Vegas 400 guitar channel distortion pedal recommendations

Joe Kaufman · From: Lewiston, Idaho

I recently bought a peavey Vegas 400 and I am pleased with how it sounds on steel. The second guitar channel was a big draw for the amp, but after trying my old Boss DS1 and CS3 and tele in front of it I have come to the conclusion I need a different setup. I live in a remote spot and don't get many chances to just test drive pedals or effects so I wanted to ask you guys for your thoughts. I would like to be able to handle typical country sounds like classic Merle Haggard tones to up thru John Fogerty type overdrive tone.

I'm guessing a Boss Blues Driver or even better a Seymour Duncan Twin Tube Blue would fit the bill but would love some recommendations. Thanks!

Lane Gray · From: Topeka, KS

Sparkle Drive. You can set it to give just a hint of hair when you hit it hard. I prefer the Tele to be almost steel-clean when going Honky-tonky twangy, myself (some didn't see my humor when I said earlier that it was a shame that B. Paisley and B. Mason can't afford Twins, so they'd stay clean).
I bet the Earth Drive would also do you well for what you want.
I KNOW the Sparkle Drive can do it.
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects

Joe Kaufman · From: Lewiston, Idaho

Thanks! After reading about the Sparkle Drive it sure sounds like a good option. Does anyone have experience with it and a Seymour Duncan Twin Tube Blue? Especially with this type of amp and a tele.

Lane Gray · From: Topeka, KS

My buddy said try this

_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects

Tom Gorr · From: Three Hills, Alberta

The server sure hates cell phones.

Tom Gorr · From: Three Hills, Alberta

See below

Tom Gorr · From: Three Hills, Alberta

I've never tried any of Lane"s first recommendations, but they are highly rated dirt pedals. I do have an OCD which works ok with a tube amp, but is otherwise a bit congested, IMO. More of a Marshall derivative tone, which should meet the Fogerty spec.

I own a Vegas, and it's now in storage. I have a great old Mesa tube amp I use that does double duty, and also a peavey bandit 112 transtube, which to my tonal preference sounds better than the Vegas (bass full, treble and mid about 2/10) and weighs significantly less, too. It's got a very good sounding dirt channel, probably closer to the metal camp than country and rock though.

Although I will never own one, I would expect a high quality POD would be better than a dirt pedal, mainly because there are preamp and power amp and speaker modelling in those, and the Vegas is about as sterile solid state as you'll ever find...i just couldn't settle on a tone that really does it for me, particularly for guitar.

Honestly. Fender has some smoking amps like the supersonic, blues deluxe, and the new custom series. I'd think with the right speaker one of those would be more satisfying than a Vegas.

Les Cargill · From: Oklahoma City, Ok, USA

The Fulldrive II is a classic but I've ended up with a GT-500 because the dirt side on it seems to work better for single-line leads on the six-string. You gotta watch it though.

This being said, expect pedals to disappoint some when you use a solid-state amp. They seem to like driving a tube input better.

I am hardly a reference grade player Smile

but I certainly make due with a Fender Blues Deluxe on both Telecaster and steel.

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