Best RHYTHM drive pedal

[rogerramjett]

Hey guys,

Here's the drive/tone stack setup I have planned (leaving out delays etc.):

Heritage 535 > ??? > ??? > Fulltone OCD (v4) > Keeley Compressor > Divided By 13 JRT 9/15.

I'll be getting my clean tone straight from the amp and my most saturated tone from the OCD. I need 2 drive pedals for the #1 and #2 spots in my stack. They need to be transparent and will be used mostly for straight-up rock RHYTHM. Not 80's rock, not SRV blues, not nu metal - straight-up rock. Think Keith Richards, Angus Young, Matchbox Twenty etc.

LEND ME YOUR WISDOM!!!

I need some bold statements from you guys. Stuff like "______ is DEFINITELY better than _____".

Here are the pedals that I hear being talked about a lot - let's play a game of "Pick Any 2":

Keeley Voodoo Labs Sparkle Drive

Analogman or Keeley TS-9 (what's the difference?)

Analogman Maxon OD-9

Fulltone Fulldrive 2 MOSFET (Somebody told me this doesn't stack well - any truth to that? I also love the fact that you basically get a free boost pedal with this)

Pedalworx Texas Two-Step

Pedalworx Cactus Crunch

Pedalworx Tour Pro Toggle

DB13 Joyride

Timmy (where do you even get one???)

Zen Drive (tube or solid state?)

Barber LTD (Silver version)

NOC3 Pure Drive

Is there anything out there better than that stuff? The big deal is that I'm using these pedals for rhythm, not lead stuff.

Thanks a million!

[blackjack davey]

I found the Rat to be a great rhythm pedal. With some creative tweaking, you can get OD all the way to psuedo-Fuzz, all in one box.

And if I remember right, Dave Grohl used a Rat during the early Foo Fighter years. Some great rhythm tones there.

[Han Solo]

A friend brought a Toadworks Lil' Leo over last week. For the short time I had to try it, I was very impressed. It would be my first choice if I had to play alot of Stones-like rhythm parts.

[rogerramjett]

blackjack davey - which version of the RAT (original, version 2)?

[gtrshow]

Box of Rock and Timmy.

[KeithC]

NOC3 Firefly

[rogerramjett]

gtrshow - isn't the Box of Rock a pretty saturated pedal?

KeithC - Where can you buy a Firefly? N.O.C.3's website only features the Pure Drive...

[Rock72]

Tim or Timmy
Menatone King of the Britains (new version)

[alnico2]

Timmy, but I would try it behind the OCD with the comp in front of the OCD. As for the second choice on your list, a TS9 or similiar. I'll recommend a Lovekraft Mojodrive as it can get a bigger variety of sounds than a TS9. A Hotcake might also work well with your amp. Could also consider a boost pedal instead of the second drive pedal for rock rhythm. Maybe like this Comp>OCD>Timmy>RC Booster>Amp.

[Guitarzan]

For Keef I love the menatone working mans blue.

[blackjack davey]

Originally Posted by rogerramjett

blackjack davey - which version of the RAT (original, version 2)?

Personally, I prefer the Vintage RI (got a '91 with original LM308n chip) but I believe Grohl was using a late '80s or early '90s Rat2.

I think there's a picture of him with one in the liner notes of their debut album.

[Catoogie]

I believe Grohl was using a late '80s or early '90s Rat2.

Wow!! Dave Grohl is now benchmark for great tone? I LOVE his drumming and some of his songwriting but in my opinion he's hardly getting tones that are out of reach to any guitar player with a good set of ears.

[TimH]

Not on your list but exactly what you're describing...Keeley BD-2 Phat mod. It is, IMHO, by far the most transparent drive pedal I've had. To my ear, more transparent than an RC booster, more gain on tap too. Pair that with a FDII mosfet (they stack very well) and you've got it all.

[macca]

depending on the part, for rhythm, I like a BJF Honey Bee, Timmy or a DAM Drag/n/Fly or Rooster; for what you seem to be going for, the Timmy would be worth trying

I haven't played on yet, but I have heard some good things about the Liquid Sunshine for a Keef-like rhythm work

[Blues Wail]

Timmy, LTD.