Boost/Overdrive Pedal Comparison! (Dual Rectifier Edition)

[@SonicDriveStudio]

Thomann Affiliate: www.thomann.de/intl/index.html?offid=1&affid=3210 Sweetwater Affiliate: sweetwater.sjv.io/k0mGvx My personal Thomann recommendations: thmn.to/thocf/cv37zixo68 My webstore for Captures, presets etc: ko-fi.com/sonicdrivestudio Thanks for supporting the channel!

[@gab_ale]

I actually preferred the "tone" with the SD-1, but they all have their flavor. I also liked the "tone" with the Soul Food a lot. The sound without boost is very good also.

[@GuitarsAndSynths]

love the sd-1 as it is affordable and simple to use. mud killer looks great

[@Paincakes]

They all sounded great, but for my taste, I appreciate that the Soul Food somewhat preserved the amp's bottom end.

[@Andrei.x8]

great for playing alone. sucky in a band tho. I liked the SD1 better

[@AntarMikosz]

Finally someone put an EQ 10 to show the huge possibilities it have (I prefer instead overdrive pedals). Thanks 🤗

[@ferasoa4ever]

Você utiliza quais pedais de Overdrive e empurra quais amplificadores?

[@GuitarsAndSynths]

that is one trick that I used with my old 6505 amp to tighten it up

[@Mumumumykul]

the Maxon and 10-band compliment the amp the best for sure. that mesa sounds huge with those, w both the mids right where they need to be and low end punchy and just present enough

[@jimmyjames7720]

Your content is top notch, brother. Keep it up. You’ll be at 500k in no time.

[@matthiasbrunschweiler515]

What is no time?

[@xzavior21]

Soul Food and straight Eq were my favorites.

[@ayeapprove]

The soul food adds some woofiness to it but it sounds amazing with this mesa.

[@techdeathhippie6319]

Soul food is so underrated. I use it with my Diezel Herbert and it makes it sound better by no tone change . Just sounds bigger

[@ballsofdoom3124]

@@techdeathhippie6319 Is there any difference in tone with the buffer switch on?

[@techdeathhippie6319]

Danny B. I go without . To me it’s a lil better

[@metal571]

Soul food is great, as you turn the gain up it cuts some of the low end out to tighten things up, but unlike the TS the amount of that low cut is more customizable. I find the 808 too thin for the EMG 81 in my personal case but it's still great with passives, where soul food seems to work well for more guitars perhaps

[@ramonnonato7853]

Wooowww! Mudkiller is a beast! Man, your channel is so useful!

[@AndiKravljaca]

Man, the snarl on that SD-1. Absolutely fantastic video!

[@Nghilifa]

I liked the SD-1 the most. I have that pedal myself, so I'm biased but I sort of gravitate to it, because it sounds a little bit more agressive, compared to some other pedals.

[@strayy1554]

Thats not really bias, If you thought the other ODs sounded better you probably would get that instead of defending the pedal you use.

[@highsocietyskate]

Perfect pedals! Best combo to try if you have these is the MXR 10 in the effects loop and the SD-1 out front... tonal heaven!

[@Siam_Thai.]

what a great idea. 👍

[@Col.JohnMatrix]

I have that set up except im using the Precision Drive instead of the SD1. Def considering picking one up as it seems to really do wonders for mesa boogie rectifiers.

[@charlesestrada4139]

Agreed, I use several ODs, one of them being the SD-1 but the real key is the 10 band in the FX loop. In this demo, I liked the SD-1 the best

[@GuitarsAndSynths]

I do that with my high gain amps for total bliss

[@arcsibo]

This is an amazingly professional and detailed comparison. I've couldn't image the MXR 10-band EQ and Electric Eye Audio Mud Killer (never heard about it) will be my favorites. These are sound sick. Tons of thanks!

[@tomnowak5610]

You really rock man. These riffs are killer. Keep them coming!

[@Kierranh2704]

Bought the Soul Food right after that video, very very good sounding and letting the amp breathe his typical fire. Gonna record my band's next album with it plugged on a Single Rectifier. Thanks for that quality video mate o/

[@SonicDriveStudio]

Awesome!

