Colleagues
With recent hi-gain amps getting better and better(some with more defined separate note dynamics)
Do you think overdrives have their days numbered?
Please chip in. Also many amps now have a lead channel and even a boost feature to drive the lead into higher realms.What do you foresee in the future?

Nah. Even Vai and Satriani, who have their own custom amps with channel switching and all that, still use pedals.

I've had the privelage of owning one of those amps, and I don't think pedals are going anywhere. I still used pedals as boosts (TS, rangemasters, etc) to change the character of the drive for some sounds when I had a good gain amp.

I also don't think they're going anywhere due to the huge amount of players (myself included) that need a lot of different tones available on a gig. Pedals provide that in a way that even the best of amps just don't. They aren't going anywhere.

D

Nah.
The 80's were all about channel switching amps with high gain for "lead". Mesa boogies, that era Marshalls, all that rack mounted pre-amp stuff (ADA, Boogie, Lee Jackson, Marshall, etc.) - those were all about NOT having to use OD pedals. I guess we all decided that we like the way OD pedals sound(?).

No way.

There are more OD pedals made today than ever before - despite that saturation, every week a new boutique manufacturer. OD pedals are here to stay...

I agree with the pack...I use one of those old fashoined channel switching 80's mesas ( ) and lately only use the clean channel with od/dist pedals for most gigs...it seems like the best way bang for buck wise to get a real palet of sounds with maximum control vol. wise...for me...and my hairmetal amp...

If you think about it, amplified instruments have only been around about 50-60 years, with pedals starting to come mainstream in the last 25 years......there's so much time for innovation and expansion in my opinion.....just my two cents....

I played bass a lot in the 80's and in lots of bands. Most people I played with used pedals.

I played less in the 90's but most people I played with used channel switcher amps and a multi effects.

In the mid 90's I started playing electric guitar and most people I knew were doing the channel switcher and multi thing. I had a Vox and a Tubescreamer.

Now most people I play with have pedal boards with some flavour of tubescreamer on it.

I personally as in IMHO have not tried a channel switcher that was as good or better than a Non Master Volume amp with a TS style pedal.

The trend as pointed out earlier is for pedals but in 10 years who knows?

No possible way. We've had good, high gain channel switching amps for years (if not decades) and guitarists still use OD pedals. They are here to stay.

I agree there will always be a place for od pedals I use a 3-channel amp and still use a couple od pedals for different flavors.

I'm the odd one... I don't own or use any dirt pedal anymore(overdrive, distortion, fuzz. I dig my preamp... however I do use an Eq pedal for boost. Switching to another presets works also but is just not as convenient, I wasted too much time programming those things in the past so I can appreciate the simplicity of my current rig.

I also have given up on pedals. They just don't satisfy. A good tube amp spoils one for such things. For tonal variety, I use a modular preamp rig with twenty channels. On a tighter budget, a flat voiced amp, like a Marshall, with parametric EQs on the effects loop and a loop switcher, will attain much the same result.

I doubt that od pedals will die off they seem stronger than ever but I have to say ever since I bought my VHT Super 30 I sold all of my dirt pedals I just dont get the same feel as I do with my amp.

Nah,
So many great flavors nowadays. I do agree that amps seem to be getting better, but so do the drive pedals! I wouldn't put them on the same list as the spotted pooting hunchback owl just yet...

Jetter Gear
Wampler
Pro Analog
TC Jauernig
Barber
Analogman

Nah....I'm a black face fender type of guy more or less so I'll always have my Tim and fish Factory with a super duper around....

If I had roadies I would have a two amp set up but I'm really anti anything that involves me bringing more then my deluxe or twin to a gig....

Overdrive pedals are here to stay. I think from the user standpoint, people will keep using them; but also from the manufacturer side, pedals are a business. I can't see those companies not staying afloat, even if the channel switching amps keep improving. Sales would really have to plummet to put any of those companies out. Also, we have so many small manufacturers that do just fine moving smaller numbers. Truthfully, I've never been a fan of channel switching amps; but, I probably haven't heard the right one yet. Whatever works for you though; that's the right setup.
, Peace

me thinks not...if I could buy amps I would...since I can't I buy pedals and then sell the ones I don't need...I don't see that changing anytime soon...

currently have...
BJF BBOD
XaxtTone Precsision Overdrive
Smoky Signal Tubeless OD
Skreddy Screwdriver
*Landgraff Mo'd
*Klon

* on my board...

Chow,
Seegs