[meka]

Give tube screamer and wylde overdrive a try, if you're looking for overdrive. If you want distortion, I've never heard better dist then Dimebag's pedal (look at my signature). Boss screws sound somehow (will try to explain it later), my guitarist has MD-2. It sound really good when played without other instruments, but gets real muddy in the mix.

Now, that "somehow" part. I've always had the feeling that the Dime distortion sounds like clean. Not really like that, just had some feeling it's clean, and not distorted sound. The reason for this is that I've played Digitech ... can't even remember which pedal. It's muddy like hell in the mix (more then MD-2, of course). Only later I've realized my DD is not clean, I just can hear every god damn note I play. If you're not expirienced guitarist, I suggest you try playing the pedal with some prerecorded tune (never mind if it's some comercial band, or yours), and see how the sound cuts through. Try not to amplify the sound of your guitar more then the sound of the recording. That's what I would do if I would be in quest for a new pedal. Hope this helps.

If you know your way around PC, and have the time, try to record the sound of the pedal alone (straight to line-in of you audio card) clean and with the pedal engaged. Dist wave should at least look like the clean one. I mean, if you have the wave that is totaly screwed, that's bad sound. It's, of course, just a visual "confirmation" your pedal is good/bad. If you have access to some of the pedals (you can use Guitar Rig or Revalver, dial them the way you like, then the way you don't like), record them and take a look at the wave shape. You'll know what I mean.