[@Kierranh2704]

@@SonicDriveStudio P.S. : don't know which IR you used exactly in the (R)evolution bundle but it's so tasty and full, and yet it sits very good in the mix. Damn you're good 🤘

[@ScottK1018]

Very cool review. One of the few you can find using it on a high gain channel as a harmonic lift. Thank you for that. And for turning me on to the Electro Harmonics Soul Food Overdrive. Very cool transparent Overdrive. The Maxon and Boss super overdrive are great of course. But I am definitely digging that one alot.

[@borhksalduero9259]

Thanks mate, my favourite guitar and my favourite amp, the sound on these pair together is just astonishing!!! Great idea to add the MXR 10 band eq, I have one and it’s a very versatile tool for tightening this beast and for polishing clean sounds too. I really liked how this eq worked with this pair. Excellent job as usual Jon. Every different comparison sounds BRUTAL!!!!

[@felipetiecher]

Great review! Best gear demo channel by far! I liked the SD-1 the most. Made it tighter and hotter.

[@Himandaguitar]

I'm glad I stumbled over this 3 years later. Great starting tone. The sd-1 was surprisingly clear. The boutique screamer I would say was my favourite overall, but the soul food held its own too as a bit of a "sleeper pedal" thanks for the demo

[@mesaseany]

Great video. I know everyone uses IR's but I feel like IR's make everything sound good. I really love the demo's when it is just a simple SM57 set up. Or do you find IR's really are that good at replicating what you would get out of a mic? I ask as when I look to get an amp I am skeptical if the demo is with IR's. Cheers dude

[@SonicDriveStudio]

No need to be skeptical of IRs. They can perfectly replicate the sound of real mics on a cab

[@paradox7743]

SD-1 is pretty tight-I really surprised...

[@jacobsargent6183]

Jason Becker used it.

[@mikedenkinger9570]

I struggle with this pedal (SD-1w) and tubescreamers when using it with my Mesa Rectoverb 25. I think the Boss Blues Driver BD2 pushes a wider set of frequencies which add snarl and punch to what a Mesa has lurking inside of it.

[@mrcoatsworth429]

It's almost the exact same circuit as a tubescreamer.

[@theallmightyham]

@@mrcoatsworth429 the bd2 is nothing like the ts/sd1

[@mrcoatsworth429]

@@theallmightyham I didn't say it was. I was replying to the original comment.

[@perpetualgrimace]

These all sounded great, although the SD-1 was a little over the top for my tastes. It also totally makes sense to use an EQ in this way, that was a nice addition.

[@TheJMan1K]

Is the mud killer worth it if I already own an MXR EQ? I run an EQ with a comp to boost my 5150. I think I could kill 2 birds with 1 stone using the Mud Killer.

[@musicinsession]

Mannn this channel is awesome!!!! And the riffs are super inspiring!

[@SonicDriveStudio]

Thanks! :)

[@selftyranny]

I absolutely LOVE your channel, the amount of work you put in your videos is phenomenal! I think the difference between the pedals was really subtle, "Soul Food" was probably the best in my opinion

[@wrenchhead4378]

Sd-1 sounded killer….

[@thruthenever]

Great comparison, as always. I think the Soul Food and the MXR EQ win the day here. I typically love the SD-1 for boosting Marshall/British-type amps, but it's never wowed me boosting American amps, especially Mesas. I have one and love it in front of my JCM800, but can never quite get it to work on my Mesa Mark V 25 on any of the gain channels other than "crunch", which is kind of un-Mesa like anyway. I've had a MXR 10 band for years now and never thought to use it this way (I typically keep it in the loop). I'm going to try it out!

[@stefangumundsson9248]

does EQ + OD clear the fizz? im currently trying to get rid of it ( 3 chan dual recto)

[@peterswelt8272]

Nice Video! My favorite for boosting is clearly the SD-1. The sound becomes more assertive, which benefits solo playing. I also like the MXR-EQ, but it's ipty for me before the pre-amp. :)

[@ClarkMerrier]

Really nice work! You’ve been crushing it lately (actually always)! I like your choices of boosts. In addition to the TS, SD1, and soul food, I’ve been using my OCD (normal pedal but also the Helix models) a lot lately with my Rev G dual rectifier. It’s absolutely killer and gives a tight and aggressive tonality with less of a mid hump. I highly recommend that folks give that combo a try to see if it’s to your liking. Keep up the great work!

