Analog Distortion Pedal + Digital Processor = Good Sound ?

Discussion in 'Guitar Gear Talk Forum' started by MHG, Jul 2, 2011.

  1. MHG

    MHG New Member

    I've heard a lot about cheap digital processors like DigiTech RP50 and Zoom G1N not sounding nice when using distortion due to the artificialness of the tone.

    I currently have a Boss DS-2 Distortion Pedal that I use directly with my guitar. I'm considering buying a cheap second-hand processor (seen lots of those for sale lately) for adding effects like delay, echo, phaser, autowah, tremulo, etc and also for checking out the various amp models (but most of the distortion still produced by the pedal).

    Does this sort of setup sound decent (assuming connection is guitar -> pedal -> processor -> amp) ?
     
  2. thehundredthone

    thehundredthone Well-Known Member

    You could use it, if you really think the pedal sounds better than the processor for the sound you're looking for. But I'd advise that you actually try the combination first. Amp models are meant to be used as a substitute for the amp, so that you can go to the P.A directly. Otherwise it's like plugging an amp into another amp.

    I would personally want compression before the distortion, especially when it's not amp/amp model distortion.
     
  3. MHG

    MHG New Member

    Since I've a rather cheap amp, I only use it as a speaker unit and nothing more.

    So its like this:

    Practice Setup: guitar -> pedal -> processor -> amp/speaker
    Live: guitar -> pedal -> processor -> PA

    I can't *try* anything yet since I haven't bought a processor yet.

    Has anyone tried such a thing ? And yeah would the distortion pedal sound better before or after the processor ?

    Even if I do try this setup, what kind of quality can I expect compared to higher priced processors ?
     
  4. deepsal

    deepsal New Member

    horrid tone horrid enough to kill people
     
  5. rickkkyrich

    rickkkyrich Guest

    In my opinion its the distortion in processors that sucks and since u're using analog pedal for that so you should be able to get a decent tone out of ur setup. But remember that you will be able to use only one modulation effect at a time (it was like that in my Boss ME20).
     
  6. MHG

    MHG New Member

    Shit you mean no echo and reverb and phaser at same time ?
     
  7. rickkkyrich

    rickkkyrich Guest

    I said modulation dude... You can use reverb and Phaser at the same time.
    You can use either of these for modulation (one at a time):
    chorus, phaser, Flanger, Tremolo, Rotary
    Reverb has separate pedal where you can use either Delay or reverb.

    I am talking bout Boss ME20.. Donno much bout other processors.
     
  8. alpha1

    alpha1 I BLUES!

    Oh no, not again Mr. Eric Johnson. We've heard that line enough.
    Not everyone can afford the following:
    1. American Fender Stratocaster
    2. Dumble amp
    3. TC electronic chorus pedal, Dunlop wah
    4. err wait first do you have all this? ...
    If not then your tone is too "horrid" to comment on other's setup.

    And you know what - I have heard a lot about Boss pedals not sounding nice in producing distortion or overdrive. Pros only use them for given a slight dirty boost to the signal running into their amplifier.

    So what are you gonna do next?
    Buy a new pedal also?

    Use your ears.
    you can always go to the store and check on the processor even if you have no intentions of buying it.
    It may so happen that you feel that the overdrive/distortion coming from the processor sounds much better to you than the DS-2 pedal.

    Use your ears. Not other ppl's words.
    In forming your opinions.
     
  9. rickkkyrich

    rickkkyrich Guest

    Wat are you saying man.. Boss DS1 is one of the best distortion pedal known to us.
     
  10. thehundredthone

    thehundredthone Well-Known Member

    The DS-1 isn't one of the best, it's just one of the most well known names. Just like the Morley/Cry-baby wah. Very well known but most people who use them don't like the tone colouring.

    People in India use distortion pedals through a solid state amplifier, so the distortion is the pedal's alone with no compression which sucks in general. IMO it's meant to provide a dirtier edge to a tube amp which is already saturating its power tubes, and not to distort a pristine clean signal.
     
  11. rickkkyrich

    rickkkyrich Guest

    You mean Cry baby is just "well known"? You mean Jimi, Slash, Dimebag and many more artists just went for it as it's a well known pedal? I think it was these artists that made it one.

    For that we have an overdrive pedal..Like a tube screamer.. isn't it?
     
  12. thehundredthone

    thehundredthone Well-Known Member

    Sure, if you prefer to believe endorsements and advertisements over your own ears, go right ahead. I'll stick to using what actually sounds good to me. And if you believe that the Jimi Hendrix model wah pedal is the wah pedal Jimi Hendrix used, well then.

    Not the same kind of drive. It's a spectrum.
     
  13. rickkkyrich

    rickkkyrich Guest

    I'm not sure of other artists but Jimi definitely used a Jim Dunlop Cry Baby wah. He would have been amongst the first ones to make it as popular as it is now. And why would Dunlop change the specs of an already popular pedal?
    I'm not talking bout the signature series pedals as i've seen Dave Mustaine signature series Zoom G2.1DM (which certainly ridiculed me) and there will be many such examples.
     
  14. thehundredthone

    thehundredthone Well-Known Member

    Where do you get your information from? Jimi Hendrix used Vox wahs. He used the Vox Clyde McCoy Picture wah on Voodoo Child, and then later the V-846.
     
  15. rickkkyrich

    rickkkyrich Guest

    Yes you are right.. My bad..
     
  16. thehundredthone

    thehundredthone Well-Known Member

    I'm not bashing the pedal. It can't be popular if it isn't really good. Same with the DS-1. I'm just saying that what seems to be the market standard isn't always so because of it's sound quality. It's subjective - I like my Metal Muff, but the Boss fanboys will still use their MetalZone to drill a hole in my ears.
     
  17. alpha1

    alpha1 I BLUES!

    DS-1 was used by Steve Vai / Joe Satch.
    But you know the funny thing?

    They never used the distortion from it. They used is mainly as a clean boost to the signal going into their amp.
    So they didn't buy DS-1 for its TONE.

    Rickky, if Boss pedals really held that holy grail of tone - there wouldn't be Keeley Mods / other mods on boss pedals.
     
  18. rickkkyrich

    rickkkyrich Guest

    There is no Holy Grail of tone in my opinion. Not even the Keeley mods.
    Moreover I have not played many distortion pedals till now so i think DS1 is one of the best for me till i play anything better in that price range.
     
  19. alpha1

    alpha1 I BLUES!

    Please note that everywhere on this thread we have been referring to "widely accepted view".
    When I say DS-1 is shyte, that means most ppl have not liked its distortion. But then you may love it.
     
  20. MHG

    MHG New Member

    Personally speaking, I have to agree with the fact that the DS-2 is dependent on the other hardware you use. It sounded great when used with a friend's amp and on my basic amp it sounded rather bland .

    But even then it does have its interesting set of uses. Like for instance with max distortion, and tone knob of the pedal and guitar set to zero, both the modes produce this amazing high sustain drone through bridge humbuckers when playing 2-string d-tuned power chords with fingers. Used it as a temporary bass guitar once :D And this thing on mode-II sounds really sweet when playing leads, especially the higher notes. For standard Rhythm guitar with Mode-I, I agree that this is definitely not the best pedal available...

    Anyway, back to topic, what are the decent cheap digital processors I can find in the used market which sound good when using external distortion ? Cheap meaning really cheap like below 2k second hand. That's all I can spend till atleast one more year.
     

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