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Permalink Reply by Ron "Oily" Sprague on March 25, 2017 at 4:09am

Little stomp boxes are good for dirt. The beauty (I use that term advisedly, as my ears simply don't like the Line 6 modeling in any of their products over the last few years, including the Pods) of stomp boxes and small multieffects units is their versatility and portability (as you are realizing). Try Gitty's Psycho Knob in a Box, which may give you the grime you seek...

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Permalink Reply by Ron "Oily" Sprague on March 25, 2017 at 4:35am

Forgot the link: https://www.cbgitty.com/amplifiers-amp-kits-parts/amp-kits/the-psyc...

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Permalink Reply by Ron "Oily" Sprague on March 25, 2017 at 4:32am

Some things to consider:

http://heavy.com/social/2017/02/top-best-cheap-multi-effects-pedals...

https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/reviews/guitar_effects/line_6/pod_2...

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Permalink Reply by Slow Blues Dani & Ol' Grey Bear on March 25, 2017 at 6:23am

I use the Behringer BB2 Blues Breaker II pedal and love it. Really inexpensive but has boost and blues settings. Lots of dirty overdrive. I'm not at the gigging stage though (far from it) so take what I say with a touch of scepticism perhaps. I'd recommend looking it up on YouTube though.

Having said all of that, supporting Gitty IS something that would be a good thing. We're blessed with a lot here and it's in my mind that Gitty should get something out of that. Not to mention their goods are obviously of a significantly high standard and made for what we do, by design. Not to be underestimated I think.

My two cents worth.

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Permalink Reply by Cause the Blue rat on March 25, 2017 at 7:41am

I wouldn't recommend an all in one 'every kind of distortion' box. I've yet to hear on that is nothing more than variations on the same sound. Go on youtube and find a single box that gives the type of sound your looking for. Then take your beast to a music store that  sells that box. Play through a solid state amp and see if that's the sound you want. 

and my thoughts about tube amps. Leave them at home They are way to much of a hassle. And your audience isn't going to care if it's tube or transistor. They want good music. 

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Permalink Reply by Milt Haselmire on March 25, 2017 at 10:21am

I am pretty much in agreement with everyone on the multi effect boxes. I've tried a couple and didn't like them. Too much screwing around to dial in a sound and then it's not great. A single effect pedal is a better choice, probably an overdrive. They range from real cheap to real pricey. I use an Ibanez Tube Screamer which is middle of the road.

The Para DI is a high end piece of gear but is designed for acoustic instruments.  Get a pedal, plug your guitar into it. Plug another cord from it to the PA, dial it in and you're set. If you need XLR to input the PA, get a 1/4 to XLR adapter or a cheap Passive DI. 

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Permalink Reply by Mensh on March 25, 2017 at 10:24am

Thanks, all. Maybe a Roland Micro Cube? Mic'd, if necessary for gigs.

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Permalink Reply by Mensh on March 25, 2017 at 10:26am

Or... what pedal do we all recommend?

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Permalink Reply by Slow Blues Dani & Ol' Grey Bear on March 25, 2017 at 11:40am

More than anything I'd recommend trying some different ones to get the tone that suits what you play. Recommendations are great but if it doesn't have the sound you want then no recommendation is going to help. Not trying to be flippant or awkward but there really is no substitute for trying some out. Do you have a local music store that will let you try some?

Best of fortunes finding that sound you're looking for.

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Permalink Reply by Cause the Blue rat on March 25, 2017 at 2:29pm

If your looking for a single box that's both DI and distort/overdrive try a EH tortion. I have one and it's sweet. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KTJTDAAAjc

It's a bit pricy but you can easily leave any tube amp at home. The cab simulator will assure you will have a smooth sound threw the sound system. Run you anywhere from 130 to 180 on Ebay right now. Best part is you can go try one at most music stores. Not to many places that don't sell Electro Harmonix stuff. 

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Permalink Reply by Blues Frog on March 25, 2017 at 3:17pm

The POD is a good effects pedal. Ther's a lot of sounds to go through. You can get some dirty blues from sounds from it. I liked the tube amp sound myself, but its all a matter of what you want it to sound like.

Take the time to tweak the settings to your liking and I think you'll find you have the sound you're looking for with that pedal.

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