I submit to BOSS!

[VictorLazarus]

Just got a small tube amp and a need a good distortion pedal (and a few other replacement effects) and after buying cheap pedals (that suck) its clear to me that BOSS (who I've been avoiding) is the only way to go.

So my main need is a heavy distortion (I'm thinking DS-1 or Metal Zone 2? I'd rather spend less and get the DS-1 but the metal zone looks pretty jello!)

And I need a new chorus pedal to replace my small clone (so I can use it on my power brick) I basicly want a in your face chorus - I've heard BOSS is pretty mild? There are two chorus pedals out with not alot of price difference?

And I might wanna invest in a flanger at some point (my fav effect, lol) but prolly not till x-mas cos theyr flangers are like £89.00.

MVL.

[Bordeaux]

IMO You pretty much have one of the best chorus pedals already unless you wanna spend a boatload of money.I actually bought the Boss CE-5 and tried it out for a week and even though it wasn't a bad chorus, it just seemed and lil too thin for my taste. I ended up returning it for the EMX Small Clone. I know you are in England but isn't there an adapter you can buy to use with your power brick? I just bought the VS 1 Spot combo pack and it comes with 2 adpaters for old DOD and Small Clone pedals and 1 adapter for the Line 6 pods.

As far as OD pedals go, I would not reccommend the DS-1 (I have one). They aren't terrible by any means but if you are looking for something "heavy" then the DS-1 may not suit your needs. I cannot comment on the MZ2, I have never tried one personally. I just bought the EMX Metal Muff and it really screams! Plus you can get them for a pretty decent price. I saw one used at my local GC (and they are always on the high end) for $80 and it was in excellent condition. I also tested the Blackstar HT Series HT-DISTX and it also was a great sounding box but just a little too pricey for me at $179.

For the price of the Blackstar, I ended up with the EMX Metal Muff and the Small Clone. To me the MM had a little more bight than the Blackstar. I'm sure the Top Boost on the MM had something to do with that and some here may completely disagree with that assesment.

[bigdaddy496]

i like boss pedals, i have a bunch myself. some people say they suck others say they aint for them

i say i like em, but thats just me

[Blues Power]

Boss has been around forever and personally think you cant really go wrong with their products. I dont use them only b/c i want/like to be different so I go the boutique route when it comes to accesories

[VictorLazarus]

If I could power it from the pedal brick I wouldn't change it but it needs this kinds of adapter:



The cables from my brick look like this: T-REX DC 20CM - U.K. International Cyberstore

Would this do the trick: T-REX DC ADAPTER CABLE 2,1-3,5 - U.K. International Cyberstore

MVL.

[siore]

Heavy distortion from Boss? Metal zone. Love love love love the parametric EQ. You could do lots of things with the mid/mid freq... not to mention the vast mods you could do to it, if you don't like how it sounds. If you don't like the nasal sound (typical 80's metal sound), try taking out the C25/c35 caps, problem fixed!

Metalcore (ML-2) is ok too. I like that one as well, although I wish they put in mid/mid freq knobs on it too.

[JasonC]

I had one of the original MZ's and it definitely gave me all the distortion I could handle. It was pretty adjustable and gave me a serious crunch even on my little crate practice amp. Would obviously sound much nicer on a tube amp, like you just got.

[Mr. Fuzzy]

You want This.
You can power it from your pedal brick

Originally Posted by VictorLazarus

If I could power it from the pedal brick I wouldn't change it but it needs this kinds of adapter:



The cables from my brick look like this: T-REX DC 20CM - U.K. International Cyberstore

Would this do the trick: T-REX DC ADAPTER CABLE 2,1-3,5 - U.K. International Cyberstore

MVL.

[Bordeaux]

Originally Posted by Mr. Fuzzy

You want This.
You can power it from your pedal brick

Yeap, My VS Spot 1 combo pack came with 2 of those adapters wich is great because I need 1 for my Small Clone and one for my old DOD Noisegate.

[pwoznic]

Uber Metal
Metal Muff
Metal Zone (modded)

Go in that order.

[wantsa58]

metal muff rocks! I'm actually trying to get one now.. I have a DS-1 and its fine I guess, but it really doesn't start to distort heavily untill you crank it. I have also heard good things about the uber metal...