[@TheKLeifheit13]

I feel like I may need to get an SD-1 after this. Your videos are just in a different league man, awesome work. Really enjoy your playing/writing, too 🤘

[@PedroFernandesz]

Mud killer is awesome!!! Great video Man

[@claytongouin5605]

Been using thr MXR10 band for this kind of thing for years, and gives some great flexibility as euther a preamp boost or as a post-preamp tone shaper in the FX loop. If you are looking for versatility, a quality EQ should be in every guitarists arsenal.

[@yuribatera9233]

What a amazing job dude! This was one of the best pedals comparison i ever seen! Congrats

[@StevenHess]

Prefer the SD-1 and MXR EQ sounds. Improves the excellent sound out of the Mesa Dual Rectifier.

[@AlexMakuch]

Dang, you're running the tube rectifier and it's still fairly tight? Nice! That's sexy

[@abusivesystems9844]

I have a triple rectifier and my main guitar is a LTD. The EVH5150 just wasn't doing it for me so this vid was really helpful! Update: I got the Maxon 808 OD with the Keeley mod and it really tightened up my sound!!

[@kintaro_f]

Currently I am switching from my Rectifier to an JCM 2000, instead of micing the cab I play it through an OX, the reverb room sounds heavenly, not as aggressive as my 4x12 in a small room. Keep the chain simple but think about your room sound also. 🤘🎸🔥

[@pauloheiniken]

Sd1, of course

[@Janesch]

I liked the amp without any pedals in front. It just sounds so raw and chewey.

[@felipefarias7654]

same! for me the amp is the winner in this vid, it sounds amazing with any of the boosters

[@irmasil3]

Yeah I agree. It sounds like the boosts are trying to make the Recto sound like a Mark series. If you want tight, buy the right amp :) There are plenty out there. Recto sounds huge, and I am pretty sure that if you tweak the EQ a tad more, you might get it tighter without loosing any of that BOTTOM!!!!

[@inclinedtoshadows4545]

@Bart Lee I have owned a Dual, Triple and two Single Rectifier solo 50's. I have sold all of them and the only one I have decided to keep is my Series 2 Single. It's stripped down and doesn't have all the bells and whistles, it's simple and gets right to the point. It breaks up sooner which is really nice. I do boost it out front with a Fortin Grind but you can get pretty close without it using just eq. Really all the grind does for me is tighten it up a bit for when I'm using low tunings or extended range guitars. Honestly I could live without boosting the front end and it sounds killer with any guitar I use on it. I really only still use the grind because I paid so much for it. With the solo 50 you don't get as good of a clean because of less headroom but if I'm honest I never got into the rectifier series for the cleans, I fell in love with the crushing metal tones you get out of them. I'll never get rid of my series 2 solo 50. My goal is to fund another series one like I had before just to have around the studio. And trust me, I am definitely buying the Badlander next year!

[@googuser3145]

@@irmasil3 no... all wrong

[@irmasil3]

@@googuser3145 Do you have a Recto? Cos I do, and I know how the machine works, inside out.

[@BrattScorsa]

all of them sound amazing!!!! Peronally I use a ts9 but in this video I liked the results you got from the sd1. Great video!!!!!

[@brivington2011]

Well done. I like how you used the isolated tracks to really show the tonal differences between the amp without a boost and when the boost pedal is on. Thank you.

[@eduluke2010]

Best Demos of interwebz! Thanks man!

[@fjk1138]

I agree with others here that I am totally fine without any pedal, but to me the only one that I didn't care for at all was the Mud Killer. It seemed to add some kind of digital artifact-ish kind of sound to the DR that I didn't care for. I can see uses for all the rest though, and I was impressed that the Soul Food was so transparent. All that aside, love your work Sir, please keep up the great videos that you do!

