Max Boogie Overdrive - Turn It on Again

Overdrive and distortion

The market overflows with overdrive and distortion pedals. It tin be a tough claiming to decide and to find pedals that suits your rig and purpose. In this characteristic we’ll look at a handful of models and how to comprise these in your rig, with David Gilmour’s tones and chamber setups in heed.

Overdrive and distortion isn’t merely about getting noise and proceeds. The wrong pedal for your amp and guitar, can do more than damage than good and cause a lot of frustration. On the other hand, an pedal that’southward selected to friction match perfectly with your amp and taste, will make your tones shine and bring out the best in your setup.

Exercise yourself a favour when you’re buying gain effects and ask yourself these questions: How will I be using the pedal â€" stage or rehearsal, studio or sleeping accommodation? Practice I want heave, overdrive, distortion or fuzz? Volition I exist using two or more gain pedals at the aforementioned time?

Know your amp!

Overdrive and distortion pedals tin can be divided in 2 categories. Transparent and mids scooped and on the other side of the spectrum, compressed and mids boosted.

The transparent and mids scooped models were originally designed in the late 60s and early on 70s to bulldoze large tube stacks into baloney. These pedals tin can sound horrible on an uncompressed, mids scooped Twin or smaller bedroom amps, only creamy and smooth on a compressed and mids boosted Marshall.

Pedals with a noticeable mid range and compression, like the Tube Screamer, started to appear in the late 70s. The idea was to capture the tone of those huge tube stacks in all their glory in a pocket-size box. The design with new technoligy, was too more relieable than the previous silicon and germanium transistors.

In other words, knowing what amp yous take, is crucial for understanding how overdrive and baloney pedals works and ultimately sound. Read more about how to choose the right pedal for your amp hither.

Stacking pedals

David Gilmour, and others like him, often combine or stack 2 or more than proceeds pedals. This can either be to produce a volume or gain boost for solos or, like David does, to blend the character of ii pedals, for more saturation and sustain.

Big Muffs often sound meliorate with a transparent booster placed later it, set for a very mild boost and EQ enhancement. David often does this with either a Muff and Powerbooster or Tube Commuter.

Boosting with more mids additional and compressed pedals, like the Tube Screamer and OCD, tin can oft brand a Muff sound muddy and almost choked. Endeavor placing the overdrive pedal in front of the Muff but be careful with the full corporeality of gain and volume.

Stacking should but be done if it’s needed. Some Big Muffs, like the Sovtek models and clones, are often best alone. As can distortion pedals like the Rat and similar, like the Buffalo Evolution, TopTone G2 etc.

Stacking two or more pedals, is like cooking up the finest sauce. The perfect blend will produce a great tone. Too much, and everything sounds similar crap. Trust your ears and know your gear.

All pedals listed below were tested on a Stratocaster featuring D Allen Voodoo 69 cervix and eye pickups and a Seymour Duncan SSL5 span pickups and a Radix Palatial PRS model with Seymour Duncan Phat True cat P90s into Reeves Custom l and Laney Lionheart L20h tube stacks.

Transparent boosters and overdrives

David’south Colorsound Powerboost/ Cornish ST-2 (1972-1983) and Chandler/BK Tube Driver (1993-present) are typical vintage style boosters/overdrives with a classic bright, mids scooped tone similar to the early Marshalls. Smaller, typical bedroom setups are often better matched with overdrives with more midrange and pinch.

Colorsound Powerboost/Overdriver

Information technology doesn’t really get more than Dark Side, WYWH and Animals than this. The Powerboost’due south unmistakably super transparent tone, glassy highs and fat lower end, sabbatum the standard for all other overdrives. Be aware though that this pedal demands a loud tube amp and tin can sound a bit flat and fizzy on lower wattage and volume. The 18V has more headroom compared to the 9V, although both delivers a wide range of tones from clean boost to near fuzz.
Bedroom setups: half dozen/ten
Gilmour tones: ObC, DSotM, WYWH, Animals, DG 78, Wall, FC
Gilmourish.Com score: 10/10

Electronic Orangish Bananaboost
The Bananaboost has that vintage flavour of the original. It sounds huge, with tons of headroom and a massive depression end. You can easily crank it up for smooth nearly fuzz-like tones and the powerful 2-ring EQ makes it piece of cake to tailor the tones to match your amp and guitar. Of all the Powerbooster clones out in that location, I find this to be the almost authentic sounding, with much of the aforementioned grapheme and mojo every bit the original. Encounter my full review of the Bananaboost here.
Sleeping accommodation setups: 6/10
Gilmour tones: ObC, DSotM, WYWH, Animals, DG 78, Wall, FC
Gilmourish.Com score: ten/10

