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Overdrive and distortion

The market overflows with overdrive and distortion pedals. It can exist a tough challenge to decide and to detect pedals that suits your rig and purpose. In this feature we’ll look at a scattering of models and how to incorporate these in your rig, with David Gilmour’southward tones and bedroom setups in mind.

Overdrive and distortion isn’t simply about getting racket and gain. The wrong pedal for your amp and guitar, tin can do more than damage than good and cause a lot of frustration. On the other hand, an pedal that’s selected to match perfectly with your amp and taste, will make your tones shine and bring out the best in your setup.

Do yourself a favour when you’re ownership proceeds effects and ask yourself these questions: How will I be using the pedal â€" stage or rehearsal, studio or bedroom? Exercise I desire boost, overdrive, distortion or fuzz? Will I be using two or more gain pedals at the same fourth dimension?

Know your amp!

Overdrive and distortion pedals can be divided in two categories. Transparent and mids scooped and on the other side of the spectrum, compressed and mids boosted.

The transparent and mids scooped models were originally designed in the belatedly 60s and early on 70s to drive big tube stacks into distortion. These pedals can audio horrible on an uncompressed, mids scooped Twin or smaller bedroom amps, but creamy and smooth on a compressed and mids boosted Marshall.

Pedals with a noticeable mid range and compression, like the Tube Screamer, started to appear in the late 70s. The idea was to capture the tone of those huge tube stacks in all their celebrity in a small-scale box. The blueprint with new technoligy, was as well more than relieable than the previous silicon and germanium transistors.

In other words, knowing what amp you take, is crucial for agreement how overdrive and distortion pedals works and ultimately sound. Read more most how to choose the right pedal for your amp hither.

Stacking pedals

David Gilmour, and others like him, often combine or stack two or more proceeds pedals. This can either exist to produce a volume or gain heave for solos or, like David does, to blend the character of 2 pedals, for more saturation and sustain.

Big Muffs oftentimes sound ameliorate with a transparent booster placed after it, set for a very balmy boost and EQ enhancement. David often does this with either a Muff and Powerbooster or Tube Driver.

Boosting with more mids boosted and compressed pedals, like the Tube Screamer and OCD, can oft make a Muff sound muddy and almost choked. Try placing the overdrive pedal in forepart of the Muff merely be conscientious with the total corporeality of gain and book.

Stacking should merely exist done if it’s needed. Some Big Muffs, like the Sovtek models and clones, are ofttimes best alone. Equally can distortion pedals similar the Rat and like, similar the Buffalo Evolution, TopTone G2 etc.

Stacking two or more pedals, is like cooking upward the finest sauce. The perfect alloy will produce a great tone. Also much, and everything sounds like crap. Trust your ears and know your gear.

All pedals listed below were tested on a Stratocaster featuring D Allen Voodoo 69 neck and centre pickups and a Seymour Duncan SSL5 span pickups and a Radix Deluxe PRS model with Seymour Duncan Phat True cat P90s into Reeves Custom 50 and Laney Lionheart L20h tube stacks.

Transparent boosters and overdrives

David’s Colorsound Powerboost/ Cornish ST-2 (1972-1983) and Chandler/BK Tube Driver (1993-nowadays) are typical vintage style boosters/overdrives with a classic bright, mids scooped tone like to the early on Marshalls. Smaller, typical bedroom setups are oftentimes meliorate matched with overdrives with more midrange and pinch.

Colorsound Powerboost/Overdriver

It doesn’t really go more than Dark Side, WYWH and Animals than this. The Powerboost’due south unmistakably super transparent tone, glassy highs and fat lower cease, saturday the standard for all other overdrives. Be aware though that this pedal demands a loud tube amp and can sound a flake flat and fizzy on lower wattage and book. The 18V has more headroom compared to the 9V, although both delivers a wide range of tones from clean boost to near fuzz.
Bedroom setups: 6/10
Gilmour tones: ObC, DSotM, WYWH, Animals, DG 78, Wall, FC
Gilmourish.Com score: 10/10

Electronic Orange Bananaboost
The Bananaboost has that vintage flavour of the original. Information technology sounds huge, with tons of headroom and a massive low end. You can easily crank information technology up for shine almost fuzz-similar tones and the powerful 2-band EQ makes it easy to tailor the tones to lucifer your amp and guitar. Of all the Powerbooster clones out there, I find this to be the well-nigh authentic sounding, with much of the same graphic symbol and mojo as the original. Run across my total review of the Bananaboost hither.
Bedroom setups: 6/ten
Gilmour tones: ObC, DSotM, WYWH, Animals, DG 78, Wall, FC
Gilmourish.Com score: 10/10

