Recommend a crunchy plexi type distortion pedal

[whiteop]

I have been trying to find a good focused, non-fuzzy (or as much as posibble) crunchy / plexi (doesn't have to sound just like a Plexi) overdrive / distortion pedal with a small footprint (MXR enclosure or just a little wider) to use for rhythm backing when playing live. I've looked at the following and trying to make up my mind. I've looked at others but these sound nearest to what I'm looking for:

Plexi-Drive by Wampler
Plextortion by Wampler; got one; had too many fuzzy artifacts
Flex Drive by Rockett Pedals
Animal by Rockett Pedals

Any other recommendations, guys?

Thanks,

WhiteOp

[voxylady]

I have been on that quest for a long time. I've bought and returned I don't know how many pedals looking for the "one" that would give me that crunchy, focused, rhythm. I ended up with a MI Audio Crunch Box and it does the job very well. Wish it had a tad more lows but overall is a very good pedal for what you're looking for I think. It's got a hot-rodded marshall type sound, pretty modern and tight.

[theGhost]

I certainly haven't played all that many "plexi" type pedals, but I am pretty dang content with my Box of Rock. If you don't care about the boost and want a little more flexibility, then go for the Distortron.

[whiteop]

Have the BOR. A little too bottom heavy for me. Tried the Crunchbox too and it sounded a little too harsh live but great as a bedroom pedal. Also have a Rat but not quite there either. Looking for a pedal to use live. The Carl Martin Plexitone sounds pretty much what I'm looking for but the footprint is too big and it has the AC cord. Pete Thorn did an excellent demo of it online.

Thanks for the suggestion. Keep em com in'

[voxylady]

I have a distortron as well and I like it a lot. The distortron is more vintage sounding, a little more low-mids, and more amp like. Cleans up really well with volume knob. The crunch box is more tight and focused, with more high-mids, and more modern sounding.

[Aaron SS]

If you can find one look into the Lovepedal Purple Plexi 800, it's the best Marshall in a box IMO

[theGhost]

Have the BOR. A little too bottom heavy for me. Tried the Crunchbox too and it sounded a little too harsh live but great as a bedroom pedal. Also have a Rat but not quite there either. Looking for a pedal to use live. The Carl Martin Plexitone sounds pretty much what I'm looking for but the footprint is too big and it has the AC cord. Pete Thorn did an excellent demo of it online.

Thanks for the suggestion. Keep em com in'

If the BoR was too bottom heavy, then the Distortron may be the box for you. It's got a 3-way switch for the "subs".

[tripp2k]

Have you tried a Barber Direct Drive with gain turned up? I love the DD. Menatone King of Britain is nice. Both into Fender amps FWIW. Crunch Box didn't do it for me. Jetter Gain Stage Blue rocked and I would speculate it is similar to the Lovepedal 800 lbs of tone mentioned above. I didn't find the GSB to be chord friendly, but excelled on lead. IMHO, YMMV, etc.

[dtfan4ever]

Vertex modded Plexitone ended my search. It is expensive but worth every bit of the investment made. I'm currently saving up for a 2nd unit so that I can have a back up unit in the event something were to ever happen to the one I have now.

[jpagey]

Have you tried a Barber Direct Drive with gain turned up? I love the DD. Menatone King of Britain is nice. Both into Fender amps FWIW. Crunch Box didn't do it for me. Jetter Gain Stage Blue rocked and I would speculate it is similar to the Lovepedal 800 lbs of tone mentioned above. I didn't find the GSB to be chord friendly, but excelled on lead. IMHO, YMMV, etc.

Barber DDSS or Burn Unit EQ (bigger boxes than op wanted...)
Lovepedal CoT 50 (or, if you can find an Angus Mod)
BSIAB 2

[whiteop]

I do like the Lovepedal stuff. They sound good in the mix live better than a lot of other pedals I have tried. Currently using an Amp Eleven and Kalamazoo and they set well in the mix. I may take a look at the Purple Plexi. Was hoping for a pedal that had more clipping options stock though. Need pedals with a small footprint.

[lspaulsp]

No DLS love?

[JP~)]

I have been trying to find a good focused, non-fuzzy (or as much as posibble) crunchy / plexi (doesn't have to sound just like a Plexi) overdrive / distortion pedal with a small footprint (MXR enclosure or just a little wider) to use for rhythm backing when playing live.

sounds like you want something that compresses/distorts. while you might find something that compresses as you turn the gain up....you might also still want a compressor.

