Aggressive Overdrives/Boosts - What's your go-to?

  • Thread starter Thread starter napalmdeath
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I find the dirty tree way too aggressive. I use it with certain amps but damn it’s almost too powerful for me at times
 
I think the Precision Drive fits what you are asking for. I have a bunch of OD's and the PD is the most aggressive to my ears.
 
My SD-1 with Analogman FROG mod.

SD1/808/Silver mod​

We modify the Boss SD-1 Super Overdrive to close to Ibanez TS-808 specs, including the chip. This is the yellow Boss pedal, not the orange DS-1 Distortion. The yellow SD-1 has the same basic design as a Tube screamer but with asymmetrical clipping. We can leave the clipping as-is (Boss style asymmetrical clipping) if you wish, but we normally change it to the Ibanez (symmetrical) style on the SD-1/808 mod. Ibanez told me that Roland (Boss) has a patent on asymmetrical clipping, which gives it a bit more volume, harmonics, and crunch. With Ibanez style clipping, it sounds similar to a TS-808, but still has a touch more edge and drive available. With Boss style, it gets yet a bit more volume, edge, and harmonics. Symmetric clipping creates mostly "ODD HARMONICS", while asymmetric creates both odd and even harmonics, for a sound that is not as pure, but richer. The Brown option is standard on the SD-1 as it really helps to smooth out the sound.Our SILVER mod is also available on the SD-1/808, by customer demand. I thought the silver mod would be too expensive for this pedal but people really like the Boss pedals (they are more reliable than the Ibanez). FROG from Elderly Instruments was the 1st, as his TS9/Silver switches were failing too often, so he requested the SD-1/808/Silver. He likes them a lot, so we have been doing more silvers for other people. We now install a super bright GREEN LED for this FROG mod (looks cool too!!).
 
OD and boosts all pretty much do the same thing for me. Some just have a little more low end to deal with.
I go between a few depending on what I want. Dod250 (YJM308) Sd-1 ( new and old) and TS-5 mostly.
 
The problem is the boosts that actually are voiced most aggressively can be too much in an amp that already sounds very aggressive in the same way on its own and then it just sounds messy and overloaded. The most aggressive boosts I’ve had though out the 150+ I’ve been through (including everything mentioned here) are without a doubt my Fortin TS808, ‘70’s Furman PQ3 (the later version with black back/red knobs isn’t as good sounding) and then after would be my actual TC Integrated Pre and V1.1 Fulltone OCD (later OCD’s aren’t as good sounding)

However, the boosts I actually use most are really just my Klon centaur and 2022 Tamura modded TS808, which is also one of the least noisy boosts I’ve had. They’re not the most aggressive boosts ever, but still push the amps where they could use it, tighten and saturate them well and just work best with most amps
 
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The one on the left gets meaner than the rest. But I like em all.


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I'd like to add, when I a/b stuff, something may shine brighter than the rest. But it's not necessarily the best thing. Often I prefer the SD1, even though it's not the most brutal, tightest, clearest pedal. Or I'll jam the JCM for hours even though it's not GOD level like the SLO. Or I'll use the Squier 70s CV, even though it's not as great as all my other guitars.

I think, instead of comparing crap all the time and chasing down that one bestest tightest brutalist sound...finding the best tones from each piece of gear yields a vast variety of great colors to choose from.

That's why I have entirely waaaaayyyyy too much sh$t.
 
LPMojoGL said:
Often I prefer the SD1, even though it's not the most brutal, tightest, clearest pedal.
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I think it is, LOL. It's more brutal, tighter, and clearer than what many people give it credit for. It's more brutal, tighter, and clearer than a TS/OD808 that is what everyone was using at some point at least.

But I agree with you. It's matching the right OD with the right amp. I like an SD-1 with a Recto, a TS808 with a 5150.
 
MiJ SD1, OD1X, Joyo Ultimate Drive, Joyo Uzi...the OD1X just gets along with everything, is by far the quietest pedal I've tried, and doesn't narrow the sound like a TS typically does; but still tightens it up. Leaves the lows intact too.
 
Wampler Tumnus
Xotic BB MB
Lichtlearm Aquaria
Master Effects EQ4H (Furman PQ-4 clone)

The Lichtlearm KOY is aggressive as well but I prefer the Klon circuit (Aquaria) more than the TS anymore these days.
 
I have five SD-1’s from all eras. Believe it or not, my favorite is the modern day yellow one……even over my old MIJ and Waza. The anniversary black one even sounds different than the yellow. The black one has more lows and highs. The modern yellow just sits right in the mids and cuts just enough low end.

Another favorite is my One Control Persian Green Screamer. Like an old TS but doesn’t smooth things out with that soft clipping and mid hump. Really transparent and keeps things aggressive on the attack.

For a pure clean boost, I like the AXS OBV. But it can also do symmetrical and asymmetrical clipping via toggle.
 
Depends on the amp. For a stock JCM800, nothing has beaten the VFE Standout. For my Uber and Randall, the Peper's Dirty Tree is super aggressive. The original Timmy gets a nod for being super versatile and aggressive with the right amps as well.
 
Maxon st9pro+, od808, vfe ice-scream, focus, mxr eq6, sd-1 40a.
My hidden-jem boost would be the boss hm-3 hyper metal.
 
+1 for Tumnus

Also: Wampler Plexi Drive
Friedman Buxom Boost
 
I left out my trusty od9pro+. It's really just a heavily modded 808. I like using it in standard (less compressed) mode with it's gain set between 8:00-10:00.
 
SD1 and the original Koko. However, I am expecting good things tonight from the Griffin 808 Imperial that just landed today.
 
dave74 said:
I left out my trusty od9pro+. It's really just a heavily modded 808. I like using it in standard (less compressed) mode with it's gain set between 8:00-10:00.
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I've wanted a VOP-9 for a while. I doubt that one is too aggressive, though. To me, the more low-end they let through, the least aggresive they sound.

Except for the Plumes. That one has a bunch of bottom-end, but a really aggressive treble as well. Too aggressive for my taste.
 
Bad.Seed said:
You know I agree, this has been my go to since I first tried it. Insane output, huge sweeps in the mini EQ pots which mean you can really shape the signal going into the amp, including the upper mid and high end aggression
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Is this thing a nod to the King " SD-1/OD-1" but with more EQ options? If so, then you guys have got me interested...
 
fek said:
SD1 and the original Koko. However, I am expecting good things tonight from the Griffin 808 Imperial that just landed today.
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I always leave the KoKo on my board. Even just buffering it has the goods. Mid boost is great though for squeezing just that bit extra. No matter the boosts, I am always back to Koko, a DOD 250 style , or a KLON type pedal. Extra credit goes to a TS something or other. It's all been done before. The classics are classic for a reason.
 
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