3 Tips For Stacking Overdrive And Distortion Pedals

This week I give you three easy tips to remember when stacking gain pedals, whether overdrive or distortion pedals.

When stacking 2 dirt pedals together, the key thing to remember is that the 2ndpedal in the chain dictates the overall tone of the stack.

Cranking the volume on the first pedal in the stack will not raise the volume, but will increase the clipping (gain) in the second pedal.

Using a pedal with plenty of EQ options can help better sculpt your dirt tones

Bonus tip: an overdrive into a distortion channel on amp or already driven amp is another form of stacking gain

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[ClarenceHell]

i'd recommend to put the smaller pedals on top of the bigger ones, otherwise they might fall over (especially when you stack more than three pedals)

[ghale]

Love the Tumnus Deluxe. I've had it for a couple years and last week I sitting and playing with my phone on my knee. It slid off and landed straight down on the switch and broke it. Emailed Wampler and told them what happened with a few pics and wanted to know what it would take to get it fixed. They sent me 2 new switches with no hassle. Awesome customer service from these guys.

[JediAxis]

Long story short...Tumnus makes EVERYTHING BETTER.

[drewd]

I love that you are wearing another youtubers merch. The way you guys support each other is awesome!

[doc]

That cat was like "Who you trying to get crazy with esse? Don't you know I'm loco?"

[Yupppi]

The cat is back! Your Tumnus still sounds like Tumnus - pure gold.

[robertbriquet]

I am a clean tone freak and here I am listening to this genius channel.

[wklorenzino]

Can I just say thank you for making the Tumnus. It's such a simple yet powerful pedal. I use it going through my orange rocker and it's basically acts as my dirty channel. I have a ts9 after it that adds the mid hump I need for solo's. What blew my mind when I first started using the Tumnus was how powerful the volume knob is! It's so versatile with other pedals but just as a normal overdrive it sounds beautiful.

[CClarkCumbo]

I have been stacking pedals for quite awhile now. However, this maybe one of the best explanation of how stacking pedals really works. Thank you.

[scqncn]

overdrive low gain + trasparent overdriva 2:39 overdrive low gain + overdrive higth vol = + gain 5:09 overdrive traspartent eq flex + trasparent overdrive 6:57 amp drive or distorcion pedal + overdrive = hard rock vibes 9:50 amp driver + pantheon overdrive = pantheon best pedal 10:16

[melvyntan]

I totally appreciate that you used “tighter” to describe the overall tone that we get. That has help me heaps in looking for the tone I’m trying to hit.

[telecastersRthebest]

Damn. The Pantheon and Tumnus sound amazing individually but takes it to the next level when you stack them!

[InGratitudeIam]

Another neat trick is to stick a delay pedal between the two distortion/overdrive pedals. You don't need to use much to realize a great tone. It's something that Carlos Santana is credited with doing.

[austinfailz]

People think the Tumnus, Klon, Architect, Merman, etc. are transparent -- for those that do not know -- because of the way the drive / gain knob works. It is a dual gang pot, meaning it is essentially two pots in one (not a dual concentric knob). As you turn down the drive knob, the gain circuit is mixed out in favor of the clean signal. The drive portion of the signal is very mid range heavy, while the clean portion of the circuit is "transparent."

[snazzyarchitect]

Brian's videos are, as always, eminently educational.

[bwall]

Good lordt!! That Pantheon sounds so good. Can’t wait to get mine tomorrow. (It better be here tomorrow!) and boost it with my Tumnus!! Can’t believe I waited this long to order a Pantheon. Wampler Dirt is good Dirt!

[seinhand]

That cat is having none of Brian's shit today, thank you.

[legoharry]

One of my favorite tones is the Pantheon into the Paisley Drive. Pantheon is set up for a medium gain, loose but airy type tone, then the Paisley Drive comes in with a mid bump and volume boost for lead tones. Super awesome with medium to high output pickups

[fredericadda]

Brian knows his business for sure. This man knows how to build great pedals.

[joshgulick]

Wow that Tumnus pedal is straight up 70’s Hard Rock tone heaven! Great sound!