Overdrive for GT2?

[kank_39]

I have been using a BD2 to MT2 configuration for my overdrive leads for sometime. Although the sound is somewhat screechy, the BD2 does add to the smoothness to the leads.

I decided to upgrade and got myself a sansamp GT2 and I was totally blown away! The distortion is so smooth. It makes the MT2 sound like a fuzz pedal at times. When playing leads, i don't even need overdrive as it sounded so good and NATURAL. I tried it with the BD2 and it turned out i didn't really like the combination. The sound suddenly became slightly more screechy and the it's pretty noisy.

Now my question:

If i would like to further smoothen the leads from the GT2, which overdrive would you recommend? Or is there really a need for an overdrive? Should i get something else to boost the signal?

 

[ShredCow]

my guess is you aren't applying the BD2 properly OR you didn't configure both pedals properly for boosting.

Mind telling us what your settings for both pedals are? Also, your amp settings please.

I presume, its Guitar to BD2 to GT2 to amp?

 

[Vaiyen]

kank: the pedals from the TS series, or the Bad Monkey, will be good for that application.

 

[Paulo]

having owned a gt2 before, yes its very capable on its own. from smooth overdrive to high-gain distortion. if u need level boost for solos, try other options like a volume pedal instead [preferably a make that doesnt alter the gt2 tone]

 

[novocaine]

Yo kang...

this is me, your friendly neighbourhood cousin. i think when you put the bd2 in front of the gt-2 it definitely makes it rounder but noise is a problem yes. you can have my ts-9 to try again, i've fixed it. but the prob is, it adds the mid hump which really muddys the sound, sounds good to the ears but when you record the tone, it really sux.

so now my config is gt-2 -> ts-9dx -> amp. i leave the ts on whenever the gt-2 is on, it really tightens up the sound (the chug chug). well i only have 1 sound, ha, cos i only play 1 sort of shit.

i got a clean boost at the end of the analog chain for the leads, it really adds that oomph. you can come try next time you care at my place.

oh for the noise, i'm on an ns-2 now. but i'm going to get the isp decimator, doing the usual ordering thing, if you want we can get together, share the shipping?

 

[jbarks]

Boss OD-3. Really smooth OD; I use it for my bass going into the Sansamp Bass Driver. It's not a clean booster (well, not really) but it does smoothen out the drive quite a bit. Very nice tube-like tone.

 

[mamemo]

my config is axe -> gt2 -> ts7 -> amp

I use ts7 strictly for leads or solos only, in a clean boost mode(drive at 0). It kinda helps smoothening out the harsh sounding gt2. For rhythm, only the gt2 on. Having the ts7 turned on for rhythm kinda makes the tone muddy imo.

 

[trianglebiscuit]

care to share your settings?

 

[ShredCow]

strange... how is the GT2 "harsh" sounding?

I would like to point out that while having a nice smooth tone is very pleasing to the ear, it tends to get lost in the mix/band esp if there is a vocalist and/or 2nd guitar. Also smooth tones don't have good note seperatation/clarity when playing chords or double stops.

 

[kank_39]

I'm currently bandless so I've got nobody among whom i can get lost with the lovely smooth tone of the GT2.

Here's my setup:

Jackson DX6 -> Vox Wah -> BOSS BD2 -> GT2 -> BOSS DD3 -> Marshall VS65R

I've a Fender Am Strat too but i was too busy chugging away last night so i didn't have the time to test it.

Mind telling us what your settings for both pedals are? Also, your amp settings please.

Can't really remember but i think it's roughly as below:

BD2: Level-12, Tone-12, Drive-9
GT2: Leve -10, High- 2, Low-2, Drive-3 (Center, Hot wired, California)
Amp: Low-2, Mid-11, High-3

The settings for BD2 and GT2 are not fixed of course but it was set like the above for quite sometime last night throughout my playing. the amp's setting is more or less fixed when i'm playing with the Jackson and of course, it'll change when used with the Strat.

I'm hoping to just get a boost in the signal and maybe just a slight tint of edginess from the BD2 but it didn't really affect the tone of the GT2.

having owned a gt2 before, yes its very capable on its own. from smooth overdrive to high-gain distortion. if u need level boost for solos, try other options like a volume pedal instead [preferably a make that doesnt alter the gt2 tone]

Thanks for the recommendation, i've never owned a volume pedal so maybe i'll give it a try when i go pass a guitar shop.