Buffalo FX Ability Booster

Like all Buffalo FX pedals, the Powerbooster is a faithful replication of the original, with a few modern tweaks. It has a huge headroom only can easily be set up upwardly for some dainty overdrive and fuzz tones. It's slightly darker and the meridian end noticeably smoother, making this an excellent choice for smaller amps and bedroom setups. Encounter my full review of the Power Booster hither.
Sleeping room setups: 8/10
Gilmour tones: ObC, DSotM, WYWH, Animals, DG78, Wall, FC
Gilmourish.Com score: 9/10

Vick Audio Overdriver
Equally the name implies, this is a clone of the U.s.a. branded Powerbooster, the Overdriver. It has a distinct vintage flavor and of all the clones out there, perhaps the smoothest fuzz tone of them all. It is also slightly more compressed than near models, which can be tricky on already compressed amps merely on the correct amp, you lot'll get a very smooth and well balanced grapheme. See my total review of the Overdriver here.
Sleeping room setups: six/10
Gilmour tones: ObC, DSotM, WYWH, Animals, DG 78, Wall, FC
Gilmourish.Com score: 8/10

Throbak Overdriveboost

The Overdriveboost was one of the first Powerbooster clones to hitting the market and information technology's nonetheless one of the best. Of all the clones listed here, this one has the nearly headroom, with an nearly twangy character. The pedal is packed with modern features, including a germanium gain stage and pre-gain. Use it as a stand up alone overdrive pedal or as a clean booster to add life and grapheme to your amp and pedals. Meet my total review of the Overdriveboost here.
Bedroom setups: 8/10
Gilmour tones: ObC, DSotM, WYWH, Animals, DG 78, Wall, FC
Gilmourish.Com score: 9/10

Effectrode Fire Bottle tube booster

This is not a booster in the traditional sense only rather a tool for maintaing the pure point from your pickups and enhancing the tone from your tube amp – much similar plugging your guitar straight into a tube amp. A mini toggle switch allows 3 different frequency stages – apartment for clean heave and two with a high frequency roll off making single coils audio closer to P90s and humbuckers. The Burn Bootle is an incredibly dynamic pedal that can make your guitar and amp sound like a million bucks and bring out nuances in your tone and playing that yous idea never were there. If you're looking for a booster for your Muff, then look elsewhere. If you want a powerful tool that volition probaly change your conception of tone then this is information technology. See my total review of the Fire Bottle here.
Sleeping room setups: 10/10
Gilmour tones: suitable for any tone
Gilmourish.Com score: 10/10

TopTone Smooth Boost
Clean volume boosters doesn’t do much for your tone other than, obviously, heave the volume, which is what you lot often want for a solo just equally important is mid range. A scooped tone can drown completely and boosting the volume doesn’t help. Add a mids boost and your guitar volition cutting through the mix like a sharp knife. The Shine Boost offer both. A crystal clean volume heave and, by the flick of the switch, volume boost and mids boost similar to the EP booster. This pedal is an crawly tool for adding life to your amp and for boosting fuzz and Big Muffs, that oft has a scooped character.
Bedroom setups: ten/10
Gilmour tones: suitable for any tone
Gilmourish.Com score: 10/ten

Custom Pedal Boards Mini Driver
The Mini Driver is a versatile booster featuring controls for volume and proceeds. Use it as a transparent volume booster or, add a bit of dirt for tube-like pinch and grit much similar the EP preamp. The Mini Driver can either be used to boost other pedals, drive your tube amp or as a stand alone mild overdrive. Excellent alternative to the Colorsound Powerboost or for simply adding a bit of life and sparkle to your tones.
Chamber setups: 10/10
Gilmour tones: all eras
Gilmourish.com score: 10/10

BK Butler Tube Commuter

The Tube Commuter has a classic Marshall character, similar to the JTM and JCM. The tube makes a huge difference compared to almost other overdrives, adding a unique warmth, pinch and dynamics. Like the Powerboost, this one demands a loud tube amp. Non a lot of headroom, although lower gain settings allows a nice, crunchy clean boost. The current 2006 model likewise has a bit more top and gain, compared to older models, such equally the Chandler. Using unlike tubes, like a 12AU7, can alter the gain structure dramatically and add lots more headroom and warmth.
Bedroom setups: vi/x
Gilmour tones: Delicate/PULSE/Gdansk/Rattle
Gilmourish.Com score: 8/ten

