears the OD is a different texture than most of my amps, so it's not really like just "more" of what I'm getting. Still a great pedal and cheap.
2. Zendrive: also doesn't mess too much with frequencies, a smoother OD which seems to sit better with Vox amps than the Timmy. Doesn't suck dynamics either, probably my favorite.
3. Klon: I don't use as much drive with my Klon as i do with my Zen, and it has a buffer so it's always subtly changing your tone, but damn, it's been a staple of low gain overdrives, especially for Fenders, for 15 years. At least worth a try, right?
4. Foxrox Zim: on the left side, with the semi-parametric EQ you can dial out the bass sucking of a TS style overdrive, so you get the typical creamy OD without the EQ nonsense. Definitely a step up from the FDII! The Sparkledrive is like a TS9 in parallel with a clean boost, better than the TS9 for not mucking up your EQ, but not as good as the Zim imho...

[Ben C.]

Nick Greer Tone Smuggler
Catalinbread Silver Kiss

[mcdonaldkd]

The Barbershop by Fairfield Circuitry. A really good pedal and great folks to deal with: http://www.fairfieldcircuitry.com/B.html

[sleejay80]

10,000 Timmy users can't be wrong.

[Drifting]

QUIT MAKING ME GAS FOR MY TIM SHITTTTTTTTTTT.


Just incase you missed the other posts, tim/timmy.

What amps are you running that you don't like the natural OD for? Is it a volume issue or just the breakup isn't the greatest?

If you don't like the break up, you might look into getting some nice speakers, if they aren't already.

[Chthullu]

Tim or Timmy

[Kingpin]

Timmmmmy!

(in case you weren't paying attention!)

[jb1911]

Timmy!11!!!1111

[Drifting]

Timmy!11!!!1111

What? I can't make out what you typed! :banana:cool:

[nibus]

ds-1 stock

:huh..... really?

[jgyn]

Try a Sparkle Drive and blend in at least 50% clean.

[shawntp]

I just looked up Timmy in the dictionary and it said:

An overdrive pedal that adds grit but not change your tone!!!!

[Holey Lint Trap]

I prefer the Catalinbread Silver Kiss Trinty to the Tims. I think that the EQ is better on the SK and I think it is more versatile with the compression modes and mid frequency toggle switch.

But you cannot go wrong with either. Both do the transparent with grit thing well and can be used as really nice clean boosts or slightly dirty boosts.

[ptbarnum]

no one talks about it much, but if you have the chance, check out the Durham Zia Drive.:AOK

[FenderBigot]

I have two... Boss BD-2 and Ibanez TS-9. Both stock are pretty transparent, I am thinking of sending my BD-2 to Keeley for the phat mod, which is supposed to be VERY transparent. I've heard the Tim/Timmy both are too... but I've never played with either. According to 75% of the posters on this thread, they appear to be the favorite.

[robinje]

Menatone Red Snapper

[JeffOlson]

I'm tired of transparent. I want something translucent.

[Andre357]

no one talks about it much, but if you have the chance, check out the Durham Zia Drive.:AOK


I've been curious about this one - tell us more.

What does it compare too ??

[takakat]

I am using RGW Bad Bob mainly for clean boost but add any overdrive with Bad Bob and you will give new life to your existing overdrive pedal. I am very pleased with Bad Bob pedal.

[Coach]

D.B.A. Interstellar Overdriver. Check out the demos online. Plus, it'll roll off the high end a little, in a good way.

Then it wouldn't be a transparent overdrive.

I'm throwing another one in for a Tim/timmy

[rob2001]

I hear the word "transparent" tossed around a lot.

What I'm looking for is a overdrive/distortion/fuzz pedal that will simply add some overdrive to my amp.

I spend hours and hours (and days and weeks and years) getting my guitar to sound right with my amp.

I have 4 amps that I really like the sound of - playing them clean or right at the edge of breakup.

My luck has been, that none of the amps sound that good breaking up themselves (some better than others) - if they did, I just turn them up or boost them.

So I want a pedal I can step on that will not change the essential tone of my amp and simply "add" some overdrive (distortion, etc.) in.

I have a Fulldrive II (pre-mosfet). It drops off the bass and boosts the mids. The effect is less exagerrated when the drive is set lower (or it's in Comp-Cut mode, or 18v) and becomes more pronounced when the drive goes up.

I've also got a Line 6 Distortion Modeler, which has TS, Rat, Muff, etc. etc. emulations. These are not bad sound in and of themselves, but they all do something drastic to the basic tone of my amp.

When I play through some cheap Boss or DOD (Digitech) pedal, it sounds as if I'm listening to a recording of my guitar, not my guitar, if you know what I mean.

Do I need something like a Sparkle Drive so I can have my Amp's sound, and then "layer in" as much gain as I like? This of course would only work if the SD's clean side doesn't affect the tone.

Now, I know you get into tone suck with pedals and cable runs, but I find most of my amps too bright, so losing a little high end isn't deadly - it's the bass and mid dips or humps - and don't need any treble humps.

Suggestions?

Steve


Hey Steve, i'm having trouble getting my head around your question. You say you dig the amp tones clean and up to just breaking up, but don't like them breaking up on their own? Yet you want a pedal that doesn't change your tone yet adds dirt. I'm confused! I'm not trying to be a knob, just trying to figure out what your after. My first thought would be a clean boost but you already kindof ruled out boosting. There are only 1 1/2 million pedals that could possibly do what you want. What amps and guitars used makes a big difference too. Not all pedals play nice with all amps.

[ptbarnum]

I've been curious about this one - tell us more.

What does it compare too ??
re: the Zia Drive
i'm not sure what i'd compare it to, but in my experience playing with it, A) the led is BLINDingly bright, and B) it really seems to just give you more of your sound. seems pretty even across the frequency spectrum as well

[soopajeanmi]

No way no one mentionned the Barber LTD SR yet, the pedal with the flatest EQ I've ever tried.

And while I love the zendrive (i own one) I don't understand how it can be mentionned here: it *does* change your tone and definitly adds mids, in a good way.

[iacntspell]

I know I'm in the minority here, but... TIMMY!

[jgyn]

I'm tired of transparent. I want something translucent.

Transcendent!

[Joses]

It starts with "T" and ends with "immy"

[scottpic]

TIM or TIMMY

Don't settle for anything less :nono

[ecm1117]

I haven't tried a Timmy, but the most transparent pedals I've ever owned are the Fulltone Fatboost 2 and the Barber Silver LTD. FWIW, the Fatboost 2 (early version) is on my board and not going anywhere; it gives me my clean tone with some added grit and no color. YMMV etc.

[todaystomorrow]

Tim/ Timmy.... great for what you describe providing you like the tone of your amp.

[stevel]

Gee, do you guys think I should try a Timmy?

:-)

Ok, I'll check into it.

Thanks for all of the responses.

Steve

[remocity]

Has anyone mentioned TIM yet?

[crzyfngers]

I'm tired of transparent. I want something translucent.
i prefer opaque.:rotflmao

[javahut]

Menatone Red Snapper.

[chuckmoose]

My Tim is better than my Timmy.

[vbjamin]

Transcendent!
Triumphant!

[Wheeler004]

Katana or TImmy

[MaxBoogie]

Gee, do you guys think I should try a Timmy?


I've tried all the "popular" transparent pedlas, and I can only reiterate what so many have said before me... The Timmy does that to a "T"!!!