[@MRxr400]

excellent show case of what a boost can do. i still feel it's more noticeable in a recording situation than say live performance. probably just a bit more pronounces chugs and clarity with mids standing tall and present. i liked all pedals, boss the least, though suprised how good it sounded. soul food was simple and organic with a nice bottom end. eq could be very good to tailer tone, maybe in fx loop too. mud killer very nice. i'll try a soul food into my single rec. thanks and nice riffage

[@stefanopezzano9922]

The SD1 and the EQ sounded the best. I love to use a boss GE7 EQ to boost my 20w JCM800, it allows to exactly choose the frequencies to enhance. Is the MXR 10 band noisy when used as a boost? Did you use any kind of noise suppression/gate for the recording?

[@tjborekvideo]

Great video. The most helpful of its type. I'd really like to see an updated version comparing the 808, SD-1, Soul Food, Digitech Bad Monkey, and TS-9.

[@ABHORRANCE831]

In this comparison I like the Soul Food best as I don't quite like the signature OD808 mid hump and bass cut. I like to retain low end in my Recto. But I also like to use a bit for Drive on an OD for some nasty saturation. I'd love to hear the Soul Food with more dirt in the drive and a little more Tone brightness. MXR Sugar Drive is also an awesome Klon clone.

[@Tomalo-Dub]

This is an awesome video! thank you. I am just getting into overdrives, and I happen to have a single rectifier ,a TS 808, and the boss super overdrive. I like playing straight from the Mesa boogie because it’s an awesome amp , but this makes me want to try my ods on them!

[@SuperOsmosi]

Maxon od 808 1) boss sd-1 2) great video , thanks

[@monstruonegro05]

Just a question, I didn't get if the pedals are on the imput or the fx loop, my bad... anyway the best are SD, Mud killer and the eq followed by the others, the 808 is the least liked, for me! super video! 🤘🏼

[@SonicDriveStudio]

Input

[@sidequestplays4768]

This was a great video! I definitely like the way you demonstrated everything.

[@AUTHENTICAUTOBODY]

I love the raw Mesa sound on it's own. But in the mix all of the od pedals help to better sit the guitar, in the mix, with the Soul food being the winner. To my tastes, anyway. Great video, as per usual!

[@MartyV666]

Get a Bonsai pedal, more options in one LOL . But seriously nice video about hitting the old Thread-plate with a boost/overdrive/eq. I really liked the powered EQ in there.

[@firmans12]

Electro Harmonix win for me. Didn't really change the original characteristics tone of the amp.

[@rockerjadul]

I would prefer rectifier boost with the eq...sounds better compare with others od..

[@YannFarmine]

Great sound ! What tuning do you use?

[@SuperJiggawhat]

And that is how you make an amp/pedal review!! I came learn, and learn I did.

[@theredcharade1017]

Dude thank you for making this the boss sd1 actually sounds awesome and for 40 bucks can't beat that

[@lorand33]

とても素晴らしい比較

[@maxstatic]

Man I was hoping you were going to do the mud killer vs the normal suspects with a recto. Perfect man, just perfect.

[@mountainpeakcloud8442]

Could you please do a similar kind of boost/overdrive comparison with the Orange Rockerverb? The Rockerverb is a lot more focused in the lower mids, so I'd love to see how all these pedals react with an amp like that, especially the SD-1 which sounds a bit brighter than the others. Great comparison BTW!

[@jasonsapp792]

Great video...i own the same exact LTD EC, have the Maxxon SD1, a Klon clone by Warm Audio and the MXR M108 10 band....oh and a blacked out Dual Rectifier Multi watt ...so this really hits home for me!!

[@thuttirithari]

I think the mud killer makes that mesa shine by tightening it. Your original video of it made me order it to bring my peavey 6505+ to the next level, thanks for that! Would love if You made a brief video of mud killer with that peavey of yours ;)

[@pitamoncha2112]

Soul Food and EQ sounded the best. My gig back up pedalboard has a 6-bansd MXR and a Soul Food. For me it is a good combination for in front of the amp. Nice job comparing!

