High Gain Metal Pedal?

[SECONDandBOWERY]

Of all the DIY pedal projects out there, which of them would be best for realy high gain metal with a similar sound to Yngwie or Cacophony (the guys who played 'Speed Metal Symphony)?

Thanks in Advance!

Rock'n'Roll,
--Andy

[hairyandy]

Well, I would maybe start with the BSIAB.  Here's a link to Nero's post on his build of it:  http://www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum/index.php?topic=44854.0

While not exactly over-the-top metal, I'm sure that it could be tweaked for that depending on the amp you use.  You could also pick up a used Boss MT-2 (Metal Zone) or a DS-1 and check out some of the mods for them (most notably the Indyguitarist and Melanhead mods).  Those things can sound really good, at least IMO, and they'e pretty cheap used...

[Joecool85]

How about an obsidian?

[Mark Hammer]

Just about anything from Joe Davisson (Obsidian, Blackfire, etc.) will put a big metallic smile on your face.  Which particular circuit is your taste/need, I can't say.  But they will all make you happy in some manner.  I promise.

[Alex C]

There are lots of choices for high gain, but it's up to you whether it's the sound you want.
I think Yngwie used a DOD 250 with one of the older Marshalls, I'm not sure.  There are some JFET-based emulators at Runoff Groove, some of which are designed to sound like various amps.

Here are some threads about "metal pedals."
http://www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum/index.php?topic=36756.0
http://www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum/index.php?topic=40635.0
http://www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum/index.php?topic=31572.0
http://www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum/index.php?topic=29938.0
http://www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum/index.php?topic=20353.0
http://www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum/index.php?topic=39865.0
http://www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum/index.php?topic=38185.0
This last one has a list in the first post of many of the more popular choices.

I hope these can help, and if you specify the sound you're after, maybe we can point you in a better direction.  You know, "crunchy, thick, searing, biting, molten..."

[SECONDandBOWERY]

Does anyone know where I can find sound clips of all the Joe Davisson pedals?

Rock'n'Roll,
--Andy

[RaceDriver205]

Nah, those pedals are nice, but I think the best pedal for the genre I think you are aiming for (shred?) would be the AMZ Overdrive Pro. Very high gain pedal and good for shred. Otherwise the Dr Boogey would be the way to go, the gain is so high the noise level is horrendous without shielding. There are a few good samples of these lying around the forum, if you can find them ask me.

[SECONDandBOWERY]

I think the best pedal for the genre I think you are aiming for (shred?) would be the AMZ Overdrive Pro. Very high gain pedal and good for shred.

Yeah - shred!  Shred/Thrash is the sound I'm looking for.  The only samples of the AMZ OD Pro I could find were at http://www.home-wrecker.com (the one at http://www.muzique.com doesn't want to load for me) and they sounded a bit dark and too fuzzy for my liking.  I think it may be because the input stage is a Muffer, so I think if I change it to a Fetzer Valve (http://www.runoffgroove.com/fetzervalve.html) then it will brighten up the sound a bit.  Does that make any sence?

Also, if anyone has any other sound clips of the AMZ OD Pro then I'd really appreciate them!

Rock'n'Roll,
--Andy

[bwanasonic]

Of all the DIY pedal projects out there, which of them would be best for realy high gain metal with a similar sound to Yngwie or Cacophony (the guys who played 'Speed Metal Symphony)?

Personally, I consider a pedal only part of the equation, and without knowing at least which type of amp is being used, it's hard to give meaningful advice. "Pedal X is great!" may well be true, but has a different meaning depending on whether you are using it with a 15W SS practice amp, or a Fender Twin, or Marshall Stack w/ 4X12 cab, etc. Other info about your setup can be helpful as well, esp. what pickups are being used.

Kerry M

[SECONDandBOWERY]

Personally, I consider a pedal only part of the equation, and without knowing at least which type of amp is being used, it's hard to give meaningful advice. "Pedal X is great!" may well be true, but has a different meaning depending on whether you are using it with a 15W SS practice amp, or a Fender Twin, or Marshall Stack w/ 4X12 cab, etc. Other info about your setup can be helpful as well, esp. what pickups are being used.