Buffalo FX TD-X
The TD-X from Buffalo FX is an attempt at recreating the tone of the Tube Driver, without a tube and with a few minor tweaks to go far more than amp friendly. The Tube Driver can often audio a tad fizzy in the elevation end and flabby in the lows but the TD-Ten sounds perfectly counterbalanced and the top cease in particular, sound smooth and nicely rounded off for an overall warmer and more dynamic grapheme. Like the Tube Commuter, the TD-X has a squeamish headroom and plenty of proceeds, when y'all crank it up. To me, the TD-X sounds much smoother and peradventure more linear when you set up it upwardly for distortion tones, which makes it more than versatile for nigh setups. Highly recommended for David Gilmour’s Tube Driver tones and both stage and bedroom setups. Run across my full review of the Buffalo FX TD-X hither.
Bedroom setups: 10/10
Gilmour tones: Delicate/Pulse/Gdansk/Rattle
Gilmourish.Com score: 10/10

Electro Harmonix Crayon
The Crayon is a versatile full range overdrive very similar to the Tube Driver. Similar the Tube Driver, the Crayon tin can deliver annihilation from clean boost to tube-like overdrive and baloney and its 2 EQ controls allow you to shape the tone to whatsoever amp. The Crayon can besides be tweaked for more vintage tones similar to the Colorsound Powerboost that David Gilmour used during the mid 70s. Dont’ get fooled past the two designs. The circuits are identical!
Bedroom setups: x/x
Gilmour tones: Delicate/PULSE/Gdansk/Rattle
Gilmourish.com score: 8/10

Having trouble using the Tube Driver with your bedroom setup? Endeavour Eric Johnson’s settings! The agile tone controls makes the Tube Driver very bright and aggressive, but roll them all the way down, similar Eric does, and increase the gain for aTube Screamer-ish overdrive with lots of compression and midrange!

Wampler Plexidrive

As the name implies, the PlexiDrive is based on the archetype Marshall JTM45. It has a transparent, bright tone with lots of tube-like compression and warmth and a proceeds character ranging from clean heave to distortion. What I like about this pedal is that the more you increase the gain and tone, the more compressed information technology gets, which means that information technology will never get thin and fizzy. An excellent alternative to the similar sounding Tube Driver, especially for bedchamber setups.
Bedchamber setups: 10/10
Gilmour tones: Fragile/PULSE/Gdansk/Rattle
Gilmourish.Com score: 10/10

Boss BD-ii Blues Driver

Capable of producing anything from make clean boost to about fuzz, the BD2 is an incredibly versatile pedal that works as well with larger amps as with typical bedroom setups. It’s transparent, mids scooped tone and fat lower end makes it a neat alternative for the Colorsound Powerboost and BK Tube Driver. I strongly recommend the Robert Keeley modified version for a smoother and warmer tone.
Bedroom setups: 9/10
Gilmour tones: Fragile/PULSE/Gdansk/Rattle
Gilmourish.Com score: 9/x

Overdrives

David has always relied on vintage style transparent boosters and overdrives or the occasional amp gain but for a more than versatile setup and for your bedroom rig, you might want overdrives with a chip more mid range and warmth.

Ibanez TS9/Maxon OD 808

The original Tube Screamers. Nada really beats these two in terms of smooth, creamy overdrive and countless sustain. Not everyone appreciates the lack of lower end and gain but you lot can’t detect a more versatile and easy to prepare up overdrive than these two. Of all the dissimilar Ibanez and Maxon models, the TS9 and OD808 are the best sounding. Check out some of the many clones bachelor as well, like the MJM Phantom Overdrive and Mode Huge Dark-green Rhino for a chip more lower end and gain, besides every bit a few more features.
Chamber setups: 10/10
Gilmour tones: Delicate/PULSE/Gdansk/Rattle
Gilmourish.Com score: 8/ten

Buffalo FX Carrera
While the TD-10 is based on that archetype Tube Driver pedal, with a typical tube amp grapheme similar to the early Marshall plexi models, the issue for some is that there isn’t enough mid range for the pedal to cut through properly. At least not with the typical Gilmour settings. The Carrera address that and offer the aforementioned tube amp tones and character, with more mid range and compression. This pedal is extremely responsive and dynamic and ideal for bedroom setups and scooped amps. See my total review of the Carrera hither.
Bedroom setups: 10/10
Gilmour tones: Delicate/PULSE/Gdansk/Rattle
Gilmourish.com score: 9/x

