Best OD pedal for a Ric 330?

amonte · Post by **amonte** » Mon Nov 14, 2005 10:47 am

Anyone have any suggestions for this? I'm using a new Ric 330 and a TopHat Club Royale. When volume isn't an issue, I can get the CR loud enough to clip on its own, but when I have to play at lower volumes, I use an overdrive pedal. Most of the pedals I have are TS clones, which I'm not particularly fond of with this guitar. I had a modded RAT pedal (reduced the distortion, sounded more like an overdrive) that would probably work great with the Ric, but it's not working anymore.

beefandbones · Post by **beefandbones** » Mon Nov 14, 2005 1:34 pm

Nice setup, Jerry! I have a 330, too, and I've been lusting after a Club Royale for some time. Got any soundclips?

My 330 sounds great with a touch of the Fulltone '69 fuzz. It's not technically an OD pedal, sure, but it sounds fantastic!

I'm interested in trying out the Fulltone OCD pedal one of these days, too.

karl_teten · Post by **karl_teten** » Mon Nov 14, 2005 2:31 pm

Very cool amp Jerry! I would take a TH-CR over a new AC30.

Try a B.K. Butler Tube Works Real Tube pedal.

Find an old one from the 80's with a built in AC cord and pop in a NOS Mullard.

The only thing else you will need are two cables!

rkbsound · Post by **rkbsound** » Mon Nov 14, 2005 6:19 pm

I really like my Route 66 pedal for both my Ricks, along with a Luxury Drive to boost it even more. The 66 adds more sustain and grit, and the Luxury Drive adds more boost, grit, and fat. The 66 has had mixed reviews here, but they are common enough that you should be able to find one to try out.

I have a Fulltone Fulldrive that I find I never use. That said, I'd love to try the new OCD as well. I've also always wanted a RAT, but haven't had a chance to try one.

longhouse · Post by **longhouse** » Mon Nov 14, 2005 7:13 pm

It's funny how our ears and taste differ. I bought a Route 66 and hated it intensely from the first note. The store took it back the next day and gave me a Tech21 Double Drive instead -and I LOVE IT.

325_fan · Post by **325_fan** » Tue Nov 15, 2005 2:52 am

I concur with the Tube Works pedal. They don't make them anymore, but you should try a Tube Works Blue Tube pedal. The pedal's got a tube in it that provides a warmer overdrive. I think this would offset any of the 330's thinner tones.

steve_hershberger · Post by **steve_hershberger** » Tue Nov 15, 2005 3:22 am

The only Ric I've got now is a 12 string, so I don't use any OD pedal(s) with it - just the compressor side of my Rt. 66 and any "edge of breakup" that an amp produces due to volume on its own.

With my Fenders and Gibsons I really like using pedals at times but I'm not big on the generic kind of TS tone either. Sometimes the TS side of the Rt. 66 can sound pretty good to me though, depending on the guitar and amp. Still, I don't use it much.

That said, my fave is my Vox Valve Tone. I know it's a "semi-clone" of a TS in some ways, but it sounds completely different to me. Then again, I'm not trying to get SRV tones out of it at all. Think more like a Yardbirds "For Your Love" type of thing. I bet it'd sound great with a 330 six stringer. If you want even more, try to find a Vox Distortion Booster.

Both of those have been discontinued for years, but they pop up on e-Bay once in a while.

amonte · Post by **amonte** » Tue Nov 15, 2005 6:23 am

Wow guys, thanks for the replies!

"Nice setup, Jerry! I have a 330, too, and I've been lusting after a Club Royale for some time. Got any soundclips?"

I can HIGHLY recommend it. Mine is a '99 model with the SS rectifier, currently loaded with two Red Fangs. I bought this amp while waiting for the new CC's and I sold my Vox AC15 RI to raise the cash. It's the first amp that I've ever been completely satisfied with. No soundclips yet, but I'd like to get some recorded - so if I do, I'll post them here.

One thing to note if you are interested in the CR's - first, the newer models are tube rectified, which some users seem to prefer. Second, I've heard that TopHat is planning on going to a pricing structure similar to Dr Z's, where the price is the same wherever you buy it. This will probably reduce the price of the newer amps, but it might also bring the value up of the used amps. Just thought you guys might want to know if you're interested in getting one. I'm not sure if it's still the case, but when I bought mine it was definately a buyer's market. The sale of my AC15 completely covered the cost of the TH. Nothing against the AC15, but I'll take that trade any day of the week!

