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Guitar Discussions -> Distortion/overdrive freak out
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Distortion/overdrive freak out - The Interceptor - 6-:20 -0-09-20
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Late this afternoon I was a/b-ing my old Digitech Distortion Factory (DF-7)
against my Visual Sounds Jeckyll & Hyde (the red one but not the V2 model).
I managed to convince myself that the Hyde distortion puts everything
equivalent on the DF-7 in the shade - the Hyde has a more full sound (maybe
brighter?) that makes the DF-7 sound like it is slightly choked at the top
end by comparison. Also, distorted chords seem to come through clearer on
the Hyde.
Not so sure about the overdrive comparison though. The DF-7 set to "Tube
Screamer" has more flexibility than the Jeckyll. The Jeckyll overdrive
still sounds very mid-humpish to me, and while the DF-7 will start out that
way in tube screamer mode, you can adjust the pots to flatten the hump or
even have a scooped version if you so desire.
The other negative about the J&H is that the Hyde side seems to induce
rather a lot of hum.
So I don't know what to do next. I think I have to learn to love the J&H
again.
Brett
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Re: Distortion/overdrive freak out - Jim - 6-:20 -0-09-20
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The Interceptor wrote:
> Late this afternoon I was a/b-ing my old Digitech Distortion Factory (DF-7)
> against my Visual Sounds Jeckyll & Hyde (the red one but not the V2 model).
> I managed to convince myself that the Hyde distortion puts everything
> equivalent on the DF-7 in the shade - the Hyde has a more full sound (maybe
> brighter?) that makes the DF-7 sound like it is slightly choked at the top
> end by comparison. Also, distorted chords seem to come through clearer on
> the Hyde.
>
> Not so sure about the overdrive comparison though. The DF-7 set to "Tube
> Screamer" has more flexibility than the Jeckyll. The Jeckyll overdrive
> still sounds very mid-humpish to me, and while the DF-7 will start out that
> way in tube screamer mode, you can adjust the pots to flatten the hump or
> even have a scooped version if you so desire.
>
> The other negative about the J&H is that the Hyde side seems to induce
> rather a lot of hum.
>
> So I don't know what to do next. I think I have to learn to love the J&H
> again.
>
> Brett
>
>
>
I owned the DF7 for a long while, then sold it.
It will always win the versatility award. But you can hear the
"digital" part of it. And you can see it on a scope.
It did a decent approximation of seven different OD/distortion/fuzz
devices, with a parametric mids. But the approximation was "close but
no cigar" for me.
They are still a bargain and a good tool for somebody less picky.
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Re: Distortion/overdrive freak out - The Interceptor - 6-:20 -0-09-20
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"Jim" <jim@askmebeforeyousend.com> wrote in message
news:qO6dnZ9BubtPn6DXnZ2dnUVZ_sednZ2d@posted.isomediainc...
> The Interceptor wrote:
>> Late this afternoon I was a/b-ing my old Digitech Distortion Factory
>> (DF-7) against my Visual Sounds Jeckyll & Hyde (the red one but not the
>> V2 model). I managed to convince myself that the Hyde distortion puts
>> everything equivalent on the DF-7 in the shade - the Hyde has a more full
>> sound (maybe brighter?) that makes the DF-7 sound like it is slightly
>> choked at the top end by comparison. Also, distorted chords seem to come
>> through clearer on the Hyde.
>>
>> Not so sure about the overdrive comparison though. The DF-7 set to "Tube
>> Screamer" has more flexibility than the Jeckyll. The Jeckyll overdrive
>> still sounds very mid-humpish to me, and while the DF-7 will start out
>> that way in tube screamer mode, you can adjust the pots to flatten the
>> hump or even have a scooped version if you so desire.
>>
>> The other negative about the J&H is that the Hyde side seems to induce
>> rather a lot of hum.
>>
>> So I don't know what to do next. I think I have to learn to love the J&H
>> again.
>>
>> Brett
>>
>>
>>
>
> I owned the DF7 for a long while, then sold it.
