Distortion pedal with some mids

[Classic09]

I've tried a number of distortion pedals over the years and never been completely happy with any of them. Boss DS1, Boss DS2, Visual Sound Jekyll & Hyde, Fulltone OCD, Zvex Box of Rock and MXR GT:OD .

The OCD is really good but lacks mids and has too much bottom end. The MXR is probably the closest to what I'm after but the midrange is too muddy.

For guidance, I use either a Nocaster or Les Paul into VintageModern 2266 set to the Lo Dynamic Range. I also recently took delivery of an Analogman King of Tone which has the right midrange I want and will be using it for my light/medium overdrive only I'm looking for something for High gain.

There are lots of great reviews on the Caitalinbread DLS - is this what I'm looking for? :dunno

[imguitardan]

The best thing ever is a TS into a Rat. Contact Soulsonic (the builder of the Four Banger Boost) and TGP member. He can build you an amazing quality two in one pedal in which the TS and Rat can be turned on and off each with a toggle switch and the whole unit can be turned on or off by a single footswitch. So by hitting one switch, you're really turning on two pedals at once=a distortion with mids.

[JUSTJOB]

A Blackstone Appliance Overdrive. The red channel has plenty of mids. It also plays very amp-like, and has excellent dynamics on both channels. I find it to be a very versatile performer. Give one a try, it may very well be a good fit.

[SR-OZ]

have you considered a EQ pedal (with mid boost) after you od/dist? it doesn't change much of your tone, but it can add some bite.

for distortion box: I used to own a Crunch Box and I felt I had all the mids I needed to stand up into my band's mix.

[Dave]

I think the DLS is a good choice. Plenty of mids, but not honky. Nice Marshall-ish grind, but might not have enough distortion for you. A modified Rat is another that might do it for you.
for distortion box: I used to own a Crunch Box and I felt I had all the mids I needed to stand up into my band's mix.
Yep, the Crunch Box is a great choice too.

[mikewaz]

You could try the Fulltone GT-500. With the three-band EQ on the distortion side, you can dial in as much mids or as little mids as you want. The one thing I would caution you about is that the volume of the output depends on the settings of every knob, so upping the EQ settings or gain means that you'll have to drop the volume to stay at unity.

[Artur_I_Tis]

Now that you have so many pedals, I would try out a good EQ. It could breath some new life into those old pedals, or any new ones you get down the road.

Not voting against the DLS. I have that and the SCOD on my list, along with an EQ.

[Classic09]

An EQ might be the answer but there must be a distortion pedal out there which fits the bill?

Top of my list is the Dirty Little Secret with the Crunch box second. Are there any others I should be looking at?

[sutherland]

You could try the Fulltone GT-500. With the three-band EQ on the distortion side, you can dial in as much mids or as little mids as you want. The one thing I would caution you about is that the volume of the output depends on the settings of every knob, so upping the EQ settings or gain means that you'll have to drop the volume to stay at unity.

+1

The GT-500 (Red Version) is an amazing distortion pedal with a pretty powerful EQ section.

[aarondavis]

A good version of the RAT would be great and inexpensive. Bare in mind, they have a hint of "fuzz" to them.

Best though IMO is the BJF Dyna Red Distortion. Not *real* easy to get a hold of and pretty expensive.

Also a really great alternative to the DRD is a good version of the BSIABII. There's the Pinnicle by Wampler effects which is killer since it has a bit more control over the EQ than a standard single tone control version.

[tjmicsak]

Monte Allums OD308

[semi-hollowbody]

+1 on the eq...especially if you already have a ton of dirt...
I have a boss eq right after my guitar and an mxr 10 band after my dirt...I use the boss to boost my signal and to add some pre-distortion low end and if Im using a strat to add mids...

my strat lacks mids
my semi-hollow and SG are perfect as is
My les paul is mid heavy...so in order to get all these guitars, my pedals, and two amps to play nice together I use eq pedals...

[Benclown]

What cab are you using with the VM?

[Classic09]

What cab are you using with the VM?

I was originally using a 2x12 with Ri G12M25's which were recently changed to V30's. The greenbacks can go back in.

The main issue I have is that the overdrives either scoop the mids (OCD) or the mids are muddy (GT:OD). Whilst it's a medium drive the KoT gets the EQ right.

[Lolaviola]

You mentioned DS-1. There is a mod for more mids from Analogman.

