T-Rex Alberta Distortion

a pedal couldn't be more simple: gain for setting saturation, tone for additional (or less) treble and level for master volume.

both gain and tone knobs produce usable sounds in all settings. changes in gain do not force you to radically adjust the level knob accordingly.

I play an ESP mv-300 (seymour duncan '59 pick ups) or an Ibanez Artcore through mxr supercomp-EH Knock-Out-digitech synth-wah-morley bad horsie-T-rex Alberta-Visual Sound jekyl&Hyde-Visual Sound Volume-Visual Sound H2O into either a Tech 21 Trademark 120 or a marshall JTM 30 or both.

Engaging the effect leaves my tone intact, no loss of lows, no excessive mid-boost. Both low and high gain settings are very useful (and reacts so good to volume changes), pushing the tone-knob doesn't make the tone too harsh or thin.

A low gain setting in front of a clean amp is just delicious (try it with a wah in fixed position for that money-for-nothing nosey honk). High gain settings are creamy but still detailed, never muddy.

This pedal is built by the same guys who used to build viking-ships about 1300 years ago already.. looks like it's been built to last. The knobs look like they wouldn't survive an army boot in the long run (but can easily be replaced)

no opinion

I love this pedal. Perfect for rock/fusion. But I also find it useful as a lead pedal in heavier music (for instance as a low-gain boost before an overdriven ampchannel).
For twenty years already I've been looking for that perfect overdrive.. had my share of tonekillers like boss or ibanez pedals. I'm sure there will be other pedals that will steal my heart but they will have to share space with the Alberta on my pedalboard.

sounds good and useable in all settings..simple in set up.

I find it very easy to get a good sound out of it...
with my Fender Pro Junior,
and it seems everywhere I turn the dials it sounds good.

I'm mostly using it with the Fender Pro Junior at gigs,
so far with a modded MIM Strat and a mahogany parts Strat.
The pickups are slightly hotter than normal, more Fat 50's than
Texas Special, and both guitars sound great through the T-Rex into
the Pro Junior.

It does not "like" the Epiphone
Valve Junior as well, although it's not bad, either.
I saw it used locally, and got to try it with my Pro Junior,
and once I did, I knew I had to have it.
It's the best Tubescreamer type overdrive I've tried with the Pro Junior yet... and I intensely dislike a stock Tubescreamer with it.
The PJ is a midrangey amp... Tubescreamers are midrangey pedals...
TOO MUCH! The extra bass in the T-Rex really works well with the PJ.
With the PJ, it sounds "expensive" rather than cheap.
Oh yeah, it's quiet.
I have an SD-1 that I had been using- could not use the Dano PB&J delay after it and I thought it was the delays fault, but the Alberta
puts out less noise, and so now the PB&J delay is back on the pedalboard.
When I tested it in the pawnshop, I tried it on clean boost, gain and level both at 12:00, and with the gain maxxed- and I liked all of them. My experience with the Valve Junior showed me however that it
doesn't work equally well with all amps, but then, I would be surprised if it did.
It's been a while since I tried it, but I think it's at least as good
and probably better than a Keeley modded Blues Driver I tried through the Pro Junior.

It looks like the most well built pedal I've ever had.
It's the old version with the dinosaur logo,
it has a couple of chips in the paint and a missing rubber foot,
but everything else functions like new.
I don't think it needs a backup.

Haven't had a reason to contact them.

My basic sound is a bluesy Strat sound, and it's a good match.
Just from the name "Alberta" and the blue paintjob, I figured they
were marketing the pedal to bluesers, and so I had to try it.

One thing it does for me is allow me to get overdrive sounds I like
at less than earsplitting volumes. Because I spent so many years as an acoustic musician, I don't really go for high volumes-
at 6 on the Pro Junior's volume pedal I feel like I'm pushing it,
and that's nowhere near the amps natural power tube OD.

I've been playing guitar for about 40 years, but have only
been playing electric seriously for 8 years.
However, I've turned into something of a tone freak,
and I get complements on my tone from other guitarists.
There's a lot of gear including
OD pedals I DON'T like, but this one is an exception.

The band I'm playing with is...
a praise team at a local church.
I do use bluesy tones sometimes, but also a lot of power chords.
Although the T-Rex sounds great by itself in front of the Pro Junior,
I run a Behringer Tube Mic 100 into it with the pad on and gain maxxed. With that, I get fat clean tones with the Alberta off, and
Claptonesque OD with the Alberta on, gain maxxed.

