Overdrive Pedals That Don't Blend The Clean Signal

[binge]

OK, I hope that I can make this understandable....

I really like stacking overdrive pedals as I find the smoother sound more pleasing as opposed to distortion, which tend to be more gritty.

I have tried to figure out why some pedals don't stack well for me and, I think, it's because they let the clean signal through and mix it with some overdrive from the pedal.

For example, I have a Suhr Shiba Drive, which is a great pedal. When I hit it with a booster, like a Boss BD-2 or SD-1 or Providence Stampede, it seems to get all flubby and messy sounding.

The same thing happens when I boost my Boss SD-1 with anything, the clean signal smacks the amp, along with the more compressed and overdriven dirty signal, and it sounds like a big mess to me as well as getting a lot louder, which I don't really want as I play in the house 100% of the time.

The only overdrive pedal that I have that doesn't do this is the Boss OD-3. I can boost it with anything and it stays at the same volume and compresses nicely and gets dirtier.

So, with this in mind, can anyone recommend me an overdrive pedal that doesn't blend the clean signal with an overdriven one? I play my amp clean and loud volumes are not an option here for me. :)

My amp is a Cornell Romany and my guitar is a Telecaster Deluxe.

[guitarslinger21]

My Barber Small Fry has the least amount of clicky, uncompressed clean bleed out of my my OD pedals.

SO smooth, and musical.

[topo morto]

I don't think that many OD's have a split/blend in the circuit (apart from ones that advertise it as a feature, like the Sparkle Drive). Maybe it's more just that lower gain pedals don't actually compress the signal so much - maybe try putting a compressor in line and seeing if that improves things?

Not quite understanding what you mean by 'the clean signal smacks the amp' - couple of clips could be helpful?

[binge]

I don't think that many OD's have a split/blend in the circuit (apart from ones that advertise it as a feature, like the Sparkle Drive). Maybe it's more just that lower gain pedals don't actually compress the signal so much - maybe try putting a compressor in line and seeing if that improves things?

Not quite understanding what you mean by 'the clean signal smacks the amp' - couple of clips could be helpful?

Could be to do with the compression thing. So, with that in mind I'd be looking for a compressed overdrive pedal then?

I will record a little clip tomorrow. :)

[topo morto]

So, with that in mind I'd be looking for a compressed overdrive pedal then?

Any conventional distortion or overdrive is going to cause compression as it is clipping the signal - the more you turn up the input gain, the more compression you get.

Of course you have to turn down the output volume to compensate - for maximum compression, you need (input) gain high and output volume low...

...but of course if you have too much compression, then with that comes too much distortion, so it's all a bit of a balancing act.

Another thing you can do for a smoother sound is to roll off the tone on a pedal that is driving another (or on the guitar on the first place).