Buffalo FX Ability Booster

Like all Buffalo FX pedals, the Powerbooster is a faithful replication of the original, with a few mod tweaks. It has a huge headroom only can easily exist ready for some prissy overdrive and fuzz tones. Information technology's slightly darker and the top end noticeably smoother, making this an excellent choice for smaller amps and sleeping room setups. See my full review of the Power Booster here.
Sleeping accommodation setups: 8/10
Gilmour tones: ObC, DSotM, WYWH, Animals, DG78, Wall, FC
Gilmourish.Com score: ix/ten

Vick Sound Overdriver
As the name implies, this is a clone of the The states branded Powerbooster, the Overdriver. It has a distinct vintage flavour and of all the clones out in that location, peradventure the smoothest fuzz tone of them all. It is besides slightly more compressed than most models, which can exist tricky on already compressed amps just on the right amp, you lot'll get a very smooth and well balanced character. Meet my total review of the Overdriver hither.
Bedroom setups: 6/10
Gilmour tones: ObC, DSotM, WYWH, Animals, DG 78, Wall, FC
Gilmourish.Com score: eight/10

Throbak Overdriveboost

The Overdriveboost was one of the first Powerbooster clones to hit the market and it's still 1 of the best. Of all the clones listed here, this one has the most headroom, with an almost twangy character. The pedal is packed with modern features, including a germanium proceeds stage and pre-gain. Use information technology as a stand up solitary overdrive pedal or as a clean booster to add life and character to your amp and pedals. See my full review of the Overdriveboost here.
Bedroom setups: 8/10
Gilmour tones: ObC, DSotM, WYWH, Animals, DG 78, Wall, FC
Gilmourish.Com score: 9/10

Effectrode Fire Bottle tube booster

This is not a booster in the traditional sense but rather a tool for maintaing the pure signal from your pickups and enhancing the tone from your tube amp – much like plugging your guitar straight into a tube amp. A mini toggle switch allows three different frequency stages – flat for clean boost and two with a high frequency gyre off making single coils sound closer to P90s and humbuckers. The Fire Bootle is an incredibly dynamic pedal that tin make your guitar and amp sound similar a 1000000 bucks and bring out nuances in your tone and playing that you lot thought never were there. If you lot're looking for a booster for your Muff, then wait elsewhere. If you desire a powerful tool that will probaly change your conception of tone and so this is information technology. See my full review of the Burn down Bottle here.
Bedroom setups: ten/10
Gilmour tones: suitable for any tone
Gilmourish.Com score: x/10

TopTone Smoothen Boost
Clean volume boosters doesn’t do much for your tone other than, obviously, boost the volume, which is what you often desire for a solo but every bit important is mid range. A scooped tone can drown completely and boosting the book doesn’t assistance. Add a mids boost and your guitar volition cut through the mix like a sharp knife. The Shine Heave offering both. A crystal clean volume boost and, by the flick of the switch, book boost and mids boost like to the EP booster. This pedal is an crawly tool for adding life to your amp and for boosting fuzz and Big Muffs, that often has a scooped character.
Bedroom setups: 10/10
Gilmour tones: suitable for any tone
Gilmourish.Com score: ten/ten

Custom Pedal Boards Mini Driver
The Mini Commuter is a versatile booster featuring controls for volume and proceeds. Use it as a transparent book booster or, add together a chip of dirt for tube-like compression and grit much like the EP preamp. The Mini Driver tin can either be used to boost other pedals, bulldoze your tube amp or equally a stand up alone mild overdrive. Excellent alternative to the Colorsound Powerboost or for simply adding a bit of life and sparkle to your tones.
Sleeping accommodation setups: 10/10
Gilmour tones: all eras
Gilmourish.com score: ten/x

BK Butler Tube Driver

The Tube Driver has a archetype Marshall grapheme, like to the JTM and JCM. The tube makes a huge departure compared to virtually other overdrives, adding a unique warmth, compression and dynamics. Like the Powerboost, this one demands a loud tube amp. Not a lot of headroom, although lower proceeds settings allows a nice, crunchy make clean heave. The current 2006 model also has a bit more top and gain, compared to older models, such as the Chandler. Using different tubes, like a 12AU7, can modify the gain structure dramatically and add lots more headroom and warmth.
Bedroom setups: half dozen/10
Gilmour tones: Delicate/PULSE/Gdansk/Rattle
Gilmourish.Com score: eight/x

