Looking for an fx pedal.................

I want a pedal that will give me a good bluesy crunch, so I can play through my Gibson tube amp with the volume low.
Does anyone know anything about tube preamp pedals? As I do not, but I've read a little about them. Would one of them do what I need?
Or a decent analog distortion, or overdirve pedal?
I already bought a Digitech 'Screamin Blues' pedal, but I really don't like it. Could be because it's digital? Dunno, anyway, thanks in advance for any help. :)

What about an Ibanez Tube Screamer? Here's a link to a reissue of the original. They also make 2 other versions, the TS9 and the TS9DX. I dont' have any personal experience with any of them, but they pretty much seem to be the standard for what you're looking for.

Ibanez Tube Screamer is a great one to TEST out. If your local shop won't let you take one home for a night from the demo board, bring your gear in. I use the TS through a Boss GT-3 as an external OD. Great stuff!

FastElvis

I had a TS9XD and sold it after I got a Boss OD20. The Tube screamer is a great pedal however the OD 20 nails the sound and can also do a bunch of other pedals to boot.

The OD20 is a bit more expensive however you will never need another distortion / over drive pedal !!

I can't believe I forgot about my personal favourite :eek: .... The MXR ZW-44 (Zakk Wylde model). I love this pedal because it's so transparent, which means you hear the tone of your guitar boosted and not just the pedal. I think it's basically modeled after a Boss SD-1, but slightly refined. So, don't look at the name Zakk Wylde and think mega distortion, because that's not what this pedal is. True enough, when put infront of a dirty amp, it can take you to levels of distortion you've never dreamed of, but it's defanately great at giving a clean signal a good boost into slightly breaking up and to some crunch.

Yep, like many Boss pedals, the OD-20 does suffer form tone annihilation when you turn up the drive! But that is OK as everything else in the immediate vicinity is either dead or on the way out also !!

I have an Ibanez TS9DX. It's great but If you have the cash. I think the best pedal out there is the Ibanez TS9 or TS9DX with a Robert Keeley modification. Keeley mods are phenomenal. You can check out his stuff at Keeleyelectronics.com. Or just search for Robert Keeley.

Don't listen to those other guys......The one pedal you really should get is the Radial Engineering ToneBone-CLASSIC or BRITISH. Classic is based on vintage tonality of early Fender tube style amps,British based on early Vox AC30 and Marshall styles. Try them both, but heres the goods. They are both AC power only using a real 12AX7 tube. You'll be able to dial in just about any sweet tone you've ever heard and loved.......not kidding! Theses are not for the faint of heart price is around $300 but why by 2 or 3 different ones when one will do.Go to Harmony Central and check out the reviews,these are used by Eric Johnson,Steve Lukather and so on.

check out the site: www.radialengineering.com

If you want quality effects with the cash go to Robert Keeley.com and check it out! He mods pedals for steve vai, John mayer and loads of others! Get the Ts-9 tubescreamer mod-plus or baked mod. They start out with less gain which is not muddy at all to way more overdrive than the normal stock version,you cant go wrong with Keeley!

I love my Visual Sound Route 66. It's an OD based on the TS-808, and has a Compressor based on the old Ross model.
The Od side nails that great TS sound, and the Comp is great for everything from Nashville "squish" to sustained lead when used with the OD side. Probably my favorite pedal of all time ( or at least tied with Wah!!!)
It's notoriously hard to mate an OD with a RI Fender amp. Most of em sound fizzy to my ears. The VS RT-66 sounds amazing through my DRRI. The only other pedal to come close is (believe it or not) the MXR ZW-44!!!! I'm talking Blues/Roots lead stuff....not Metal!!!
Ian

Maxon od 808 is apparently better then the reissue tube screamer. From what i heard, maxon built ts for ibanez. I know for a fact that maxon has the covetted jrc4558 chip. I have a mjm effects blues driver. Its awesome but its a boutique pedal...so its not cheap.

yeah if you get a tube screamer and just send it to analogman then they will mod it to ts-808 specs, they sound very good too. Also if you can find one a chandler tube driver. but they are quite rare.

Hey, I think you might to try out a Robert Keeley BD-2.It's a modified Ibanez Blues Driver.It ain't cheap,but "worth every penny".You didn't say what kind of tone (as in belonging to whom) your looking for but go to his website & give it a listen.I myself am awaiting one.There is a sound clip you can listen too also.The prices on right on the page.The blues driver should be on the top right hand side. Heres the address:
www.robertkeeley.com
Good luck bro! :D

If it's transparrancy you want you should check out the menatone Red Snapper. it can get somewhat harsh with some axe-amp combinations, but if it works with your setup, it's avery good choise.
Also try the old Proco Rat. I love it to bits. I actually have two in my board. :D
A tubescreamer is notorious for it's midhump. not everyone is a fan.

be sure to check any pedal out with your own rig before buying it.