Question Distortion pedal for a 5 w tube amp

[PaoloGilberto]

hi guys,

I was thinking to buy in the future a small affordable tube amp + 12'' cab (blackheart or VHT maybe, these have the lowest price) and I am looking for a pedal to put in front of this amp for a metal sound. I have a JP6 fully loaded.
I know these amps are not for metal , but as a cheap compromise ...
any recommendation? maybe some of you tried this amps + JP + some distortion pedal and could help me
unfortunately I can not try this amps where I live

below are links with this 2 amps
BLACKHEART LITTLE GIANT BH5H - U.K. International Cyberstore
VHT SPECIAL 6 BUNDLE - U.K. International Cyberstore


thank you.

Paul

 

[Jimmyb]

A friend of mine picked up a Blackstar pedal and he loves it.

The amps have had some really good reviews as well, I think Jamie Humphries plays them now, as well as 'The Devil'.

 

[bkrumme]

There are a gazillion distortion pedals out there. I'd go try a bunch out with the amp you're interested in.

My recommendation would be a T.C. Electronic Nova Drive. It's overdrive + distortion. You can do some really cool gain stacking stuff with it.

 

[fbecir]

Hello Paul

I own a lot of distortion pedals (several Carl Martin, several Jacques, Ibanez, Electro Harmonix ...) but the one I use now is the BlackStar HT-DUAL. 2 channels, one for crunch, one for heavy distortion. Not cheap (195€) but really versatile.
I use it with my "concert & rehearsal" rig (Marshall amp or Fender amp) and also with my home rig (BackStar HT-5H).

Good luck with your tone quest

 

[ProtoChicken]

The Suhr Riot Pedal. You can find some good clips on YouTube. I love mine though it's not part of my main rig.

 

[RocketRalf]

Damage Control Solid Metal. Cannot say enough good things about this guy. It slays some 50w+ real tube amps on tone. The controls are great also. I've had it for years and am still finding new sounds out it I cannot believe.

Also check out the metal pedal of the new Digitech Hardwire series if you're on a budget. I've read good things of it, though I've never tried one.

 

[nobozos]

The Blackstar does not need a distortion pedal. It has relatively decent gain on it's own, but in combination with an Overdrive pedal, it should handle metal nicely. I think an Egnater Rebel 20 is also another nice option, and it has the power to gig with. The Blackstar 5w is a great sounding amp, but may not be loud enough to gig with.

 

[PaoloGilberto]

thank you very much guys, very very useful info you have for me
I searched on youtube the pedals you recommended.
I must say I like a lot that Suhr Riot maybe because the video was very good in terms of sound quality ...I loved the sounds

now stunning is also T.C. Electronic Nova Drive, very cool, versatile pedal, the price diference is not much comparing to Suhr Riot, and has a lot of options and 18 presets to store, that I like (big + that is not digital)
the fabulous news for me is that I sent on ymess the link to a friend who works in my town in a small music shop...and....they have TC Electronic pedal, including this one, electro-harmonix also...but no tube amp to try on with the pedals...that is so lime

Damage Control Solid Metal ...hmmm, maybe the sound quality of the reviews was not too good, that would be my last choice of these 3 judging just from what I heard/saw on youtube

any other opinions on other pedals that I should consider?

 

[Sweat]

Well, lots of pedals out there and alot has to do with what sounds good to your ears.

I have scaled done my stuff alot, to the bare bones actually, I am using an amp I wont name but its awesome, at least to me and a distortion pedal.

Anyways back to your topic, i recommend trying a Tonebone Classic Distortion Pedal made by Radial, love this thing, great tones very versatile and not one dimentional, not cheap but worth it and its tube driven vs digital.

 

[racerXazn]

To be competely honest with you I would suggest just buying a small amp that doesn't have the tubes but one that is perhaps solid state with nice distortions. The amps you want to buy are relatively low volume, so I'm guessing that you won't be gigging with them. I think you would save a lot of money and headache if you try cheaper amps...I find that at lower volumes Amos such as the vox valvetronix and line 6 spiders have decent tone for a relativley low price.

On a side note a distortion unit I use is the metal muff from electro harmonix. You could however push the existing gain channel on your amp with a tube screamer or something.

 

[JP7Nomad]

BB Preamp.

 

[Smellybum]

I have the blackheart - if you look on my you tube page (wallaceguitars2007) -you'll see a vid of me demo'ing it with my BFR AL.

 

[PaoloGilberto]

thank you guys again for suggestions.
I checked in the weekend on youtube the pedals you suggested(I'll have to check also Blackstar HT dual as Fbecir suggested ):
Tonebone Classic Distortion Pedal - OK, but no fabulos, that sound does not have that clarity as the Riot
Metal Muff - too buzzy sound IMO
BB preamp - great pedal for blues, fusion stuuf but not a hi gain pedal as I saw.

still Suhr Riot would be my first option, the sound is just fabulous (all this of course judging just by the clips I saw)
but of course I am still opened for other suggestions
Smellybum, I saw your video before starting this thread sounds great on cleans, how does it take effects pedals, I'm thinking at reverb, chorus, delay. have you tried? it does not have effects loop...
Anyone tried Blackheart little giant through the BH112 cab (12'' Eminence speaker).
I'm thinking buying that full small stack.

thanks.

paul

 

[jakedawgwhite88]

Have you looked at a mesa V-twin pedal I LOOOOOOVVVEE mine.

 

[jcm900]

MY guesses would be the BB preamp and some Tonebone pedal (the hot british is great, but the trimode also rules. haven't tried the classic distortion, but it should be good. ) Have you tried the Fulltone distortion pedals? Fulltones are sweet!

 

[jamminjim]

I was also going to mention a Fulltone Fulldrive.....

Fulltone Products

 

[browndog]

I checked out a Fulltone OCD Overdrive and I liked it. It will be my next pedal.

 

[wolfbone07]

I really like a wide variety of dirt boxes. Barber Direct Driver, Fulltone Robin Trower Overdriver (RTO), Hardwire Tube Overdrive, Vox Satchurator. Try them all!

 

[beej]

There are just soooooooo many OD/Dist pedals out there. Many of them fall into one of several camps and use the same circuits with a slight twist.

So much depends what amp they're feeding. Some pedals just work better with different amps. ODs tend to work well to push dirty amps over the brink. And there are some fire breathers that sound great into clean amps.

That said ... my current fave is the Riot. It really is a killer little pedal. I've sold off most of my other dirt pedals since. But talk to me in 6 months ...

 

[bkrumme]

I checked out a Fulltone OCD Overdrive and I liked it. It will be my next pedal.

That's the OD I'm using currently. Pushing my Mark V with it and it sounds great.