High-Gain Pedals

[JiveTurkey]

That one was actually rad and was my go to in my early band years. Couldn't afford shit, so the Smash Box into a 40w solid state amp was "my sound". Did more than a few gigs with that.

I so wanted the EVH 5153 pedal after Pete Thorn did a demo of it (search it on YT - AMAZING!), but it was always out of that "money sweet spot", where I could justify buying a pedal.

I loved it. I keep re-reminding myself and think I am going to buy one but have zero need for it, as per usual.

 

[BahamaDada]

I loved it. I keep re-reminding myself and think I am going to buy one but have zero need for it, as per usual.

Have we (guitarists) ever cared about what we really need? Go for it.

I think my mother bought that thing for me back then (wasn't even old enough to drive to the store) and I swear it was something like... 40€ new in a brick'n'mortar store. And now I see these pedals going for 60+ used. Crazy used world.

 

[JiveTurkey]

Have we (guitarists) ever cared about what we really need? Go for it.

I think my mother bought that thing for me back then (wasn't even old enough to drive to the store) and I swear it was something like... 40€ new in a brick'n'mortar store. And now I see these pedals going for 60+ used. Crazy used world.

The switch itself was really not robust. But the tones were great back in the day. Tonelok knobs were a KILLER invention as well \m/

 

[Aelred]

FWIW, I quite like the Wampler Dracarys, the Black Arts Toneworks Quantum Mystic - and I'm still kicking myself for not buying an old solid as a rock AmpTweaker TightMetalPro. Especially the Scour graphics one.

I'm not really looking any further - they sound "fine" into an Orange Dark or Rocker Terror with an ESP LTD with active pickups. Maybe I need something with demons or skulls in the artwork, like an Oath of the Goat, Wyrm or Grindstein.

However good they may sound, Friedman and Revv are just plain.

Kidding! Just kidding!

 

[BahamaDada]

The switch itself was really not robust. But the tones were great back in the day. Tonelok knobs were a KILLER invention as well \m/

Read about the whole switch problem, but I still own and use the Ibanez TS7 which is from the Tone-Lok series. That pedal is in my ownage since 2008 and has gotten so much kicking and throwing around and it still works like day one. Not even scratchy pots bc of dirt (and there's a lot of dirt).

 

[JiveTurkey]

Read about the whole switch problem, but I still own and use the Ibanez TS7 which is from the Tone-Lok series. That pedal is in my ownage since 2008 and has gotten so much kicking and throwing around and it still works like day one. Not even scratchy pots bc of dirt (and there's a lot of dirt).

Smashbox bought'd

 

[EOengineer]

I’ve always subscribed to the Hetfield philosophy - If I want natural sounding/feeling crunch I need an overdriven amp. Everything else sounds like it’s sitting on top of the guitar signal instead of comprising it.

Of course in recent years those notions have been challenged by innovation. The Bogner Blue (big box) and Barber Burn Unit are two pedals that have somewhat modified my perspective but I’ve still not found anything in the high gain modern metal arena that sounds or feels anything less than fake.

I’d like to give the Bogner Red a shot if I ever see one pop up on SDOTD or something.

I have such vivid memories of 14 year old me plugging this into my friend’s crate 1x10 open back combo and smiling ear to ear while running AJFA riffs. Mids were the enemy then and let me tell you…there were none to be found.

 

[FuzzyAce]

I’d like to give the Bogner Red a shot if I ever see one pop up on SDOTD or something.

I had the big box Bogner Red for a while. In a moment of weakness I traded it and a few other things for some different gear. Wish I still had it because it was very much amp-like with a hefty amount of gain. Maybe more than I would normally use and in hindsight the Blue may have been perfect for me but I've yet to try one. I have a Vox Valvenergy Cutting Edge that is surprising amp-like, and can be quite saturated and tight when needed. A very wide range from clean boost to all-out gain. Underrated for sure.

 

[EOengineer]

I had the big box Bogner Red for a while. In a moment of weakness I traded it and a few other things for some different gear. Wish I still had it because it was very much amp-like with a hefty amount of gain. Maybe more than I would normally use and in hindsight the Blue may have been perfect for me but I've yet to try one. I have a Vox Valvenergy Cutting Edge that is surprising amp-like, and can be quite saturated and tight when needed. A very wide range from clean boost to all-out gain. Underrated for sure.

Hopefully you cross paths with the blue and can give it a whirl. Though it has gain, it’s not a high gain firebreather. Think cranked JMP but with the Bogner flavor.

While I’m definitely in the camp that prefer OD from my amps, the blue was the first pedal I’ve played that added a credible second channel to the run-of-the-mill 70s Deluxe Reverb I use on rare occasions when chasing the pedal platform vibe.

The built in boost is useful live too.

 

[FuzzyAce]

Hopefully you cross paths with the blue and can give it a whirl. Though it has gain, it’s not a high gain firebreather. Think cranked JMP but with the Bogner flavor.

While I’m definitely in the camp that prefer OD from my amps, the blue was the first pedal I’ve played that added a credible second channel to the run-of-the-mill 70s Deluxe Reverb I use on rare occasions when chasing the pedal platform vibe.

