Ashdown John Myung Double Drive

fills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (warm → bright)

Run Marshall Super Bass after it and the warm edge settles into something more bright

Comes later in the signal chain

Comes later in the signal chain

Vox Mini SuperBeetle Bass leans this low gain tone toward fuzzy, which it doesn't make on its own

Comes later in the signal chain

Mesa/Boogie Stiletto Deuce Stage II leans this low gain tone toward high gain, which it doesn't make on its own

Comes later in the signal chain

Mesa/Boogie JP-2C John Petrucci Signature 60/100-Watt leans this low gain tone toward high gain, which it doesn't make on its own

Comes later in the signal chain

Friedman Small Box 50W EL34 Amp Head leans this low gain tone toward high gain, which it doesn't make on its own

Comes later in the signal chain

Into a low gain tone, Peavey 6505 MH 20W Mini Head brings a pull toward high gain that's missing

Comes later in the signal chain

Where this leans warm, Marshall JCM800 2205 50-Watt Amplifier Head answers back bright

Comes later in the signal chain

Hughes & Kettner Coreblade leans this low gain tone toward high gain, which it doesn't make on its own

gain stackingStacks two gain stages for more saturation than either produces alone. (low gain → high gain)

Into a low gain tone, Wren and Cuff Box of War Small Foot Fuzz brings a pull toward high gain that's missing

Comes later in the signal chain

gain stackingStacks two gain stages for more saturation than either produces alone. (low gain → fuzzy)

Fjord Fuzz Midnattssol leans this low gain tone toward fuzzy, which it doesn't make on its own

Comes later in the signal chain

fills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (warm → bright)

Friedman Sir-Compre leans toward compressed, and that's a real, usable character to pair with

Comes earlier in the signal chain

sits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.

Put Boss CE-1 Chorus Ensemble after Ashdown John Myung Double Drive in the signal chain, clear of Ashdown John Myung Double Drive's own gain stage

Comes later in the signal chain

sits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.

Keep Strymon El Capistan after Ashdown John Myung Double Drive in the signal chain, clear of Ashdown John Myung Double Drive's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)

Comes later in the signal chain

sits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.

Boss DD-200 Digital Delay's shimmer voice goes after Ashdown John Myung Double Drive in the signal chain — it's not there to compete with Ashdown John Myung Double Drive's own harmonically rich character — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)

Comes later in the signal chain

Comes later in the signal chain

Death By Audio Destruction leans this low gain tone toward fuzzy, which it doesn't make on its own

Comes later in the signal chain

Into a low gain tone, Dr. Scientist Frazz Dazzler V2 brings a pull toward fuzzy that's missing