>
> It will always win the versatility award. But you can hear the "digital"
> part of it. And you can see it on a scope.
>
> It did a decent approximation of seven different OD/distortion/fuzz
> devices, with a parametric mids. But the approximation was "close but no
> cigar" for me.
>
> They are still a bargain and a good tool for somebody less picky.
Yeah, I can appreciate where you're coming from. The Hyde distortion was a
noticeably higher quality than the DF-7 and I assumed this was at least in
part due to digitization of the signal. It seemed to be less "alive"
through the DF-7.
However, the overdrive comparison currently is tilted in favour of the DF-7
in Tube Screamer mode. Maybe I'll get a Bad Monkey (analogue). But I'm
running both pedals in the chain now - J&H for distortion, DF-7 for
overdrive. It'll probably change tomorrow.
Brett
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Re: Distortion/overdrive freak out - Jim - 6-:21 -0-09-20
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The Interceptor wrote:
> "Jim" <jim@askmebeforeyousend.com> wrote in message
> news:qO6dnZ9BubtPn6DXnZ2dnUVZ_sednZ2d@posted.isomediainc...
>> The Interceptor wrote:
>>> Late this afternoon I was a/b-ing my old Digitech Distortion Factory
>>> (DF-7) against my Visual Sounds Jeckyll & Hyde (the red one but not the
>>> V2 model). I managed to convince myself that the Hyde distortion puts
>>> everything equivalent on the DF-7 in the shade - the Hyde has a more full
>>> sound (maybe brighter?) that makes the DF-7 sound like it is slightly
>>> choked at the top end by comparison. Also, distorted chords seem to come
>>> through clearer on the Hyde.
>>>
>>> Not so sure about the overdrive comparison though. The DF-7 set to "Tube
>>> Screamer" has more flexibility than the Jeckyll. The Jeckyll overdrive
>>> still sounds very mid-humpish to me, and while the DF-7 will start out
>>> that way in tube screamer mode, you can adjust the pots to flatten the
>>> hump or even have a scooped version if you so desire.
>>>
>>> The other negative about the J&H is that the Hyde side seems to induce
>>> rather a lot of hum.
>>>
>>> So I don't know what to do next. I think I have to learn to love the J&H
>>> again.
>>>
>>> Brett
>>>
>>>
>>>
>> I owned the DF7 for a long while, then sold it.
>>
>> It will always win the versatility award. But you can hear the "digital"
>> part of it. And you can see it on a scope.
>>
>> It did a decent approximation of seven different OD/distortion/fuzz
>> devices, with a parametric mids. But the approximation was "close but no
>> cigar" for me.
>>
>> They are still a bargain and a good tool for somebody less picky.
>
> Yeah, I can appreciate where you're coming from. The Hyde distortion was a
> noticeably higher quality than the DF-7 and I assumed this was at least in
> part due to digitization of the signal. It seemed to be less "alive"
> through the DF-7.
>
> However, the overdrive comparison currently is tilted in favour of the DF-7
> in Tube Screamer mode. Maybe I'll get a Bad Monkey (analogue). But I'm
> running both pedals in the chain now - J&H for distortion, DF-7 for
> overdrive. It'll probably change tomorrow.
>
> Brett
>
>
I already had a TS9 modified to 808. But after getting the DF7, I had
to have a DOD 250. I'd played them years ago. A very simple circuit,
although reissues are completely different than vintage. I ended up
gutting a reissue and hand building a gray 250 circuit on perf board.
The Bad Monkey is a great buy at around $25 used. The 808 sounds better
if you run it with a clean amp after it. If you are overdriving a tube
amp, the Bad Monkey can get pretty close, plus give you more bottom on
demand.
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Re: Distortion/overdrive freak out - Jim - 6-:21 -0-09-20
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The Interceptor wrote:
> "Jim" <jim@askmebeforeyousend.com> wrote in message
> news:HoidnYKsx_WCUqDXnZ2dnUVZ_jednZ2d@posted.isomediainc...
