Best Overdrive Pedal For Jazz

**helios** · 06-07-2011, 12:45 AM

I know what many will think: "Overdrive for jazz?-this guy must be a metal monger pretending to have an interest in jazz!"
I've never owned an overdrive pedal of any kind--I thought it to be unecessary, as I have a amp with a pre-amp volume and master volume. I could always overdrive the pre-amp if I needed to add a bit of grit, and since I prefer mostly clean tones (with a bit of grit) anyway, why get any sort of overdrive device? But does it make sense to add some boost/overdrive to the guitar input signal to get those warm round ones gritty jazz tones, and overdrive the pre-amp signal somewhat less?
I'm not interested in distortion except prehaps on the most subtle level. I love the "bordering on grit" tones of those older Kenny Burrell tracks (Midnight Blue), and various Wes tracks (Round' Midnight).
Do any of you guys out there use any overdrive to add a bit of girth to your jazz sound? If so, what do you use (Fulltone OCD or fulldrive? Ibanez TS9 or TS808? Etc. Etc.). If so what do you use for beefy jazz tones, and what settings? I appreciate any info--Father's day is just around the corner and I need this info STAT so I can offer my wife undistorted suggestions!!! Thanks, Jeff

Here is a fellow on Youtube getting the tones I talkin' about:

**Jabberwocky** · 06-07-2011, 02:36 AM

How about a Paul Cochrane Timmy pedal? All-round nice guy, Paul. Jack Zucker uses a Zendrive and I'll let Jack talk about it because I don't own one.

**AlohaJoe** · 06-07-2011, 03:18 AM

I love that vintage, on the edge sound! I use a Boss BD2 ($100) through tubes to get there. With the gain dialed down to jazz-land they're reasonably quiet. The Ibanez TS9 ($100) is similar. The Ibanez TS 808 (<$170) is reported to be a bit quieter. They now make a hand-wired version, the TS808hw for $350 that I have no experience with. The "Keeley mods" make any pedal quieter and more efficient and are highly recommended, but play with whatever pedal you get first... you may like them the way they are.

I'm sure there are other more high-end boutique pedals that others here have experience with... I like to keep costs down, but in the $40-80 range you're throwing your money away IMO. I'd love to hear what you get and how it works out!

**whosgarethparry** · 06-07-2011, 05:27 AM

Try the Xotic stuff. Or maybe some of the wampler OD's. In terms of OD, and the kind of sound you want, you"ll really hear the difference between the different ones. Trying one first an option? also what amp is the killer question. If it's a tube amp, that verging on grit sound is easy. Get an RC booster by xotic, loads of demo vids on their website, check em out......

**MortenFaerestrand** · 06-07-2011, 05:44 AM

I really like the Fulltone Fulldrive, the cheap boss or ibanez pedals KILLS your tone, they sound thin, the fulltone keeps the bottom in the tone. It has been a lifesaver at times when I've had to play through not so goot amps!

**msr13** · 06-07-2011, 08:32 AM

I really like the Xotic stuff. The BB is great and can get a low distortion. I also really like the Barber LTD. The Zen Drive is wonderful, but not when I play it.

**jzucker** · 06-07-2011, 09:18 AM

my favorites are the paul cochrane Tim or Timmy pedals along with the hermida zendrive. Check my youtube demo site. I have plenty of clips

**pingu** · 06-07-2011, 09:38 AM

thats a really good tone on the vid .....

I wonder how much of the distort is down to the fuchs amp ?

**helios** · 06-07-2011, 10:38 AM

I appreciate all of the suggestions! I know of the Fulltone Fulldrive (I think it even won a Guitar Player's reader's poll)-I'll look up the other suggestions. I use a Mesa Nomad and a Peavey Delta Blues-both EL84 amps with pre-amp and master volumes.

To the question about the video:
"I wonder how much of the distort is down to the fuchs amp?"

The gentleman in the video is great about posting all of the setting he uses (amp and otherwise) in letterbox inserts throughout the video. The Fuchs amp he uses sounds great.
Cheers, Jeff

**jzucker** · 06-07-2011, 11:02 AM

i would think most of the overdrive in that video was from the amp. you should be able to cop most of that vibe with a zendrive pedal

**JazzyJim** · 06-07-2011, 01:35 PM

Originally Posted by jzucker

i would think most of the overdrive in that video was from the amp. you should be able to cop most of that vibe with a zendrive pedal

Totally agree. Nothing in that video sounds particularly Tubescreamer-esque, modded or otherwise. That tone is 99% Fuchs to my ears, so anything Dumble-sounding will get you in the ballpark, so the suggestion of a Zendrive is a good one. There are a number of other Dumble-voiced pedals available (and at incredibly high prices) like the Fuchs Plush Drive, the Howie by Menatone and a few others. A slightly more wallet-friendly option is a handmade Zendrive clone, of which there should be plenty on eBay.

Personally, I would avoid Tubescreamer-style pedals for that kind of tone as they're very mid-heavy. The pedal in that demo is really just "pushing" the amp, rather than supplying the core tone.

