Question:
I play rhythm electric guitar in church, and I'm looking for an Overdive or Distiortion pedal that will provide good rhythms, but not too dirty (it is church after all). I've fallen in love with the Boss BD-2, but practically it doesn't seem to be what I'm looking for. Someone told me the Digitech Bad Monkey would be better. Opinions?
-Nick
Answer:
not sure how much you can spend...but the fulltone fulldrive 2 gives a wide range of overdriven tones good for rhythm....clean and dirrrrtay.
Answer:
I was going to recommend the FD2, as well. The new models (2003 and newer) have a toggle-switch that allows you to switch between a "vintage" mode with the midrange-hump popular in tubescreamers, and then a "FM" mode (flat-mids) that (to my ears) provides the perfect tone for rhythm. You can go anywhere from mostly clean/only mildly dirty, to heavy chunky chords and anywhere in between. It is a pricy beast though, and so...
...you might check out www.indyguitarist.com and either buy one his mod kits for a Boss SD-1 or just purchase a modded Boss SD-1 from Brian (indyguitarist). From all of the reviews that I've read on his mods, they're simply fantastic and he even has a new one out that he named the "Fulldrive Mod" (or something along those lines). It'd be a fantastic choice for good rhythms and it would have a nice range of overdriven tones (clean to dirty) to choose from. It'd ALSO compliment the BD-2 (one of my absolute favorite pedals as well - in it's modded form) almost perfectly.
Answer:
Do you use an amp? If so, what kind? That's the best way to get OD, from a real amp. The best O.D. pedal is none at all...

Answer:
If you have a tube amp, buy a Major Tom attenuator.
I personally use an IndyGuitarist modded TS9 for my overdrive and really love it. I usually only use it for a boost on solos though.
Answer:
Originally Posted by Flyguy If you have a tube amp, buy a Major Tom attenuator.
I personally use an IndyGuitarist modded TS9 for my overdrive and really love it. I usually only use it for a boost on solos though.
Well, I didn't want to sound like I was engaging in snoob tobery... I do find it ironic and strange though, that so many players spend bunches of cash on multiple boutique and expensive OD pedals (whose purpose is to emulate cranked amp tone) and such to try and cop an approximation of cranked amp (tube) tone when the most obvious, simple, and authentic solution is simply a cranked amp.
Answer:
I'm a sold-state begger, unfortunately. I've got a Roland Cube 30.
Thanks for the suggestion, but that is a tad pricy. Anyone know if the Bad Monkey would work for me?
-Nick
Answer:
Personally I would stay away from the Bad Monkey. It seems to be part of a new "cheapo" campaign from digitech, and as it is a fairly new addition to their lineup, I would say wait and see how its reputation forms. I would recomend a Tubescreamer for your situation. Faithfully reproduces your dynamics and gives you smooth distortion, which is key for rythm.(especially in church settings)
Answer:
Originally Posted by Only Alive I'm a sold-state begger, unfortunately. I've got a Roland Cube 30.
Nick, I've got a Cube 30 too. Try this: on the lead channel, select 'Classic' and then set the gain to about 4-4.5. With the volume on my guitar at about 8, this setting gives me a nice rhythm crunch. It's light enough on the gain that a light attack cleans up pretty well, but when I lean on chords it breaks up nicely. Of course a little more or less gain at the guitar or amp will help you get it where you like it. I've also got a little left on the guitar for boost if I need it.
Get a pair of BOSS FS-5U pedals and you've got a very satisfactory set-up for P&W rhythm guitar. I put on a little bit of reverb, then use one pedal to go between 'clean' and 'lead' and the other pedal to turn one effect off and on, usually 'chorus' that I add to the clean channel.
I've also got a tube amp set-up with a pedal board, and I've tried driving the clean channel of the Roland with my BOSS SD-2 and it just doesn't work (hard to explain, but it just sounds wrong).
Good luck!
Answer:
I'm a sold-state begger, unfortunately. I've got a Roland Cube 30.
Thanks for the suggestion, but that is a tad pricy. Anyone know if the Bad Monkey would work for me?
Hey, I can relate to bein po'
Those Roland cubes have a great rep.
Answer:
Originally Posted by Sinker Try this: on the lead channel, select 'Classic' and then set the gain to about 4-4.5. With the volume on my guitar at about 8, this setting gives me a nice rhythm crunch.
This is how I usually have it. Maybe it's just me, but the distortion just doesn't sound very smooth, and I also need to get a volume/overdrive boost when playing the chorus of many songs, so I found a pedal to be the most prudent usage of my money.
-Nick
Answer:
I would recommendthe Ibanez Tube Screamer-TS-7. It has a TS-9 and a boost mode. So you get light, bluesy tube tones, all the way up to raunchy power chords. Its a great pedal and is very versatile...I have 2 of em!
As a bonus its only like $45 bucks!
Later!