Vick Audio Tree of Life
The Tree of Life is based on two classic overdrive pedals, the OCD and Zendrive. Both are more or less based on the elusive Dumble amp, which had an enormous corporeality of mid range. The Tree of Life blends both pedals perfectly together, creating a versatile mix of low end, mid range, headroom and gain. You can easily use this pedal for lamentatory up a dull make clean tone, boosting other pedals or as a defended overdrive or baloney. The high amount of mid range makes it fit almost any amp and sleeping accommodation setup. It works specially well for David’s Pulse and electric current tones only it tin can easily encompass pretty much the whole span from the earliest days upward until today. Encounter my full review of the Vick Audio Tree of Life here.
Sleeping accommodation setups: 10/ten
Gilmour tones: Delicate/Pulse/Gdansk/Rattle
Gilmourish.Com score: ten/x

Lovepedal Dover Bulldoze
Based on the Tube Driver, the Dover Drive is teaked towards Eric Johnson's tones, with a pronounced mid range, rolled off low end and endless sustain. Not an obvious Gilmour pedal perhaps but the Dover Drive easily covers all of David's contempo overdrive tones, from Partition Bell to present. It's impossible to dial in useless or harsh tones with this one. Information technology's just creamy sweetness all the way and personally, this is my new go-to overdrive for recording sessions. Run into my full review of the Dover Drive here.
Bedroom setups: 10/10
Gilmour tones: PULSE/Gdansk/Rattle
Gilmourish.Com score: 7/10

EHX Soul Nutrient
The Soul Food is EHX's take on the legendary, and ridiculously overpriced, Klon Centaur overdrive. Like the original, the Soul Nutrient provides a wide range of tones, from fat, transparent cleans to creamy overdrive saturated with warm mid range. It tin can sound a chip boxy and dull on its ain but it cuts nicely through a dense band mix and pairing with a cranked amp will produce the sweetest sustain. An excellent selection for any amp and bedroom setups in particular.
Bedchamber setups: ten/10
Gilmour tones: PULSE/Gdansk/Rattle
Gilmourish.Com score: 9/x

Fulltone OCD

The OCD is basically a hot wired beefed up Tube Screamer with the typical mid range boost and dark, flossy overdrive. The pedal has lots more proceeds and lower finish though, which makes it work only as skilful as a baloney with a RAT-ish tone. A toggle switch allows y'all to add a bit more height end and presence, taking the pedal towards a Tube Driver. An incredibly versatile overdrive and peachy alternative for David’southward 90’s and present overdrive tones on bedroom setups.
Bedroom setups: 10/x
Gilmour tones: Delicate/PULSE/Gdansk/Rattle
Gilmourish.Com score: 9/10

Electro Harmonix Glove
An splendid version of the popular and versatile Fulltone OCD. The Glove offer the aforementioned huge tones, with a distinct tube-like graphic symbol, fat lows and a shine mid range that volition match any amp. The Glove has enough gain on tap to serve either equally an overdrive or baloney and it’s an excellent alternative to David’s more than recent Tube Commuter tones.
Bedroom setups: 10/10
Gilmour tones: Delicate/PULSE/Gdansk/Rattle
Gilmourish.com score: eight/10

SviSound OverZoid
SviSound creates some stunning looking pedals and the OverZoid sounds equally good as it looks. It’s difficult to compare this ane to anything that’s out there only remember of a mix between an Klon, OCD and Rat and you’re pretty much there. There’s tons of mid range and gain here, then don’t wait whatever lush cleans, but the harmonics and sustain this pedal is producing is hard to crush. Highly recommended for bedroom setups and mids scooped Fender and Phonation amps in detail. See my total review of the SviSound OverZoid here.
Bedroom setups: ten/ten
Gilmour tones: Delicate/Pulse/Gdansk/Rattle
Gilmourish.Com score: 8/10

Strymon Deco
Perhaps an odd option for your Gilmour tones just this pedal has so much to offer. The Deco replicates the pinch, saturation and overdrive you lot would go from plugging your guitar into those erstwhile tape machines. Either as a stand lone overdrive or as a booster, the Deco provides super smooth tones from clean to moderate overdrive, nicely compressed and with enoygh low end. Like those old tape machines, the Deco likewise offer amazing sounding flanger, chorus and delay. Highly recommended for boosting and David’s more recent Tube Driver tones. See my review of the Deco here.
Chamber setups: 10/10
Gilmour tones: Fragile/PULSE/Gdansk/Rattle
Gilmourish.com score: 10/10

Distortion

Although David e'er favoured the vintage fuzz and Muffs, he did use a RAT in the 80s and 90s for some of the songs. His 1989-xc setup also featured a Tube Screamer. It’s also worth noting that the Cornish G2 featured on the 2006 tour has a like tone every bit the RAT. Depending on your amp, in virtually cases you’re probably better off with a category 2 distortion (more mid range and compression) for your bedroom setup.