[wantsa58]

Originally Posted by siore

Heavy distortion from Boss? Metal zone. Love love love love the parametric EQ. You could do lots of things with the mid/mid freq... not to mention the vast mods you could do to it, if you don't like how it sounds. If you don't like the nasal sound (typical 80's metal sound), try taking out the C25/c35 caps, problem fixed!

Metalcore (ML-2) is ok too. I like that one as well, although I wish they put in mid/mid freq knobs on it too.

I used to have one. The reason it doesn't have the mid knobs is because metal core music is all about no mid frequencies. Try playing 80's metal with that pedal and you are fucked.. But use it for bands like All that Remains, and Shadows Fall and its money in the bank.

It was a nice pedal but not for me...

[lifele55]

+1 for the Uber Metal...

Alot of people shun away from the MT2 because on higher levels it sounds very nasally and way too thin especially at band levels. Its just lacking that extra balls for the oomph!


And definitely try out the metal muff. That thing really pack some serious balls..

[siore]

Well, he did say he was partial to Boss pedals. But you guys are right, no reason he should stick with BOSS, there are lots of good non-BOSS ones out there. I've heard the metal muff too, and I think it's pretty good, especially the one with top boost.

If you want more syruppy thickness from your BOSS pedals, try out Monte Allums mod on the metal zone... or better yet, get the mega distortion MD-2! I think it's the thickest gainiest boss distortion made! Or just use SD-1 or OD-3 in front of it (still BOSS!!!).

[lifele55]

Hey Vic, do try out the Vox Satchurator... cheap and it sounds pretty darn good with very tubelike overtones. I'm sure it'll make your Blackheart jump out even much better

[TheWellGoodShow]

I Love BOSS so much its basically the only pedals I buy nowadays, reliable as hell. My pops backed onto my pedals in the garage, and they survive as if nothing happened to em.

[riles6789]

Boss pedals are the nost affordable pedals there are, besides behringer and danelectro. But those are made out of plastic. I avoid boss because True bypass is important to preserve as much of my original signal as possible. But I love theyre eq too much o I use it. And I wouldnt use any other tuner than the tu-2 (reliable as hell). Maybe the strobostomp but those are like 200$ for a tuner.

[VictorLazarus]

I tried out the DS-1, MD-2 and MT-2 - went away with the Metal Zone cos it just had more EQ - thou it did sound slightly more tinny than the MD-2 which had more bass. (and I may get that some other time, lol)

The main problem was they only had solid state amps at the store but oh well this thing is bound to sound better than the distortion pedals I have right now (Danelectro & Behringer, lol) and will sound thicker on my Blackheart GH5. (grinning)

I'll try it out loads today then post a pic of my current pedal setup in another topic.

(which will be dunlop DB01 wah - boss metal zone - eh small clone chorus - danelectro hash browns flanger)

MVL.

[slowhand0461]

What do you think about the Barber Direct Drive?

You Tube

Watch the whole Video.

Barber Electronics

Stringsdirect - Online Guitar Strings and Accessories

[riles6789]

I hate pro guitar shop demos. It makes every pedal sound terrible. I think its the amp he uses. Its not good. unless you crank your amp it sounds bad. I can tell by the compressed sound. Every pedal I own sounds better in person than from this guy. And by a lot too.

[soloben347]

in my opinion BOSS makes some pretty good pedals but stay away from the DS-1 unless its an older model cause i got one of the new ones to replace my old OD that went infront of my amp and the thing just sounds solid state style and thin but the older DS-1's are good

[kharvelan]

Victor, what kind of amp are you using the distortion for?

I gotta give my vote on MT2 metalzone for solid states, (not sure about tubes though), its pretty damn nice.

[slowhand0461]

Originally Posted by riles6789

I hate pro guitar shop demos. It makes every pedal sound terrible. I think its the amp he uses. Its not good. unless you crank your amp it sounds bad. I can tell by the compressed sound. Every pedal I own sounds better in person than from this guy. And by a lot too.

He's using a Fender Deluxe.....with the volume on about 2.they are very sterile amps..no where near a Marshall MG.

all I use the videos for is to get the basics of a pedal..if I like it ,I then go try it myself...the guy in the video never shows how to tweak the bass and presence boost's inside the pedal..they are what make this little bugger shine.