two channel MIAB? JHS AT+ alternatives?

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frigid midget
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two channel MIAB? JHS AT+ alternatives?

Post by frigid midget »

I never thought I'd look for another boring foundation/Marshall type overdrive. But it turns out that's what works best for my new band, with my loud&clean half stack.

I tried a whole bunch of different options, in a big side by side shoot out. My buddy's Angry Charlie V3 stood out. His BE-OD clone was a close second.
Based on the clips&reviews, I decided the Andy Timmons version would suit me even better. So after finding out about the "plus" version with the extra boost function, I didn't want to settle for anything less...Too bad I'd rather not support JHS though. Plus their retail prices are a bit exaggerated anyway imo.

So yeah, here goes:

- Compact
- Two stages/flavours/switches/presets.
- Easily available in the EU (no obscure UK/US brands/builders, no rare/vintage stuff)
- No JHS
- <200Euro new, if at all possible
- JCM800-esque voiced, with not too much compression.
- The more gain the better.

I think the BOR is based on a different Marshall flavour/era. I've got a Distortron, which shares the same pedigree I think. Used to love it, but I didn't survive the side by side test with the Angry Charlie :/

Anything that's closer to the AT+? I'm not opposed to buying a clone btw, if anyone happens to know a good place to order one in the EU? I'm kinda out of the loop when it comes to dirt pedals that arent fuzzy or somewhat out there...:idk:
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Re: two channel MIAB? JHS AT+ alternatives?

Post by lordgalvar »

Peavey Dirty Dog (Pepe had a great video of this)

OG Guv’nor with the loop. Put a second dirt in the loop.

Just learned joyo uzi is a be-od (i ordered an uzi for a family member last week and caline thread mentioned it this week.)

OG Amptweaker (no the ones with skulls). I have tight rock and it can do a guv’nor, just tighter. Has two effects loops (one works like a channel switch. Big rock pro has a boost channel and third loop. If you hold out, they do come up at good prices (mine was $120 ish shipped from Japan to USA).

Outside of the uzi, those are all great. Two were designed by the guy that made the 5150 amp.

That’s all I got. Don’t know nothin’ about any jhs pedals except they have little pictures on them (seriously have never looked). I don’t know if that’s what you’re looking for.

None of those meet all expectations though. The amptweakers are full of features for the size (about the same as the marshall guv’nor. The pros are a couple inches wider, but still pretty dang small considering).

Amptweaker goes something like this:
Boost to drive to rock to metal in gain. Rock goes to about half the gain of metal (still quite a bit)
Fat has more bass and tight more treble. Big rock pro has both styles.
The rocks have two eq styles and i think one is based off the plexi (it’s subtle to me, but nice). If it has the boost switch, it activates more gain (regualr rock ones have it in a toggle, pro moves it to a footswitch). If boost is on a footswitch, it usually also operates an effect look. Some have an effect loop activate when bypassed. Pretty sure they all have noise gates you can turn off. Boost modes on pro can be brought back to unity volume (increase gain, no volume boost) or used as a volume boost. Kind of a nice setup at least for routing if you dig the sound.
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frigid midget
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Re: two channel MIAB? JHS AT+ alternatives?

Post by frigid midget »

Thanks.

Lemme start by admitting what wel all know: literally any high gain overdrive would probably do the job, I'm just being extremely picky and stubborn :)

I don't have them anymore, but the OG Guv'nor and the GV-2 didn't make the cut. The Angry Charlie does sound like an improved version of those two, as advertised I guess.
For real estate sake, I'd like to stick to one small pedal, like the JHS AT+, with an onboard boost. But if that turns out to be impossible, I'll rearange the board and I'll go with two seperate pedals. One of which could be the Uzi. I tried a couple different od's in front of it, and I already found a couple ones that have a nice eq that'll make the Uzi sound as good as the Angry Charlie, although not the same.

If I do end up giving up on the size thing, something like the PV Dirty Dog should work. I'll check out that video, tnks for the tip.
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Re: two channel MIAB? JHS AT+ alternatives?

Post by Gone Fission »

As best as I can tell the AT is a clone of the MI Crunchbox. For cheaps, I think the Joyo Deluxe Crunch is, too.

I have an Xotic SL Drive that I like, but despite being too gainy for the Super Lead vibe, it doesn’t crunch like an 800 would. I usually just keep the gain down and it does what I want.
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Re: two channel MIAB? JHS AT+ alternatives?

Post by frigid midget »

Gone Fission wrote:As best as I can tell the AT is a clone of the MI Crunchbox. For cheaps, I think the Joyo Deluxe Crunch is, too.

I have an Xotic SL Drive that I like, but despite being too gainy for the Super Lead vibe, it doesn’t crunch like an 800 would. I usually just keep the gain down and it does what I want.
I actually had a crunch box in that little shoot out that ended up in favour of the Angry Charly. Not the the latests version though.
Sounded a bit too much like a fizzy distortion pedal rather than a thick high gain overdrive, if that makes any sense. Sorta like an improved Rat or a DS-1. Might work better for 80s type hard rock, into a slightly overdriven amp. With the gain at ten, humbuckers, clean amp...not really what I'm after.

As different from the Angry Charlie as two miab pedals can be :idk:

The SL Drive doesn't have two channels/switches either, but with that size it'd be even easier to just add an extra overdrive.
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