Something with more oomph than a rat?

[Snufkino]

Hudson Broadcast might do the job? Nice, broad sound to it with a fuzzy flavour of dirt. I actually kind of prefer it to a Rat for higher gain tones.

Or maybe a Big Muff with a mids control?

[MaxMaps]

I will not buy more dirt

say it

I will not buy more dirt

[frigid midget]

I've been on an exhausting journey for a distortion pedal. I've traversed through overdriveland which was disappointed and unsuccessful. Owned ocd,klon,sd1,bluesbreakers, jfet and mosfet style drives and went through fuzz land where I've had devi ever style fuzz, russian and usa muffs, harmonic percs, fuzz faces, fuzz factories. I've experimented with ds1 modded and unmodded, expanders, rats both vintage, reissue and clones, distortion pluses and dod250s. Ross distortions and the boss hm2 and hm3.

What else is there thays more aggressive than a rat? I want punchy bass, strong mids and kerrang in the high end. Aggressive but not metal. Playing a jaguar through a Traynor bass master and various other amps and guitars. Just can't seem to get a good distortion with this rig and I'm losing my mind. Save me ILF

Sounds a lot like what I went through not too long ago. I tried everything you listed, and A LOT more. Boutique MIAB pedals, a harmonic percolator, trashy cheap digitech/boss/MXR/DOD stuff, all kinds and brands of muffs and rats and mosfet od's. Elements, JHS AT+, DOD Bonecrusher, a couple MI Audio's and Wamplers...

Usually pedals that are marketed as "distortion" opposed to overdrive, trades in all low end for a ton of fizz. It's either 80s hair metal or "modern" metal. High gain with lotsa bass, buckets of saturation and character that doesn't fizz out, some eq options so it'll work with different amps and guitars,...

Anyway, I started looking beyond popular/trendy/famous stuff. Ended up with a Providence SDT-2. I NEVER heard anything like it. It "feels" a bit like the Wampler Tumnus Deluxe in the way it has amp like (ugh) low end and a punchy low mids...but instead of grainy low gain overdrive, it gives you a thick creamy menacing distortion that cuts through a mix like a battle axe. The yt demos don't do it justice though, there's something about the low end that doesn't come across unless you you feel how it responds to your playing.

It won't win you any cred points in the pedalboard thread, and it probably won't be too easy to find one. I was scpetic at first too, I was completely unfamiliar with Providence. Just try to find one, they can be found cheapish. You won't be sorry. You're welcome

I wanted something similar for my board, a second drive I could dial in for either lower/higher gain levels. Bought a Bogner Burnley V2. It's okay, but it's REALLY dark, and doesn't sound half as good as the Providence.

Kurt Ballou supposedly used the predecessor, the SDT-1, which is unobtainable. Not the worst endorsement for a heavey distortion with lotsa oomph. Come to think of it, maybe the Brutalist Jr might be worth a look, I think it's based on the SDT-1.

[Blackened Soul]

fat rat?

I love that pedal but it really doesn’t sound very different from standard when you use the mod switches, I find them subtle, but if you want something that sounds like a 90s big box vintage rad but tbp and has a led it is awesome.


I’m at a point with dirt pedals where unless I want fuzz/muff I like preamp in a box “pedals” like the orange bax bangeetar, mesa vtwin, H&K tubeman, Gurus double decker with boost pedals to slam them.

[frigid midget]

fat rat?

I love that pedal but it really doesn’t sound very different from standard when you use the mod switches, I find them subtle, but if you want something that sounds like a 90s big box vintage rad but tbp and has a led it is awesome.

Exactly. The OP says a Rat lacks oomph...so I strongly doubt a turbo rat with its slightly scooped mids is what will end his long journey for a new dirt pedal. I tried all the different Rat versions, as well as clones. If someone doesn't like the typical Rat tone, he probably won't be impressed by any of the rat versions or clones.

[coupleonapkins]

I've been on an exhausting journey for a distortion pedal. I've traversed through overdriveland which was disappointed and unsuccessful. Owned ocd,klon,sd1,bluesbreakers, jfet and mosfet style drives and went through fuzz land where I've had devi ever style fuzz, russian and usa muffs, harmonic percs, fuzz faces, fuzz factories. I've experimented with ds1 modded and unmodded, expanders, rats both vintage, reissue and clones, distortion pluses and dod250s. Ross distortions and the boss hm2 and hm3.

What else is there thays more aggressive than a rat? I want punchy bass, strong mids and kerrang in the high end. Aggressive but not metal. Playing a jaguar through a Traynor bass master and various other amps and guitars. Just can't seem to get a good distortion with this rig and I'm losing my mind. Save me ILF

Sounds a lot like what I went through not too long ago. I tried everything you listed, and A LOT more. Boutique MIAB pedals, a harmonic percolator, trashy cheap digitech/boss/MXR/DOD stuff, all kinds and brands of muffs and rats and mosfet od's. Elements, JHS AT+, DOD Bonecrusher, a couple MI Audio's and Wamplers...

