What are the latest favorite two channel overdrive pedals?

I had the same frustration with the FDII regarding lack of a second volume control.

I now use a Mosferatu M2 from www.hermidaaudio.com and like it a lot.

 

I actually never considered my FDII to be a "2 channel" OD. IMO, it's more of an OD with a separate clean boost -- the latter designed to make your tube amp distort more on its own. That's why there is no "volume" control on the boost side -- it is, itself, a "volume" control.

The Jeckyll/Hyde pedal is more what I think of for a true "2 channel" OD/Distortion box. Two distinct OD pedals in one box.

 

I have used both Jehkyll&Hyde from Visual Sound
http://www.visualsound.net/jh.htm
and Barber Burn Unit
http://www.barberelectronics.com/products.html
and i like them both.

 

I like the FDII. The volume jump is significant in comp cut mode, but I agree that it's less noticeable in the other two modes.

For that kind of jump, I recommend putting some sort of booster after your main drive sound. For example, use a tubescreamer for your dirt sound and then stomp on a Bad Bob for leads. Put the BB between the TS and amp to get your volume jump.

I really liked the Blackstone into a BF style amp, but felt it could've used a tad more volume overall.

 

I've been very happy with my Foxrox ZIM... no volume issues as both "channels" have a level knob and a gain knob. They're not really channels because they can be used in any location in your signal chain independant of each other because of the extra output/input jacks between the "channels". If you don't use them then the signal travels right into channel B.

 

I have to say that i am LOVING my Demeter FOD-1...combines their Midboost pedal with a silicon/germanium switchable fuzz style distortion/overdrive...the tone on that thing is out of this world...and, you can use the midboost to punch your amp a little and get some breakup.

dave

 

Excellent description, and this is exactly how I use the FDII's boost. The overdrive is set to give me, well, overdrive (the TS in your example). I set the boost to give me the extra push for leads, which also pushes the amp's preamp tubes to distort more for the lead. So it's like having a TS then a separate boost in your signal chain, rather than having 2 distinct OD pedals in line.

FYI, I use the FDII with comp cut engaged (i.e., no compression), the OD volume is between 10-12 o'clock, the tone at about 3-4 o'clock, the OD is about 10-12 o'clock, and the boost is about 9-10 o'clock. The settings radically change if the comp is engaged -- particularly the boost, which can be pushed well past 12 o'clock when the compression is engaged. I use very, very infrequently as I like the sound of the pedal without compression on my amps.

 

+1 Couldn't be happier with the ZIM. The sound quality is very high and the cut/boost feature is perfect for recording double tracks with slightly different tone structure to create massive sounds. Live use is great as well and the ability to use each channel in different locations in you signal chain is very usefull.

One thing that I really like is that channel A and B have independent level controls but if you engage both A and B together it isn't over the top volume jump that causes one to go reaching for the guitar volume to control.

I'll die with my ZIM.

 

Yep! That channel B feels like about 16 different OD pedals to me...

 

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also check out the latest Barber Tone Pump and Burn Unit with the eq adjustments... very solid units with more controls than most 'two stage/channel' pieces...

 

I like the Barber burn unit for what you describe. Two seperate volume controls.

 

Fetto Maximus. Incredibly good pedal.

 

This is a resurrection thread if I have ever seen one.

 

It sure is. I wonder if the OP made a purchase decision in the last 11 years, or if he's going to pick up the Maximus.

 

Analogman King of Tone version 3 if we're still talking mid-2005! @analogmike

 

I hope GM1 has been sitting around in a dark room for the last 11 years mumbling "what two channel overdrive will I use? What's good? What will TGP approve of?"