[Jezmund]

I think the Fulltone Distortion Pro sounds great and cuts through the mix nicely with a telecaster. Has alot of controls that noticably impact the tone in useful ways.

Not wild about it with humbuckers into a clean amp, but haven't run it into a driven tube amp with that guitar yet (an SG Special).

[Jet Age Eric]

Solid Gold Superdrive.-E

[amz-fx]

The TS-808 (TS-9) type pedals are the most mid-range heavy that I've played. You should be able to find one of the variations on that design that suits your needs.

regards, Jack

[R13D]

I picked up an old Zoom Driver 5000 distortion pedal for cheap a few months back and expected nothing much as I only paid $25 for it.The Zoom Box setting is major midrange. Some of the other settings are useful as well.

[Rod]

The Jetter Gain Stage Purple has great Marshall mids....stacked with a
Keeley modded RAT this pair is scary....Both on for leads is just awesome

[Martin Reid]

For guidance, I use either a Nocaster or Les Paul into VintageModern 2266 set to the Lo Dynamic Range. I also recently took delivery of an Analogman King of Tone which has the right midrange I want and will be using it for my light/medium overdrive only I'm looking for something for High gain.

There are lots of great reviews on the Caitalinbread DLS - is this what I'm looking for? :dunno

Hi

I have the same amp and a range of humbucker equipped Gibsons and a 57 reissue Strat. I also have a DLS and what the DLS does maxed out is provide an almost identical tone to the high dynamic range. In other words, the DLS provides an outstanding replication of an extra 12AX7 in the chain.

This is a compliment to Catalinbread. I love my DLS as what it ultimately does for me is to provide the extra high dynamic range tone of the Vintage Modern without the big volume boost. :dude

I have the new Effectrode Tube Drive also. Now this is a beast and incredibly dynamic. I still am looking for more drive and will experiment with other tubes but, if your wallet can take it, this is THE overdrive pedal out there. No matter how starry eyed we get over germanium transistors etc etc etc, they provide an analog replication of tube overdrive.

The Vintage Modern is a tough amp to externally drive, so far the Effectrode Tube Drive pushing the Low Dynamic Range gives me the widest range of overdriven tones.

I wish I had the equipment to record and put up clips but unfortunately I don't. Check out the Tube Drive here: http://effectrode.com/website/tube_drive/overdrive_main.htm

The thing to remember is that many pedal manufacturers claim/boast their pedals to be "amp like", the tube Drive is basically a Class A preamp, now thats gotta be a good thing. It's not amp like, IT IS an amp.:banana As well as my VM, I have Hot Rod Deluxe with the Jensen P12N speaker, a Marshall AVT50 combo and an Effectrode Parallax 7 watt mini-amp head. I can not find a bad sound when using any of these amps.

Oh yeah, did I mention I like the Tube Drive. :):):):):):):):) I waited nearly three years for this pedal after hearing the prototype clips on their site and was lucky enough to get Unit No1. It was worth the wait and the money.

All the best

Martin

[wingwalker]

Try stacking a Beano boost into your King of Tone...

I do this and going from the KoT alone to the Beano + KoT it gives me a higher gain sound, more saturation and a big bump ion the mids that makes the guitar jump out...

[Martin Reid]

I was originally using a 2x12 with Ri G12M25's which were recently changed to V30's. The greenbacks can go back in.

The main issue I have is that the overdrives either scoop the mids (OCD) or the mids are muddy (GT:OD). Whilst it's a medium drive the KoT gets the EQ right.

Just wondering, how you found the V30's, I'm contemplating changing the speakers in my Marshall 425 cab to V30's looking to get a smoother, creamy tone. Am I on the wrong track/ :worried

[Burgs]

You want a distortion/drive with gain, personality, dynamics and mids? How about a ton of gain and volume on tap and also the ability to pull off a convincing treble booster? The DLS has been mentioned here but there's another Catalinbread pedal that's worthy (perhaps more so in your case) of a mention. The Supercharged Overdrive. The SCOD. I know I'm gushing but I can back it up - with my own humble (or not :D) demos.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylLvQUOvNhw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0FM4ybee1eA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZGovEf4SBA

[Artur_I_Tis]

Scod! Scod! Scod! .....

[NeilYoungFan]

The Tube Driver is one you might consider. It is supposed to be an overdrive, but it is very high gain IMHO and can easily be used as a lead sound pedal. Gilmour uses one for his leads lately, instead of a FF or a Muff. It cuts through effortlessly, too.