Overdrive Pedal for AER Compact 60?

**Jazzguitarsussx** · 11-09-2014, 08:35 AM

Hi ,

Ive been using a 175 with my AER Compact 60 for years.

thinking about getting a 335. I'd want to get a bit more crunch and distortion of varying degrees. Is there a recommended pedal I could use through an AER?
I'm not a gear sort of guitarist so just want the simplest, easiest option without a rack of pedals..

thanks!

**jorgemg1984** · 11-09-2014, 08:40 AM

Overdrives will nor sound good with an AER, too much treble due to the full range speaker... in my experience.

**Frank67** · 11-09-2014, 09:15 AM

Same here - I own a AER compact 60 and it is way to HiFi to sound good with an OD pedal. IMHO few solid state amps sound really good with an OD. A decent tube amp with s good OD pedal is hard to beat

**holgit** · 11-09-2014, 09:36 AM

Sometimes I used to use a Nobels ODR-1 Plus with my AER Compact 60 II to get a little more warmth and volume while soloing. But it in my opinion it is not possible to get a good sound with crunch or distortion with this equipment. I would choose an other amp for this job.

**kris** · 11-09-2014, 09:46 AM

new generation of Boss...work quite good.
I use AER with GP-10 Boss procesor....
Boss has a lot of preamp possibilities.

**Ronstuff** · 11-09-2014, 10:32 AM

Recently, I was going to sell my AER alpha. I picked up a used Joyo American Sound Pedal and it gave a new life to that amp. It is an analog preamp with speaker simulation, but basically it's just an EQ that is perfect for electric guitar frequencies. I always found the Eq on the AER to be less desirable for archtops. The pedal can make the AER have more of a Fender Deluxe type of tone. It's great for clean and the drive function works very well also. Personally I like to use a Mooer Black Secret pedal in front of the Joyo for overdrive and the results are surprising. You could also use the Joyo pedal exclusively as an on/off for overdrive. Of course there are other pedals and preamps that do this as well, Tech 21... so yes it can be done. It wil cut the frequencies that do not work well with Overdrive.

**Jazzguitarsussx** · 11-09-2014, 03:11 PM

Thanks everyone

Ronstuff, ta for your recommendation on Joyo, I've looked it up and everyone raves about it, seems exactly what I'm looking for.

Obviously no sub for a decent tube amp though.

so I wouldn't need an additional overdrive pedal ?

**Little Jay** · 11-09-2014, 03:17 PM

Although he amp is not designed for it, I can get good OD-tones out of my AER Alpha (but not as good as on my tube-amps) with an Ibanez Tubescreamer, an MXR compressor and an MXR EQ-pedal. The EQ-pedal is essential, to cut the very high frequencies. I chose the 10-band EQ because that can cut or boost narrower bands than normal 5 or 6 band EQ pedals. I guess a parametric EQ would also work (maybe better even?). The compressor smoothens out the tone even more.

**Ronstuff** · 11-09-2014, 05:09 PM

Jazzguitarsussx, no you don't need another pedal for overdrive. The reason I use another pedal is just because I like the OD 'color' of the Mooer pedal a little more than the Joyo overdrive, but that is totally subjective and also depends on what guitar I am using. But really I could get along with only the Joyo and be very happy with it. And like Little Jay, I have also used a compressor(Keeley 2 knob) and found that it gives me a bit more of a tube feel. Of course I prefer my tube amps, but for portability the AER is fantastic and plenty loud for most of the jazz sessions and gigs that I do. And the Joyo can be battery operated so very simple and hassle-free.
Sometimes I do as Benson and J. Kriesberg do, and combine a tube amp with a solid state(in my case the AER).
Also, on the AER I turn all of the EQ knobs to 0 or close to it, and control everything from the Joyo pedal. I also boost the output of the pedal to the max, I had read somewhere that the amp sounds much better and less boxy when boosted from the input. The input is made to receive a high level so it will remain clean even you boost it quite a bit. Works for me!

**Jazzguitarsussx** · 11-10-2014, 02:17 PM

Thanks folks,
looks like Joyo may be way to go,
a 335 through an AER doesn't give that much welly, so I'll give it a go
Thanks for EQ Tips as well Ronstuff!

**vhollund** · 11-18-2014, 03:26 PM

Sansamp can work well

**christianm77** · 11-18-2014, 08:14 PM

Hi Paul,

I've been using the joyo with my Alpha. Sorry to post this video again, but this is how it sounds. Quite pleased with the sound. Very mild breakup, some times I like to push it harder:

Thinking of upgrading to a Sansamp, maybe.... Or there's a guy who lives up the street who says he could build me a valve preamp pedal. Concept works though, so experiment successful!

Also sounds good if I drive the joyo with a drive pedal, or even a boost. Tried it with a massive mid boost from my Boss EQ and a strat, and spent/wasted an afternoon pretending to be Eric Clapton. Definitely a useable sound IMHO :-)

BTW - I'm only up in Crystal Palace, must pop down and catch you sometime....

**Little Jay** · 11-19-2014, 06:03 AM

Since I use my Alpha more and more - it's so darn portable! - and given the positive comments about the Joyo, I just acquiered one on eBay ( for only 27 euros I couldn't leave it). If it works as well as you guys say (I trust you!) it will save me taking some pedals!

**Jazzguitarsussx** · 11-21-2014, 09:12 AM

Thanks for everyones advice, I now have a Joyo and a 335.
Sounds great and its exacly the sound I was after!
Although there's a fair bit off hum, hiss, white noise.
I also tried turning off all eq on amp like you said Ronstuff.