Yo kang...

this is me, your friendly neighbourhood cousin. i think when you put the bd2 in front of the gt-2 it definitely makes it rounder but noise is a problem yes. you can have my ts-9 to try again, i've fixed it. but the prob is, it adds the mid hump which really muddys the sound, sounds good to the ears but when you record the tone, it really sux.

so now my config is gt-2 -> ts-9dx -> amp. i leave the ts on whenever the gt-2 is on, it really tightens up the sound (the chug chug). well i only have 1 sound, ha, cos i only play 1 sort of shit.

i got a clean boost at the end of the analog chain for the leads, it really adds that oomph. you can come try next time you care at my place.

oh for the noise, i'm on an ns-2 now. but i'm going to get the isp decimator, doing the usual ordering thing, if you want we can get together, share the shipping?

Hullo.. Hullo.. Thought you might chime in on my post. Sure thing! I'll give the TS9 a go again and see how it affects the smoothness of the GT2.

BTW what does a clean boost actually do? Does it just increase the volume like a volume pedal? Sorry ah.. I've been away from guitar for quite sometime. Yah, I'll give that a go too.

As for the noise, i'll think i'll settle that last once i've more or less fixed my pedal setup.

Boss OD-3. Really smooth OD; I use it for my bass going into the Sansamp Bass Driver. It's not a clean booster (well, not really) but it does smoothen out the drive quite a bit. Very nice tube-like tone.

BD2 is (i think) considered a pretty mild overdrive pedal and it's giving me whole stable barn of horse noise so if i use an OD3, i think I might have a farm. :wink: I think the combo might sound good if i'm using the Tweed or British mode. Might give it a try.

 

[mamemo]

strange... how is the GT2 "harsh" sounding?

I would like to point out that while having a nice smooth tone is very pleasing to the ear, it tends to get lost in the mix/band esp if there is a vocalist and/or 2nd guitar. Also smooth tones don't have good note seperatation/clarity when playing chords or double stops.

I dont know how to put it, the distortion is superb when playing chugs and heavy riffs, but when it comes to solos, its kinda a lil sharp, and ear piercing in a sense. And so thats where the ts7 comes in, but like i said, i never use ts7 for rythm, because thats where the sharpness helps. Makes my rhythm sound clear and tight. Moreover, when you're using a D standard tuning(for me anyway), making your tone turn to mud is the last thing you wanna do.

 

[theblueark]

It's funny how different people percieve 'mild'.

When I first tried the TS9dx I was shocked because I found the overdrive much much to heavy. Even with the gain all the way down I could not get what I wanted.

Presently I'm using a TS808 clone with the gain at 1/4 up only. Does more or less what I want it to. Waiting for my Zendrive to see if it can do better.

A passive volume pedal won't give you a boost, but it will give you a cut. Which if you like can actually work as a backwards boost. Use the cut for rhythm then uncut for solos. I'm actually presently going to start work on a 'reverse boost' pedal with 2 selectable and controllable volume cuts. Blackmoo's idea which I found quite interesting and worth experimenting with.

Have you tried the BD2 after the GT2 though? I doubt it will produce what you want but no harm trying, and sometimes you get nice surprises.

 

[ShredCow]

Can't really remember but i think it's roughly as below:

BD2: Level-12, Tone-12, Drive-9
GT2: Leve -10, High- 2, Low-2, Drive-3 (Center, Hot wired, California)
Amp: Low-2, Mid-11, High-3

The problem of noise and the GT2 not responding to the BD2 is in the above bold portion.

Your GT2 has WAYYYYY too much gain! Or enough for chugging metal riffs, depends on how you see it. The BD2 will add more gain, which is what you want, but more gain to your chugging GT2? Thats too much.

Try this. Drop the GT2's gain down to 11 oclock (since you are hot wired) to get a nice crunchy tone. Or change to the other mode, the one a step down from Hot Wired... allows better interactivity IMO.

Then throw in your BD2 for some nice edgy crunch.

You will need to experiment with the GT2's gain level to interaction with BD2 ratio... Like what you said, your settings don't stay the same, the GT2 is a highly tweakable monster, you might have to tweak at it for some time, like a week or so.

