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distortion boxes

StoneG82StoneG82 Posts: 806
edited July 2005 in Musicians and Gearheads
hey everyone. I'm looking for a distortion pedal that will give me a similar tone to "at least thats what you said" by wilco, or basically just an all out crazy sounding pedal. i have a dod grunge pedal and it sounds awful. If anyone can recomend me some good distortion boxes, that would be great. thanks.
"What’s Orphans? I don’t know. Orphans is a dead end kid driving a coffin with big tires across the Ohio River wearing welding goggles and a wife beater with a lit firecracker in his ear." - Tom Waits
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  • Pacomc79Pacomc79 Posts: 9,404
    StoneG82 wrote:
    hey everyone. I'm looking for a distortion pedal that will give me a similar tone to "at least thats what you said" by wilco, or basically just an all out crazy sounding pedal. i have a dod grunge pedal and it sounds awful. If anyone can recomend me some good distortion boxes, that would be great. thanks.


    find it here, http://www.midfielectronics.com also search for the wilco gear post, I think Ex posted it a couple of months ago.

    we can recommend thousands of good boxes if you give us a price range.
    My Girlfriend said to me..."How many guitars do you need?" and I replied...."How many pairs of shoes do you need?" She got really quiet.
  • StoneG82StoneG82 Posts: 806
    I'm really looking for something in the $90 to $200 price range.

    thanks for the link.
    "What’s Orphans? I don’t know. Orphans is a dead end kid driving a coffin with big tires across the Ohio River wearing welding goggles and a wife beater with a lit firecracker in his ear." - Tom Waits
  • HailHailVitalogyHailHailVitalogy Posts: 5,134
    i would honestly say the Ibanez Ts9

    it sounds like a Ts9 on the song Casino Queen (my fav)
    2003: Uniondale, MSG x2 | 2004: Reading | 2005: Gorge, Vancouver, Philly | 2006: East Rutherford x2, Gorge x2, Camden 1, Hartford | 2008: MSG x2, VA Beach | 2009: Philly x3 | 2010: MSG x2, Bristow | 2011: Alpine Valley x2 | 2012: MIA Philly | 2013: Wrigley, Charlottesville, Brooklyn 2 | 2014: Milan, Amsterdam 1 | 2016: MSG x2, Fenway x2, Wrigley 2 | 2018: Rome, Krakow, Berlin, Wrigley 2 | 2021: Sea Hear Now | 2022: San Diego, LA x2, MSG, Camden, Nashville, St. Louis, Denver | 2023: St. Paul 1, Chicago x2, Fort Worth x2, Austin 2 | 2024: Las Vegas 1, Seattle x2, Indy, MSG x2, Philly x2, Baltimore
  • StuffnJunkStuffnJunk Posts: 896
    i got the ts-9 and was suprised at how mild the distortion was, it almost sounds clean.......but then i used the ts-9 combined with light distortion on my fender amp, and it is the greatest sound i've ever gotten!
    "I'll tell you what: If all I had was Pearl Jam, and I didn't have another band in the world, I would not be worried. Because in there is the essence of making great music. You don't have to use it all at once, but it's there." - Neil Young
  • mccreadyisgodmccreadyisgod Posts: 6,395
    I'd go with a ProCo Rat or a SansAmp Classic.
    ...and if you don't like it, you can suck on an egg.
  • Pacomc79Pacomc79 Posts: 9,404
    +1 on the rat for fuzzy 70's stuff I have a keeley version for sale if you want it.

    If you want kind of that wilco wierd fuzz craziness, look for a used Zvex vexter series fuzz factory. Should run you between 150 and 175. I think there is one on the gear page for 150.

    check it out, http://www.zvex.com the demo video on the hand painted version will help you understand it.

    http://media.zvex.com/fuzzfactory.mov
    My Girlfriend said to me..."How many guitars do you need?" and I replied...."How many pairs of shoes do you need?" She got really quiet.
  • DirtLikeMeDirtLikeMe Posts: 91
    I swear by my Soldano Supercharger GTO. This pedal, when played through my Evil Twin allows me to get some nice creamy distortion. The GTO is versatile, in that you can really go all balls to wall and get some sounds that resemble silicon transistor fuzz boxes but without all the signal noise Or you can get a nice distortion that is more like a crunchy Demeter cab. Another thing that is awesome is that the distortion doesn't cover up your guitar; you can hear the particulars of whatever guitar you are playing.

