how do they use the distortion/overdrive pedals

[El Chiguete]

When you read of player using distortion/overdrive pedals on there sound? let me explain... you hear that SRV use old Tube Screamers, Maiden use MRX +, Satriani use DS-1, and so on... but my questions are:

1) do they use the pedal just for the solos or for the complete song?
2) if they used it for the complete song, how did they boost there sound for the solos?

[JacksonVHT]

It was probably used for their overall rhythm tone as well.

[Dreamland_Rebel]

if you have good tone and you are the only guitarist... you don't need a solo boost. you'll just hear it.

if you have 2 guitarist and they both have good tone... you don't need a solo boost. you'll just hear it.

if your band has a dedicated sound man he should know when who's solo is coming up and should adjust accordingly... you don't need a solo boost. They'll just hear it.

if you are in a 2 guitar band, have bad band tone, and no dedicated sound man... you might need a solo boost.

some people use overdrive pedals to add sustain and gain for their solos, not necessarily for a VOlume boost, just a tone shift. this is more the case than not.
while other run an OD/dist pedal for the same reason but leave it on as part of there tone. (i like doing this myself) there is just something about the way an OD pedal pushes the front end of a tube amp into harmonic bliss, natural compression, and singing sustain.

[VitaminG]

if your band has a dedicated sound man he should know when who's solo is coming up and should adjust accordingly... you don't need a solo boost. They'll just hear it.

but if both guitarists have good tone, why would the dedicated sound man need to know whose solo is coming up to make adjustments? Shouldn't you just hear it?

[Newc]

Usually two guitar bands (and even one-guitar bands) will keep the amp set to a rhythm tone - less gain, blends in better with the bass and drums and the other rhythm guitar and doesn't compete with the vocals (or soloist in the event of an instrumental group/song).

You kick in the gain boost (OD, TubeScreamer, MXR Distortion+, etc) only to add gain and sustain and MAYBE an slight EQ/Tonal shift to the solo, and to bring the solo up in volume just enough to be above any matching frequencies from the rhythm section (cymbals or keys mostly) but not generally as loud as the main vocals.

[Dreamland_Rebel]

but if both guitarists have good tone, why would the dedicated sound man need to know whose solo is coming up to make adjustments? Shouldn't you just hear it?

in an arena stage sound is not loud enough.
plus most small venue sound guys don't even like you to play at band rehersal volume because they want total control of the sound. so having someone know your shit helps ememcely there as well. - when a solo boost in volume might outgain the boards preamp and make things even worse.

[Newc]

The louder the amps, the less board gain you need. As long as stage volume is balanced, there should be no problem with board clipping, assuming of course the house soundguy knows what he's doing.

Generally speaking a small shift in one EQ frequency for the solo (say a +3dB boost near the 800Hz or 1kHz range) will not be enough to clip a mic channel, but will be enough for a solo to cut through the mix. Assuming of course the added OD or Distortion boost only boosts the actual distortion and not the volume.