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Post by Mr. G. on Nov 26, 2007 16:39:46 GMT -4
Anybody who's used the MXR Zakk Wylde overdrive pedal knows that it's reliability isn't worth a shit, but it's tone rocks. So, I'm wondering if anybody knows of a reliable alternative to this pedal. Supposedly, it's modeled after the Boss SD-1 overdrive pedal, but I've never tried one out to confirm this. I've also been wanting to give a DigiTech Bad Monkey a try, but am scared it will be too much of a tone sucker when not in use (had a bad experience with a digitech reverb pedal being a tone sucker).
What I like about the ZW pedal is, it gives a nice boost in gain, and it also really tightens up the bottom end and boosts a little in the upper mids to give some really nice palm mutes and definition. I only use it when playing heavier songs, so it's not a crucial piece of the tone equation for me. It's just a nice tool for when I need give my distortion tone a little kick in the ass.
Anybody got any ideas for or experience with other overdrive pedals for boosting an already overdriven amp?
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hdj
Full Member
"Hey, Zakk Mylde, let's kick it up a notch"
Posts: 187
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Post by hdj on Nov 26, 2007 17:12:48 GMT -4
I'm interested in some responses here also....
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Post by stratman on Nov 26, 2007 17:57:13 GMT -4
Forgive me if i sound like an ass here guys, i'm only tryin to help, why not replace the switch? HDJ i know you said in another post that it erks you to have to pay for a switch and i understand that bro but if you both like the pedal why not just get a new 3PDT switch, electro harmonix (amongst others) make em and they're available from most electronics and gear type outlets, over here in the UK they're about £4 so thats about 2 bucks to you guy's, 10 mins with a soldering iron and your done, i've got a couple of these switches in some of my gear and had no trouble with them, i'm afraid thats all i can offer as i've never used or heard a Zakk Wylde overdrive so can't compare it to anythin else. www.smallbearelec.com/Detail.bok?no=20Ok so they're actually 10 bucks at smallbear!!! but you may find them cheaper elsewhere
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hdj
Full Member
"Hey, Zakk Mylde, let's kick it up a notch"
Posts: 187
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Post by hdj on Nov 26, 2007 18:21:51 GMT -4
I don't think you sounded like an ass....but you'll see below why I haven't bothered with replacing the switch. I'll check your link after I post this, thanks for posting the link....The switch in the ZW OD is physically connected to a circuit board. It looks like the circuit board would have to be replaced also......I haven't looked enough into it to know this for sure though... If I can find a switch that is not made by Dunlop that will work, I'll definately replace it. I've read a lot of reviews on Harmony Central saying that the switch would go bad, they send it in to get fixed (within the 1 year warrenty period), it'll last a short time and go bad again, etc...below is a link to the reviews...I haven't bothered with replacing the switch b/c of these reviews.... reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Effects/product/MXR/ZW-44+Wylde+Overdrive/10/1I'm thinking of just getting a Boss SD-1 and compare that to the ZW-44. I've never had any problems with any Boss pedals I've ever owned.
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Post by stratman on Nov 26, 2007 19:18:54 GMT -4
Ahh sorry dude i didn't realise the switch was mounted to the board, i assumed it was just wired, my bad! certainly no easy task to unsolder 9 joints at the same time! yeah maybe the SD-1 is the way to go.
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Post by Mr. G. on Nov 26, 2007 23:20:45 GMT -4
OK, I had a chance to play with an SD-1 tonight, and here's how it went. I didn't really have time to try it out with my amp's preamp (using the PODxt into the amps effects loop, so the amp is just acting like a power amp with a speaker), but it sounded great into my PODxt. When ran through a clean channel, it sounded fatter than the ZW, and through a dirty channel, it pretty much did just what the ZW does, but it's tone knob effects the tone a little different, and it's frequency is centered slightly different as well. This is not a bad thing though, just a little different. Luckily, my other guitarist doesn't like his, so I'm hoping I'll be able to buy it off him for cheap.
I'm going to try it through just my amp at next practice, so I should be able to give a better review of it then.
