Pedal for light crunch/bluesy sound?

[dannopelli]

I've been using a Java Boost to do the low, grindy, bluesy thing on my small board. Not completely satisfied. Not totally ready to dump it yet. I do like the Keeley stuff. For reference this is through a Maz Jr, Maz Sr or Stingray.

Any suggestions for a replacement?
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b342/dannopelli/SmallBoard.jpg

[David]

Hey Danno have you tried the MI Audio Blue Boy Deluxe, very versatile little pedal, might be just what you're looking for... here is nice sampling from proguitarshop.
http://www.proguitarshop.com/product.php?ProductID=64&CategoryID=

[Casper]

Nice little board bro!

[akivisuals]

For light OD I'm digging the Klon... a LOT. I had one at least 10 years ago but made the mistake of selling it way back when. I didn't really know how to use how it was designed to be used. When it's used with an amp that's cranking a bit on it's own it adds so much to the tone. It's a GREAT pedal. I also have used an RC Booster and an old 3 knob Menatone Red Snapper for light grit. Both are excellent pedals as well.

[tom]

got a hermida distortion last week, and it does low gain surprisingly well. better than the zen for me. also does way high gain, but set low i used it almost all the time this weekend. responded very well to guitar volume control. a little less of it's own tone voice than the zen too, which works better for me.

[John Price]

How about the RC Booster? I'm still lovin' it! If you need a little more gain try my favorite pedal of all the BB Preamp......

[dannopelli]

Thanks for the advice.

And thanks Shaun. It is really working out great for church and smaller things. The big board covers everything. But this gets a lot done too.

Klon would be great! But would it not be too big. I have an RC in my large board, and love it. But purposely left it out of this app. I have a BB too, but never tried it for low gain stuff. Might be worth a try.

I have had MI pedals before and they are cool. And I love everything Hermida and am very familiar with his stuff. The Zen II does low gain REALLY well, and if the Distortion does both well I could just use either.

I think I am going to try the BB tonight, and if that does not work give the MI and the Hermida a go.

[ducmike]

I use an Eternity for low gain. Very smooth and articulate. I set the gain at about 9:00 for a nice bluesy crunch, and back off the guitar volume to clean it up a little. It's pretty much always on for me. I do need to try a Zen though.

[picnic]

I like my Red Snapper 4 knob a lot. Low grind almost clean boost. Bite and Cut controls are effective. I had a Maz 38 and they worked well together.
My other pedal is an unmodded BD-2. I use very little gain anyway and it's fine with my Fargen Blackbird. The BD-2 sounds just a little thinner than the RS.

[FFOGG]

ducmike + 1

[TonyG]

Analog Man KOT

[santellavision]

Another killer find is the Paul Cochrane 'Timmy'. Very nice low to medium gain. Just as transparent as my Klon. Nice, small footprint. Also responds well to Vol changes. It's a keeper.

[hdahs143]

Have had a Maz 38, and a Stingray, and currently have a Matchless Clubman. The one pedal that has worked well for me with all of these amps, for light to medium OD is the Barber LTD Special Recipe.

A great pedal.

[Yngve]

I have both SparkleDrive and a Klon on my board for what you describe. I use the Klon with gain set around 3 (o'clock) and volume around 10 when I need more crunch than the SparkleDrive gives at low settings. Both sound wonderful on strats, teles and P-90's LP's. The Klon really has a strong character, where the SparkleDrive sounds more like a really good "regular" pedal for bluesy stuff. Klon + strat = very nice blues solo sound! When playing loud with a band and have some breakup in the amp as well, both will produce a strong rock sound. I use either my Badger 30 or Matchless DC30.

I use a MI Audio Crunch Box for high-gain Marshall sounds.

(...and a Satchurator with a '90 RG550 when nobodys watching, just for the fun of it and when I'm feeling childish)

[mdrs]

Danno........I like your board.....

You NEED a Klon. If it's too big, kick another off the board......it's that good.

The Klon is the best OD pedal out there if you like your amp's tone. The Klon will push your amp's tone, but not change it's character.

I have not found an amp that didn't get along well with The Klon. The key thing is, you love your amp's tone to begin with.

As you know, I've had my Maz Jr 2x10 for about 6 weeks. It LOVES The Klon.

I always have a Klon in front of any amp I'm playing.

[dannopelli]

Thanks for all the input guys!

Well one thing I have to say is the Hemida pedals are the best I have of anything. They are just really THAT good. I have two Mosferatus and the Zen andZen II So they will never be off either of my boards.

