Marshall in a Pedal?

[mcholley]

Guys,

I am trying a new rig using a FTR37, and was wondering what the best "Marshall in a pedal" would be for this application. There are so many options, I thought I'd just ask, as I have been reading som may threads, and as they wander it's tough to know...

Can anyone offer advice?

Thanks,

Mark

[Heady Jam Fan]

Isn't the DLS supposed to be Marshallesque?

[hawes]

Isn't the DLS supposed to be Marshallesque?
It is to my ears.

[TopBoost323]

Box of Rock? DLS? BSIAB?

[frontingbravery]

Wampler Plextortion, MI audio Crunchbox are both cool.

[Pizzaking]

It depends on what kind of Marshall you're looking for.

The Catalinbread DLS does a great job getting classic 70's and lower gain 80's sounds.

For a more modern Marshall sound with higher gain, maybe look at the Wampler Plextortion.

[frontingbravery]

It depends on what kind of Marshall you're looking for.

The Catalinbread DLS does a great job getting classic 70's and lower gain 80's sounds.

For a more modern Marshall sound with higher gain, maybe look at the Wampler Plextortion.

I think the Plextortion covers a lot of ground. Has a vintage/modern toggle and can cop a pretty good vintage Plexi tone.

[big mike]

Another good-un is the old Menatone King of the Brits.
Covers a lot of the plexi/metalface Marshall tones to my ear.

I've heard great things about the DLS and the Plextortion but haven't had the opportunity. I had a KOB I should've kept.

[deluxe83]

Rockett Animal without a doubt.

[Stringcaster]

The Wampler SuperPlex can do from Beano to Guns-N-Roses...totally nails Slash tone! It is the closest thing I've found to a Marshall Silver Jubilee in the high gain mode. In the other two modes, you can do more the older Plexi sounds. With the gain modes and the mid knob (essential in a Marshall pedal), it is extremely versatile.

[John Hurtt]

MI Crunchbox is my Marshall pedal of choice...gets that tone with about anything I've run it through.

[Atomic Punk]

MXR CB '78 distortion. Sounds like my Super Lead cranked. However, there's not enough gain to cover the speed/thrash metal territory.

[geetarboy]

DLS nails low-medium Marshall tones and stacks really well for higher gain.

[rico1204]

There's a lot of overlap between the Wampler Plextortion, SuperPlextortion, and Pinnacle. All great pedals. The Plextortion gets my Fender HRD close to a Marshall.

[Classic09]

Catalinbread DLS and Carl Martin Plexitone both do the Marshall thing very.

The DLS is a standard Marshall as we know it whereas the Plexitone has far more gain on tap and is a hotrodded Marshall.

[windwalke9649]

The most underrated overdrive/distortion out there; the original Marshall Guv'nor, British made, or Taiwan, Ive had several on my bench, and besides the components having some different readings due to the low toleraces used, they're identicle, and except for the changes because one's capacitors may have an actual value different from the next, and difference you hear, you hear because you want to. Like all good OD's, its an incredibly simple ciruit inside, and covers JMT up to the 800 series. It also has a built in effects loop, so you can put an EQ. compressor, delay, whatever right into the circuit.

[Blues Wail]

I am using the Barber Direct Drive Custom Super Sport. Love it!

[Ktchaw]

I've been trying to decide between a DLS and a plextortion for a while, every time i think ive made up my mind i think the other sounds a little better, finally figured id go for a DLS and just get a plextortion later. Though now i just saw burgs demos of the weehbo JCM drive and plexidrive and im back where i started...Anyone have any opinion on those at all in comparison?

[niclake13]

Lovepedal Superlead.

[BluesHarp]

DLS is my fav so far..

[wizard333]

I am using the Barber Direct Drive Custom Super Sport. Love it!


+1. Its the box that made me feel like I could stop carrying my heavy Marshalls around for "that sound".

[JohanSolo]

my vote goes to the
MI Audio Crunchbox

l7c0OXamWpY

and the
Zvex Distortron (or Box of Rock)
OOJGOQLLSoU

i also really like the digitech hardwire SC-2 valve distortion...think less fizzy/bigger DS-1 that can get to high gain in saturated mode.
GzcAmCCYdtY

[sbr]

Suhr Riot.

[gibsonguitar1988]

Catalinbread DLS or Wampler Plextortion.

[DraggAmps]

I've been trying to decide between a DLS and a plextortion for a while, every time i think ive made up my mind i think the other sounds a little better, finally figured id go for a DLS and just get a plextortion later. Though now i just saw burgs demos of the weehbo JCM drive and plexidrive and im back where i started...Anyone have any opinion on those at all in comparison?