"Try a B.K. Butler Tube Works Real Tube pedal. "

I'll poke around for that one...not familar with it.

"I have a Fulltone Fulldrive that I find I never use. That said, I'd love to try the new OCD as well. I've also always wanted a RAT, but haven't had a chance to try one."

I dig the RATs. I'm tempted to just get another one, especially since MusiciansFriend had the Vintage Rat on sale.

"I really like my Route 66 pedal for both my Ricks, along with a Luxury Drive to boost it even more. The 66 adds more sustain and grit, and the Luxury Drive adds more boost, grit, and fat. The 66 has had mixed reviews here, but they are common enough that you should be able to find one to try out. "

Which side of the 66? I thought one side was a compressor and the other was a TS clone. Perhaps both together make a nice combo for the Ric...

"The store took it back the next day and gave me a Tech21 Double Drive instead -and I LOVE IT."

I'll look into this one as well.

"That said, my fave is my Vox Valve Tone. I know it's a "semi-clone" of a TS in some ways, but it sounds completely different to me. Then again, I'm not trying to get SRV tones out of it at all. Think more like a Yardbirds "For Your Love" type of thing. I bet it'd sound great with a 330 six stringer. If you want even more, try to find a Vox Distortion Booster. "

Yup, I've seen these and wanted one for a while - but they go for RIDICULOUS prices on eBay. I can't understand what it is about these pedals. I've seen the schematic and it looks like a straight up TS clone, but I've heard other people say it sounds nothing like a TS. Strange...I had given some thought to building one.

longhouse · Post by **longhouse** » Tue Nov 15, 2005 7:04 am

Jerry, the Double Drive is interesting in that it has two distinct gain styles: Class A (Vox!) and Class A/B (think Fender). Either has its merits or you can combine the two for a cascading/multiplying gain. Very friendly pedal. In fact, my bandmate promptly got one right after me. The only thing which comes close is my Mesa Boogie V-Twin (sold not too long ago on Ebay).

I still love my Dallas Arbiter Fuzzface, but it's far from an OD pedal.

As for me, I'm going after a Vox Treble Booster next.

Best of luck.

Noel

amonte · Post by **amonte** » Tue Nov 15, 2005 7:55 am

Noel, you wouldn't happen to have any soundclips, would you?

rkbsound · Post by **rkbsound** » Tue Nov 15, 2005 2:52 pm

Jerry, I share Steve's exact comments about the Rt.66 pedal. And I knew that Noel would throw in his two cents!

The compression side works well for me, but it may be amp and pickup dependent, so it may or may not work for you. I just like the ease of getting good sustain and incremental overdrive, and it works well with my setup (Crate V1512 and Vox Cambridge 15 together).

chefothefuture · Post by **chefothefuture** » Tue Nov 15, 2005 10:03 pm

I just forget any OD pedals and go right into an
Orange AD140C. It's got more overdrive that's
sweet!

trancedental · Post by **trancedental** » Wed Nov 16, 2005 1:08 pm

I think maybe Fuzz pedals are maybe the way to go, lots of classic 60-70's records had them & there are few different types to choose from. Maybe they go better with tube amps? You can use them subtly to warm up your amp as well.

I have a Aramat Mojofuzz which is like a early Hendrix type, it goes well with all my tube amps

I would like to get a Tonebender type fuzz as well a Yardbirds/Beck/Page type sound.

I don't know any overdrive pedals I like? I'd perfer something more subtle than a "wasp in a jar" sound!!

PS What are overdrive pedals supposed to do,sound like an overdriven amp or help breakup your amp?

brian_l · Post by **brian_l** » Wed Nov 16, 2005 1:37 pm

My favorite OD pedal to use with a Rickenbacker is an MXR Distortion + . This pedal not only gives screaming lead tones, but it gives chords lots of crunch as well. Plugging your Rick into a Distortion + will make a Les Paul sound wimpy in comparison.

soundmasterg · Post by **soundmasterg** » Wed Nov 16, 2005 4:38 pm

I like the Vox Valve Tone too....glad I got mine when they were still made. Another one that sounds good is the Way Huge Swollen Pickle...but its got huge ebay prices too since they don't make them anymore. My favorite though is the Treble Booster that Don Butler made me. It works best with amps that don't use a master volume.