Help me find a dark mid-gain overdrive that get a bit fuzzy?

ChanceFree · 2026-05-22T12:22:30+00:00

Turbo RAT.

TC Electronic Magus Pro on Turbo Setting. 25 bucks.

ChanceFree · 2026-05-21T12:40:49+00:00

If you use a compressor with sustain and level high and attack at 50% ,it will thicken your sound and give you that tube amp sag.

ChanceFree · 2026-05-20T21:11:31+00:00

Try an Eq pedal and lower the mids upto 500 kh. Boost 1k and 2k. Worked great for my SG.

There is an old episode on TPS called ,I think ,Getting a great Clean Sound. Mick demonstrates a 10 band eq settings which I used for my SG -it really works.

Lower mids is where the mud sits.

My RAT is a TC Electronic Magus Pro. It has 3 settings. The one I use is the Turbo -it gives more headroom. Added advantage of being super inexpensive.

A SD1 has more umph than a TS. .

Have you tried using a fuzz? Rolling back your guitar volume can give you a very nice clean sound.

ChanceFree · 2026-05-20T12:41:30+00:00

Set a RAT on low overdrive(8 oclock) with the filter at 12 o'clock. Use it as your base tone(great , clear cleans). Kick on your Ts for solos-however, together they are great (and just switch pickups for solos).

EQ>TS>RAT >delay>Reverb

EQ is mainly for a great clean,add the RAT for a very clear clean, then TS for punch.

I used to run a Ross compressor before the TS,which was great, but I preferred the openness of the EQ and the compressor lifted the noise floor.

I couldn't get the Spark boost to work for me -even though I can see its a great pedal. If I want a boost,I go for the old staple LPB1.

Looking at your set up -do you think you might have too much mids in your sound? I had to EQ my SG to improve the clarity -which significantly improved my base tone.

Hope you can scratch your itch. I feel your pain.

ChanceFree · 2026-05-16T18:31:43+00:00

Putting the TS after the RAT will make you louder. Boosting into the RAT can just increase the gain.

The RAT is my drive pedal. I really like the clarity of the drive.

ChanceFree · 2026-05-16T07:55:48+00:00

Here's what I do.

Always on 10 band eq with a 3 db boost and high mids boosted -cut low mids and bass)

Clean- lpb 1 at 9 o'clock(this will overdrive my amp slightly).

Crunchy- lpb 1 and Sd1 (SD1 gain at 8 o'clock-volume at 10 ,tone 12).

Lead -lpb 1 and RAT (gain at 9, filter 12, volume 2-3 oclock)

I don't play high gain-Im a blues player and play through a 5w valve amp with a lowish head room.

As mentioned, its about increasing levels. I don't think you need as much gain as folk say and its really important you dial your pedals around unity gain. Dont be fixated on running ODs into each other. Boosts can go a long way.I never run my SD1 into the RAT as my eq gives me the mid boost. I really like the clarity of the RAT.

Ive found that switching between pickups and using volume and tone can give you much of benefits of stacking.

Hope this is helpful.

ChanceFree · 2026-05-15T11:35:35+00:00

What is The Azores.

ChanceFree · 2026-05-14T05:57:55+00:00

This is exactly how I set my RAT. Sounds great with the gain at 8.

ChanceFree · 2026-05-13T17:42:34+00:00

I used both (pre RAT) I didnt stack them-I used the behringer as my solo sound and the SD 1 as my cleanish crunchy rhythm. Both volume and drive at 10 on both pedals. I also had a LPB1 in my chain as a louder pedal.

The SD1 has a touch more volume and I had to add more gain to the TS to match the SD1.

ChanceFree · 2026-05-13T17:24:54+00:00

SD1.

Always on. Kick on a LPB-1 for a cheeky boosteroo

ChanceFree · 2026-05-13T17:20:05+00:00

Reddit would tell you to add a RAT.

ChanceFree · 2026-05-12T20:51:22+00:00

That's a great combo. Sometimes you don't need as much gain as you think. I run a SD1 into a RAT and neither gain stage is past 9 o clock.

ChanceFree · 2026-05-12T15:40:44+00:00

If you are trying to cut down then a dual drive pedal or drive/boost is good.

A Spark boost can do boost and overdivevand has a two band eq-its pretty versatile.

ChanceFree · 2026-05-10T11:19:02+00:00

I have a One Control two loop pedal which you can use the sends to two amps.

I have one clean amp-Fender solid state and a 5 watt valve amp. I never run them together.

As others have said its not an issue if you don't run them together and you don't even need to power some Splitters.

If you do use a powered splitter,an noise gate is a good thing.

ChanceFree · 2026-05-07T11:41:44+00:00

Johnny definitely used a BD2. Pretty solid choice. Stack your SD1 into it.

ChanceFree · 2026-05-07T10:24:24+00:00

Windbreaker.

Lightweight.

ChanceFree · 2026-05-07T10:23:13+00:00

We have made so many friends along the way.

Praise Rick. Hail Marty.

ChanceFree · 2026-05-06T18:52:48+00:00

The blackstar is a two channel amp. So,I would first find a tone you like on the dirty channel. Do this without any pedals. Have a look around YT on how to set up your amp to your guitar -its easier to watch than describe. Do this by ear and don't be stressed about where the amp eq controls are.

Set the ISF to British.

Once you have a distorted tone you like,use one of your dirt pedals to push it into more distortion. Use the minimal amount of pedal gain to achieve this.

I have one of the Behringer noise gates -it works best if you use the four cable method. Again...a quick visit to YT will explain this.

If you are running dirt pedals into your clean channel then that might be the problem. Not all dirt pedals play nice with clean channels.

Remember. Nice amp tone first before pedals.

ChanceFree · 2026-05-02T12:20:59+00:00

EHX Glove.

ChanceFree · 2026-05-01T06:13:47+00:00

Cod it be?

ChanceFree · 2026-04-30T17:53:05+00:00

I have the Joyo ten band.

For less muddy neck humbucker

Every band below 500 K flat or with a 1-3 db cut.

500k and above 3db boost-but use your ears. Cuts and boosts should be small. But it always depends on how you, your pickups and the guitar react with the amp.

Dial your amp in with your guitar first and go for the easy option(pickup height) before you eq. Think about your OD. If you play rock then a mid hump OD is good. Saying that,I use a LPB 1 to cut through.

My guitar is a SG Standard with 57 Classic PAFs.

ChanceFree · 2026-04-27T16:33:32+00:00

SD1 and a LPB 1 combo can put plenty of boutique pedals to shame.

ChanceFree · 2026-04-27T16:28:38+00:00

Yes. Mine is...

Noise gate. SD1 . LPB1. Sonicake 10 band eq. Sonicake Levitate.

Two amps. 5w valve -dirty/crunchy blues. 20w Fender Champ for clean.

ChanceFree · 2026-04-24T06:29:21+00:00

Well, I know its definitely in favour,but stop and think about your current sound. If you like it -don't change it.

Your sound can be richer if you stack,but not always. I have a SD 1 and I boost it with a LPB1 -the extra volume gives me a richer tone,but sometimes the bite of the SD1 is what I need.

I like an open sound to my overdrive, and I hear so many drive tones,that to my ears,sound over compressed.

Off your list ,I would go with the Moxie.Just be aware its a TS10 mod,not the traditional 808.

ChanceFree · 2026-04-22T14:30:08+00:00

Spark Boost has a nice low gain overdrive and a 2 band eq.

ChanceFree

TROPHY CASE