Overdrive Pedal help

[TheGuildedAge]

I am using an MJM Phantom as my only od. We're in the studio and I use it for lead tones. I like how it sounds, but would love to try to find that sound that is a little more smooth and creamy. I don't want a full on distortion, just an overdrive that is smooth, rich, compressed and has a little less grit and rasp than the phantom.

I was thinking Zendrive, maybe Plimsoul (but they might have too much gain).

Any thoughts.

[TheGuildedAge]

bump

[teleclem]

Honey Bee?

[saltydogg]

How about a G2D Creamtone?

Smooth od tones that will stack well with your Phantom. Plus a boost.

[voorhiessa]

If that Phantom is not a tubescreamer, try a TS.

If it is, try a Rat (filter around 2-3 oclock).

Tube Driver is also really smooth.

(edited...thought of a few more).

Visual Sound Route 66.....you can blend in compression.

Barber Small Fry.....same thing.

[Heady Jam Fan]

Yea, I use 2 TS9 Silvers most of the time. I set them the way Trey does: first one with gain around 10-11, volume around 3, 2nd one gain full blast, volume around 1. One a clean amp, you get a really clear, smooth midrangy tone, on a dirty amp, you get a heavy blues thing.

I think a D-Style pedal would also do what you want.

[tinkercity]

Another flavor would be to use a Fuzz Face into your Phantom OD. Smooth but with a rich harmonic structure.

[WarrenZ]

Definitely Zendrive, also Barber B Custom Super Sport. Maybe a Barber Tone Press compressor? The Tone Press has enough volume to push a preamp stage into overdrive, and you can still adjust the Blend and Sustain knobbies to get the compression / sustain you want.

[TheGuildedAge]

Thanks everyone. You think after 17 years playing I would have my od figrued out. Local shop has a used zendrive that they want $220 for! I should go play it just to try it, then grab a new one.

The BB Preamps look nice, as do the mi audio blues pros and fulltone plimsouls.

[tonejunky]

If you like it, maybe try informing the shop that you know that new zendrives are 200 and see what they say.

[Axis29]

Try cranking the pedal and amp volume and roll back your guitar volume a lot.

[4styx]

From what you're describing a TS-10.

[WarrenZ]

Thanks everyone. You think after 17 years playing I would have my od figrued out. ...

The "Search for the ultimate dirt-tone" is a lifelong journey. I used to be happy with a LPB-1 jammed into my SG through a Univox halfstack. Ah those were the days! :)

Lots of great suggestions here. Let us know what you think of the Zendrive. The VOICE knob is very powerful, and along with the TONE contol lets you take a lot of control of the smoothness of the pedal. The Zen has quite a bit of gain available too. Enjoy.

[DJ_61]

What amp, guitar?

[TheGuildedAge]

Main guitars are two strats and some times a guild S-100. Amp is an Allen Classic ten and sometimes a fargen mini plex, although the fargen does what I want with just a boost.

[Frosted Glass]

Check out some clips of the Wampler ecstacy

Definitely NOT the Honeybee - zero compression and it's not smooth or lead oriented IMO. The blues pro is also not recommended as it has asymmetrical clipping ie less smooth than a ts

[pennylink]

Check out some clips of the Wampler ecstacy

Definitely NOT the Honeybee - zero compression and it's not smooth or lead oriented IMO. The blues pro is also not recommended as it has asymmetrical clipping ie less smooth than a ts
+1 on the Ecstasy. Smooth OD tones, but you can dial in some grit too if you want it. Very versatile pedal!

[TheGuildedAge]

The ecstasy sounds gorgeous. Thanks.