ProCo Rat

Nothing beats the RAT when it comes to classic distortion. This has always been my go to pedal and information technology works perfectly on any setup for any genre. The tone ranges from warmth overdrive to flossy tube-like distortion to screaming fuzz. It has a pronounced mid range and all the sustain in the world. There are many clones on the market, with unlike modifications, simply the old black box keeps up with well-nigh of them.
Chamber setups: 10/10
Gilmour tones: Delicate/PULSE
Gilmourish.Com score: viii/10

Arc Effects Soothsayer
Since its introduction in the late 70s, the RAT has been i of the almost versatile distortions on the market place, with it’due south smooth grapheme and sugariness sustain. The Soothsayer is based on the old classic and the LM308 chip and in addition to covering the original tone, you tin too switch between unlike clipping modes. The RAT tin can announced a scrap boxy and lack low end but the Soothsayer has a much more open up tone and nicely balanced lows. Definitely one of the better RAT clones out at that place and a great option for typical bedroom setups. See my full review of the Soothsayer here.
Chamber setups: ten/10
Gilmour tones: Delicate/PULSE
Gilmourish.Com score: 9/10

CostaLab Dirty Angel
The Dirty Angel is based on the classic Rat circuit, with lots of proceeds, compression and mid range. In addition to the familiar controls, the Bad Angel feature a boost switch for a second gain phase, allowing more of pretty much everything on solos and heavier parts. Compared to the Rat, the Bad Angel has more low finish and more than of that tube amp-like character, with more compression kicking in at college gain settings. At lower gain settings, the pedal also doubles nicely equally a warm overdrive. First-class culling to the Rat and similar clones and especially recommended for smaller sized sleeping room setups and scooped amps. Encounter my full review of the Bad Affections here.
Bedroom setups: 10/ten
Gilmour tones: Delicate/Pulse/Gdansk/Rattle
Gilmourish.Com score: 9/x

Buffalo Evolution
Although David Gilmour is perhaps generally associated with the Big Muff, he also employ distortions like the RAT and Pete Cornish G2. These have more mid range and an overall more than saturated graphic symbol. The Evolution is based on the G2, with much of the same grapheme only Buffalo FX has addressed some of the issues as well, similar designing a more linear gain phase and an overall warmer sounding character. The result is an incredibly versatile baloney, with a tube amp like tone, sweetness singing sustain and a very low dissonance level. See my full review of the Evolution here.
Bedroom setups: ten/ten
Gilmour tones: Delicate/PULSE/Gdansk/Rattle
Gilmourish.Com score: 10/10

TopTone DG2

The DG-2 is loosely based on the Pete Cornish G2. Non really a Big Muff but closer to the classic RAT with a warm, creamy germanium tone and tons of sustain. Compared to the Cornish, the DG2 is really noticeably quieter and even a fleck smoother. An fantabulous choice for a versatile setup and for sleeping accommodation setups. See my full review of the DG2 hither.
Bedroom setups: 9/10
Gilmour tones: Delicate/PULSE/Gdansk/Rattle
Gilmourish.Com score: 9/x

Vick Audio Five-2
The V-2 taps into the Cornish G2 territory but different the TopTone G2 and Buffalo FX Evolution, the V-2 sounds closer to a Muff, rather than a Muffish Marshall. There’southward lots of gain, mids and low end here only what sets it apart, is less compression and more harmonics. The 5-2 can hands comprehend David’s more electric current lead tones, produced by the Cornish G2 but too double as a Muff and even a fuzz, with some tweaking. The V-2 sounds best alone, without a booster, and works equally well on smaller bedroom amps and bigger phase rigs. Come across my full review of the Vick Audio V-2 here.
Bedroom setups: ten/x
Gilmour tones: Frail/Pulse/Gdansk/Rattle
Gilmourish.Com score: 8/ten

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