>> The Interceptor wrote:
>>> "Jim" <jim@askmebeforeyousend.com> wrote in message
>>> news:qO6dnZ9BubtPn6DXnZ2dnUVZ_sednZ2d@posted.isomediainc...
>>>> The Interceptor wrote:
>>>>> Late this afternoon I was a/b-ing my old Digitech Distortion Factory
>>>>> (DF-7) against my Visual Sounds Jeckyll & Hyde (the red one but not the
>>>>> V2 model). I managed to convince myself that the Hyde distortion puts
>>>>> everything equivalent on the DF-7 in the shade - the Hyde has a more
>>>>> full sound (maybe brighter?) that makes the DF-7 sound like it is
>>>>> slightly choked at the top end by comparison. Also, distorted chords
>>>>> seem to come through clearer on the Hyde.
>>>>>
>>>>> Not so sure about the overdrive comparison though. The DF-7 set to
>>>>> "Tube Screamer" has more flexibility than the Jeckyll. The Jeckyll
>>>>> overdrive still sounds very mid-humpish to me, and while the DF-7 will
>>>>> start out that way in tube screamer mode, you can adjust the pots to
>>>>> flatten the hump or even have a scooped version if you so desire.
>>>>>
>>>>> The other negative about the J&H is that the Hyde side seems to induce
>>>>> rather a lot of hum.
>>>>>
>>>>> So I don't know what to do next. I think I have to learn to love the
>>>>> J&H again.
>>>>>
>>>>> Brett
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>> I owned the DF7 for a long while, then sold it.
>>>>
>>>> It will always win the versatility award. But you can hear the
>>>> "digital" part of it. And you can see it on a scope.
>>>>
>>>> It did a decent approximation of seven different OD/distortion/fuzz
>>>> devices, with a parametric mids. But the approximation was "close but
>>>> no cigar" for me.
>>>>
>>>> They are still a bargain and a good tool for somebody less picky.
>>> Yeah, I can appreciate where you're coming from. The Hyde distortion was
>>> a noticeably higher quality than the DF-7 and I assumed this was at least
>>> in part due to digitization of the signal. It seemed to be less "alive"
>>> through the DF-7.
>>>
>>> However, the overdrive comparison currently is tilted in favour of the
>>> DF-7 in Tube Screamer mode. Maybe I'll get a Bad Monkey (analogue). But
>>> I'm running both pedals in the chain now - J&H for distortion, DF-7 for
>>> overdrive. It'll probably change tomorrow.
>>>
>>> Brett
>> I already had a TS9 modified to 808. But after getting the DF7, I had to
>> have a DOD 250. I'd played them years ago. A very simple circuit,
>> although reissues are completely different than vintage. I ended up
>> gutting a reissue and hand building a gray 250 circuit on perf board.
>>
>> The Bad Monkey is a great buy at around $25 used. The 808 sounds better
>> if you run it with a clean amp after it. If you are overdriving a tube
>> amp, the Bad Monkey can get pretty close, plus give you more bottom on
>> demand.
>
> My amp is a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe. I like extra bottom end, so I reckon I
> need to test a Bad Monkey.
>
> Brett
>
>
The TS is often used just to over drive (in the technical meaning of the
words) a tube amp on the edge of distortion. For AMP overdrive, not
pedal overdrive. If that's what you are doing, you often do NOT want
more bottom, and you want the mids hump. You'd probably be playing the
amp loud, with preamp set to edges of distortion (not TOO much gain),
then run the TS with Drive off to 9:00, and Level dimed (or as high as
you need for best AMP distortion). In this mode, the extra bottom often
turns the distortion muddy. And the mids hump pushes good distortion
out of the tubes.
I try to pick amps for the best tone with just a guitar and cable, then
use pedals to flavor the tone.
ON THE OTHER HAND: If you are using the amp as a pedal platform, with
little tube distortion (just "warmth" and "tube tone"), you may want the
bottom end, and you may want to dial out some of the mids hump. You'd
be running Drive above 9:00 (as high as you want without sounding like a
toy), and level not too much above 1/2.
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