I understand that the pedal is only a small factor in the overall sound.  However, I also want the pedal to somewhat generic so that it can work with many guitars and many amps.  My current guitar is a Washburn BT-4 with all stock pickups.  This pedal is going to be used for home recording, so mostly it will be run into a DI box and then my computer.  I might pass it around to some of my friends who play gigs regularly though, so once again, the more multi-amp and multi-guitar friendly, the better.

Thanks!

Rock'n'Roll,
--Andy

[RaceDriver205]

AMZ Overdrive Pro
http://209.124.248.167/media/misc/ODPro2.mp3
"Fizzy" does describe it a little though.

Dr Boogey
http://www.beavisaudio.com/Projects/BATG/boogeyclip.MP3
In this clip the guy uses Wah, Delay and Reverb for some seriously cool music.

[kusi]

hi,

try my Trash-Master, it is VERY heavey

http://forum.musikding.de/yabbse/index.php?topic=4951.0

i like it MUCH more than HMP, Obsidian, MT2,...
it is very versetaile, form modern Scoop-sounds to mid-range 80`sounds... all is possible.
a lot of bass and trebele (i do some experiments to remove some fizzy high-frequenzies..)

best greetings,
kusi

[MartyMart]

Blackfire is a "Killer " high gain pedal

Sample :
http://aronnelson.com/userfiles/Blackfire.mp3

Veroboard layout :
http://aronnelson.com/gallery/Martys-layouts-and-photos/Blackfire1?full=1

MM

[Xavier]

BSIABII, period..........it has that chug-chug you need for palm-muted stuff, and tons of gain. I rarely use the gain pot over 40%. It's kind of british sounding, with pronounced mids and not particularly present bass, but it cuts through a band.

The AMZ OD pro is not a metal distortion. It has lots of gain for sure, but it has a fuzzy edge which makes it no suitable for the kind of music you want to play.

I also built the CHAOS, and it reminds me a lot to a DS1 in terms of sound, but it hasn't much sustain and it's kind of "uncontrollable"

I haven't tried the Obsidian and the Blackfire though....

[RaceDriver205]

The AMZ OD pro is not a metal distortion. It has lots of gain for sure, but it has a fuzzy edge which makes it no suitable for the kind of music you want to play.

I disagree. I think the AMZ Pro fits the shred genre well. BSIABII is nice as well though, but I wouldn't say it fits shred as well as the AMZ. I would however point out the the AMZ does not palm-mute, but the Dr Boogey does. Its really up to you SECONDandBOWERY, as to what sounds awesome to you, and you should listen to all the samples.

[hari]

to Kusi

Im curious about your thrash master pedal, but I can't get the schem or pcb.
May I get them? because that forum is in germany and people have to register to get the schem.

I have a plan to build many metal pedal (chaos, BSIAB, Blackfire, Obsidian .etc).
so far, the diy project that I build with my hands (100%) are only LM386 mini amp  , oh God Im newbie forever..

[kusi]

hari,

send me you e-mail adress and i will send you the documents for the trash-master.


mfg kusi

ps; register you in the german forum. there is very intressting stuff around...

[Joecool85]

Pulled from the wiki at SSGuitar.com

Transistor Obsidian
http://fatboy.ssguitar.com/Samples/TR_Obsidian.mp3

5th Gear OD - Full Gain
http://cordova.asap.um.maine.edu/~raymondj/imagehost/5OD1.mp3

[Mark Hammer]

Take a look at the Univox Superfuzz.  The very simple mid-scoop filter that it uses accomplishes the same thing as boosting the lows and highs.  The humungous output of Joe Davisson's pedals leaves lots and lots of spare signal for bleeding to ground through such a notch filter.  You'll still be able to deliver a punishing blow to any amp even after that passive loss.  A simple 10k variable resistor, between the .1uf cap and ground can be used to vary notch depth.

Just note that there are several versions of the Superfuzz schem floating around with a mistake in the component values.  The *correct* one has a 10k resistor then 22k, rather than the 22k first.

[Paul Marossy]

What about a RAT? That can make some pretty nasty tones...