Overdrive/Distortion from Amp or Pedal?

[bangkok]

Do you prefer the natural overdrive/distortion from your tube amp or do you like what a pedal does for you better? For me, a hard driven amp can do no wrong! But then again a great pedal...

[butrus]

amp+od

BOTH!!!
Just crank your amp and if you want more,add OD
Tonal heaven
I have JCM900 and zw44,ts9dx and duncan pickup booster all on at once
Yust dont pass 9oclock on the drive knobs and it SHREADS

[demeyes]

Most people find the tone best from the amp or a combination of amp and pedal. Does anyone really get all their dirt from single od/dist pedal?

[Inazone]

I don't even own a regular amp anymore. I use a tube power amp with one of the following for distortion:

- ART DST-4 rack preamp (solid state)
- Boss ME-50 multi-effects pedal w\ distortion, EQ, noise gate, etc.
- ART Xtreme distortion and individual stompboxes for everything else

I've never been 100% satisfied by any single amp's tone and features, and I can't afford to own multiple amps when my current options are cheaper, more versatile and easier to transport. I really like the Peavey XXX and some of the Randall modular amps, but I can get the same tones with what I already have. I'd love to get a Koch Powertone or Marshall JVM some day, but can't justify the expense.

[nateb]

Depends. Some amps out there provide a good amount of distortion. JSX, Bogner, VHT all provide a good amount of thump.

-Nate

[yabba]

yes

[thetroy]

I like to get most of the gain from the amp and add just a little bit with my SD-1. For some reason I like that tone better then just turning the amps gain up more no matter what amp I'm using - even a modeler.

[Cygnus X1]

Both.
As noted in your amp thread...
Vintage Fender tone+Boss OD1 overdrive.
I've had a Pro Co Rat, liked it for some things, but the overdrive really brings out the tube drive of the amp.

[roodyrocker]

Depends on the amp, my Bogner Uberschall does not need a pedal I also don't use one through my Dual Recto or Randall RM100. In a live band situation it seems easier to keep a nice, cutting tone through the mix without added distortion pedals.

[lynchfan6]

I like to get most of the gain from the amp and add just a little bit with my SD-1. For some reason I like that tone better then just turning the amps gain up more no matter what amp I'm using - even a modeler.

I'm with you! I run the gain on the lead channel of my Soldano SLO100 at around 6,,,plenty of grind for heavy rhythms, etc....but for leads, I love the sound of kicking on my Boss SD-1 on top of it all for a little more "hair." I prefer this much more than turning the gain up higher on the SLO to get a "lead solo" sound. I only set the drive on the Boss to about 1-2, the level up full, and tone in the middle. It gives me a sweet, singing lead tone full of harmonics, and it is just a great little boost to an already sweet, toneful, and saturated SLO overdrive tone. I even do the same with my little solid state Crate G60 for "living room" jamming. I dial in a nice chunk with the amp's gain, and kick on the ol' SD1 for a solo tone.

[Racerx2k]

Yup, I do the same with my Laney AOR and Digitech Bad Monkey. Those two play real well, together. I'm thinking of picking up another Monkey, just to give me one extra stage, for added flexibility.

[markD]

i just use the amp sound. i HATE pedals for OD/distortion. they just "mess up" the awesome sound my amp already has.

[marcus]

I have a bunch of overdrives and distortion pedals, but I never use any of them. I should get rid of them, actually, none of them sound as good as the distortion in my amp.

[wakeUPdead]

No pedals. None. All Dual Rectifier.

[j4vice]

Both