Overdrive/Distortion pedal question

[Saljam]

Hi guys... I am new to effect pedals. I'm looking for an inexpensive Overdrive or Distortion pedal. Its just for basement playing through my EPI Valve Senior tube amp. I'm looking for some crunchy overdriven tones (Pearl Jam - "Alive" or "State of Love and Trust"). I was looking at the Bad Monkey, Tube Screamer, GFS Greenie, ect.. I noticed the Bad Monkey is "digital" where the others are analog. Is there a big difference? Any advice is appreciated!

[dennistruckdriver]

The Bad Monkey is analog.

DigiTech Bad Monkey

"The Bad Monkey is a popular electric guitar effects pedal manufactured by DigiTech. The pedal uses analog solid state electronics to emulate the sound of an overdriven tube amplifier, adding harmonic distortion that many guitar players find pleasing."

[Saljam]

Originally Posted by dennistruckdriver

The Bad Monkey is analog.

DigiTech Bad Monkey

"The Bad Monkey is a popular electric guitar effects pedal manufactured by DigiTech. The pedal uses analog solid state electronics to emulate the sound of an overdriven tube amplifier, adding harmonic distortion that many guitar players find pleasing."

Thanks Dennis. Musicians Friend listed the Bad Monkey's signal path as Digital and the Tube Screamer's as Analog when I campared them. Not that I know what the hell the difference is.

[firesgt911]

The Bad Monkey is pretty sweet! I loved mine. You could also check out the Luther Drive by Gearmanndude. It is a less expensive Maxon OD808 clone which is pretty sweet. Good luck!

[matthornet]

Originally Posted by firesgt911

The Bad Monkey is pretty sweet! I loved mine. You could also check out the Luther Drive by Gearmanndude. It is a less expensive Maxon OD808 clone which is pretty sweet. Good luck!

Luther Drive is still sold at $100 if I'm not mistaken & a used Maxon OD808 is only around $90 on eBay. disclaimer*

[firesgt911]

If you can get a Maxon on Ebay for $90, jump on it! They cheapest I've seen them go for is $112(from today, which I lost), which isn't a big difference.

[kungpow!]

Originally Posted by Saljam

I'm looking for an inexpensive Overdrive or Distortion pedal.

I may sound like a broken record player, but check the Danelectro pedals, esp the CO-1 or 2 Cool Cat Drive. They 've replaced the 2 with the 1, the 2 is more expensive, you might find a used 1. They sound like a Fulltone OCD.

[Saljam]

Thanks for all the response guys. I'll check all those out. How bout those GFS pedals?

[gatecrasher]

You can get some pretty massive overdrive with the Zakk Wylde overdrive pedal:

Amazon.com: MXR Wylde Overdrive Effects Pedal: Musical Instruments

Amazon.com: MXR Wylde Overdrive Effects Pedal: Musical Instruments

I picked 2 of them up off ebay, one for 30, the other for around 45. You can get them cheap.

[AngryHatter]

Originally Posted by kungpow!

I may sound like a broken record player, but check the Danelectro pedals, esp the CO-1 or 2 Cool Cat Drive. They 've replaced the 2 with the 1, the 2 is more expensive, you might find a used 1. They sound like a Fulltone OCD.

Not quite.

[Hamtone]

Whats your budget?

[Saljam]

Originally Posted by hamtone

whats your budget?

$50 - $100

[Hamtone]

The options presented are good choices for your price range

[slowpokerhino]

Hardwire Tube Overdrive or Valve Distortion are very good sounding pedals at $99 new and a bit less used.

[matthornet]

Originally Posted by firesgt911

If you can get a Maxon on Ebay for $90, jump on it! They cheapest I've seen them go for is $112(from today, which I lost), which isn't a big difference.

I got my Maxon OD808 from eBay at $90. I saw some end at $85-ish too. Just the right item at the right time I guess.

[clane04]

Originally Posted by slowpokerhino

Hardwire Tube Overdrive or Valve Distortion are very good sounding pedals at $99 new and a bit less used.

I agree. these are two pedals you should definitely take a look at.

[Saljam]

I just got the Bad Monkey this week. Its my first pedal and I'm digging the overdrive tones. Overall I was hoping for more gain. The Hardwire Valve Distortion sounds great from the clips I've heard.

[snaredrum]

for more gain sell the bad monkey and get the screamin' blues. still digitech, should be cheap, and has more gain available. great pedal!

[Goldtop75]

Originally Posted by Saljam

I just got the Bad Monkey this week. Its my first pedal and I'm digging the overdrive tones. Overall I was hoping for more gain.

What amp are you running? If you're relying on your pedal to give you the gain purely, then of course it won't deliver that chugga chugga level of gain. But if you're using the pedal to push an already slightly overdriven amp, then you'd be surprised at how much damage a simple overdrive can do.

[Saljam]

Originally Posted by Goldtop75

What amp are you running? If you're relying on your pedal to give you the gain purely, then of course it won't deliver that chugga chugga level of gain. But if you're using the pedal to push an already slightly overdriven amp, then you'd be surprised at how much damage a simple overdrive can do.

I have a Epiphone Valve Sr. I mostly run the master volume full with only slight gain. I neep to play around with the settings. You are right though... the pedal combined with the amps gaind does have some nice crunch. I'm planning on a distortion pedal to go along with my Bad Monkey.... I really like the clips I've heard of the Hardwire Valve Distorion. Thanks for the response!