Your BD2's setting is fine, in fact, its tone at 12 will give you a VERY edgy tone.

 

[kank_39]

Haha.. i guess different people have different demands as I think the TS9 (have not really tried the TS9dx) is even more mild the the BD2.

I was home pretty late yesterday so i didn't have much time to test the pedal arrangements yet but i'll definitely try it tonight together with my strat.

Hmm.. the "resverse boost" thing is a pretty interesting idea. I've never heard of it. More proof that I'm been off guitars for too long.

 

[ShredCow]

Ugh. I suddenly want a GT2 just for chugging mad riffs. :wink:

 

[kank_39]

The problem of noise and the GT2 not responding to the BD2 is in the above bold portion.

Your GT2 has WAYYYYY too much gain! Or enough for chugging metal riffs, depends on how you see it. The BD2 will add more gain, which is what you want, but more gain to your chugging GT2? Thats too much.

Try this. Drop the GT2's gain down to 11 oclock (since you are hot wired) to get a nice crunchy tone. Or change to the other mode, the one a step down from Hot Wired... allows better interactivity IMO.

Then throw in your BD2 for some nice edgy crunch.

You will need to experiment with the GT2's gain level to interaction with BD2 ratio... Like what you said, your settings don't stay the same, the GT2 is a highly tweakable monster, you might have to tweak at it for some time, like a week or so.

Your BD2's setting is fine, in fact, its tone at 12 will give you a VERY edgy tone.

Er.. you mean bring the DRIVE (not the gain) down to 11 o'clock right? And let the DRIVE interact with that of the BD2 right?

I knew this was coming. :lol: :lol: Ok.. Ok.. I admit. I love to really drive my distortion to the extreme at times.. well.. maybe most of the time. :roll: Ok, i'll take your suggestion into consideration and try it. Anyway i do agree that a lot of tweeking is necessary. How i wish i could have a day off to play around with it.

 

[theblueark]

Drive is usually gain. Interchangable terms. The DS-1 lables it 'DIST' but same thing, it's drive/gain.

The difference between drive/gain/dist and level/volume is that gain is before or during the transistor/opamp/tube/clipping stages and level is usually after. Level should increase the dB but not affect the 'dirtyness' of the signal.

 

[ShredCow]

I like to think of level as volume level , while gain/dist/drive as well.. erm... yeah, as gain/dist/drive. Bored at work.


Ah, yah lah Kank... But since you like so much gain, IMO, its not feasible to have the BD2 around... there will be more noise (even though it still little noise) than the GT2 alone. I understand you like the edgy (is this a real word?!) kind of tone SO!

Use the brit channel.

Serious!
The Calif/Mesa channel on the GT2, to me, sounds more smooth than crunchy, bright, edgy... The Brit is thinner sounding, but ooh man.. for rhythm, WOW.

 

[kank_39]

Thanks for the clarification theblueark. I think i mixed up all the terms of gain, drive, level etc etc.

Ok.. Shredcow, I'll give the british/Marshall channel a try. Man, now my butt is all itchy to get off my office chair and rush home to try all the different tweedlings of my GT2. Maybe (if i have the time) I'll try using my MT2 as an overdrive for some distortion madness.. with my headphones on of course. Don't want to disturb my peaceful neighbourhood.

 

[novocaine]

Yes totally agree with Shred on the drive settings.

I'm currently on british...actually all the switches in the middle. Drive at 11, treble at 12, bass at 2. I think that's as close as the LOG tone, as i can appreciate myself. you can try that.

My ts9dx is on 0 drive and the rest at 11-12. it just really cleans the bleeding when you chug along, so it's tight and crisp., again much like LOG.

oh i have catalin super chili picoso boost, it's slightly more than a volume boost, it adds a layer of tone which is really pleasing, esp when playing clean, i leave it on most times when clean. but for leads i use it as a volume boost more than for tone, although you can still hear the effect.

While it's good to have that smooth buttery tone, i was addicted to it for a while. but when you record or you play in the band(i concur with whoever mentioned this earlier), it'll get totally lost in the mix. so it's rather pointless. Being able to cut through the band is impt. Mud is not what you want, 0 clarity.