Please list down your favorite standalone distortion pedal

[antishred]

I want to know which standalone distortion pedal is the best for you. In other words, the pedal can used by itself and not boosted by any other pedal.

also, list the distortion pedals that you have tried, sold and least liked.


Start off -

Favorite = Boss DS-1 Analogman

Least favorite =
Stock DS-1
Catalinbread DLS
Catalinbread Formula5
Landmine LD-1
Digitech HotHead
Digitech Metal Master
Lovepedal Purple Plexi
Blackstar HT-DIST
Boss SD-1
Boss Metalzone
Ibanez Tubeking (old version)
Ibanez DS-7
Tonebone Hot British
Crowther Hotcake
Boss ME-7 (distortion patches)
Danelectro Fab distortion
Tech 21 Sansamp GT2
Hao Rust driver
Suhr Riot
MXR Distortion +

 

[loldude333]

That's a really long list of dislikes dude.........you certainly have a very refined 'palate' for distortions hahaha! Well, here are mine:

Likes:
Wampler Plextortion
Beta Aivin HM200
Ibanez TS9DX

Sold:
None, i've never owned a distortion pedal all my life, i've only used the amp/pedal models in my PodXT Live

Dislikes:
None that i really dislike, unless you count in those $30 TGM pedals (absolutely terrible and a waste of money even at $30), i usually try to find a way around the part of the sound of the pedal i dislike by EQ-ing.

 

[wck]

what dont u like about the DLS? In rawk mode its my favorite distortion

ive tried:
DS-2
Box of rock (i dont think its distortion but its stated to be one)
Keeley spec BD-2 (can go into low gain dist)
zoom g2
Marshall jackhammer
Big muff (distortion/fuzz la)


havent tried as many as u but im not really crazy over distortion, more of a fuzz + od person.

 

[antishred]

The distortion of DLS in both modes is not tight enough for me. The bass strings (5th and 6th) feels flabby. I can't get a nice
heavy rhythm crunch sound out of it.

what dont u like about the DLS? In rawk mode its my favorite distortion

ive tried:
DS-2
Box of rock (i dont think its distortion but its stated to be one)
Keeley spec BD-2 (can go into low gain dist)
zoom g2
Marshall jackhammer
Big muff (distortion/fuzz la)


havent tried as many as u but im not really crazy over distortion, more of a fuzz + od person.

 

[wck]

ahh ic, after u mentioned it, it isnt the most tight distortion but thats not what im looking for anw thats why i didnt notice it.

hows the keeley ds-1 tho? i never really cared much about the ds-1s and all the possible mods but recently its beginning to interest me..

 

[Jumpin'Jellybean]

Favourites:
Ibanez TS-9
Lovepedal Eternity Kanji

Most Disliked(s):
MXR Distortion Plus
Danelectro FAB Distortion
In general, most fuzzes and high gain distortions. They simply don't suit me, even if it was a 1 grand custom handmade etc etc.



As for the BOSS DS-1, stock, i may not own one but my friend does. We have fun trying to get decent sounds from the pedal, and, whaddya know, we actually manage to craft out some nice crunchy tones from it. I wouldn't say it's the worst pedal around, but for the price Swee Lee is selling it, i'd much rather get a Dano CC Distortion. A very reliable backup IMHO.

 

[ShredCow]

Current squeeze is a Maxz High Gain Monster. It's a made in Thailand pedal but unlike that other popular brand (Shark), Maxz's electronics/soldering is top notch quality. Versatile beast.
A G2D Morpheus is also a favourite but it sounds kind of congested at 9v and it really likes to be played LOUD. Bedroom does not agree.

Other likes...
Rockett Flex Drive (excellent versatile all-rounder drive)
Andy Timmons BB Pre-amp
Toneczar Openhaus
MIJ DS-1 stock

Dislikes...
MT-2

 

[edgie]

Himmelstrutz Fetto Nord - for marshall tones. It's actually 2 pedals in one so I don't know if it qualities as stand-alone.

Barber Ditry Bomb - the best I've tried for heavy Mesa Boogie tones. Tight yet still liquid-y enough. Single coil users must make sure they tweak the internal bass trim pot. Mine's set at maximum.

Danelectro Cool Cat Distortion 2 - surprisingly good for such a cheap price. Fatter than boss and MXR pedals I've tried.

Others I've tried that just didn't cut for me:
Wampler Pinnacle 2 - too much tweaking required as the knobs are too sensitive and interactive. Frustrating when you use different amps(house vs. studio/gig amps).

Crunchbox - One trick pony. Fizzy even with the trim pot tweaked.

Maxon SD-9 - the only good setting on it is with the tone knob all the way down.

Tubezone - too much knobs and too much tweaking required.

Subdecay Blackstar - quite nice but loses bass and turns into fuzz on the heaviest setting(duh!).

 

[EugeneSmasher]

I haven't much experience with pedals. Been an MFX user for years.

But, some pedals I've tried (some I own) that I like and dislike...

Likes:
- Beta Aivin HM-200
- Digitech Bad Monkey
- Coffin Case Blood Drive
- Boss DS-2

Dislikes:
- Boss Metalzone
- Line 6 Uber Metal*
- Beta Aivin HM-100

*I suspect mine is faulty. Other folks on Youtube with their Line 6 Uber Metal pedals can get great tone... for some reason, mine just sounds horrible.

 

[corrosivesubstanc]

Haven't used that many pedals to be honest... How can u NOT like the BLACKSTAR DIST X??? my favorite distortion pedal so far man.... love it...