[@ConstantineM]

Your channel = quality. Nice work mate :)

[@davidlawson7786]

I like the Boss, I’m using the Mesa flux five dual drive for a boost on a old line 6 spider half stack using the Slipknot preset EQ’d to taste of course, I got great results using my Ibanez axion label with Fishman fluence pickups, I recommend trying this out. The tone is pretty badass.

[@ladislavmalak444]

It´s just amazing, how capable the SD-1 is, for the money. You might not like it personally, but it´s just a matter of subjective taste, and not a matter of "sounding cheap".

[@SonicDriveStudio]

Great value for sure!

[@luca4352]

Hey John I got a question, I own the Laney IRT Studio and as you know it has an inbuild Pre-Boost. Now the amp is great but I'm not 100% satisfied with the gain character this amp provides. Do you think a Seperate OD pedal will add something to the character of my Laney?

[@SonicDriveStudio]

The IRT/Ironheart has a raw texture (that I personally love) but a boost pedal could certainly smoothen it out!

[@MichaelCozineSounds]

I own this amp and use it all the time. Personally, I love the gain character, but you can change it a good amount by using a separate overdrive. The built-in drive is a clean boost, it doesn't cut any low or boost mids to any noticeable degree. A tube screamer -like pedal will massively change the sound of the gain. Also try switching between the lead and rhythm channels as the same settings as they have different characteristics.

[@luca4352]

@@MichaelCozineSounds Yeah I own this amp for a year now and spent a lot of time tweaking it, comparing etc. I even analyzed the frequency spectrum of it recorded trough my Marshall jubilee 4x12 cab and noticed some "holes" in the frequency spectrum at 3kHz, and the gain characteristic is not really thick like a rectifier or evh5150iii, but rather crunchy. I wonder if a different gain source could "fill the holes" to get a different character or if this characteristic comes from the power amp. Thanks for your responds.

[@MichaelCozineSounds]

@@luca4352 Yea it follows somewhere between 5150 thickness and classic british crunch, but I find it sits really great in a mix compared to the 5150 III I used to own.

[@luca4352]

@@MichaelCozineSounds It fits really great in a mix, that's true. What cab do you run it through?

[@rflessati]

Your videos are just great! Thanks for the entertainment!

[@ufukustun]

Great video and sound mate, as usual. That amp ain't need a boost. All ODs made the sound too bright, which killed the dark characteristic of the amp's sound. As much as the EQ made the sound brighter, it was more subtle and it did that without killing the amp's character. Given the EQ can be really be fine tuned and is a great addition to any rig all day long, EQ's the winner.

[@thehoppo]

It does if you want to play fast chuggy thrashy riffs, its too flubby unboosted, also if you don't want to disappear in a band or recording mix you need to get rid of those lower registers

[@poseidon5003]

I like the 808 in front of Marshals and the SD-1 boosting Rectifiers.

[@FEAROWNAGE]

The tone of the SD-1 with the bottom of the Soul Food would do it for me.

[@mateuszkaczmarczyk3645]

Very good comparison! Same results with my amp (JCM800 clone). Conclusion: With that much distortion there is just NO WAY to hear any characteristics of the pedals. It's better to just use cheap clones and boosts. I only use EQ and boost now. !!!!TOP TRICK!!!! - skip OD pedals, and invest in a compressor, some modulation and a good octaver. That will give you a massive room to shape your tone.

[@techdeathhippie6319]

Great tones man !

[@Middlestepofficial]

Very nice! The Mudkiller is quite tight, and the Maxon has that "boxy sound" without changing the amp's tone too much. I'm personally in love with the Maxon OD-808X and also the Fulltone OCD.

[@LightCyrus]

They're all great but one thing that I always take away is how classic and effective the Boss SD-1 still sounds and you can find them as low as 60 bucks!

[@ВениаминКузнецов-ы2м]

Maxon 808 , sound of SUFFOCATION!!! Like!!!!

[@nabilioustheriffer4862]

12:21 Absolutely! Great video showing why one would want an overdrive pedal, But yea it's just a refining touch that should come after mastery of the riffs we're playing :) at that point the differences will be really subtle, and the actual usefulness will show in the added ease of mixing rather than audience liking the SD1 better that TS9 etc. etc.,

[@jasoncrump1886]

I really like your vids brother and appreciate ya.

