Distortion pedals that compliment a Tube Screamer.

Dave,

Being a guitar player I don't think one can have too many distortion/overdrive pedals

I don't have a Tube Screamer anymore (had one 25 years ago but it was lost, stolen or sold - can't remember) but my primary overdrive is a Sin City Chilupa which reminds me of the old Tube Screamers. They are very hard to come by. Only 20 - 30 were every made by a guy in the Edmonton area. The only place I found these was in Yorkton Saskatchewan at a place called Freedom Sound.

Another favorite of mine is the Monte Allums OD-308. It is very transparent and versatile. I believe Monte modeled it after the original Proco Rat pedals, but it is much nicer in my opinion. You can get these as DYI kits or fully assembled when he has some in stock (www.monteallums.com).

Aside from that I have a Proco Rat (original), a Boss SD-1 (with a MonteAllums 808 and symmetrical mod) and a Boss Blues Driver (with the MonteAllums H2O mod). All of these pedals are great, even the Boss pedals come to life with the Mods installed.

What would I suggest to compliment a Tube Screamer? The Monte Allums OD-308 or maybe his newer Versa Drive, but I have not tried that one yet.

Good luck in your quest!

I've always been a fan of a tube screamer into a tube screamer.

I've always been a fan of a tube screamer into a tube screamer.

Didn't SRV do that? I remember hearing about someone who did (or does).
 
The Boss DS-1 is an all around good distortion pedal, the OCD is another good one if you want to spend more money but I like the DS-1 a lot and tend to always go back to it. Most OD and Distortion pedals will complement each other because they are different. Another of my favorites (it is obviously a personal taste because it isn't as popular as I think it should be) is the Tech21 Comp-Tortion it is a quiet distortion and compression pedal, those two effects are usually noisy together. An old and slightly rare pedal I really like is the Jordan J-700, it will go from dist to fuzz. The J-700 will go from Spirit in the Sky to Rocky Mountain Way (or Funk 49) with ease. The Seymour Duncan Pickup Booster is a good pedal too. It has a three setting switch for a doble coil, P-90, and SC flavor... and I forgot to mention the Comp-Tortion has a 21db clean boost.
 
Back to the original question, my first choice would be the DS-1 without hesitation, for classic distortion. If you want more flavors and the choice to add some scooped mids etc the Jeckyll and Hyde is pretty good. I have a bunch-o-pedals. The DS-1 also sounds GREAT driving a tweed Champ, IMO.
I am a fan of that sort of cleanish distortion like the early Marshall plexi, Hiwatt, or Orange amps. I read an interview several years ago with Robin Trower. He was asked about his live rig and at the time was using Marshall JCM-800s and JCM-900s. He made the comment that with the 800s he used OD or distortion pedals but with the 900s he didn't need any.
I have a bunch-o-amps too but have never had a MESA Mark amp but I do admire the clean and overdrive, and distorted tnes of the Mark series and would probably jump on a Mark III if I got a good deal on one.
 
Julien

RAT, if you can find an original all the better. It has the Marshall/Greenback edge sound, the Tubescreamer has the rounding amp break up tone. They work very well together if the rat drives the tubescreamer. I have them both on my pedalboard.

the barber tone press (i have one) can be used as a class A clean boost.

it's not much boost, but it does it.


the fatboost III is like 5 times the boost!

Personally I love a good Fuzz. Try a fuzz face. :)    

I have a couple older Tubescreamers.


2 of them.

1 original Rat.

and Fuzz.

Patched up every which way... unless it's Wednesday.

On Wednesdays I make a wah sandwich out of two Tubescreamers... with a wah in the middle.


That's what I used to use until I got or interested in the sound of my cable.

I have about $1200 wrapped up in my pedal board. Most of the time, I plug straight in to the amp when I practice at home. The pedalboard is used to impress kids, cause pain to dogs and entertain or disturb my neighbors depending on the relationship.

I had an old fender something. It was beat up had treble, bass, drive and volume on it and it was by far the best pedal I ever used. Oh the loss.

Hi Dave,
 
If you're looking for a more elaborate distortion, check out the Blackstar HT-DIST (Valve pedal).

IK Obi


Yeah it seems after you get over the pedal FX craze people like a guitar and amp. Simple set up with infinite possibilities!

I'm not sure if The Edge would sound the same though
 
Although I understand your point - in fairness, pedals have proven they are far beyond a craze! They have contributed to many great sounds over the years.
 
 

Hahaaaa, I was searching Google for more info on the Jordan J700 pedal and found my own post here.. lol. I still LOVE it. I have LOTS of OD and Distortion pedals but it is still my favorite though I have been running the SD Pickup Booster into it lately. I was looking at my pedals today and saw some I've been neglecting lately. The DOD FX100 Even Harmonic Overdrive, Bad Monkey (might be good into a TS), and the Blues Screamer... and a Vox Distortion Booster. EHX Big Muff Pi and English Muff'n. I need to play with my toys.
For straight distortion I think it is hard to beat a Boss DS-1. I have not run one into a TS because I don't have a TS and I'd want a vintage 808. and can't justify it. I did see a cool (IMO) pedal today when digging around online, a JHS Twin Twelve pedal. My first real amp was an all tube Silvertone 1485, it was stolen but I still have the foot pedal. This pedal sound's pretty good and makes me think I might want a 1482 or 1484. These amps sound REALLY good. The pedal might work well for what you're looking for Dave.
Hey, I'm sorry to post in a thread so old but it popped up and I couldn't help it! I've spent half a day looking at OD and Dist pedals, looking at YT videos, reading up on mods. I agree with the first answer, you cannot have too many dist/OD pedals.
J
 

The Boss DS-1 and Tube Screamer are a classic combo.  The DS-1 is relatively edgier, harsher, and crunchier than the smoother, bluesier Tube Screamer so they compliment each other nicely and give you access to a variety of tones by engaging them separately or together.  I'll set my amp clean and then separately set the DS-1 for a nice crunchy rhythm and the Tube Screamer for a nice bluesy lead tone.  That gives me access to a clean rhythm tone, a crunchy rhythm, a gentle bluesy lead and a liquidy, high gain lead if I engage the two together.  Both of these pedals are so popular that these tones are all very classic and familiar.  
 

I always used a Boss Blues Driver in front of my Ibanez Tube Screamer with a crybaby before or after. It gave a lot of variations in distortion tone. The blues driver and the flanger were really the only two boss pedals I ever owned.