Buffalo FX TD-10
The TD-Ten from Buffalo FX is an effort at recreating the tone of the Tube Driver, without a tube and with a few minor tweaks to brand it more amp friendly. The Tube Commuter can often sound a tad fizzy in the superlative end and flabby in the lows but the TD-X sounds perfectly balanced and the height finish in detail, sound smooth and nicely rounded off for an overall warmer and more dynamic character. Like the Tube Driver, the TD-X has a nice headroom and plenty of gain, when y'all crank it up. To me, the TD-10 sounds much smoother and maybe more linear when you gear up it up for distortion tones, which makes it more than versatile for most setups. Highly recommended for David Gilmour’south Tube Driver tones and both phase and bedroom setups. See my full review of the Buffalo FX TD-X here.
Bedroom setups: 10/10
Gilmour tones: Frail/Pulse/Gdansk/Rattle
Gilmourish.Com score: 10/10

Electro Harmonix Crayon
The Crayon is a versatile total range overdrive very like to the Tube Commuter. Like the Tube Driver, the Crayon can deliver anything from clean boost to tube-like overdrive and distortion and its 2 EQ controls allow you to shape the tone to any amp. The Crayon tin can also be tweaked for more vintage tones similar to the Colorsound Powerboost that David Gilmour used during the mid 70s. Dont’ become fooled by the two designs. The circuits are identical!
Sleeping room setups: ten/ten
Gilmour tones: Fragile/PULSE/Gdansk/Rattle
Gilmourish.com score: 8/10

Having trouble using the Tube Driver with your sleeping accommodation setup? Effort Eric Johnson’s settings! The agile tone controls makes the Tube Driver very bright and aggressive, but roll them all the mode downwardly, like Eric does, and increase the gain for aTube Screamer-ish overdrive with lots of compression and midrange!

Wampler Plexidrive

As the name implies, the PlexiDrive is based on the classic Marshall JTM45. It has a transparent, bright tone with lots of tube-like pinch and warmth and a gain character ranging from clean boost to distortion. What I like virtually this pedal is that the more yous increase the gain and tone, the more compressed it gets, which means that it will never get thin and fizzy. An excellent alternative to the similar sounding Tube Commuter, especially for bedroom setups.
Sleeping room setups: 10/x
Gilmour tones: Delicate/PULSE/Gdansk/Rattle
Gilmourish.Com score: 10/10

Boss BD-2 Blues Driver

Capable of producing annihilation from make clean boost to near fuzz, the BD2 is an incredibly versatile pedal that works equally well with larger amps as with typical chamber setups. It’s transparent, mids scooped tone and fat lower end makes information technology a great alternative for the Colorsound Powerboost and BK Tube Driver. I strongly recommend the Robert Keeley modified version for a smoother and warmer tone.
Bedroom setups: 9/10
Gilmour tones: Delicate/PULSE/Gdansk/Rattle
Gilmourish.Com score: 9/10

Overdrives

David has always relied on vintage style transparent boosters and overdrives or the occasional amp gain but for a more versatile setup and for your bedroom rig, yous might want overdrives with a bit more mid range and warmth.

Ibanez TS9/Maxon OD 808

The original Tube Screamers. Nothing actually beats these two in terms of smooth, flossy overdrive and countless sustain. Not everyone appreciates the lack of lower end and proceeds but you can’t find a more versatile and piece of cake to prepare up overdrive than these ii. Of all the different Ibanez and Maxon models, the TS9 and OD808 are the best sounding. Check out some of the many clones available equally well, like the MJM Phantom Overdrive and Way Huge Green Rhino for a bit more lower cease and gain, as well as a few more features.
Bedroom setups: x/10
Gilmour tones: Delicate/PULSE/Gdansk/Rattle
Gilmourish.Com score: 8/10

Buffalo FX Carrera
While the TD-X is based on that archetype Tube Driver pedal, with a typical tube amp graphic symbol like to the early Marshall plexi models, the issue for some is that there isn’t enough mid range for the pedal to cut through properly. At least not with the typical Gilmour settings. The Carrera accost that and offer the same tube amp tones and character, with more mid range and compression. This pedal is extremely responsive and dynamic and ideal for bedroom setups and scooped amps. Run across my total review of the Carrera here.
Bedroom setups: x/10
Gilmour tones: Delicate/PULSE/Gdansk/Rattle
Gilmourish.com score: 9/10