The DLS is much more comparable to the Wampler Plexi Drive. The Plextortion is much more suited for 80's and later modified Marshall high gain tones a la Scorpions, Van Halen, Slayer, etc. It is a full blown distortion (although it can do lower gain tones quite well as a bonus, but it's main purpose is high gain) and is mostly suited for really hard rock and metal, or as a super high gain liquidy, singing/sustaining lead tone for any type of music. The DLS is more of an overdrive for low-medium gain blues and rock tones, and can edge into hard rock. The Plextortion kind of picks up where the DLS leaves off, so it should be easy to figure out what's suited for you.

Also, I don't really agree that the Plextortion and Pinnacle overlap much. Their uses overlap, and if you haven't A/B'd them, I could definitely see thinking they overlap, but I've owned them both at the same time and they were quite different and one or the other has been a staple on my board for a long time. I wasn't quite as impressed with the Super Plextortion in comparison (although it blows most other similar pedals out of the water), and didn't own it at the same time as the other two, so I won't speculate on it.
The Pinnacle (IMO) has more of a super-saturated and compressed tone with endless sustain and sounds like a VERY modified Marshall (almost like a Soldano SLO if it had EL34's). It has more of a tone that is like what you after it's been recorded and mixed, which makes sense, since it's supposed to cop the "brown sound", which is a sound that is partly influenced by the recording. It has a bit more gain and saturation than the Plextortion.
The Plextortion is more up-front and in your face. When A/B'ing them, it had a totally different texture which is remarkably close to the sound of a straight up vicious Marshall head on a Marshall cab. It's more open and less saturated and smooth. It has more of a true-to-Marshall sound, even though it's obviously a "modded" tone, but more-so modded for high gain, as it has a more traditional Marshall voicing. More "average" JCM tones than brown sound. I used the Pinnacle and preferred it for a long time, but I got a rare 7-knob Plextortion and compared it to the Pinnacle and started using it as my main high gain Marshall tone instead, as I fell in love with it's more 3D actual emulation of a Marshall and a 4x12, as opposed to the more "recorded brown sound" of the Pinnacle (not that the Pinnacle isn't amp-like and I still love that pedal a lot and want to try the most current version with the boost).

I am really big on British-in-a-box type pedals and have tried a TON of them. Wamplers are some of the very best, IMO, especially for the "modified" high gain tones. I can also agree with the DLS and King of The Britains, which are great. I would also recommend the Dyna Red Distortion. I currently have the Plextortion and a couple Himmelstrutz Fetto pedals on my board (the Fetto's are the best British type overdrive pedals I've ever heard, but they're not cheap). The Fetto can get close to as much gain as the Plextortion, but I prefer to use it as a mid-high gain overdrive (as opposed to distortion). Because of the versatility and the amount of gain it can cover, I would recommend it as well (highly), but depending on what kind of tones you want/what range of gain you want (OD or dist., etc), I can give you more suggestions. There's lots of great pedals, you just have to find the one that works best for you. But knowing whether you want an overdrive or a distortion would really help narrow it down.

[Marrrty]

Wampler Plextortion, MI audio Crunchbox are both cool.

+1 for the Plexi

[Wasatch]

No one has mentioned the Carl Martin plexitone?

Again, as mentioned it depends on what kind of Marshall: plexi, brown, etc. But I like what I have heard from the Martin.

The guv'nor is also a good suggestion. It stands ro reason that a Marshall brand pedal could get you closest. It you don't like gigging with a 20 year old pedal, you can build a kit of it for about $60 at generalguitargadgets.com

[vbf]

King of the Britains (7 knobber) is all the pedal you need for fabulous Marshallness.

[alguit]

King of the Britains (7 knobber) is all the pedal you need for fabulous Marshallness.

+1

I've owned around 75% of the pedals mentioned on here, and I really think all are very, very good at taking us to Marshalland. Still, the 7-knob KOTB is special to my ears.

Tip-if you get one and power it with a battery-the new, cheaper Lithiums seem to make it sound its best. Also, I've read that one should NOT power them with the One-Spot.

Alan

[Stevil]

the 7-knob KOTB is special to my ears.

+1
love my 7 knob KOTB

[golddillion]

I've tried most of the pedals mentioned in this thread and the one that had the most girth, or just hugeness to its tone is the Geekmacdaddy British Ball Breaker. An amazing, amp-like pedal for low to mid gain Marshall crunch. I use one through a 50 watt plexi bass clone.