    I think you could get that Wilco sound with this pedal with the overdrive at 12:00 - as long as you had a tremolo system on your guitar to get all those bends that he is doing.
    And if hope could grow from dirt like me, it can be done
  • Pacomc79Pacomc79 Posts: 9,404
    DirtLikeMe wrote:
    I swear by my Soldano Supercharger GTO. This pedal, when played through my Evil Twin allows me to get some nice creamy distortion. The GTO is versatile, in that you can really go all balls to wall and get some sounds that resemble silicon transistor fuzz boxes but without all the signal noise Or you can get a nice distortion that is more like a crunchy Demeter cab. Another thing that is awesome is that the distortion doesn't cover up your guitar; you can hear the particulars of whatever guitar you are playing.

    I think you could get that Wilco sound with this pedal with the overdrive at 12:00 - as long as you had a tremolo system on your guitar to get all those bends that he is doing.


    the supercharger is badass, it's like having the preamp of an SLO right there ready to add in to anything. 400 bucks is pricey but it's quality.
    My Girlfriend said to me..."How many guitars do you need?" and I replied...."How many pairs of shoes do you need?" She got really quiet.
  • DirtLikeMeDirtLikeMe Posts: 91
    Pacomc79 wrote:
    the supercharger is badass, it's like having the preamp of an SLO right there ready to add in to anything. 400 bucks is pricey but it's quality.

    I bought mine used from Atlanta Discount Music about 4 years ago for a good price. I think it was in the mid to high 200's when I got it. But to me it has been worth every single penny. I have never had problems with it, as anyone familiar with Soldano knows that it's quality stuff. And it is great to play along with other distortion or fuzz pedals. I have Fulltone 70's that I will play with the GTO and it creates some crazy thick fuzz with TONS of SUSTAINNNNNNNN.
    And if hope could grow from dirt like me, it can be done
  • Pacomc79Pacomc79 Posts: 9,404
    DirtLikeMe wrote:
    I bought mine used from Atlanta Discount Music about 4 years ago for a good price. I think it was in the mid to high 200's when I got it. But to me it has been worth every single penny. I have never had problems with it, as anyone familiar with Soldano knows that it's quality stuff. And it is great to play along with other distortion or fuzz pedals. I have Fulltone 70's that I will play with the GTO and it creates some crazy thick fuzz with TONS of SUSTAINNNNNNNN.


    I bought my orange from the same little store, I used to work at that airport right behind it. Have you been to their new store off of Peachtree Industrial yet?
    My Girlfriend said to me..."How many guitars do you need?" and I replied...."How many pairs of shoes do you need?" She got really quiet.
  • HailHailVitalogyHailHailVitalogy Posts: 5,134
    i tried out 2 distortion pedals i actually really liked today

    Maxon Sonic Distortion
    Marshall Guv'nor

    i played both through a Fender 65 Twin Reverb...the sonic distortion is fuckin bad ass as hell, anywhere from alternative sounds to fuckin "grunge" to fuckin metal...was going for 140$
    the marshall Guvnor rocked too, great OD pedal...i didnt see the price tag on it, sorry
    2003: Uniondale, MSG x2 | 2004: Reading | 2005: Gorge, Vancouver, Philly | 2006: East Rutherford x2, Gorge x2, Camden 1, Hartford | 2008: MSG x2, VA Beach | 2009: Philly x3 | 2010: MSG x2, Bristow | 2011: Alpine Valley x2 | 2012: MIA Philly | 2013: Wrigley, Charlottesville, Brooklyn 2 | 2014: Milan, Amsterdam 1 | 2016: MSG x2, Fenway x2, Wrigley 2 | 2018: Rome, Krakow, Berlin, Wrigley 2 | 2021: Sea Hear Now | 2022: San Diego, LA x2, MSG, Camden, Nashville, St. Louis, Denver | 2023: St. Paul 1, Chicago x2, Fort Worth x2, Austin 2 | 2024: Las Vegas 1, Seattle x2, Indy, MSG x2, Philly x2, Baltimore
  • DirtLikeMeDirtLikeMe Posts: 91
    I was listening to that Wilco song and it came to me that the guitar sounds like none other than J. Mascis' from Dinosaur Jr. I don't know if you are familiar with Mascis but he has a similar sound, with regards to the solo from "At Least That's What You Said". Here is a link to his gear, but it is a pretty insane and make-your-ears-bleed setup. Not to mention that it would cost a fortune.

    http://guitargeek.com/rigview/223/
    And if hope could grow from dirt like me, it can be done
  • DirtLikeMeDirtLikeMe Posts: 91
    Pacomc79 wrote:
    I bought my orange from the same little store, I used to work at that airport right behind it. Have you been to their new store off of Peachtree Industrial yet?

