Looking for a good yet inexpensive distortion pedal

[coachc55]

I've got a simple rig. Small Fender Frontman 25 play A Fender Blacktop Strat with humbuckers. I don't mind the distortion on the Frontman, but I would like something a little more versatile. Any suggestions? I play blues/rock, classic rock and a little fusion(Freeway Jam).

Thanks.

[Jay 77]

I'd hold out a little longer and ditch the FM. If not, try the MXR Badass 78. It's cheap and sounds really good. That being said, I wouldn't expect miracles through your current amp.

[lareplus]

Fab distortion. . very inexpensive, but not a huge range of possibilities. .

[Aceman]

How much are you looking to spend?

And how much distortion do you need?


I have to agree, that new amp is proabably the better investment. That said, we are talking about running dirt into a clean sound I assume:

It's hard to beat a Boss DS-1. All over the bay for ~ $20 dollars. It's a classic for a reason.

You might also try the Bad Moneky if you don't need too much dirt. Lot's of love for that.

I might also suggest you look into one of the Digitech boxes, DF-7 Distortion Factory or the HotHead in the X series. A multitude of sounds. I'm sure you'll find one or two that you dig. I'd just go for a range of sounds rather than try to go through three pedals you might not like.

[coachc55]

Thanks, I would of course run it through the FM's clean channel which by the way for me sounds good.

[MetalManiac]

Duncan Power Grid.

[MetalManiac]

Stock Boss Ds-1's are terrible sounding pedals once the gain is cranked. Bad Monkeys have no depth /dimensionality and to me sound exactly like what they are- a cheap stompbox..people love to like them cause they are cheap and they have a rudimentary EQ .
Your money would go the most distance with a Power Grid; simply THE most underrated distortion on the market.. but besides that, look at the YJM308 MXR pedal..more of an overdrive, but a real value and sounds real good stock.
And heres one thats entirely overlooked- Coffin Blood Drive. Probably the single best cheap distortion on the market.
I also like the Nobels ODR-1, but thats more like a overdirve TS clone.

[everdrone]

my ratII is killer classic and cheap!!

[FuseG4]

i second the ditching of the frontman. Get a Fender Mustang 1 if you enjoy fender tones and the size of your frontman.

No need for distortion pedals for a Mustang.

BTW I used to have a FM25r... not bad for a beginner's practice amp... but the Mustang series is the shiiz.

[metalmachine]

I personally dont like distortion pedals as a main tone. I have never played anything real high end though. Nothing wrong with using them for some different sounds though. If u want versatility but dont want a new amp look into a decent multi effects pedal that has son amp models on it and run it into the effects loop if u got one

[Aceman]

Stock Boss Ds-1's are terrible sounding pedals once the gain is cranked.

In your opinion. That said:

The wise and toneful man does not dime the gain, on most anything....


Is the Powergrid REALLY that under-rated for the price? I look at those every now and again.

[Mattr4president]

I've tried so many distortion pedals its ridiculous. For whatever reason my favorite was the danelectro fab tone. Through my peavey express in my bedroom it sounded like gold. Of course it doesn't compare to today and running a 100w halfstack but I always have good memories of that pedal. I also had the DOD death metal pedal i got at mars music... Awesomely bad pedal.

[gibson175]

a nice simple rig would be a blacktop strat into a deluxe reverb. or maybe a blacktop strat into a hot rod deluxe or blues junior. Perhaps a blacktop strat into a marshall class 5, or possibly a vox ac15. The choice of amps is almost endless for a nice simple rig. Maybe a blacktop strat into a blackstar, or an egnater too.
A blacktop strat into a fender fm 25 is unfortunately not a nice simple rig. Its a cheapo crappy sounding simple rig. Adding a pedal will make it a cheapo crappy sounding rig with a pedal.
Save your pedal bikkies and get yourself a nicer amp and youll have a nice sounding simple rig.
I know this sounds harsh, but when you try a real amp youll wonder how you played thru your old amp at all.
Ask diego...

[metalmachine]

a nice simple rig would be a blacktop strat into a deluxe reverb. or maybe a blacktop strat into a hot rod deluxe or blues junior. Perhaps a blacktop strat into a marshall class 5, or possibly a vox ac15. The choice of amps is almost endless for a nice simple rig. Maybe a blacktop strat into a blackstar, or an egnater too.
A blacktop strat into a fender fm 25 is unfortunately not a nice simple rig. Its a cheapo crappy sounding simple rig. Adding a pedal will make it a cheapo crappy sounding rig with a pedal.
Save your pedal bikkies and get yourself a nicer amp and youll have a nice sounding simple rig.
I know this sounds harsh, but when you try a real amp youll wonder how you played thru your old amp at all.
Ask diego...

I know a lot of you guys mean well but I think a lot of ppl do not realize how mean stuff like this sounds. I also think you can do far worse than a fm series

[MetalManiac]

I know a lot of you guys mean well but I think a lot of ppl do not realize how mean stuff like this sounds. I also think you can do far worse than a fm series

[lareplus]

I know a lot of you guys mean well but I think a lot of ppl do not realize how mean stuff like this sounds. I also think you can do far worse than a fm series

. . .yes. .

[gibson175]

i know it sounds mean, and i mentioned that in my post. I'm comfortable with the bad guy label in this case.

[metalmachine]

10-4 then

[FuseG4]

If the OP needs a good cheap distortion or overdrive for in the meantime, until he decides on an upgrade amp...

I had a Denelectro Cool Cat overdrive. The one that is heavily based on the fulltone OCD. I had V1 but v2 has some minor changes that don't matter much for the casual user.
It has a smooth, mildly dynamic "natural amp overdrive" kind of sound and has lots of USEABLE gain. It should sound at least decent in front of a small solid state combo.

Also, i use my Blues Driver in front of my Mustang sometimes. If you want something with a very Fender-y flavor, you might like the blues driver. It can get a little harsh but just use the tone knob on the pedal with your guitar tone knob, you can always find something useable.

Both are way cheap on ebay. $40 or less usually.

[Mattr4president]

wow I just laughed so friggin hard at that...

Back to the OP. I don't see why a DS-1 or 78 badass wouldn't be your best bet for pedal distortion. If you're just playing around in your bedroom or basement It would certainly do the job you want it to. If you want to jam out with a band then the FM if gonna get beat out and sound thin and shrill regardless of what pedal you use. I've learned this lesson the hard way. If you're serious about doing more then playing in your bedroom then invest in a new amp. Some of these comments may sound like people being d-bags but in the end they're giving you honest points of view and saving you in the long run.