[Steve73]

I love my DLS at 18v for Marshall tones!

[wundergussy]

DRD

[mcholley]

DRD

All,

Thanks for the info! What is a DRD? On the DLS, is V2 better than V1?

Thanks again,

Mark

[shredmaestrobri]

The DLS is much more comparable to the Wampler Plexi Drive. The Plextortion is much more suited for 80's and later modified Marshall high gain tones a la Scorpions, Van Halen, Slayer, etc. It is a full blown distortion (although it can do lower gain tones quite well as a bonus, but it's main purpose is high gain) and is mostly suited for really hard rock and metal, or as a super high gain liquidy, singing/sustaining lead tone for any type of music. The DLS is more of an overdrive for low-medium gain blues and rock tones, and can edge into hard rock. The Plextortion kind of picks up where the DLS leaves off, so it should be easy to figure out what's suited for you.

Also, I don't really agree that the Plextortion and Pinnacle overlap much. Their uses overlap, and if you haven't A/B'd them, I could definitely see thinking they overlap, but I've owned them both at the same time and they were quite different and one or the other has been a staple on my board for a long time. I wasn't quite as impressed with the Super Plextortion in comparison (although it blows most other similar pedals out of the water), and didn't own it at the same time as the other two, so I won't speculate on it.
The Pinnacle (IMO) has more of a super-saturated and compressed tone with endless sustain and sounds like a VERY modified Marshall (almost like a Soldano SLO if it had EL34's). It has more of a tone that is like what you after it's been recorded and mixed, which makes sense, since it's supposed to cop the "brown sound", which is a sound that is partly influenced by the recording. It has a bit more gain and saturation than the Plextortion.
The Plextortion is more up-front and in your face. When A/B'ing them, it had a totally different texture which is remarkably close to the sound of a straight up vicious Marshall head on a Marshall cab. It's more open and less saturated and smooth. It has more of a true-to-Marshall sound, even though it's obviously a "modded" tone, but more-so modded for high gain, as it has a more traditional Marshall voicing. More "average" JCM tones than brown sound. I used the Pinnacle and preferred it for a long time, but I got a rare 7-knob Plextortion and compared it to the Pinnacle and started using it as my main high gain Marshall tone instead, as I fell in love with it's more 3D actual emulation of a Marshall and a 4x12, as opposed to the more "recorded brown sound" of the Pinnacle (not that the Pinnacle isn't amp-like and I still love that pedal a lot and want to try the most current version with the boost).

I am really big on British-in-a-box type pedals and have tried a TON of them. Wamplers are some of the very best, IMO, especially for the "modified" high gain tones. I can also agree with the DLS and King of The Britains, which are great. I would also recommend the Dyna Red Distortion. I currently have the Plextortion and a couple Himmelstrutz Fetto pedals on my board (the Fetto's are the best British type overdrive pedals I've ever heard, but they're not cheap). The Fetto can get close to as much gain as the Plextortion, but I prefer to use it as a mid-high gain overdrive (as opposed to distortion). Because of the versatility and the amount of gain it can cover, I would recommend it as well (highly), but depending on what kind of tones you want/what range of gain you want (OD or dist., etc), I can give you more suggestions. There's lots of great pedals, you just have to find the one that works best for you. But knowing whether you want an overdrive or a distortion would really help narrow it down.

so what do you think about the crunch box for those high gain jcm800 tones?

[paulscape]

Carl Martin Plextone is not bad. Even the OCD can be good with the right amp. I had to use it at a new rehearsal room last night with a cheap ass fender frontman head (as it was raining I didnt bring my own head and used OD instead). With my Les Paul I was really suprised. This cheap Fender solid state amp was sounding like a cranked marshall with the OCD!

[Axe-Man]

I think the Carl Martin Plexitone is much better than not bad. It's a really flexible pedal with two gain settings and a boost.

Suhr Riot can do the hot rodded Marshall stuff no problems.

[Msboy2011]

Fulltone GT-500?

[customeffectpedal]

The Dan Electro Daddy-O is pretty much a Marshall Guv'nor with input and output buffers. Seems to balance the impedance better than the Marshall, while the Guv'nor is a bit more abrasive in my opinion. The tone stack pedal is a econical way of getting close to legendary amps without a significant investment

[wundergussy]

What is a DRD?