Vick Sound Tree of Life
The Tree of Life is based on two classic overdrive pedals, the OCD and Zendrive. Both are more or less based on the elusive Dumble amp, which had an enormous amount of mid range. The Tree of Life blends both pedals perfectly together, creating a versatile mix of low end, mid range, headroom and proceeds. You lot tin can easily utilise this pedal for lamentatory upward a dull clean tone, boosting other pedals or as a dedicated overdrive or distortion. The high amount of mid range makes it fit virtually any amp and chamber setup. It works particularly well for David’southward Pulse and current tones but it can hands comprehend pretty much the whole span from the earliest days up until today. See my total review of the Vick Audio Tree of Life here.
Chamber setups: x/10
Gilmour tones: Delicate/Pulse/Gdansk/Rattle
Gilmourish.Com score: x/10

Lovepedal Dover Bulldoze
Based on the Tube Driver, the Dover Drive is teaked towards Eric Johnson's tones, with a pronounced mid range, rolled off low terminate and endless sustain. Not an obvious Gilmour pedal perhaps but the Dover Drive hands covers all of David's contempo overdrive tones, from Sectionalisation Bong to present. It's impossible to dial in useless or harsh tones with this 1. It's merely flossy sweetness all the manner and personally, this is my new go-to overdrive for recording sessions. Meet my full review of the Dover Drive here.
Sleeping accommodation setups: 10/x
Gilmour tones: PULSE/Gdansk/Rattle
Gilmourish.Com score: 7/ten

EHX Soul Food
The Soul Food is EHX's take on the legendary, and ridiculously overpriced, Klon Centaur overdrive. Like the original, the Soul Food provides a wide range of tones, from fatty, transparent cleans to creamy overdrive saturated with warm mid range. It tin sound a chip boxy and dull on its own but it cuts nicely through a dense ring mix and pairing with a cranked amp volition produce the sweetest sustain. An excellent choice for whatever amp and bedroom setups in detail.
Bedroom setups: ten/ten
Gilmour tones: PULSE/Gdansk/Rattle
Gilmourish.Com score: 9/10

Fulltone OCD

The OCD is basically a hot wired beefed up Tube Screamer with the typical mid range boost and night, creamy overdrive. The pedal has lots more gain and lower end though, which makes information technology work just as good as a distortion with a RAT-ish tone. A toggle switch allows you to add a scrap more top terminate and presence, taking the pedal towards a Tube Driver. An incredibly versatile overdrive and keen alternative for David’s 90’s and present overdrive tones on sleeping accommodation setups.
Bedroom setups: 10/10
Gilmour tones: Delicate/PULSE/Gdansk/Rattle
Gilmourish.Com score: 9/10

Electro Harmonix Glove
An excellent version of the popular and versatile Fulltone OCD. The Glove offering the same huge tones, with a distinct tube-like character, fatty lows and a smooth mid range that will match any amp. The Glove has enough gain on tap to serve either every bit an overdrive or distortion and it’due south an first-class alternative to David’s more than recent Tube Commuter tones.
Bedroom setups: 10/ten
Gilmour tones: Delicate/PULSE/Gdansk/Rattle
Gilmourish.com score: 8/ten

SviSound OverZoid
SviSound creates some stunning looking pedals and the OverZoid sounds as good as information technology looks. It’due south difficult to compare this one to anything that’s out there but recall of a mix betwixt an Klon, OCD and Rat and you’re pretty much there. There’southward tons of mid range and gain hither, so don’t expect any lush cleans, but the harmonics and sustain this pedal is producing is hard to beat. Highly recommended for bedroom setups and mids scooped Fender and Vox amps in detail. Come across my total review of the SviSound OverZoid here.
Sleeping room setups: 10/x
Gilmour tones: Delicate/Pulse/Gdansk/Rattle
Gilmourish.Com score: viii/10

Strymon Deco
Maybe an odd choice for your Gilmour tones but this pedal has so much to offer. The Deco replicates the compression, saturation and overdrive yous would get from plugging your guitar into those former tape machines. Either as a stand up alone overdrive or as a booster, the Deco provides super smooth tones from clean to moderate overdrive, nicely compressed and with enoygh low end. Similar those erstwhile record machines, the Deco also offer amazing sounding flanger, chorus and delay. Highly recommended for boosting and David’south more recent Tube Driver tones. Run into my review of the Deco here.
Bedroom setups: 10/10
Gilmour tones: Delicate/PULSE/Gdansk/Rattle
Gilmourish.com score: ten/10

Distortion

Although David always favoured the vintage fuzz and Muffs, he did use a RAT in the 80s and 90s for some of the songs. His 1989-90 setup too featured a Tube Screamer. It’due south also worth noting that the Cornish G2 featured on the 2006 tour has a similar tone as the RAT. Depending on your amp, in virtually cases you’re probably better off with a category 2 distortion (more mid range and pinch) for your bedroom setup.