**Olric** · 06-08-2011, 08:24 AM

I use myself a Fuchs ODS with a Greco ES175 or ES335 copy.
When I can't bring the Fuchs, I'll use my Fender Super Champ XD, with either a Jetter Gain Stage Red (Dumble inspired), or a Danelectro CoolCat Overdrive, which works quite well for low gain tones. Lately I have bought an Alpha Drive (Dumble inspired again) and a Fulltone Plimsoul which I'll try in that setting.

**djelley** · 06-08-2011, 01:15 PM

The Zen Drive is the best overdrive pedal I've ever heard.

**Stackabones** · 06-08-2011, 07:51 PM

Boss Super Overdrive SD-1. I've had one for decades. Just one for thousands of gigs. I've only lost one knob. It still works, and it works very well. You can get one for $39 at MF. It's a working musician's pedal.

I've compared it to other pedals and I'm very happy with it. And considering that some of the boutique pedals go for beaucoup bucks, I'm extremely happy.

**jzucker** · 06-08-2011, 07:52 PM

Originally Posted by Stackabones

Boss Super Overdrive SD-1. I've had one for decades. Just one for thousands of gigs. I've only lost one knob. It still works, and it works very well. You can get one for $39 at MF. It's a working musician's pedal.

I've compared it to other pedals and I'm very happy with it. And considering that some of the boutique pedals go for beaucoup bucks, I'm extremely happy.

except it sounds nothing like the clip he posted...

**P.J.** · 06-09-2011, 05:57 AM

A Zoom Powerdrive is wonderful at adding a little oomph and subtle grit. You can get them off Ebay for not too much. I use mine almost all the time. It's silver, heavy, and awesome!

PJ

**Sammo** · 06-09-2011, 07:21 AM

Ethos by Custom Tones is great !! It's Dumble style pedal with OD and clean channel -- it has almost too many controls (8 eq related knobs and switches).

OD chanel is great getting fat fusion type tone, though I haven't used it to get KB/WM style grit. I have to try it sometime. But you can use clean chanel as clean boost to overdrive amp's input or use it as additional EQ-stage to get darker jazz tone.

It's kinda pricey (used prices are crazy!!) and waiting list is long, but I do prefer it to my Fuchs modded Traynor (mod is from 2001 so it's not Fuch's current specs). With all those controls I can pretty much count on I can get passable tones with almost any amp that are provided.

ref: www.customtonesinc.com (not affiliated in anyway other that I have bought two them)

**helios** · 06-11-2011, 11:30 PM

Originally Posted by Olric

I use myself a Fuchs ODS with a Greco ES175 or ES335 copy.
When I can't bring the Fuchs, I'll use my Fender Super Champ XD, with either a Jetter Gain Stage Red (Dumble inspired), or a Danelectro CoolCat Overdrive, which works quite well for low gain tones. Lately I have bought an Alpha Drive (Dumble inspired again) and a Fulltone Plimsoul which I'll try in that setting.

There are indeed some great overdrive pedals out there. I truly appreciate all of the suggestions offered. I personally require only low gain boost. Some of the pedals suggested are out of my budget range:
Ethos by Custom Tones: $395
Paul Cochrane Tim: $280
Hermida Zendrive: $199
Xotic RC Booster: $168
I have read in several internet places that the Danelectro Cool Cat Transparent Overdrive (Version I) is a copy of the Paul Cochrane Timmy pedal's circuitry. I have no Idea if this is so. I have listened to many pedal demos.
Here is a gentleman on Youtube comparing the two pedals (Paul C. Timmmy VS. Danelectro Cto-1). There is no doubt that the Timmy pedal is constructed using higher grade components. This demo is done using higher gain settings than I require. By the time the gentleman in the demo tweaks the tone enough on the pedals (5:45 min into the demo), I honestly cannot tell the difference between the two! The Danelecto costs far less (was around $40 initially, now usually more-$80 or so due to it's diminishing availability). I also agree, that the best overdrive tones in general are guitar/amp driven, and not effects driven.
If money were not an object, I would go boutique for sure (Ethos-etc.)--but times being what they are, I may see a Danelectro Cto-1 in my future! Cheers, Jeff

**TSP** · 09-24-2012, 11:04 PM

I've been using a Fuchs Plush Valve Job. Used lightly it warms up my Acoustic Image very nicely for that 50's Van Gelder Tweed tone. Driven harder I get some great fusion fat OD.

**Flat** · 09-25-2012, 03:30 AM

I have that Danelectro Timmy clone -- the first version, before they changed it. It's really nice, especially for the money. You can still find them sometimes on eBay.

However, I finally got my Zendrive and prefer it slightly. It just seems smoother, and a bit sweeter somehow.

**Keira Witherkay** · 09-25-2012, 04:23 AM

Well if you want that slight break up tone , why not just get a sansamp tweed or any of the other tube amp sims they make in that same range and just dial in the breakup then run it into your amp , pedal works great with amps but doubles as DI box if you in studio or wanna line out to PA ,

**rkopald** · 09-25-2012, 05:01 AM

Tone Monk stuff is nice, but maybe a little too pricey for what you'd like to spend.
I have an old Barber Tone Pump that does great light OD if set up correctly.
Mine has a bass rolloff knob inside, and I think the new ones have tone knobs accessible on the front.
His stuff gets overlooked and he makes really good pedals.
I just bought my brother a Lovepedal Kalamazoo and he loves it.