The built in boost is useful live too.

I'm more into ODs too, but they can lack presence and depth unless you have the right amp. The Bogner just had this upper midrange presence and body that made it seem like its own amp channel, like you say.

 

[LeftyLoungeLizard]

I razz my lead guitar player that this is his ideal setup:

And run all that straight into the board. No amp, just straight in.

 

[BahamaDada]

Smashbox bought'd

 

[LeftyLoungeLizard]

 

[BahamaDada]

Sorry, but my pedalboard brain says, that the Blue Sky is the first pedal in the chain (right down is always first - it's the law) and now I want to know what a Blue Skay INTO 10 Metalzones sounds like. Even if we wake Cthulhu.

@JiveTurkey Don't forget to post a few sound clips here once that SM7 arrives. If you need a real rubbish pedal from the ToneLok series try the DS7. That thing is the worst pedal I have ever heard AND owned.

I bet that pedal survived Katrina

 

[EOengineer]

I'm more into ODs too, but they can lack presence and depth unless you have the right amp. The Bogner just had this upper midrange presence and body that made it seem like its own amp channel, like you say.

So I got a pile of gift cards for an employee appreciation thing today and used them to scoop up a minty big box red with the box and all the candy for a SDOTD price off reverb.

I’m absolutely excited to hear what this does through my Deluxe Reverb. Most of the official marketing videos use a Gibson through a Deluxe and it’s right up my alley.

Thanks for the nudge on this one.

 

[FuzzyAce]

Thanks for the nudge on this one.

Haha, very cool! I think you'll dig it.

 

[JiveTurkey]

Got the SM7 in here a little bit ago. Man; this thing brings back so many good memories. I think it was supposed to be "generic Recto tone in a box" back in the day but if anything; it reminds me of "generic OG 5150 in the box". It sounds stellar to my ears. On top of the Stealth clean channel into my 2 112 cabs it's killer \m/ It also sounds fantastic with gain barely past zero with the level cranked. I am super stoked to have grabbed one again; even if I don't use it at any long term frequency like I use to. It used to be my main gain tone in front of a "clean" amp and it still works \m/

Per the internet;

"It's a mix of three pedals. Big muff input stage, a tubescreamer overdrive section, and an mxr distortion plus clipping section. The EQ goes after all that. It's been many years since I've looked at that circuit but I believe it's similar to some krank and damage control pedals."
Funny if true because I am probably most a fan of the Big Muff but not for my own playing. And Distortion+ is nightmare fuel for me. Whatever it is; I like it!

 

[EOengineer]

Got the SM7 in here a little bit ago. Man; this thing brings back so many good memories. I think it was supposed to be "generic Recto tone in a box" back in the day but if anything; it reminds me of "generic OG 5150 in the box". It sounds stellar to my ears. On top of the Stealth clean channel into my 2 112 cabs it's killer \m/ It also sounds fantastic with gain barely past zero with the level cranked. I am super stoked to have grabbed one again; even if I don't use it at any long term frequency like I use to. It used to be my main gain tone in front of a "clean" amp and it still works \m/

Per the internet;

"It's a mix of three pedals. Big muff input stage, a tubescreamer overdrive section, and an mxr distortion plus clipping section. The EQ goes after all that. It's been many years since I've looked at that circuit but I believe it's similar to some krank and damage control pedals."
Funny if true because I am probably most a fan of the Big Muff but not for my own playing. And Distortion+ is nightmare fuel for me. Whatever it is; I like it!

What sort of cleanup situation does it offer, if at all?

 

[la szum]

I’ve always subscribed to the Hetfield philosophy - If I want natural sounding/feeling crunch I need an overdriven amp. Everything else sounds like it’s sitting on top of the guitar signal instead of comprising it.

Of course in recent years those notions have been challenged by innovation. The Bogner Blue (big box) and Barber Burn Unit are two pedals that have somewhat modified my perspective but I’ve still not found anything in the high gain modern metal arena that sounds or feels anything less than fake.

I’d like to give the Bogner Red a shot if I ever see one pop up on SDOTD or something.


I have such vivid memories of 14 year old me plugging this into my friend’s crate 1x10 open back combo and smiling ear to ear while running AJFA riffs. Mids were the enemy then and let me tell you…there were none to be found.

I love the Blue and have 3 of them. 2 Minis and the big box. One's always on
my board. I like to boost it with a TS/SD-style drive. Always go back to those.
Had the Red several times and Meh.... not tight enough for the chugs and a little
too compressed for my ears--as you lose those luscious dynamics and sensitivity
of the Blue.

I actually liked the Uberschall more for the high-gain thing.



Edit: Oh man. Just saw subsequent posts. Hope you dig it. Not trying to kill
someone's enthusiasm on a Saturday.

 

[JiveTurkey]

What sort of cleanup situation does it offer, if at all?

I didn't try it. I had a small haul today and I have been pretty much

All day It is such a high gain pedal that I can't see anyone thinking of volume roll-off as being something to do with it. I'll see how it does next time I fire it up!