ProCo Rat

Zero beats the RAT when it comes to archetype baloney. This has always been my go to pedal and it works perfectly on whatever setup for any genre. The tone ranges from warmth overdrive to creamy tube-like baloney to screaming fuzz. It has a pronounced mid range and all the sustain in the world. There are many clones on the market, with different modifications, just the old black box keeps up with most of them.
Bedroom setups: 10/10
Gilmour tones: Delicate/PULSE
Gilmourish.Com score: viii/10

Arc Effects Soothsayer
Since its introduction in the late 70s, the RAT has been one of the most versatile distortions on the market, with it’s smoothen graphic symbol and sugariness sustain. The Soothsayer is based on the old classic and the LM308 flake and in improver to covering the original tone, you tin can also switch betwixt dissimilar clipping modes. The RAT can appear a fleck boxy and lack depression end but the Soothsayer has a much more open tone and nicely counterbalanced lows. Definitely one of the better RAT clones out in that location and a great pick for typical sleeping accommodation setups. See my full review of the Soothsayer hither.
Bedroom setups: 10/ten
Gilmour tones: Delicate/PULSE
Gilmourish.Com score: 9/ten

CostaLab Dingy Angel
The Dirty Angel is based on the archetype Rat circuit, with lots of gain, compression and mid range. In improver to the familiar controls, the Bad Affections feature a boost switch for a 2d gain stage, allowing more of pretty much everything on solos and heavier parts. Compared to the Rat, the Bad Angel has more low stop and more of that tube amp-similar grapheme, with more than compression boot in at higher gain settings. At lower gain settings, the pedal also doubles nicely as a warm overdrive. Fantabulous culling to the Rat and similar clones and especially recommended for smaller sized bedroom setups and scooped amps. Encounter my full review of the Bad Angel here.
Sleeping accommodation setups: x/ten
Gilmour tones: Delicate/Pulse/Gdansk/Rattle
Gilmourish.Com score: nine/10

Buffalo Development
Although David Gilmour is peradventure generally associated with the Big Muff, he also use distortions similar the RAT and Pete Cornish G2. These have more mid range and an overall more saturated character. The Development is based on the G2, with much of the same grapheme just Buffalo FX has addressed some of the bug also, like designing a more than linear gain stage and an overall warmer sounding character. The result is an incredibly versatile distortion, with a tube amp like tone, sweet singing sustain and a very depression noise level. See my full review of the Evolution hither.
Bedroom setups: x/10
Gilmour tones: Delicate/PULSE/Gdansk/Rattle
Gilmourish.Com score: 10/10

TopTone DG2

The DG-2 is loosely based on the Pete Cornish G2. Not really a Big Muff only closer to the archetype RAT with a warm, flossy germanium tone and tons of sustain. Compared to the Cornish, the DG2 is actually noticeably quieter and even a flake smoother. An fantabulous choice for a versatile setup and for bedroom setups. See my full review of the DG2 here.
Bedroom setups: 9/10
Gilmour tones: Frail/PULSE/Gdansk/Rattle
Gilmourish.Com score: ix/10

Vick Sound V-two
The V-ii taps into the Cornish G2 territory merely unlike the TopTone G2 and Buffalo FX Development, the V-2 sounds closer to a Muff, rather than a Muffish Marshall. There’s lots of gain, mids and low end here simply what sets it apart, is less compression and more than harmonics. The V-two tin can easily comprehend David’due south more current lead tones, produced by the Cornish G2 but also double equally a Muff and even a fuzz, with some tweaking. The V-ii sounds all-time alone, without a booster, and works equally well on smaller bedroom amps and bigger phase rigs. Encounter my total review of the Vick Audio V-2 here.
Chamber setups: 10/10
Gilmour tones: Fragile/Pulse/Gdansk/Rattle
Gilmourish.Com score: 8/10

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