December 12, 2009
Best Overdrive Pedal
What is the best overdrive pedal? Not an easy answer, since the number of good overdrive pedals available these days is mind boggling.
I have started a top overdrive list here, and I am trying to stick to pedals that deliver overdrive more than distortion, although many pedals cover both territories. It's also sometimes difficult to distinguish between overdrive and distortion. I have written about the difference between overdrive and distortion on this site, and you may want to check it out.
My personal favorite overdrive is the Maxon OD-9. It features a chip that creates ultra-smooth dynamic overdrive. The Drive and Level controls tweak the intensity and volume Hi Boost/Hi Cut tone controls adjust brightness. It is also True bypass, and it comes with a 3-year warranty. It is simply a smooth and rich sounding overdrive pedal, built to last a life time as well.
Some other good overdrive choices in my opinion are The CTO2 - Cool Cat Transparent Overdrive2 - low gain pedal with lots of dynamics. The Digitech Bad Monkey has been around for quite some time now, and it's inexpensive and quite versatile. I still like it and use it regularly. The eq on it is very handy!
Best Overdrives - the LIST
Here is a starting point for checking out some great overdrive pedals. Some may cover both distortion as well as overdrive tones, so keep that in mind. Feel free to add your comments if you think I missed some! Note: The order of the pedals listed has nothing to do with how good I think they sound, so a higher number does not mean it sounds worse than a pedal listed with a lower number. Only YOU can decide which you think sounds best.
- Maxon OD-9
- Way Huge Pork Loin
- LovePedal Eternity Fuse
- Lovepedal Amp 50
- Menatone Red Snapper
- Danelectro Transparent Overdrive
- Danelectro Drive
- Hermida Zendrive
- Radial Tonebone Classic Tube Distortion Pedal
- Hermida Mosferatu
- Analogman TS-9/808
- Keeley TS-9/808
- Maxon 808
- Ibanez TS9
- Ibanez TS808
- BYOC TS808
- Analogman TS-9
- Analogman TS-808
- Analogman King of Tone
- Electro-Harmonix XO Germanium OD Overdrive Guitar Effects Pedal
- T-Rex T-Rex Twin Boost Overdrive
- Hughes & Kettner Tube Factor Overdrive Pedal
- Krank Krankshaft Overdrive Pedal
- DOD 250
- Boss OD-3 OverDrive Pedal
- Carl Martin PlexiTone
- Plush Noxious Overdrive
- Fulltone GT-500
- Radial Bones R800-7110 Texas Overdrive
- Lovepedal Purple Plexi
- XOTIC BB Preamp
- TREX Alberta
- Digitech Hardwire Tube Overdrive
- Timmy
- Tim
- Delta Labs Tube Driver
- MI Audio Blues Pro
- Klon Centaur
- Fulltone OCD
- Barber LTD
- Damage Control Womanizer
- Visual Sound Jekyll and Hide
- Reverend Drivetrain 2
- Voodoo Lab Sparkle Drive
- Keeley TS9DX FLEXI-4X2
- Boss Blues Driver
- Keeley BD-2
- Radial Tonebone Hot British
- Blackstar HT-DUAL
- Blackstone Mofset Overdrive
- Hughes and Kettner Tube Factor
- Banzai Cold Fusion
- Crowther Audio Hotcake
- Digitech Bad Monkey
- DigiTech Screamin Blues
- Vox Cooltron Big Ben
- Boss FBM-1 Fender Bassman
- Behringer VT999
Have a look at the list of best wah pedals too.
Musician's Friend has most of these pedals
Have a look at the selection from Musician's Friend.
By Robert Renman - www.dolphinstreet.com
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