Distortion/Overdrive – These hard clipping devices are perfect when you need over the top saturation, especially when you choose or have to use an amp that doesn’t break up. They can also be used to compliment an already overdriven amp. On to the list both new and old:
Boss DS-1 – Originally released in 1978, this distortion box may just be the best selling distortion ever. Users have included at one time or another Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, Mike Stern and John Petrucci. There are a few popular mods for this box from Analog Man that make this pedal sound spectacularLink: http://www.bossus.com/gear/productdetails.php?ProductId=127&ParentId=254
MXR Distortion Plus – Imagine, no tone control of any sort, just output and distortion knobs? In the early 80s MXR was selling around 20,000 Distortion plus pedals a year until Japanese manufacturers created too much competition. Randy Rhoads used one of these. There is a reissue as well through Jim Dunlop.Link: http://www.jimdunlop.com/index.php?page=products/pip&id=246&pmh=products/p_and_e
Pro-Co Rat – The Rat was first made available in large numbers in 1979. Known for being nasty, this distortion was the box of choice for many players in the late 70s throughout the 80s. Turning the filter dial to the right rolls off highs and the Rat offers up to a 60 dbl boost. Players at one time or another include Jeff Beck, John Scofield and Joe Perry to name a few. Link: http://www.procosound.com/products/catalog/show/4
Xotic BB pre-amp and AC Booster – Popular for their natural and warm sounding tones, Xotic makes a series of overdrive boxes that many session players use, Steve Lukather, Scott Henderson and Greg Howe to name a few. Although still pretty transparent, the AC and BB both color the tone a bit in good ways while adding a dbl boost, the BB sounding a bit more modern than the AC. One nice feature on all the Xotic boxes is a separate treble and bass dial making the EQ section very versatile. Plus true bypass, meaning when switched off, they don’t affect your signal chain. Xotic also offers a BB plus and AC plus with two channels that you can use individually or layered. I tend to use the BB pre-amp with an already slightly overdriven amp but many players like it on a clean amp.
Link: http://www.xotic.us/effects/
There are so many makers of great boxes these days that it is impossible to name them all. You really have to find one that works with your guitar, amp and hands and experimentation is the only way. I generally keep a supply of various gain shaping devices in my collection because I never know what sound I might need to get on any one session. Everything from vintage sounding Fuzzes and Treble Boosters to modern sounding Overdrive and Distortion pedals to natural sounding Clean Boosters all have their specific uses and it is important as a guitarist to be able to use them all.
Until next time...
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