Sorry, DRD is Dyna Red Distortion from BJFE (very expensive/rare) or Bearfoot effects (less expensive, available direct). Unlike many distortion, Marshall-in-a-box pedals, the DRD is very dynamic and touch-sensitive (play light and your notes come out clean, dig in they get very distorted). It, like the DLS, can be a foundation pedal (leave it on all the time and kick in another OD in front to up the gain). It also sounds great at low distortion settings, and can do total butt-rock higher on the dial.

[SackvilleDan]

Keeley Ultra/SEM DS-1.

[Sol]

While the old Guv'nor is a great pedal,Ive been borwowing a friends currently made Guv'nor and its a really good pedal, and was surprised to find that it sounds even more Marshall like than my old one.

Okay, it doesnt have the outpul levels of the old, but the 'deep' control is really cool for bolstering that closed back 4x12 thing, for the price its well worth checking out.

[TopBoost323]

butt-rock

Indeed?

[harpinon]

The Carl Martin is probably the most flexible because you can go from 70's crunch to high gain. It's quite a big pedal, though.
A great m.o.r. Marshall in a box pedal is the Lexi drive. It has a pretty decent grit range, but the magic is in the clean mix knob. It gets more bite into your tone.

[patdeezel]

I don't have a Box of Rock, but I do have the Distortron which is the same thing. It sounds awesome.

[mikecat]

another vote for Box of Rock for 70's Marshall cranked tones,
MI Audio Crunchbox for 80's JCM800/900 Marshall cranked tones.

[rjpilot]

IWGACMPTIIHTM.

END OF THREAD.

"I would get a Carl Martin plexitone if I had the money."

[Once Far Off]

CMATmods Brownie or v2 DLS would be reasonably priced options

[mcholley]

Keep it coming guys!

And now there's the new version of the DLS - I can't wait to hear what the reports on that pedal are!

Mark

[Paulo Grua]

Rockett Animal without a doubt.

This.

Well, :o I still haven't played live with it, wich is when I decide if a pedal is really good. But, till now, at home volumes, it's just awesome.

[Delayed Delay]

Absolutely LOVED the DLS v2 when I had it. I'm hoping the new version sounds just as good with more versatility to dial in the low end properly... but it is an awesome mid-generation Marshall in-a-box. :aok

[t***9]

+10 on the 7 knob King Of The Britains for late '60's Plexi tones (see gearmandude youtube clip). For JTM 45 tones Menatone's Workingman's Blue (8 knob) really does it well (see google video for a strong clip).

I have a Rockett Animal on the way and am looking forward to seeing what late Plexi territory that claims after hearing some impressive youtube clips, (PGS, 5v1L0 etc.).

[t.hendrix]

+1
love my 7 knob KOTB
i just got mine that i picked from reading this thread.
i must say my this pedal could be the best.
thanks guys.

[vbf]

i just got mine that i picked from reading this thread.
i must say my this pedal could be the best.
thanks guys.

Congrats :aok

[Blazes]

go-ilMukOT4

[fr8_trane]

Catalinbread DLS and Carl Martin Plexitone both do the Marshall thing very.

The DLS is a standard Marshall as we know it whereas the Plexitone has far more gain on tap and is a hotrodded Marshall.

The Plexitone also doesn't cut bass which is a problem with the DLS.

I've been through most of these pedals. I rocked the Cmatmods brownie for quite a while. I now have a DLS and a Fetto. The fetto sounds nearly identical to the DLS but with considerably more bass. The extra bass makes the fetto sound a bit scooped by comparison though.

I'm am anxiously awaiting the release of the new small box, single channel, 9v Plexitone as i think it will become my new favorite.

[white cloud]

What about this one? Anyone tried it

Rothwell Hellbender Overdrive Pedal

[fr8_trane]

No one has mentioned the Carl Martin plexitone?

Again, as mentioned it depends on what kind of Marshall: plexi, brown, etc. But I like what I have heard from the Martin.

The guv'nor is also a good suggestion. It stands ro reason that a Marshall brand pedal could get you closest. It you don't like gigging with a 20 year old pedal, you can build a kit of it for about $60 at generalguitargadgets.com

I wouldn't waste my time on an original Guv'nor when there are at least 3 boutique pedals with different and improved takes on that very circuit.

Suhr Riot
Wampler Plextortion
Crunchbox

[jaxapi]

i'm in the search for a marshall type crunch/overdrive pedal ...
low to medium gain (don't really need high gain !) stack well with a boost in front !

i'm waiting for clip about the new dls but the rockett animal's video are very impressive !
for me the match is between this two "animals" ...