Old school distortion pedals (and modern variants)

[Mojambo]

Hello all.

I've recently been very interested in the sound of classic distortion pedals such as the MXR Distortion+, DOD 250, EHX Hot Tubes, and ProCo Rat.

Having owned and played several Rats as well as a DOD 250, and compared videos of the Distortion+ and Hot Tubes, it seems that all of these pedals fall into the same general family. Set low they can work as a slightly dirty boost, set higher they give a gritty and bright medium gain tone. Full on they're basically almost fuzz--this is the type of sound I'm after. I've never tried a DS-1, but from what I've heard they don't really fall into this camp...

Aside from the Way Huge Red Llama (which looks awesome), are there any other pedals in this general family that you have experience with and would recommend?

[rumfoord]

So, I don't have much experience with the classic pedals (you mentioned), but something I just picked up and like that might also be a more interesting suggestion than pedals that are clones/tweaks of the classics:

I feel like the VFE Dark Horse can do this---especially the germanium position. I'm really enjoying this pedal anyway. I didn't have very specific distortion requirements at the time I got it, so just appreciating it however it is. But I like it.

[FightingPlankton]

Peavey hot foot and Ibanez fat cat are both rat "clones" but with a normal tone knob...and I use them both.
the proco solo is the most versatile distortion I own...highly recommend trying one.
I had a walrus audio iron horse that falls into this category but found it too... "wooly" for my liking at higher settings.

[MechaBulletBill]

SS/BS mini?

[DarnWeight]

Hotcake

[marqueemoon]

Maybe the Henretta Chord Blaster/Choad Blaster?

[Mojambo]

I'm also leaning towards 'the less knobs is better' type approach...if I wanna fine tune, I'd rather just use my guitar/amp controls or an EQ.

Also I'd be lying if I said a pedal's looks aren't a factor in my decision (because they are). The ProCo Solo is worth trying, but whoever decided to deviate from the classic black/white Rat scheme is a dummy.

That Choad Blaster sounds awesome!

[spiffy chap]

Way Huge Fat Sandwich is RAT inspired as is the TREX Yellow Drive and Mudhoney. The Freakshow FX started as BYOC RAT boards and then shifted to their own.

[O Drones]

EQD Gray Channel has a Dist + and a DOD 250 in the same pedal.

[FightingPlankton]

EQD Gray Channel has a Dist + and a DOD 250 in the same pedal.

Chicago stompworks makes a dual pedAL like this at an affordable price. They also will do custom dual pedals of any of the clones they make...like bluesbreaker+rat or rat+dod 250

[MechaBulletBill]

EQD Gray Channel has a Dist + and a DOD 250 in the same pedal.

Aren't both sides the same and you just set them differently? Either way, I didn't like the GC as much as my old block D+. It was a je ne sais quois thing

Choad blaster sounds fantastic, would love to give one of those a b l a s t

[parry]

The distortion + is my favourite from this "family". I'm not a fan of what it does with the distortion beyond the half way point - but before that?
My favourite setting is Gain a hair past 0, and Volume dimed. There's something uniquely magical about how a D+ livens up the signal, that none of the others seems to share.

[Mike S]

I'm assuming you are talking about Distortion, not Fuzz or Overdrive. I like the Distortion+, the DS-1 and the DS-2; though the Distortion+ really sounds much better at lower gain when used as an overdrive/boost.
The most versatile Distortion I own (and my favorite) is the Pro Co Deucetone Rat which combines every single Rat Pedal (with the exception of the FAT Rat), plus a new one into a single, two-channel pedal.

[O Drones]

EQD Gray Channel has a Dist + and a DOD 250 in the same pedal.

Aren't both sides the same and you just set them differently? Either way, I didn't like the GC as much as my old block D+. It was a je ne sais quois thing

Choad blaster sounds fantastic, would love to give one of those a b l a s t

Nah, you have clipping options. Germanium (Dist +) and Silicon (250). Also has FET, LED and no diode options.

[Mojambo]

Way Huge Fat Sandwich is RAT inspired as is the TREX Yellow Drive and Mudhoney. The Freakshow FX started as BYOC RAT boards and then shifted to their own.

I think you're right...Fat rhymes with Rat, doesn't it?