Its funny though, when the guitar volume is on max theres barely any hum but as soon as you turn it down to 9 or below it starts to make a right noise! Shame as Ill have to keep guitar vol on max.

But anyway, Im sure itl work great live and the band will hopefully mask out the hiss during tunes

May also try a tube screamer Jay

And hello Christian, nice sound there, and Mez on drums I see! (I'm gonna rock out at the jam this Tuesday with my new gear, may see you sometime)

Paul

**vhollund** · 11-21-2014, 09:15 AM

Also for a more fendery sound, try HK Tubeman
Ive had one for years and it sounds great infront of mixer or DI

**Little Jay** · 12-08-2014, 07:53 AM

Alright, my Joyo American Sound finally arrived! (Shipping from China was almost free, but takes almost a month!).

The verdict: great pedal, very useful! Since the AER Alpha is essentially a mini- PA, the Joyo works great on it! Yes, it adds a little bit of hiss, but only slightly so. With My ES-333 on the Alpha I always miss something in the high-end and it can get too bass-heavy. The Joyo lets you control the basses perfectly and adds that Fendery high-end that's bright and clear but not sharp (like my Twin Reverb does so perfectly...). Also the combination of the mid-pot and shape-pot gives you great control over the 'scoop' and voicing of your sound, you can really dial in the right amount of mids and upper mids to cut through the mix also. Now my Alpha is like a mini-Twin Reverb!

I think I'll be using it a lot when I comp for this singer I perform with. We usually share the Alpha (plugging both a mic and the guitar in - perfect for small venues), but since it has only one set of EQ the setting was always a compromise for guitar (optimal setting for guitar is no good for voice), and now I have an extra channel for the guitar!

On top of that all it's way smaller than I expected, so it fits easily in my guitar bag or even in the side pocket of the Alpha's carrying bag.

For €27 I am very impressed!

**Klatu** · 12-08-2014, 11:58 AM

Cool review, Little Jay. I remember that pedal receiving equal parts praise and condemnation for its quality and price when it first appeared on the market. Criticisms of the pedal centered around geo-political and economic issues rather than those regarding tone, so it looks like you've hit a home run as far as your setup is concerned.

**kamlapati** · 12-08-2014, 03:01 PM

Good discussion, a little outside our normal here.

I was thinking along similar lines for different reasons this morning. I've recently been appreciating the totally clean sounds of my carved top guitars into my Fishman Loudbox.

t

.

But I know some folks crave that tube tone, and I've long noticed that some of our 50's heroes are pushing their amps pretty hard to get the volume they needed, with the resulting distortion.

This morning I dug the Allen Accomplice out of storage, and with the master volume down and the gain up it sounded pretty good. Now my level of gain and distortion is much lower than most folks, just the slightest touch of hair on the notes. Then I tried my Blues Driver in front of the Loudbox...

It sounded pretty good. True, I needed to roll off the tone of the pedal, but I do that mostly anyway. Especially with my laminate Sadowsky, it was a usable tone.

I guess I needed a reminder that there are really lots of ways to get good tone.

**christianm77** · 12-09-2014, 07:20 AM

I can confirm that my Joyo is going from strength to strength. ATM I'm digging the midrange boost if you can get which is great for cutting through a band or a loud audience.

Next step - do I upgrade to the Tech 21 Sansamp or carry on with this?

Also I'm thinking some more advanced speaker simulation might be an idea, as I'm very much into giving the sound man a straightforward direct line on gigs that is always my sound. Obv. a DI from my rig will never rival a well mic'ed Fender Twin, but with the type of gigs I'm doing, I'd take workable consistency over occasional perfection. Any recommendations?

**Little Jay** · 12-09-2014, 08:10 AM

Maybe using a good DI with speaker-simulation like a Red Box or Palmer after the Joyo?

**christianm77** · 12-09-2014, 08:35 AM

Have you had experience with either of these boxes?

**Little Jay** · 12-09-2014, 08:42 AM

No, never used them, sorry!

Hope somebody else here can give some good advice. I think there hase been a thread with that subject earlier, if I remember correctly.

**Jazzguitarsussx** · 12-09-2014, 08:13 PM

It's going great for me..

joyo American sound + AER + 335 = great sound

just got back from my regular jam night and still tweaking the controls n coming up with nice tones.

so thanks! as if I had never started this thread, I'd've never even heard of this pedal I could use with my AER, Saved me money as didn't have to buy a tube amp, just £27 n it arrived in a few days.

thanks guitarists

**Little Jay** · 12-10-2014, 05:46 AM

I'd like to add this about the Joyo American Sound (still love it on my AER Alpha with my ES-333!):

Just for fun I tried it on my Twin Reverb - which doesn't really seem to make sense (emulating a Fender on a Fender ;-), but even then it's a nice pedal since it will take your Black/Silverface into Tweed-territory. Only then it becomes a rather ordinary – but good sounding - drive pedal with a lot of knobs that may be cumbersome to some. But also here the extended control over the midrange is a big plus: I can make my Twin growl like an old Bassman (or early Marshall) with just the shape knob. But with all the knobs it's not for people who don't like to tweak - I slightly prefer my Tubescreamer since it’s easier to use. And I had to keep to tone knob down since the Twin has enough treble by itself. But also here: for €27 it does what a lot of boutique pedals do for a lot more money!