Pedals that arent great at home, but shine live with a band...

[dewman]

A few pedals sound less than great at home, but lately I've rescued a few from the TGP emporium or Ebay because they sound STELLAR live! It's killing me. Almost sold my Tim because I must have dog ears and kept hearing that crunchy overdrive. However, last night it sounded killer with the group of guys I play with. I find the Eternity dark and muffled at home, but live it is amazing sounding. Anyone else have these stark differences with pedals or like them live better than at home? Wish we could amass a running list since a lot of things come and go because I didn't like them at home and let them go before I could use them in a band context. Here are some of my faves live:

Cochrane's Tim
Lovepedal Burst Eternity
Lovepedal 200lbs
Analogman Beano Boost

Some one's I didn't like live but liked them at home:
Clyde Deluxe Wah
BB Preamp
Bad Monkey
Zendrive


One's I want to hear live:
Duncan Twin Tube
H&K Tube Factor

[re-animator]

any sort of rangemaster.... they are NOT made for the bedroom.

[rusty a.]

i can't get any OD pedal to sound good at practice volume...best example...my FULLDRIVE sounds great live and cranked up, but i hate it through my small amps or at low volume...

[eclipseall]

MXR DoubleShor or MXR Dime Distortion. They slice through the mix and sound thick and heavy with the right Eq.

[big mike]

I think the Klon really shines on the gig...as does a good phaser.

[parns2112]

everything Fulltone...

[Josh O]

The Keeley modded DS-1 really shined when opened up, not a good bedroom pedal at all.

[gang twanger]

Originally Posted by eclipseall

MXR DoubleShor or MXR Dime Distortion. They slice through the mix and sound thick and heavy with the right Eq.

+1 on the Dime and Doubleshot. I tried like hell to get a good sound out out of either one at the music store, but no luck. I guess you have to really goose 'em and add an extra dose of EQ to get a decent sound.

My Beano Boost is definitely not bedroom friendly either. My NKT Sunface sounds good at low volume, but you really need to run it through a cranked amp to get the real mojo out of it. Same thing with my Pro Bender. You give it some volume, and it sweetens up and starts feeding back in that uber-cool way where you just press down on the strings and BWAAAHH!!!!
:RoCkIn

[AaeCee]

Originally Posted by big mike

I think the Klon really shines on the gig...as does a good phaser.

Big +1. A Klon is GREAT at decent volumes, but not an ideal bedroom pedal.

[tonewave]

fd2 cranked is another beast entirely at live gig levels
at lower levels I can't get past the colouring it does to lower end of my sound. Also at lower levels it reminds me of McDonalds for some reason.
Who knows, it could that you just don't notice these things in the heat of the battle.

[plexirocker 68]

Ts-9 tube screamers are the king of this!!

plexi

[Dog Boy]

Hotcake ain't so hot at bedroom lvls. On the gig it rocks!

However I never use mine as a distortion unit...just a gritty OD.

[Joses]

Most of the Jetters, if not all of them, aren't too crash hot at low levels - but really bring the heat when your amp is loud and proud!

[StompBoxBlues]

Though I would argue that it sounds very nice at home, the Zendrive is absolutely the biggest "trick" I know of....it's like wizardry.

The Klon, I agree also, but there again, like it ver much at home, and other than the effect it can have on other pedals with its bufffer, with the band it shines too.

[mike@nortoncable.com]

The box of rock sounds great all around But at bedroom levels It really doesnt shine as well without the cranked amp-. This really applies to most OD pedals I suppose. There meant to be put infront of an amp thats already breaking up. So at lower levels They all just seem to be BLAH. Then again thats what the crunch box is for, sounds good at all volumes! (especially loud ones)

I agree also on The klon thing, the amp just needs to be driven to breakup for it to do its thing, It even states this on the setup paper.. Not a bedroom peice if you live in a condo