Distortion pedal

[jgcable]

I am looking for one for my Gibson Lab Series L5. Its a clean amp with no preamp or distortion on it. Its a 100w 2 x 12 solid state amp. Think of it like a Roland Jazz Chorus without the distortion knob. Anyway.. I am looking for a distortion pedal so i can get a classic/old school metal type of tone. I figure whatever is good for a Roland JC120 will be good for this amp.
On Youtube there are clips showing the Boss DS-1 that sound pretty good. I was thinking maybe a Tube Screamer but I would like some suggestions.
Basically... this pedal will be my only source of distortion.
Oh yea.. one more thing... I am not into those ultra expensive boutique type pedals. I am more of a meat and potatoes type of guy.

[Spivonious]

Are you looking for more of a rhythm overdrive or a lead-type distortion?

[jgcable]

Are you looking for more of a rhythm overdrive or a lead-type distortion?

Both. I don't play with an extreme amount of gain so generally whatever is good for my overdriven rhythm is good for my lead tone.
I listened to clips of the Vox Satchinator and that sounds pretty good but its not much different than a stock Boss DS-1 to my ears.

[Spivonious]

Both. I don't play with an extreme amount of gain so generally whatever is good for my overdriven rhythm is good for my lead tone.
I listened to clips of the Vox Satchinator and that sounds pretty good but its not much different than a stock Boss DS-1 to my ears.

I haven't seen it in a store around me, but I've had my eye on the Fulltone OCD for a while now. Check out Youtube for some clips.

[jgcable]

I haven't seen it in a store around me, but I've had my eye on the Fulltone OCD for a while now. Check out Youtube for some clips.

I listened to some clips and I actually like the DS-1 sound better. The OCD seems compressed.

[straycat]

The OCD won't color your tone it lets the amp sound come thru.
I use an OCD on my Class 5 Marshall to get OD and its a great match.Seeing you are a less gain guy like me.
They are 159.00 new but watch ebay you should be able to score one much cheaper.

[Grandturk]

Plexitube

[BenoA]

This one sounds pretty awesome:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zba5dByUvWU

[Axewielder]

This one sounds pretty awesome:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zba5dByUvWU

That does sound awesome!

[cixelsyd]

DS-1 is the classic, that or a Tube Screamer. Can you give some examples of the type of tone you are looking for?

[P I K A]

This one sounds pretty awesome:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zba5dByUvWU

dam I might buy this one. It sounds really good!!!

[jgcable]

DS-1 is the classic, that or a Tube Screamer. Can you give some examples of the type of tone you are looking for?

Anything from Bad Company to Ted Nugent to Early Priest and more recent like Black Crows and Alice in Chains.
Again.. I don't play with a ton of gain. I would say a dimed out stock JCM800 is as much gain as I usually use.

[jgcable]

That does sound awesome!

Great tone and great player. Did you hear him play eruption? It was dead on. I don't even think Eddy could play it that good.

[Grim]

Check out the Way Huge Fat Sandwich. It sounds really good.

[roodyrocker]

Wow! a Lab Series. My fist amp was a Lab Series L3. I hated that thing but anyway, for what you want to do with the L5 I'd say go with the DS-1. For $39.99 new there is nothing that competes with it. A Tubescreamer sounds good to me on an already overdriven amp but not so much on a clean amp. The OCD is another great pedal but at 4 times the cost of the DS-1. Also be aware that four versions of the OCD have been released so far. Version 4 is the current production while the discontinued versions 1,2, and 3 are available used only and will cost you more than a new version 4.
I use all these pedals but I've also used a DS-1 infront of a solid state Randall head and it sounds damn good. I say for $40 new go with a DS-1