3 in 1 overdrive pedal - what to choose...

[Jopn]

I'm trying to plan out a 3 in 1 overdrive pedal for a 1590DD enclosure I picked up.  So far I'm thinking Klon -> Sparkle Drive -> Morning Glory.

My mindset for this pedal is to cover off a bunch of boost/mild OD territory while leaving a lot of the distortion work to other pedals further down the line.  Of course these 3 will also have ample opportunity to stack and get my tubes singing.

Any other suggestions of substitutions for either of these 3?

[SmoothAction]

It may not be what you're looking for, but a compressor pushing any of my ODs is awesome and juicy. May be worth considering, I prefer it to  a clean boost or OD pushing another OD. Looks like it would be cool with the 3 you've chosen for sure, consider an order switcher too for wicked flexibility.

[Jopn]

...consider an order switcher too for wicked flexibility.

I'm toying with the idea of having switched jacks for each effect.  The output will send to the next effect unless that link is broken by something being plugged into the output jack.  So in it's simplest form, you plug into the first input and last output and it runs all three in series.  Otherwise, you can hijack any of the signals and either patch them out of order, or even insert other effect in between.

[pappasmurfsharem]

I'm toying with the idea of having switched jacks for each effect.  The output will send to the next effect unless that link is broken by something being plugged into the output jack.  So in it's simplest form, you plug into the first input and last output and it runs all three in series.  Otherwise, you can hijack any of the signals and either patch them out of order, or even insert other effect in between.

Wouldn't that kill the input to the other pedals so If you ran one out the others wouldn't have an input source?

You could also just give them each an In and out jack on the back that way you can run short patches to change order or run one into an effects loop if you wanted. Not usefull if they are all overdrives but it's a thought.

[Jopn]

Wouldn't that kill the input to the other pedals so If you ran one out the others wouldn't have an input source?

Correct, once the signal is stolen at one of the earlier output jacks, it won't continue down the line. 

I think we're talking about the same thing though, or very close to it, since I am thinking that each effect would have a pair of jacks (in/out).  It's just that I'm using switching style jacks so that if there's no patching silliness going on, it automatically passes the signal down to the next effect in line (without the need of a small patch cable).

[pappasmurfsharem]

Ahh I see so you could put things in between effects this way but also use it without patches.

Not a bad idea

[Jopn]

Right, or even use it for patching out of order.  You could connect your guitar to the 3rd effect's input, wire the 3rd effect's out to effect 1's input, then run to the amp, etc, etc.

[garcho]

I highly suggest the Harmonic Percolator. It really sounds sweet, it's my favorite OD. Much has been said about it so I won't get into it here. There have been many threads but this is the most current one, I believe. Small Bear stocks the transistors.

[mremic01]

The Klon is great to have just because it's a legend. And a great OD in its own right. I'd include one tubescreamerish circuit, and one more known for its dynamics like an OCD. The real trick is the order. I'd want the Klon first for its buffer, but I'd want it last to use as a clean boost to get more oomph out of the other circuits. Making the back of the pedal a patch bay for messing with orders is fine, but I also think it defeats a lot of the convenience and simplicity of having everything in one box. So if you want to cut down on all the jacks and patch cables, you need to decide on an order, and then live with it.

[HOTTUBES]

Klon , Modded tube screamer variant , SHO Booster ....

[ashcat_lt]

I'm thinking it might be better to have the switching on the input jacks rather than the outputs.  Think about what happens if you plug into the 3rd input, out from the 3rd output into the 1st input, and then run the 1st output to your amp.  Since the 2nd output has no plug in it, it will be summed to the 3rd input passively.  This will both load down the initial source (Low-Z out of OD2 in parallel with Hi-Z in of OD3) and dumping all of the noise from it's unterminated Hi-Z input amplified by the gain circuit in along with whatever you want to hear. 

Also, this gives you the ability to split the signal off from between two of the ODs and run it off wherever you might want them.  Straight-wire splits are always better than straight-wire mixes.

[psychedelicfish]

Given the size of your box you have no excuse not to make at least one of the ODs valve based. Perhaps Merlin's Spark Gap?
I too think a compressor in the mix would be cool, think of all the sustain you could get!

[Jopn]

Given the size of your box you have no excuse not to make at least one of the ODs valve based. Perhaps Merlin's Spark Gap?

Ah crap, that opens up a whole other can of worms.  An awesome can, but I think I should probably tackle the spark gap as a separate pedal before trying to integrate it into a multi like this.

I hear a lot of good feedback about putting a TS variant in here.  I'm pretty sure I've got that covered with the sparkle drive which is supposed to be a TS with a clean blend.  I haven't played one before though, so I'm still definitely open to advice.

The Morning Glory I have built previously, and I'm a big fan of its color in both a cleanish boost or a second stage overdrive.  For this reason I was thinking of it at the end of the chain, either to clean boost the previous ODs, or to have the previous ODs boost it into some nice dirt from its Bluesbreaker pedigree.

Compressors are a whole other deal, and I'll probably be looking at doing a 2 in 1 as a separate project to feed into this.

[timial]

Hi. I really like the zendrive! You should check one out. Haven't played it much in combination with other pedals though...
Cool project! 

[pappasmurfsharem]

Hi. I really like the zendrive! You should check one out. Haven't played it much in combination with other pedals though...
Cool project!  

Its fairly low gain so it works quite will before other gain stages.

In fact it makes my mesa dual recs crunch channel sound lovely.

I'm considering the ROG Umble now as well since I just love what I perceive to be clear mid heavy D style tone.

[Jopn]

Ok, so as an update to this, I've been playing with an individual klone running into a tubescreamer variant and I'm pretty sold on that combo.

So based on that, I'm now thinking:

1. Klon(e)
2. Clay Jones OD
3.

So this creates a theme of "hyped" overdrives, and sets up an expectation that the third OD in line will be of similar stature.

The only other "hype" OD that I can think of right now is King of Tone, but I'm on the fence about that one since it's a double OD on its own.  Sure I could make a single version, but then I'm "cheating"


Any other hyped up OD pedals come to mind?  You know, something in the $1500 range on eBay AND actually sounds good?

[armdnrdy]

Xotic AC booster so you can mix it up with a clean boost.

[garcho]

a theme of "hyped" overdrives

Harmonic Percolator. Only 300 bucks, might not want to slum with the dregs. An original original would be a million bucks by now. However, it goes up to 11 in the hype department. It really does sound great, though. Proselytizing over.

OD855?

[Jopn]

Hmmm, I did like the Harmonic Perculator idea when it was posted earlier in this thread, but it didn't fit my "vision" of what I was doing at that point.

There's a bunch of wacky components in that one, but I'm sure it will boost my ego knowing that they are in there whenever I hit the switch.

Any other suggestions before I hit eBay?

[garcho]

Some Pete Cornish thing?

Gut a Neve channel strip...