[theGhost]

No DLS love?

I almost forgot! Good call... good call...

The DLS (v1 or v2 - I've never heard a MKII) is a great pedal as well. It used to be the "standard reply" in threads like this much like the Timmy is in low-gain threads. How interesting it is that trends take hold of us.

In fact - considering the needs of the OP - I think the DLS is THE choice for him.

[Bluedano1]

Barber Direct Drive- it has moderate Gain, no fizz, good crunch too.

With the "pull harmonics" feature (on the Tone control) you can choose whether or not you want an older/ classic rock tone where the fundamental note is emphasized, or use this feature to create a more harmonically rich tone- and this pedal leaves your basic tone alone, does not thin it out- wonderful, IMO

[inca_roads]

I like the Jetter Gain Stage Purple for this purpose.

[Jet Age Eric]

Tried the Crunchbox too and it sounded a little too harsh live but great as a bedroom pedal.

Blackout Effectors Mantra: The Crunchbox done right. NEVER harsh (I run the treble maxed for a little HiWatt-y chime) or fizzy, insanely dynamic, esp. @ 18v. -E

[Farbulous]

Menatone King of the Britains

[theGhost]

Menatone King of the Britains

I've never played one, so I didn't recommend it, but I'll at least echo that I've heard a lot of people say that this is a great one.

[sinasl1]

CM Plexitone is awesome .... Just got a Wampler Pinnacle, very nice also. Inexpensive and great- no joke- the Boss Power Stack. Check out my YouTube demo of that one, it's an impressive pedal for like 99 bucks

[whiteop]

I have listened to some DSL demos. It sounds like a good pedal. Want a little better EQ options though. I have ordered a Flex Drive from Rockett Pedals and going to see how that works out.

[whiteop]

Blackout Effectors Mantra: The Crunchbox done right. NEVER harsh (I run the treble maxed for a little HiWatt-y chime) or fizzy, insanely dynamic, esp. @ 18v. -E

That one looks interesting. If the Flex Drive doesn't do the job I may take a look at it.

[whiteop]

CM Plexitone is awesome .... Just got a Wampler Pinnacle, very nice also. Inexpensive and great- no joke- the Boss Power Stack. Check out my YouTube demo of that one, it's an impressive pedal for like 99 bucks

If I took over that company (Carl Martin) I would do one thing that would double their sales overnight - clip the AC cords and use standard 9v jacks. They have some great sounding pedals and I like the way they look minus the AC cord.

[Desperado]

If I took over that company (Carl Martin) I would do one thing that would double their sales overnight - clip the AC cords and use standard 9v jacks. They have some great sounding pedals and I like the way they look minus the AC cord.

And the Vertex Plexitone was born:

http://www.thegearpage.net/board/showthread.php?t=885783&highlight=vertex+plexitone

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a112/mjmaran/IMG_1635.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a112/mjmaran/IMG_1637.jpg

[Class5]

Catalinbread DLS or SCOD?

The Lovepedal Purple Plexi is about to be reissued. I saw the notice on the Lovepedal Facebook page.

[harpinon]

Lumpy's liquid lead is a definite Plexi in a box. Has that Nyaaaghh British 1970's plexi tone no matter what amp you use.
I prefer the DMB Lexi. Has the clean knob.

[whiteop]

And the Vertex Plexitone was born:

http://www.thegearpage.net/board/showthread.php?t=885783&highlight=vertex+plexitone

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a112/mjmaran/IMG_1635.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a112/mjmaran/IMG_1637.jpg

That looks extremely close to the Carl Martin Plexitone. Are you sure they didn't purchase the units from CM then mod them?

Edit: checked the Vertex Website. Thats exactly what it is.

[t***9]

Menatone King of the Britains

+1 on the KOTB. Have the 7 knob one and it's great for that '68 PLexi sound.

[Ekluksdahl]

JHS Charlie Brown Channel Drive

[jetydosa]

I have a Rockett Animal and love it. I run it into my Plexi RI and never really turn it off. It sounds just like the amp except MORE of it. Great pedal.

[wonggei]

Rockbox boiling point! Sounds awesome, looks sweet to boot.