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hdj
Full Member
"Hey, Zakk Mylde, let's kick it up a notch"
Posts: 187
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Post by hdj on Nov 27, 2007 13:17:44 GMT -4
Cool man, let us know more on the SD-1 when you get a chance...
By the way, I sent Dunlop an e-mail just yesterday about a switch for the ZW-44. Here is what I sent and the response I got this morning. I was impressed with how fast they responded.
My e-mail: Hey, I need to order a new switch for my MXR ZW-44 Overdrive pedal. How do I go about ordering one? I found the product number (ECB554). I've seen a lot of reviews on this pedal that says the switch going bad in this pedal is common.....hope that has been resolved.
Thanks for any info, Joe
Their response: Hi Joe,
Yes, we have had a problem with these switches. Unfortunately the newer switch will not fit on the older PCA’s. If you would like to send the pedal in we will replace the PCA entirely. I’ll just need your address, phone number, and serial number.
Cheers,
Derek
I thought it was really cool that they responded so fast and are offering to replace the switch. I'm gonna go ahead and send it in and will let ya'll know what happens. No telling how long it will take....I was also impressed that they admitted to having problems with those switches. Sounds like they have worked to resolve the problem with them..
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Post by Mr. G. on Nov 27, 2007 14:49:18 GMT -4
Sounds like good news... too bad I live in Canada now... it would probably be cheaper to buy a new pedal than to ship it and to receive it
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Post by docsimon on Nov 27, 2007 15:52:22 GMT -4
how about ripping the guts out of the pedal and mounting the whole thing, with a new switch, in an old tobacco tin. Guaranteed to look cool and boy will people be surprised when it is engaged ...damn thing singed my nose hair !
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hdj
Full Member
"Hey, Zakk Mylde, let's kick it up a notch"
Posts: 187
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Post by hdj on Nov 27, 2007 16:34:05 GMT -4
how about ripping the guts out of the pedal and mounting the whole thing, with a new switch, in an old tobacco tin. Guaranteed to look cool and boy will people be surprised when it is engaged ...damn thing singed my nose hair ! That would be cool.....but I'm too lazy to do something like that.
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Post by Mr. G. on Nov 27, 2007 17:28:04 GMT -4
What he said^^^^ Plus, I don't know how to solder
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Post by Akira on Nov 27, 2007 18:53:18 GMT -4
Plus, I don't know how to solder Pfft, so long as the solder joints are nice and shiny then it's fine! Even I can solder.
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Post by docsimon on Nov 28, 2007 3:26:28 GMT -4
Soldering is easy, not being able to do it is no excuse! Just make sure you get proper soldering wire ("rose core" or what ever its called)
If in doubt just watch any 3 episodes of the Red Green Show for extra guidance (you could always used duct tape instead of soldering).
You could even incorporate some old car parts "saved" from a previous job !
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Post by Akira on Nov 28, 2007 8:05:27 GMT -4
Also, don't get a mega high wattage soldering iron otherwise you'll overheat the parts you're soldering; 30W would be enough.
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Post by Mr. G. on Nov 28, 2007 11:31:20 GMT -4
I smite you both for making me feel less of a man I'm just kidding.... well, the first part at least
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Post by Akira on Nov 28, 2007 13:00:31 GMT -4
Awww what's a matter, can't ickle Eric handle 30W of MIND MELTING SOLDERING POWAAAA?
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Post by Mr. G. on Nov 28, 2007 13:57:44 GMT -4
I've got more gear than you
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Post by elklandercc on Nov 28, 2007 14:34:14 GMT -4
Soldering is a great trade to learn, and its fairly easy, and cheap to try (you can get an iron for $10.) I wouldn't learn on an expensive pedal or any expensive electronic in general. You should look online and get one of those kits where you can make a siren or voice changer. They actually have some fuzz distortion ones as well, a buddy of mine go that one.
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Post by docsimon on Nov 28, 2007 16:21:57 GMT -4
baa real men use duct tape !
- remember Im pulling for ya !
Were all in this together !
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Post by Mr. G. on Nov 28, 2007 17:38:10 GMT -4
Duct tape I can do!
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