Like
Blackstar Dist X

Dislike (all sold)
Artec Crazy Metal (I know... it was an impulse buy)
MT-2
EHX Metal Muff (Liked it at 1st... but i realize it was kinda taking away frm the guitar's real sound IMO)

want to try the fullbore metal :twisted:

 

[antishred]

Haven't used that many pedals to be honest... How can u NOT like the BLACKSTAR DIST X??? my favorite distortion pedal so far man.... love it...

Like
Blackstar Dist X

Dislike (all sold)
Artec Crazy Metal (I know... it was an impulse buy)
MT-2
EHX Metal Muff (Liked it at 1st... but i realize it was kinda taking away frm the guitar's real sound IMO)

want to try the fullbore metal :twisted:

Mine is the DIST version. I haven't tried the DISTX

The Tech21 Sansamp GT2 beats the DIST in terms of low end tightness. Sure the DIST has more bass but if you play songs in E flat or drop D tuning, the DIST has a flabby bass.

DISTX maybe tighter.

Again, I want tight, not necessarily scooped, but tight distortion.

 

[guitarsan]

I only have two OD/Dist pedals and a delay pedal. If I don't like them, I have nothing left to play...haha!

Likes:
1. Blackstar HT-Dual
2. Ethos Overdrive (TLE mod)

Both are great stand-alone pedals (I don't use pedalboard anyway). They are also super versatile, covering all the OD/Crunch/Dist sound I need.

 

[csds92]

my fav is the ds-1 meatlovers mod by seekz if i rmb correctly

 

[corrosivesubstanc]

Mine is the DIST version. I haven't tried the DISTX

The Tech21 Sansamp GT2 beats the DIST in terms of low end tightness. Sure the DIST has more bass but if you play songs in E flat or drop D tuning, the DIST has a flabby bass.

DISTX maybe tighter.

Again, I want tight, not necessarily scooped, but tight distortion.

Ooo. Icic... See wrongly ah... I thought i forgot sumfin... i owned a GT2 as well. Great sound. But not enuf gain for me. Maybe its just my playing...

 

[Godspeed64]

Favourite standalone is definitely the BYOC RAT.
Amazing tonal versatility from OD, crunch to hairy fuzzy leads. Though it's not on my board.

I think I've only been truly disappointed with the Lovepedal 200lbs. Not as sweet a Si fuzz as I thought it would be.

 

[superpotato_30]

Yo antishred im still loving the riot u sold me.. haha

Likes : ( In no particular order )

Suhr Riot
Love Pedal Kalamazoo
Catalinbread DLS
Menatone King Of The Brits.
Menatone Workingman's Blues.
Officially Licensed Circuits Thor
Analogman King Of Tone Version 2/4
Barber Direct Drive SS ( Old/new versions )
Gsoniqueworx 7th Heaven
Wampler Triple Wreck
Analogman Modified Silver Screw Maxon OD-9
Timmy/Tim
Menatone Top Boost In A Can
Emma Reezafretzicantrememberhowyouspellit
Catalinbread Formula No.5
Gearmandude Luther Drive

Dislikes:

Boss MT-2/DS-1/MD-2 etc.
MI Audio Tubezone
Zvex Box Of Metal
Keeley Modded MT-2
MXR Dimebag distortion
Visual Sound R66
Many More...

Many many many many dislikes. too many to name.

 

[kernelspy]

I think all pedals has it's purpose and it will find itself in your music. Heck, Vai and Satch can make a regular Boss DS-1 sound good... Fruciante from Red Hot has been rocking out his Boss DS-2 for ages now and most of the funky guys like his distorted tone. Though of course these guys also has a great guitar and amplifier to bring out the best of the tone they wanted. But just to answer the thread starter's query, these are the best distortion pedal that gave me awesome tone LIVE:

• Russian Big Muff
• Boss DS-1
• MiAudio Crunchbox
• Boss OD-3
• Digitech Bad Monkey
• old Nobels ODR-1
• Cool Cat Drive - i know... I know...

 

[wck]

kernelspy: what u said is true, i cant make a stock ds-1 or 2 sound good tho

btw, your pt 909 sounds great..havent gotten sick of it after these few months haha.

 

[antishred]

Yo antishred im still loving the riot u sold me.. haha

Likes : ( In no particular order )

Suhr Riot
Love Pedal Kalamazoo
Catalinbread DLS
Menatone King Of The Brits.
Menatone Workingman's Blues.
Officially Licensed Circuits Thor
Analogman King Of Tone Version 2/4
Barber Direct Drive SS ( Old/new versions )
Gsoniqueworx 7th Heaven
Wampler Triple Wreck
Analogman Modified Silver Screw Maxon OD-9
Timmy/Tim
Menatone Top Boost In A Can
Emma Reezafretzicantrememberhowyouspellit
Catalinbread Formula No.5
Gearmandude Luther Drive

Dislikes:

Boss MT-2/DS-1/MD-2 etc.
MI Audio Tubezone
Zvex Box Of Metal
Keeley Modded MT-2
MXR Dimebag distortion
Visual Sound R66
Many More...

Many many many many dislikes. too many to name.

Yes, the Riot is a great box. I love it more than my sansamp GT2
It was my most expensive pedal then but I had to sell it.
I needed cash quick and that pedal was easier to sell compared to my other pedals.

You have the EMMA Reezawhateva, I want that pedal but the price is out of my reach.

 

[dudelove]

I think the best distortion pedal I've tried is the Himmelstrutz Fetto standard. Need to try it with my rig and in a band mix to get my final conclusions but it sounds absolutely incredible. I can't imagine hitting it with a treble booster. Must be the sex..