I know the Klon is supposed to be awesome. But since the only way to make room for that is to toss the Zen II, and that is never going to happen, I think I am going to pass on that one.

I am leaning towards the Hermida Distortion, and will use the Zen for Crunch, Mos for High Gain, and Distortion for super high gain.

I also have a Barber DD, a Keeley Fuzz Head, and a few other goodies in storage in the barn that I am going to give a whirl before I spend any more $$.

[Rob C.]

Mad Professor - Little Green Wonder.

I've had Eternity (3 versions), Zendrive, Mosferatu, RC & AC Booster, Klon, OCD (all 4 versions) - and they are all crap compared to the Little Green Wonder. It does not do high gain at all - but low to medium is amazing. Dynamic like a tube amp and responds the same with pick attack, volume roll-off , etc.

The next closest pedal would be the BJF Electronics Honey Bee. That has a little to much edge to it though - in my opinion not worth the extra $$.

I haven't tried a Sky Blue Overdrive yet - but am planning on gettin gone soon.

[LonestarGtr]

If you want uncompressed crunch/boost/od, the Timmy is a very cool pedal as well as a stock Blues Driver, which loses a little low end but I never notice that when I'm with a band. If you like compressed tube screamer sounds, the Blue Boy Deluxe and Sparkle Drive is nice. I haven't tried the Hermida stuff, but I trust Master Tom's ears on it. I just sold off my Klon and it does sound great in front of an amp that's already cookin', but then maybe it sounded great because the amp was already cookin'?

[Janine Doubly]

My go to pedal for that type of use has been my Keeley modded BD-2 and/or my Pete Cornish SS-2. The Java Boost was not really designed for the application you are using it for. HOWEVER, if you can make the room, keep the Java Boost on the board and put it BEFORE whatever light crunch pedal you end up with. The Java INTO a BD-2/Tube Screamer/etc. is a WAY cool Brian May/singing high gain tone.

Keeley's BD-2 can allow you to get a full range overdrive with or without the low end loss of the stock BD-2. He puts a low end cut switch on the front to allow this. Depending on the amp, I use the low end cut to replicate a Tube Screamer/SRV tight low end sound. Other amps I leave the low end in full range...it just depends. Great little pedal after Keeley guts it. Stock BD-2's ain't too bad either and they're cheap!! :D The Pete Cornish SS-2/3 is, however, NOT cheap!! :D

[akivisuals]

Yeah, I liked the Keeley BD-2 as well. Nice pedal. Hermida's stuff is good too. I just got a Mosferatu to replace the MI Crunchbox on my board. For whatever reason, the Timmy is just a so-so one for me. YMMV. I never really tried my Eternity as a low gain box, but it sounded very good for bluesy lead stuff.

[dannopelli]

All y'all got to try a Zen II. It really is a killer pedal.

[wondermoose]

A few months late, but I really like the BJFe Honey Bee for that kind of situation. It is pricey, but it is one of the best low gain options that I've come across. On the cheaper side, a Sparkle Drive, whether Keeley modded or not, is awesome. The clean knob gives you a lot of room to work with.

[mdrs]

Tone Quest Report's most recent edition has the Klon pictured on the cover. It's feature editorial says, essentially, that pedals come and pedals go. There are TONS of the "latest greatest" out there, and the marketing is all very convincing. They put forth the Klon as a pedal that's no hype, just great, and say that it earned a spot on their pedal board 10 years ago, and is the only one still there, while many many others have come and gone.

Consider checking one out. It is the best pedal of any kind I've used. If you like the tone of your amp, The Klon is for you.

Danno.........my Maz Jr. LOVES my Klon.

P.S. Bill did NOT pay me to say that!! :)

[dannopelli]

Well, since this was resurrected...

I added a Hermida Distortion. So I use the Zen II for bluesey stuff crunch rhythm, the Mosferatu for a heavier sound, and the Distortion for over the top soloing.

[Suriel Zayas]

barber ltd

[nick]

Barber LTD......for me though be sure it is the "SR" version. I have a Maz Jr NR too......love it!

[Thoth105]

Give the Rockett Pedal Rockett Boost a try. Clean boost to od.

I also like the BB+ and the AC Boost.

[Road King]

Hey Dan,
Long time bro.
I'm still using the silver LTD. Still digging it.

[dannopelli]

Hey Dan,
Long time bro.
I'm still using the silver LTD. Still digging it.

Hey Man!

Those Barber Pedals are nice...