Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Hi all! Being a new owner of a Rickenbacker 480, I find that it really hates most of my overdrive/distortion boxes (Hotcake, Hermida Audio Mosferatu, V-Stack, Proco Rat). Most pedals just seem to sort of squeeze the sound into a over-tight mush, and basically none of them live up to the highs of the guitar. The best results so far I have obtained with the Rat, but only at lower gain settings (higher it will turn into mush).

Which overdrives/distortions does everybody here use? Recommendations? I'm going for rockin' tone, with slightly above average amount of distortion. Thanks!

Mikko, I tend to go for a more natural, overdriven sound -BUT- I will say that I can get some massive tones out of my Line 6 Double Drive.

Of course, for thick, fat fuzz, I like my Dallas Arbiter FuzzFace best of all.

In the past I've used a Mesa Boogie V-Twin also.

kerranggg! Noel

Noel, I may have been a bit misleading in my opening. I'm not exactly after a massive rock fuzz. Instead, a natural-sounding overdrive with quite a bit of gain. Something like Teenage Fanclub and the Jayhawks. Anybody care to suggest something that way?

Using a DigiTech RP-50 (el-cheap-o) but workd well.
Also and old Roland VG-8. The new one from Roland is the VG-88. I've also heard the Line-6 products are very good.
Why not haul your guitar down to your local music store and try out some modules. My local store lets me plug in and try stuff out. This stuff is too expensive to just buy without a "test run"!!

If you can, you might want to try out some different fuzz pedals anyway. In my opinion, Ricenbackers work really well with fuzz pedals. Whereas distortion tightens up and removes some of the characteristic sound of my 330, fuzzes can open up the sound and help it blossom. Sounds bigger but retains the basic sound of my guitar.

I use a '69 fuzz from Fulltone that I got used. It's a great pedal with a 'late 60s Hendrix/ Rolling Stones/ Pink Floyd' sort of Fuzz Face feel. I just use a touch of fuzz for lead work.

I know some don't like it, but my Visual Sound Route 66 adds great bite to both of my Ricks. This pedal is a dual pedal - compression and overdrive. I only really use the compression and sustain side. The gain can be adjusted for really nice crunchy tone that maintains the tone of the guitar. Kind of important for a Rickenbacker!

I have also added a "Luxury Drive" to the front end to fatten up my overall sound. That's also a nice pedal.

I have a Fulldrive II that I don't particularly like with my Ricks or Epi Dot, but sounds great with my new MIM Tele.

There's a new book out called "Guitar Effects Pedals" that I just bought. It's fascinating and includes a cd of 93 samples of classic and newer "boutique" pedals. I highly recommend it.

It's so strange... I picked up a Route 66 and returned it to the store the same day(!), leaving with my Double Drive. My longtime sales guy raved about the '66 and prompted me to buy it.

I guess my favorite sort of distortion/OD comes from the lead channel of my amp. I set the gain to pick up where the clean channel leaves off and let my playing dynamics dictate the bite. Of course, I always have some sort of fuzz/OD on my pedalboard.

The Danelectro Daddy-O is a nice overdrive for rock/alt.rock/60s music. I still use mine from time to time.

Overall, I play CLEAN more than I do dirty. Ric + Roland JC120 = bliss. I'm discovering the joys of tube overdrive though with my new Traynor.

~n~

Mmmmmm.... Ric and Roland JC120......

I've got the Rics, Noel - just need the amp. Need to find $1900 AUD for a newie. What do they sell for new over there?

Cheers

Have you tried a 'Tubescreamer' Mikko? Nothing wrong with those - pretty natural sounding. I used one for years and finally switched it for a 'Tonebone Classic' overdrive.

Try them out first, you may have to bring your Ric to the store.

$749. USD it seems Howard.

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