Fuzz / Distortion pedal recommendations?

[Alex Orr]

Anyone have any luck running their acoustic through a distortion pedal? I already use reverb, phaser, flanger, and every now and then some delay when playing live. Been kind've itching to add a distortion pedal to the board.

[urobouros]

I've run my electrics through a Fulltone OCD & a Swollen Pickle by Way Huge but not the acoustics. I'm sure it would work fine if a little prone to feedback.

[sounds_good]

Anyone have any luck running their acoustic through a distortion pedal? I already use reverb, phaser, flanger, and every now and then some delay when playing live. Been kind've itching to add a distortion pedal to the board.

I suppose we will hear recommendations, but maybe you don't
need a separate box to do this. Turn up the gain in the front end
or at the input pre-amp in the mixer until you get non-linearity
and clipping. You know, like a tube amp. Just because the manual
tells you not to run in the red doesn't mean you can't do it. It's
your show.

[Alex Orr]

I suppose we will hear recommendations, but maybe you don't
need a separate box to do this. Turn up the gain in the front end
or at the input pre-amp in the mixer until you get non-linearity
and clipping. You know, like a tube amp. Just because the manual
tells you not to run in the red doesn't mean you can't do it. It's
your show.

The problem with that is that I can't just add it mid-song, here and there. I usually play with a clean tone (Fire Eye Red-Eye with just a little reverb) but every now and then like to add some effects. We mostly play play straight bluegrass, but, for example, if we're doing "Me and My Uncle" (which we do as sort've a funk groove) it's fun to add some flange, or when we do "East Bound and Down" it's kind've neat to stomp on the phaser for my section of the break. I really have no idea what I would do with some slight distortion, but it might be fun to add here and there when I feel like it.

[Mitch Stein]

There does exist This - Fender Smolder Acoustic OD
Billy strings has also been spotted sporting a Chase Bliss Brothers distortion on his pedalboard

[SRNassif]

Anyone have any luck running their acoustic through a distortion pedal? I already use reverb, phaser, flanger, and every now and then some delay when playing live. Been kind've itching to add a distortion pedal to the board.

I use the FuzzFace mini with the germanium transistor. I love the open and smooth sound it has. I also use the Ibanez Tube Screamer mini before a Phase 90. I gigged and recorded with both pedals and love the sound I get with them. The Fender "The Pelt" fuzz also works well.

I would avoid using pedals that have a high gain with an acoustic mandolin. You may need to use a compressor to smooth out the sound you get.

Cheers