Suggestions for upgrading my overdrive pedal

[DK Sears]

Since I just got a new amp, I'm thinking of upgrading my overdrive and, more so, my distortion pedals.  Currently, I'm running MXR Custom Badass '78 distortion and the Custom Badass Ovderdrive.  The overdrive does well, especially with single coils, the distortion doesn't really thrill me anymore.  I've been thinking of trying out the Dirtly Little Secret from Caitlinbread.  Wampler has a couple of pedals that look particularly interesting like the Pinnacle, SLOstortion and Hot Wired.

Anything those with experience with any of those care to share?

 

[ghostrider25]

It looks like you're playing worship? I play at my church and recently started using this combo... Bearfoot Honeybee OD => Timmy => TS808ri ...and I love it. I can get anything from really low OD to a good lead drive to a higher-than-I'll ever need drive with various combos of those pedals. If my house was on fire and I could grab only one pedal, it would be the Honeybee.

You can find some good examples of each on YouTube. And if you look into the Timmy pedal, I'd recommend one of the non-standard colors because those use the 1458 chip instead of the JRC4559 chip. The 1458 is a lot smoother.

God bless!

 

[sixstringsamurai]

http://youtu.be/e02MGg6CQ4k
Rockett pedals 10 ton hammer does mild to wild
They mistakenly refer to it as distortion in some spots but it is a high gain OD

 

[Volitions Advocate]

This one has been a staple for me for a long time.

http://www.bossus.com/gear/productdetails.php?ProductId=132&ParentId=254


Might not be your thing if you're a tru bypass/ point to point wiring kinda gear snob (I say that with total respect BTW)

I really like the OS-2.  Extremely versatile, especially with an EQ after it.

 

[Cagey]

You don't say what kind of amp or guitar you have, or whose sound you enjoy. Those variables will have a HUGE effect on how any overdrive/distortion pedal sounds. If your amp is anything that's being currently sold, it would be a good idea to drag your guitar to a music store that has a healthy stock of effects pedals and do some test driving. There are currently about 1,000 different distortion pedals out there for sale, 1,000 amps, 1,000 guitars and probably 1,000 times that many people who will each recommend every one of them eventually, so that's the only way to get anywhere close to knowing if you'll like something.

 

[pabloman]

This WolfSkull Holy Hand Grenade straight from The Butcher!!!!!! I Love It!

 

[pabloman]

Check out this thread!

http://www.unofficialwarmoth.com/index.php?topic=20587.0

 

[mullyman]

I gotta side with Cagey on this one. What may sound like the Holy Grail to one person may sound like dog shit to the next. I also have to agree that it's best to play through the pedals on your guitar and into your amp. Anything less is shooting first and asking questions later.

Now, with that said, I find it interesting that you like the Wampler Pinnacle as that is about as Eddie Van Halen as you can get. Is that the sound you're looking for? As you can tell from my avatar I have no problems when someone likes the EVH brown sound so I'm not trying to knock you on the choice of that pedal.

Myself, I don't have a distortion pedal. I have a Mesa Boogie Recti and it has all the distortion that I need.

Good luck on your search, and as Cagey suggested, let us know your guitar, amp, inspiring guitarists etc... That can narrow down the search considerably.
MULLY

 

[Re-Pete]

+1 on the request for info about the guitar and amp you are using.

Some amps take an OD pedal well and with others you might wanna employ a less gain-y pedal.

 

[DK Sears]

Thanks for everyone's input.  Been out if town on business.  I have a range of guitars that use, but my main guitars are my Warmoth mahogany soloist body with a 24.75 scale mahogany neck with a DiMarzio Super 3 in the bridge and my Ace Frehley LP from '97 with the stock DiMarzio pickups and a couple of Jackson's.  My amp is a custom from a local shop here in Cincinnati.  It's a slightly modified Marshall Plexi style with two EL-34's and running about 40 watts.  It takes pedals quite well.

Most of what I play is in a worship setting.  However, we also play a local festivals and do some classic rock covers as well covers of Kutless, older Casting Crowns, older Third Day and some harder songs.

I do like the brown sound, which is what attracted me to the Wampler Pinnacle.  I also like the tone of my Soldano which is what attracts me to the SLOstortion.

The Timmy looks interesting, but I'd like to try it first.  The 10 ton hammer looks like it's worth checking out the next time I'm in Nashville in a couple of weeks at my favorite store.  It looks like they carry them and the Wampler pedals.

pablo, the pedals in your linked post look very interesting.