    No, haven't had the time to venture up that way as of yet. Is it a bigger store now or about the same size? I did like their store because of all the great gear that you couldn't find at the chain music stores.
    And if hope could grow from dirt like me, it can be done
  • StoneG82StoneG82 Posts: 806
    DirtLikeMe wrote:
    I was listening to that Wilco song and it came to me that the guitar sounds like none other than J. Mascis' from Dinosaur Jr. I don't know if you are familiar with Mascis but he has a similar sound, with regards to the solo from "At Least That's What You Said". Here is a link to his gear, but it is a pretty insane and make-your-ears-bleed setup. Not to mention that it would cost a fortune.

    http://guitargeek.com/rigview/223/

    I have a small clone, so if I'm estimitating right, that plus a big muff should equal some pretty sweet crazy distortion. and i love mascis by the way.

    I think im going with the big muff.
    "What’s Orphans? I don’t know. Orphans is a dead end kid driving a coffin with big tires across the Ohio River wearing welding goggles and a wife beater with a lit firecracker in his ear." - Tom Waits
  • Pacomc79Pacomc79 Posts: 9,404
    DirtLikeMe wrote:
    No, haven't had the time to venture up that way as of yet. Is it a bigger store now or about the same size? I did like their store because of all the great gear that you couldn't find at the chain music stores.


    same kind of botique, "I won't talk to you until you buy something then I'll be real nice from then on" kind of store. I haven't been to the new one, maybe this afternoon I'll swing by. You can still get all the good stuff it's just a smaller store.
    My Girlfriend said to me..."How many guitars do you need?" and I replied...."How many pairs of shoes do you need?" She got really quiet.
  • DirtLikeMeDirtLikeMe Posts: 91
    Here is the site for Nels Cline, the current lead guitarist for Wilco, with a photo and explanation of his gear. It appears that he is using the Z Vex Fuzz Factory for that sound in "At Least That's What You Said" or some combination of his other fuzz/distortion pedals: 4 to be exact.

    http://www.nelscline.com/tech.html
    And if hope could grow from dirt like me, it can be done
  • StoneG82StoneG82 Posts: 806
    DirtLikeMe wrote:
    Here is the site for Nels Cline, the current lead guitarist for Wilco, with a photo and explanation of his gear. It appears that he is using the Z Vex Fuzz Factory for that sound in "At Least That's What You Said" or some combination of his other fuzz/distortion pedals: 4 to be exact.

    http://www.nelscline.com/tech.html

    thanks for the info...

    its between the z vex and the big muff...any thoughts?
    "What’s Orphans? I don’t know. Orphans is a dead end kid driving a coffin with big tires across the Ohio River wearing welding goggles and a wife beater with a lit firecracker in his ear." - Tom Waits
  • CaptainSpaz91CaptainSpaz91 Posts: 266
    Well if your interested I'm selling my Ibanez SD9 Sonic Distortion pedal. PM me.
    "i wanna rock and roll **all night**, and part of everyday"
  • mccreadyisgodmccreadyisgod Posts: 6,395
    I was fairly sure that the crazy guitar in ALTWYS was Tweedy...

    I still vote Rat.
    ...and if you don't like it, you can suck on an egg.
  • StoneG82StoneG82 Posts: 806
    mccreadyisgod wrote:
    I was fairly sure that the crazy guitar in ALTWYS was Tweedy...

    I still vote Rat.

    It is tweedy, cline didnt come in until after the album was finished.

    does tweedy use a rat?
    "What’s Orphans? I don’t know. Orphans is a dead end kid driving a coffin with big tires across the Ohio River wearing welding goggles and a wife beater with a lit firecracker in his ear." - Tom Waits
  • DirtLikeMeDirtLikeMe Posts: 91
    My bad about assuming that Nels was with the band during the recording of the last album. However on Wilco's site, in the photo section I believe there is a photo of Tweedy's pedal board.
    http://www.wilcoworld.net/photos/index.php

    Scroll through until you find the pedal board picture tha contains Lovetone's Big Cheese, which might be the pedal he is using for the fuzz sound on ALTWYS.
    And if hope could grow from dirt like me, it can be done
  • Pacomc79Pacomc79 Posts: 9,404
    DirtLikeMe wrote:
    Here is the site for Nels Cline, the current lead guitarist for Wilco, with a photo and explanation of his gear. It appears that he is using the Z Vex Fuzz Factory for that sound in "At Least That's What You Said" or some combination of his other fuzz/distortion pedals: 4 to be exact.

    http://www.nelscline.com/tech.html



    cool that's the site I was trying to remember. Thanks.


