Must-Try Medium Overdrives

[guitarist1983]

Please list light/medium overdrive pedals that work great with your Gretsch. List the amp type you use with the pedal, too (as you might know, a Fender and a Vox don't always play nicely with the same ODs).

My favorites into a Morgan AC20 Deluxe (similar to a Vox AC normal channel amp):
Paul Cochran's Timmy
Nobels ODR-1 with bass cut

 

[Viking Power]

Love my JHS Morning Glory into my 65 PRRI.

 

[Trash Kidd]

This has to be the best light to medium drive pedal ever!!!
Very well suited for Gretsch guitars..

Detroit Casket FLUID DRIVE™ translucent overdrive

Taking Pre-Orders now for end of December (previously called Detroit Casket Fluid Drive)This is a beautiful medium to low gain overdrive and *transparent boost w a unique original gain staging that keeps the guitar nice and clear in the mix. EQ is very flat/ neutrally transparent (lays inside...

www.thenocturnebrain.com

 

[BCRatRod73]

I’ve found after dialing in a nice edge of breakup gain setting on my amp then using my master volume to clean up, a boost pedal is really all I need. I put an Alembic Stratoblaster pedal kit together. It makes a nice boost pedal.
Also, most overdrive pedals can function as a boost pedal as well when set to low gain.The Boss OD-3 and BD-2 do this very well.

 

[gtttrrr]

I always come back to my tried and true OCD, geat range of dirt, ran at 18v, there’s sweet love to be found.

 

[Mr Swisher]

Crowther Hot Cake worked beautifully with my AC15 and works well now into my Jazz Chorus.

 

[TSims1]

This has to be the best light to medium drive pedal ever!!!
Very well suited for Gretsch guitars..

Detroit Casket FLUID DRIVE™ translucent overdrive

Taking Pre-Orders now for end of December (previously called Detroit Casket Fluid Drive)This is a beautiful medium to low gain overdrive and *transparent boost w a unique original gain staging that keeps the guitar nice and clear in the mix. EQ is very flat/ neutrally transparent (lays inside...

www.thenocturnebrain.com

THIS.

 

[Pine Apple Slim]

Nobles ODR-1 is my favorite
Boss OD-3 is #2.
Amp is Carr Rambler(Fenderish)
I have a Fluid Drive but I use it mostly on bass, where it really shines IMO. Best OD/dist Ive ever tried on bass, it puts some nice sizzle on while leaving the low end basically clean.

 

[Emergence]

I don’t need a drive pedal with my Mesa Boogie Express 5:25. With four channels from clean to brain bleed and the option of running the amp at 5 or 25 watts I don’t need one. I use my BOSS EQ-200 as an equalizer, and occasionally as a clean boost, but the boost isn’t for dirt. It’s to put the guitar at a volume where I can use the guitar volume control to push the amp over the edge. This is in no way intended as a criticism of boost or overdrive pedals but guitars, tubes, and equalization give me what I need.

 

[drmilktruck]

Worked great with my Gretsch Electromatic 6161 mild or moderate overdrive, also depending on your guitar.

 

[blueruins]

This one is my favorite.

 

[GlenP]

I have been enjoying the Tumnus Deluxe with my AC15 on a clean Normal channel. The 3-band EQ is handy for control of the Mids, and the HOT switch gives you that extra grit when you want. I guess it is a type of klone, but it can do a bit more.

EDIT - an A/B/Y switch, so I can go from the Normal channel to the Top Boost, or blend them both!

 

[General_Lee]

The Archer Blue note is a secret weapon, incredibly underrated and mostly overlooked in favor of better known pieces. TSs, Timmys, Klons, KOTs, any thing else you can think of in the light-medium OD territory (with the possible exception of the Greer Lightspeed), this puppy can do it all. OK, can do almost all. Seriously though, this OD works with any amp/gtr combo you can think of. No joke. It's almost ridiculous how good it is. Trust me...

 

[mandobandit]

 

[calebaaron666]

Nocturne Fluid Drive (formerly known as the Detroit Casket).
I also like the Boss Blues Driver, though I don’t own one anymore.

 

[audept]

Nocturne Fluid Drive. The best overdrive pedal I have ever used surrounded by some of its best buddies:

 

[Henry]

I've really like the J Rockett pedals I've tried, kept the Dude. The new ones with EQ (e.g. the Melody made with Mark Lettieri) look really useful but I've never tried it.

 

[Ricochet]

View attachment 183880

The Archer Blue note is a secret weapon, incredibly underrated and mostly overlooked in favor of better known pieces. TSs, Timmys, Klons, KOTs, any thing else you can think of in the light-medium OD territory (with the possible exception of the Greer Lightspeed), this puppy can do it all. OK, can do almost all. Seriously though, this OD works with any amp/gtr combo you can think of. No joke. It's almost ridiculous how good it is. Trust me...

The Blue note is mightily impressive, but might be considered more of a light overdrive by some. For medium gains the Flex drive might be more appropriate, it can do all(apart from metal maybe). Both J. Rockett pedals.

 

[mbkri]

+1 for the Barber Gain Changer
Also using the Fulltone Mas Malo (which i NEVER see any love for on the forum but its a really flexible tone monster)
And a Nocturn Marquesan

 

[Robbie]

68 Fender CDR and an EHX Soul Food or Boss Super OD….maybe both