Usually pedals that are marketed as "distortion" opposed to overdrive, trades in all low end for a ton of fizz. It's either 80s hair metal or "modern" metal. High gain with lotsa bass, buckets of saturation and character that doesn't fizz out, some eq options so it'll work with different amps and guitars,...

Anyway, I started looking beyond popular/trendy/famous stuff. Ended up with a Providence SDT-2. I NEVER heard anything like it. It "feels" a bit like the Wampler Tumnus Deluxe in the way it has amp like (ugh) low end and a punchy low mids...but instead of grainy low gain overdrive, it gives you a thick creamy menacing distortion that cuts through a mix like a battle axe. The yt demos don't do it justice though, there's something about the low end that doesn't come across unless you you feel how it responds to your playing.

It won't win you any cred points in the pedalboard thread, and it probably won't be too easy to find one. I was scpetic at first too, I was completely unfamiliar with Providence. Just try to find one, they can be found cheapish. You won't be sorry. You're welcome

I wanted something similar for my board, a second drive I could dial in for either lower/higher gain levels. Bought a Bogner Burnley V2. It's okay, but it's REALLY dark, and doesn't sound half as good as the Providence.

Kurt Ballou supposedly used the predecessor, the SDT-1, which is unobtainable. Not the worst endorsement for a heavey distortion with lotsa oomph. Come to think of it, maybe the Brutalist Jr might be worth a look, I think it's based on the SDT-1.

Did some ILF digging & found this thread re: the SDT-1 & 2 & Brutalist Jr, with this important nugget:

I own both. The SDT-1 houses a small transformer and has its own switchable boost section, and an eq bypass. The SDT-2 from my understanding and ears is just the drive section of the first model. They both offer the same voltage converter to up the headroom. I know the SDT-2 is TL072 based, and its been awhile since opening up the SDT-1, but I seem to remember seeing those 1S5188 diodes that builders seem to love.

#1 has all the magic, and the added boost turns it into a firebreather....

[Bartimaeus]

maybe a shredmaster? barely any highs, so no sizzle or bite. but it punches through the mix like no other pedal i've heard.

[qersty]

maybe a shredmaster? barely any highs, so no sizzle or bite. but it punches through the mix like no other pedal i've heard.

Shredmasters are nice! Thick-ass 90s distortion. I have a fuzzsimp Surprise which is kinda based on it.

Also thought about the ODB-3 maybe? That's what Buzzo replaced his rats with.

[MechaGodzilla]

should point out that i don't like rats, have never played a fat rat and my suggestion was largely a joke

[friendship]

should point out that i don't like rats, have never played a fat rat and my suggestion was largely a joke

[frigid midget]

maybe a shredmaster? barely any highs, so no sizzle or bite. but it punches through the mix like no other pedal i've heard.

Shredmasters are nice! Thick-ass 90s distortion. I have a fuzzsimp Surprise which is kinda based on it.

Also thought about the ODB-3 maybe? That's what Buzzo replaced his rats with.

I had both for a while. Shredmasters sounds very classic marshall-y, weird and stupid that there's not more clones around. Didn't have as much gain as I expected though.
ODB-3 is disgusting. In the best possible way. I wouldn't say it's easy to use in a band that's not into sludge/doom/whatever though.

[retinal orbita]

The ODB-3 is indeed wonderful. Great on bass for heavy tones but there’s a reason why all the harsh noise people use it as a secret weapon. Definitely a very versatile option with that active EQ.

I’m basically in love with an active EQ on a pedal. And EQ pedals. For a bass player it’s really life changing!!

[retinal orbita]

Also I’m just spitballing but are you maybe also might want to think about like a Rangemaster treble booster? Or a boost pedal? I dunno, I don’t actually play guitar. But I use my basic Boss EQ as a slight mid boost and as a bit of a post distortion boost and I love it.

[MaxMaps]

The ODB-3 is indeed wonderful. Great on bass for heavy tones but there’s a reason why all the harsh noise people use it as a secret weapon. Definitely a very versatile option with that active EQ.

I’m basically in love with an active EQ on a pedal. And EQ pedals. For a bass player it’s really life changing!!

This statement keeps pushing me towards buying a EQ pedal - even though I really dont want too and have way too much fun buying cool shit

[retinal orbita]

This statement keeps pushing me towards buying a EQ pedal - even though I really dont want too and have way too much fun buying cool shit

I think the cool thing about EQ pedals is that unless you’re like “a pro” (gear AND attitude ) you could do just fine with a beige Boss 7 band. I initially bought the MXR dealy with lit up sliders and shit and felt like a wad. Plus it has a stupid adapter (18v?). Flipped it for a Boss that cost me $70 and I have zero reason to upgrade.