help with an inexpensive distortion pedal

SalJam
SalJam Posts: 127
edited January 2010 in Musicians and Gearheads
Hello... I'm fairly new to the Forum but I've been a ten club member for years (primo seats for shows!). I'm a 40 year old dude learning how to play guitar. I've been playing for a little over a year. I'm looking for an inexpensive distortion pedal for some PJ tones (Alive, SOLAT, Porch....) I play a Strat and EPI LP through a EPI Valve Senior tube amp. Any ideas? Thanks guys.
Post edited by Unknown User on

Comments

  • gimmesometruth27
    gimmesometruth27 St. Fuckin Louis Posts: 24,243
    i would look into the classic boss distortion pedal. i think you can get it at guitar center for under $40. i have a cool little yellow boss overdrive/distortion i don't use any more but i think that one is around $60 or 70. that was a cool little pedal...i'd look into those if you are just starting out.
    "You can tell the greatness of a man by what makes him angry."  - Lincoln

    "Well, you tell him that I don't talk to suckas."
  • mccreadyisgod
    mccreadyisgod Bumfuq, MT Posts: 6,395
    If an Ibanez TS-9 Tubescreamer ($99) is too rich for your blood, the Digitech Bad Monkey ($50) is almost the same thing at half the price. If you want to spend $150+, then we can talk nuts and bolts, but you really can't beat the Bad Monkey for the price. Thank goodness you have a tube amp, as most drive/distortion boxes sound pretty bad through a solid-state amp.

    TS-9:
    http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/prod ... sku=150284

    Bad Monkey:
    http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/prod ... sku=150831
    ...and if you don't like it, you can suck on an egg.
  • SalJam
    SalJam Posts: 127
    Thanks for the response guys. I was also looking at the new GFS pedals at www.guitarfetish.com. However I do not know much about them. They have a Tude Screamer clone called the "Greenie". Anyways, thanks again. I will check out your recommendations.
  • xtremehardy388
    xtremehardy388 Posts: 2,759
    The BD2 Blues Driver is the most versatile pedal. I have the BD2, Tube screamer, BD2, Super Overdrive, and a ton of distortions. I used the little BOSS Distortion/Overdrive pedal, a number of years ago. Great pedal but not too versatile. With the BD2, you get a nice overdrive, a crunch tone, distortion, and even a suble tube breakup. You can also use it as a booster. If you want, you can also have it modded, which is what Mike McCready did. The Blues Driver will also push your tubes, too. That's always good. With the classic distortion, you can't get the full range. Same with the tube screamer.
    Grand Rapids '04, Detroit '06
    JEFF HARDY AND JEFF AMENT USED TO LOOK THE SAME
    "Pearl Jam always eases my mind and fires me up at the same time.”-Jeff Hardy
  • SalJam
    SalJam Posts: 127
    xtremehardy388 wrote:
    The BD2 Blues Driver is the most versatile pedal. I have the BD2, Tube screamer, BD2, Super Overdrive, and a ton of distortions. I used the little BOSS Distortion/Overdrive pedal, a number of years ago. Great pedal but not too versatile. With the BD2, you get a nice overdrive, a crunch tone, distortion, and even a suble tube breakup. You can also use it as a booster. If you want, you can also have it modded, which is what Mike McCready did. The Blues Driver will also push your tubes, too. That's always good. With the classic distortion, you can't get the full range. Same with the tube screamer.
    Great info! Thanks alot!
  • IGotShit76
    IGotShit76 Posts: 768
    The digitech Bad Monkey is a nice cheap overdrive pedal if money is an issue.
  • SalJam
    SalJam Posts: 127
    money is not really an issue... I just cant justify an expensive one since I have only been playing for a year. I just want something to mess around with in my basement... and piss off my wife and kids! haaaa.. Thanks again for all the responses!

    What do you guys think of these....

    http://store.guitarfetish.com/grcldicltsct.html

    http://store.guitarfetish.com/fattuclvatud.html
  • savman
    savman Posts: 230
    Well you can?!
    You just tell her you want to buy a good quality pedal that will be a pleasure to her ears, and that the cheap ones might break then you'll just have to buy a new one and so on.... . :D

    Still i agree with the above. I have a TS9 and a BD2 they are both very solid. cant say either way for the bad monkey.
  • xtremehardy388
    xtremehardy388 Posts: 2,759
    I've heard good and bad things about the bad monkey. Digitech has good stuff and tone sucking stuff. It's just tough to mod any digitech stuff. With the TS9 and BD2, those are easy to mod. The TS9 is great but I just don't think it's as versatile.
    Grand Rapids '04, Detroit '06
    JEFF HARDY AND JEFF AMENT USED TO LOOK THE SAME
    "Pearl Jam always eases my mind and fires me up at the same time.”-Jeff Hardy
  • mccreadyisgod
    mccreadyisgod Bumfuq, MT Posts: 6,395
    xtremehardy388 wrote:
    I've heard good and bad things about the bad monkey. Digitech has good stuff and tone sucking stuff. It's just tough to mod any digitech stuff. With the TS9 and BD2, those are easy to mod. The TS9 is great but I just don't think it's as versatile.


    I've never heard anything bad about the Bad Monkey, what complaints have you heard? Digitech had a terrible reputation in the early 90's, but in the last 10 years, they've been pretty solid.

    And don't forget... "versatile" is usually a good way to say it's mediocre at lots of things. A good TS-9 or TS-808 is just a great tone when used correctly, and probably the single-most iconic stompbox out there.
    ...and if you don't like it, you can suck on an egg.
  • xtremehardy388
    xtremehardy388 Posts: 2,759
    I heard the Bad Monkey is a tone sucker. I used the X-series phaser and THAT was terrible at tone sucking.

    As for the BD2 being mediocre, I think it's everything but. However, the TS9 and TS808 shouldn't be sold short. They're awesome pedals, too!
    Grand Rapids '04, Detroit '06
    JEFF HARDY AND JEFF AMENT USED TO LOOK THE SAME
    "Pearl Jam always eases my mind and fires me up at the same time.”-Jeff Hardy
  • markin ball
    markin ball Posts: 1,076
    Ibanez Tube Screamer or Boss Blues Driver. Maybe the Boss for versatility purposes.
    "First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, then you win ."

    "With our thoughts we make the world"

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