[@1969MARKETING]

that's one of the best looking ESP guitars i've seen. what year model is that? BTW you should have tried the Mesa Flux Five pedal in front. I use one in front of my Mark Five 25 and it sounds incredible.

[@ABHORRANCE831]

Really great comparison.

[@mrcoatsworth429]

Awesome shirt, Jon!

[@labyrinthzero3427]

great job bro! as accurate and informative as possible! and yet the 808 & SD-1 remain classic. in the first, the middle is a little failed and the lower middle is strengthened, while in the second it is the opposite - the middle protrudes and the lower middle is cut off. and then there are only options for a fleshy gibson SD-1 and a white wood 808, as if compensating for the tonal color ... well, you need a bunch with an amplifier! BUT - the middle register cuts the mix and reads the instrument in a pack, and this is the law ...

[@slayabouts]

Soul Food the surprising winner for me. It leaves a slight amount of the low end in tact but not enough to make it flubby making it sound more full plus seemed to have more mids

[@s7thSon]

would love if you can get your hands on a MB Triaxis. Have actual one here and hate it. Perhaps i am more into Marshall, but on the other hand the Rectifier has that distorted top end what i like and miss with the Triaxis.

[@kesamek8537]

SD-1 or Soul Food both bring a useful illumination. Excellent comparison.

[@TheNocturnalEvil]

Although I like the SD-1 as a boost before Marshall style amps with the Dual Rectifier it just sounded harsh, same was true for the Electric Eye Mud Killer. In this test the OD808 sounds the best followed by the Soul Food. I prefer using the MXR GT-OD with Rectifier series amps though.

[@JorisGriffioen]

Wait a fucking second, you were in Intwine! That was a badass band back in the day!

[@therapscallion23]

SD1 sounded so good in the rectifier. I love it. I like the Mud killer too.

[@monsieurabsurd1395]

This is absolutely perfect for me, as I have this exact amp and am looking for a new boost pedal. 😁 Do you run this amp with the fx loop on or off and which way is it in this video? I'm loving the tone and want to dial mine in the same. Awesome video!

[@SonicDriveStudio]

Not sure what loop settings I used. The volume control on the left is active, does that mean the loop is on?

[@monsieurabsurd1395]

@@SonicDriveStudio Nice! That means it's on, which is how I use it too. Some people say having it on sucks the tone out, but I have yet to hear and have no complaints. Thanks!🙏

[@rogerconnick]

Great comparison, thank you! It’s really interesting how the SD1 made the double tracked guitar sound wider apart than the other pedals. Must be some kind of mid/side effect happening with the lack of low-end

[@md4man]

I think the best sound was without any pedals. With pedals, my order from favorite to least favorite was: EQ, Soul Food, OD808, Mud Killer, Super Overdrive. If I'm being completely honest, I absolutely hated the Mud Killer & Super Overdrive but while extremely close, I guess I hated the Super Overdrive a little more. Likewise, the EQ & Soul Food were very close but the EQ just edged out Soul Food by the slimmest of margins.

[@bones2532]

The mudkiller sounded awesome. I also like the soul food. It does a pretty decent job for such an affordable pedal. Even used as an overdrive it sounds quite good, I think.

[@guilhermefontana6499]

Thanks for the video bro!

[@avispasentuass]

I think i can dial with my mxr eq10 band the character of the soul food or klon Wich I think was the best in this comparisson.love this review.please do 5150 Peavey

[@Chugs4Serotonin]

Man, the boss is quickly becoming my new favorite these days

[@GuitarsAndSynths]

it is a classic for a reason

[@jaychen2000metal]

I got the EHX East River drive. It's a good pedal and it's not priced too high

[@hoobastanker9]

I think I liked the maxon the best, I usually use a Tc nova drive for midi capabilities

[@felixperezneto0893]

AWESOME vídeo!!! E standard?

[@MarkoBuric]

Thanks for your comparisons and all the great information you are sharing!

[@nothingEvil101]

The MXR EQ is one of the greatest pedals in the world