That Pedal Show | 11 months ago

20 boost, overdrive and distortion stages on one pedalboard?! How to stack them, and what is gain stacking anyway?

Life too short for long YouTube videos? Please see the ‘Interesting bits and go-to sections’ information below.

Welcome to the show! This is perhaps the topic about which we are asked more than any other. Boiled down, what overdrives should I use and in what order should I stack them? It’s called gain stacking, and whether you use zero overdrives or tons of ‘em, it is of fundamental importance to every electric guitar sound you’ve ever heard. (Your amp is gain stacking internally too, just for the record.)
Thusly, with the help of a forklift pallet, 19 overdrive pedals, TheGigRig G3 and modest selection of electronicalized guitarbles, we shall investigify these questations and more.

And yes, the non-inclusion of a Boss Metal Zone is a heinous act from which we may never recover. Shame. On. Us.

Please enjoy the episode!

Pedals & stuff in this episode…

• TheGigRig Three 2 One
https://www.thegigrig.com/three2one

• Sonic Research ST-200 Turbo Tuner
Australia: http://bit.ly/2mR1s8c

• Keeley D&M Drive
UK & Europe: http://bit.ly/2oTblU1
Australia: http://bit.ly/2pUDUAE
USA: https://bit.ly/3xoLI18

• Jam Pedals Rattler
UK & Europe: http://bit.ly/2vtdFtq
Australia: http://bit.ly/2vtdFtq
USA: https://bit.ly/3CW6s1F

• Klon Centaur Professional Overdrive
No longer available

• Pro Co RAT 2
UK & Europe: http://bit.ly/2Tmovw3
Australia: https://bit.ly/2Vj4ntr
USA: https://bit.ly/3153Fpi

• Free The Tone Fire Mist
UK & Europe: http://bit.ly/2tW1Yr2

• Greer Amps Tarpit
UK & Europe: http://bit.ly/2P2cgCr
Australia: http://bit.ly/2OgcalB

• JHS Supreme
UK & Europe: https://bit.ly/2BrIwc9
Australia: https://bit.ly/3gRNeQG
USA: https://bit.ly/3I7OblR

• Wampler Gearbox
UK & Europe: https://bit.ly/3iQAlKf
Australia: https://bit.ly/3gD7Pci
USA: https://bit.ly/3p07a8V

• Hamstead Ascent
UK & Europe: https://bit.ly/3wCiScp

• TruFi Colordriver
https://tru-fi.com/tru-fi-colordriver-9v-version-fuzz-overdrive-guitar-pedal/

• Colorsound Supa Tonbender (1973)
No longer available, but try https://www.macaris.co.uk/

• Tsakalis Six
https://tsakalisaudioworks.com/product/six-ma1s/

• Ross Distortion
No longer made

• Mythos Olympus
https://mythospedals.com/olympus

• Wampler PlexiDrive
UK & Europe: https://bit.ly/3HCqPUi
Australia: https://bit.ly/3cElBcp
USA: https://bit.ly/3pWjY1N

• Boss BD-2w Blues Driver Waza Edition
UK & Europe: http://bit.ly/2fBdXnz
Australia: https://bit.ly/3i1Jkp1
USA: https://bit.ly/3xoje7X

• Van Weelden Royal Overdrive
UK & Europe: http://bit.ly/2imxRAD
https://www.vanweelden.com/

• Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer
UK & Europe: http://bit.ly/2dvn8Xy
Australia: https://bit.ly/3gGuTHg
USA: https://imp.i114863.net/NKN26K

• Thorpy Warthog
UK & Europe: http://bit.ly/2ELIE48
Australia: http://bit.ly/2GS31xb
USA: https://bit.ly/3qWCTK7

• Source Audio Collider (delay & reverb)
UK & Europe: http://bit.ly/2HwaALt
Australia: http://bit.ly/323SzgS
USA: https://bit.ly/3p914n0

• TheGigRig G3
https://www.thegigrig.com/g3



* Why do we have preferred retailer links? Find out here: http://www.thatpedalshow.com/partners


Interesting bits and go-to sections…
0:00 Intro playing
2:50 What are we doing today?
4:30 Why have many overdrives?
5:43 Today’s amps
6:30 Boost, OD, distortion & fuzz explanation
7:30 Boost, OD, distortion & fuzz sounds
11:15 The best order for boost and overdrive?
17:15 Your OD can be a boost or an overdrive
24:00 10+ overdrive stages with an Epiphone Casino?
29:10 10+ overdrive stages with a Telecaster
32:30 Noise?
34:05 Stacking three low-gain stages for dynamic and feel
39:55 Let’s talk about EQ and mid humps
43:38 Mid range tones - Van Weelden
46:00 Tube Screamers mid hump
50:45 What do we mean by mid?
52:10 And feedback?
57:20 How many is too many?
59:30 All on. Of course…

Guitars in this episode:
• Gibson True Historic 1957 Les Paul Goldtop Tom Murphy Aged - no video yet
• 1965 Fender Telecaster - no video yet
• Epiphone Casino - Mick’s video at https://youtu.be/ubwr6Owqp_E
• Fender American Vintage ’62 Stratocaster – Mick’s vid at: https://youtu.be/5sQUvWHXz74
• Karl Longbottom T-Style - find Karl on Instagram

Amps in this episode
• 1973 Hiwatt DR103 Custom 100 with unknown 412 & speakers
• Marshall 1987x and 1960Ax 412 / Celestion G12M Greenback speakers

We hope you enjoy this episode. Please subscribe to our channel.

You can buy TPS merch to support our efforts https://www.thatpedalshowstore.com

We are on Patreon – crowdfunding for creatives
https://www.patreon.com/ThatPedalShow

Please visit our preferred retailers!
UK & Europe: Andertons Music http://bit.ly/2cRvIvt
Australia: Pedal Empire http://bit.ly/2mWmJQf
USA: That Pedal Shop https://www.thatpedalshop.com/