I think I prefer overdrive pedals to boost pedals. Anyone else?

[lustpedal]

I think I am starting to prefer Tubescreamers, Klon pedals, Tim/Timmy/ Pork Loin etc. over boost pedals. I feel that these type of pedals have a lot more potential and the tone is generally a little more artistic for lack of a better word. Overdrives used as boost pedals with the gain down generally imo just have this personality that can't be beat. Sure they are not 100% transparent. But I think the whole 100% transparent thing was a 2003 footnote and not the reality most of us want to live with.

I think a good overdrive is a much better pedal over a simple boost and for multiple reasons. anyone else agree?

[Prodigy]

I think it depends what kind of tones you desire...I had a stock Boss SD-1 that sounded awesome pushing my Classic 30's OD channel (gain at 0), but I couldn't get along with the boost side of my Wampler Hot Wired. I could see how it could be useful for certain applications, but for what I wanted, that pedal just didn't do it for me. I think though, that I need to try a lot more OD's and boosts before I come to a conclusion about which is better...

[rhinocaster]

Originally Posted by lustpedal

I think I am starting to prefer Tubescreamers, Klon pedals, Tim/Timmy/ Pork Loin etc. over boost pedals. I feel that these type of pedals have a lot more potential and the tone is generally a little more artistic for lack of a better word. Overdrives used as boost pedals with the gain down generally imo just have this personality that can't be beat. Sure they are not 100% transparent. But I think the whole 100% transparent thing was a 2003 footnote and not the reality most of us want to live with.

I think a good overdrive is a much better pedal over a simple boost and for multiple reasons. anyone else agree?

I feel the same way, but I have to say that I really enjoy the Klon as a boost.

I'm a huge fan of overdrives with different personalities. These pedals turn my single channel amps into very different beasts. I prefer overdrives to attenuators as well. Give me lots of voices and overdriven sounds!

[ahab]

Honestly, I prefer my amp cooking up some serious overdrive to anything a pedal can produce. However, there are some pedals that seem to really compliment an amp when it is already sounding great. For me, these pedals have usually been Fuzzes and Boosts.
Although, I really like what I have heard out of a Zvex Box of Rock when I used one.

[lustpedal]

Originally Posted by ahab

Honestly, I prefer my amp cooking up some serious overdrive to anything a pedal can produce. However, there are some pedals that seem to really compliment an amp when it is already sounding great. For me, these pedals have usually been Fuzzes and Boosts.
Although, I really like what I have heard out of a Zvex Box of Rock when I used one.

The Zvex was giant Ugly with my vox. Just complete crap.

[lustpedal]

Originally Posted by rhinocaster

I feel the same way, but I have to say that I really enjoy the Klon as a boost.

I'm a huge fan of overdrives with different personalities. These pedals turn my single channel amps into very different beasts. I prefer overdrives to attenuators as well. Give me lots of voices and overdriven sounds!

I agree about the klon. I see the klon as an OD though that I would use as a boost. That is what I am saying. Its better to take a timmy and use it for boost and overdrive than it is to say buy a super chili picasso.

[ahab]

I should add that I only played the BOR at a music store to try one out. I don't use overdrive pedals on gigs or in the studio (all the pedals that I own are listed in my sig). But, I did like what I heard. Seemed to have a solid boost, and I liked the tone of the overdrive. I don't own an Ac30 so I can't comment on that.

[rhinocaster]

Originally Posted by lustpedal

I agree about the klon. I see the klon as an OD though that I would use as a boost. That is what I am saying. Its better to take a timmy and use it for boost and overdrive than it is to say buy a super chili picasso.

I agree. I like a pedal that has a voice. Transparent for me is when I turn off my pedals. :BEER

[Jet Age Eric]

I swear by a DOD 250 (grey or modded RI), but the SPF Ego Booster did a good job for me when I needed it. -E

[erksin]

I use all of my ODs as low gain 'flavored boosts' for the most part - I like the individual EQs they all impart on my amp's inherent drive sound. I've never really liked the results I've had trying typical clean boosts.

[therhodeo]

Originally Posted by erksin

I use all of my ODs as low gain 'flavored boosts' for the most part - I like the individual EQs they all impart on my amp's inherent drive sound. I've never really liked the results I've had trying typical clean boosts.

The only luck I've had with clean boost is just using them to get my clean up as loud as my dirt sounds because I like my OD pedals pushing my amp quite a bit harder than its normal clean volume.

[bobcs71]

In my setup I can't beat the sound of running my amp on the edge of breakup and then using the Tim for a volume increase.

[Ronsonic]

I'm spoiled and build my own stuff. I like boost pedals that add some treble boost (low end rolloff, really) and just a bit of grit when the guitar volume is full up. Then I can roll back the guitar volume and get it cleaned up but still crispy bright if I want.

It really is a question of how the guitar, pedal, amp combination all works together. A lot of that has to do with how you play. Guys who never touch the tone knob on the guitar will have different preferences.

[eyeball987]

I use both. I have a MXR Micro Amp going into a Dano Trans OD in front of my amp. I mix and match along the way.

[Dr. Lo]

Totally depends on the amp. I love pushing my slightly overdriven Orange with a boost. An OD in front of it sounds kind of fizzy. However, a boost in front of my '75 Princeton Reverb totally blows.