Product: Aria DT5 Distortion
Price Paid: Zilch (free!) used
Submitted
05/06/2005
at
08:11am
by
Mike
Ease of Use
:
8
late 70s/early 80's (i think - i got it given) distortion - simple 3 knobs - gain, level and tone plus footswitch. No need to be a rocket scientist with this one..... Really ugly and shitty looking - the circut board inside has bugger all on it!
Sound Quality
:
9
Strat and Tokai SG into a Vibrolux Reverb (or Bassman 10, 1971 silverface Champ, Hot Rod Deluxe). Signal chain is - guitar - Dunlop Cry Baby - DOD 250 preamp - ARIA Distortion - Boss Chorus Ensemble - Boss DD5 Delay - Amp. Totally quiet (i.e. no buzz, hum, crackle etc) This is an amazing distortion - however, care MUST be taken to ensure that the Gain and Tone knobs are turned fully OFF!!!!! With the knobs in this position and using the level for boost, this pedal will rip the shit out of your Tubescreamers and such. Creamy, musical warm distortion (think SRV/Jimi front pickup). With the SG it's instant Angus Young. Turning up the Gain goes from that lovely distortion to a really wonderful fuzz effect - endless sustain (bit like the solo sound on the Carpenters 'Goodbye to Love') - not that i'd use it as such. Playing with the tone control just fucks it up completely - sounds horrible and farty!
Reliability
:
9
It's old and it still works! the circuit board is hand wired so easily repaired - good metal casing. I've used it on quite a few gigs and it's still there..... I don't have a back up - can't find one that gives me this sound! - so far dependable.
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
Overall Rating
:
10
I play all kinds of stuff - Beatles, Who, Allman Brothers, The Cure, Crowded House, REM etc etc - this pedal nails the sound and I use the tone and volume controls on the guitar to colour the sound (isn't that what they're for?). I've used all sorts of gear - even the BOSS GT6 (which sucks, by the way - too over-the-top and I can hear the reverb 'processing'!). I've had most makes of pro amp (Marshall, Laney, Fender etc) - very much settled now with my rig. If it were lost or stolen, I doubt i'd ever find another so i'd be really pissed off. All in all - the best free gift i've ever had - if you can find one, grab it and take the tone knob off!