    Trouble is, the love tone big cheese if you can find one costs a gigantic pile of money now.
    My Girlfriend said to me..."How many guitars do you need?" and I replied...."How many pairs of shoes do you need?" She got really quiet.
  • StoneG82StoneG82 Posts: 806
    DirtLikeMe wrote:
    My bad about assuming that Nels was with the band during the recording of the last album. However on Wilco's site, in the photo section I believe there is a photo of Tweedy's pedal board.
    http://www.wilcoworld.net/photos/index.php

    Scroll through until you find the pedal board picture tha contains Lovetone's Big Cheese, which might be the pedal he is using for the fuzz sound on ALTWYS.

    dont worry about it. ive never heard of a big cheese. are they any good?
    "What’s Orphans? I don’t know. Orphans is a dead end kid driving a coffin with big tires across the Ohio River wearing welding goggles and a wife beater with a lit firecracker in his ear." - Tom Waits
  • StoneG82StoneG82 Posts: 806
    after screwing around on the z vex site, I've fallen in love with the fuzz factory.

    the thing is, should i get the expensive hand painted one, or the "vexter" series one? is there a difference in tone, or just the looks?
    "What’s Orphans? I don’t know. Orphans is a dead end kid driving a coffin with big tires across the Ohio River wearing welding goggles and a wife beater with a lit firecracker in his ear." - Tom Waits
  • Pacomc79Pacomc79 Posts: 9,404
    StoneG82 wrote:
    after screwing around on the z vex site, I've fallen in love with the fuzz factory.

    the thing is, should i get the expensive hand painted one, or the "vexter" series one? is there a difference in tone, or just the looks?


    just the looks, unless you're crazy about paint, go with the vexter. The silk screen looks pretty cool anyway.

    http://www.thegearpage.net/board/showthread.php?threadid=91402&highlight=zvex+fuzz+factory
    My Girlfriend said to me..."How many guitars do you need?" and I replied...."How many pairs of shoes do you need?" She got really quiet.
  • StoneG82StoneG82 Posts: 806
    Pacomc79 wrote:
    just the looks, unless you're crazy about paint, go with the vexter. The silk screen looks pretty cool anyway.

    http://www.thegearpage.net/board/showthread.php?threadid=91402&highlight=zvex+fuzz+factory

    yeah, and plus all that stomping on a work of art would make me nervous.
    "What’s Orphans? I don’t know. Orphans is a dead end kid driving a coffin with big tires across the Ohio River wearing welding goggles and a wife beater with a lit firecracker in his ear." - Tom Waits
  • StoneG82StoneG82 Posts: 806
    sorry for all the questions, but -

    whats up with that Mid Fi glitch computer? It sounds pretty sick and nels cline uses one.
    "What’s Orphans? I don’t know. Orphans is a dead end kid driving a coffin with big tires across the Ohio River wearing welding goggles and a wife beater with a lit firecracker in his ear." - Tom Waits
  • DirtLikeMeDirtLikeMe Posts: 91
    Pacomc79 wrote:
    just the looks, unless you're crazy about paint, go with the vexter. The silk screen looks pretty cool anyway.

    http://www.thegearpage.net/board/showthread.php?threadid=91402&highlight=zvex+fuzz+factory

    Does the LED on the vexter affect the tone?
    And if hope could grow from dirt like me, it can be done
  • DirtLikeMeDirtLikeMe Posts: 91
    OHH. And the Big Cheese kicks some major ass, but it has always been out of my price range.

    http://www.lovetone.com/index2.html

    Check out the link and listen to the sample.
    And if hope could grow from dirt like me, it can be done
  • DirtLikeMeDirtLikeMe Posts: 91
    Another OHH. I just converted the pounds to dollars to see how much a Cheese Source, a Big Cheese and Brown Source combined is, and it comes out at over $525!!!!!!

    Or here is a Big Cheese on eBay with the starting bid at $350.

    http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7337596768&category=22669&ssPageName=WDVW&rd=1
    And if hope could grow from dirt like me, it can be done
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