I would definitely want another if it were lost or stolen.
The only pedal I think I liked more with the Pro Junior was a Butler TubeWorks overdrive, and that was a very different sound.
Other pedals I've tried with the Pro Junior (most in stores, some purchased or loaned) include:
Route 66, ;-p
808 Tube Screamer ;-p
Turbo DX Tube Screamer :-I
Stock Boss SD-1 :-I
Slightly modded Boss SD-1 :-)
Boss Blues Driver :-) on clean boost
:-P on OD
Keeley modded Blues Driver :-)

Alberta is :-D!!!
(but only :-) on the Valve Junior)

FWIW, I read the reviews here before I actually bought the T-Rex Alberta, and it seems to fit the theory of it doing well on amps without their own preamp overdrive.

Only 3 dials on this and to be honest its hard to get a bad sound out of it. I havnt got the patience to sit with a pedal for like 3 days to find a sweet spot......this pedals sounds great on all settings. Very impressed.
Manual not needed.

Im using this with a fender twin, a peavey valve and fender digital (!) practise amp and this pedal really does improve things alot. Sounds great with the valves. Not noisy at all and is great for dirtying up a clean amp. Sounds like the overdrive channel of a really good amp-very natural sounding. Very impressed.

Very well made-solid with a fantastic switch thats smooth as silk. Whats not to like about this pedal?

Played for 20 yrs and gigged loads-pubs clubs and functions......
I love this pedal. This has quickly become my fav. pedal and gives me the overdrive on a clean amp im after. Does the blues thing very well-i suppose like a tubescreamer with less mid but great articulate bottom end. I dont normally care too much for bassy sounds but with this pedal has made me change my style. Actually its good at the mid range boost and highs are very nice not ice pick in ear- very nice.
Oh and the way the signals decays is like a valve amp-ok it maybe a bit compressed for some tastes but i happen to like that in amp anyway.....and that only adds to the valvy ness of the sound imho.
Ive had lots of pedals and this is very well made and sounds fantastic.The only critism is the price of these new-its a bit expensive-but second hand on flea bay about ??60.00 which is a bargain for something this good. I am on the look out for more TREX pedals.

Getting a good sound from this thing isn't hard it's got 3 dials, gain, level and tone.

No Need to look into the manual!

I've used this pedal with a Cornford Hurricane, Fender Deluxe Reverb, JCM800 1987 Non-MV and a THD BiValve..

In each amp I've used it for the same purpose to push a crunchy amp into over drive, this pedal adds a nice ammount of compression but not too much and just coats the tone with gain and harmonics that leap off left right and centre.

I did use this pedal dimed on the Deluxe Reverb for some Eric Johnson type tones, and it excelled at this also but i find the pedal best used as a mid gain boost on a mid gain amp to create a nice fat lead tone.

Currently im using this with the BiValve and it really brings this amp to life.

This has become a staple part of my tone, just like the DS1 was to Satriani, the TS808 to SRV and the Fuzz pedal to Hendrix.. Couldn't comprehend not using it..

Built like a tank!

I play a range of styles and have used this as a clean boost to give more mid range to a tone for jazzy leads, I've cranked the gain into a Clean amp for some bluesy tones and i've ran it at 50% gain into a crunchy amp for some fat lead tones.

I've been playing since 1992, I run this with an old schecter strat into the amps mentioned above.

I compared this pedal to about 15 other pedals in the store including a TS9 and a Digitech Bad Monkey, this felt like the best solution for me.

Three knobs and a switch. Can't be easier.

Been using it for a while now, I get a really fat overdrive with my les paul. Great bluesy tone, dosen't get agressive unless you play agressivly. Can't ask for more.

Built like a tank.

Nice and helpful.

Great drive, fantastic sound quality. Way better than the new Tube Screamer...

TREX is awesome! It's doesn't get any easier than this to dail in the tone you want

Excellent sound and Tone Awesome!

Built tough with a 2 year warranty/No problems so far

I had a friend who last one of his knobs and T-REX's distributor just sent him one out. Fast

Awesome company/Awesome product/ Highly recommend

Very easy to dial in a good sound. No need for a manual, just use your ears.

I wonder why this pedal is filed as 'Alberta distortion' on this page?
It's definitely NO distortion. It's an OVERDRIVE. Totally different story.

"It doesn't have to be green to sound like a tubescreamer!"
Yep: tubescreamer, that's exactly the sound it makes. But in my opinion a bit more 'refined', and without the TS-related loss of bass and with smoother mids. And it has true bypass!
Nice and mild, incredibly warm. It only gets aggressive when your playing style is aggressive.
Doesn't sound boxy at all. Sounds like the overdrive channel of a real expensive tube amp.

I use this with the following gear: Gibson Les Paul, Fender USA Telecaster, Yamaha SG, Laney VC30 class A tube combo and some effects pedals (mostly Boss because they're reliable and I like their sound).
The Alberta sounds fantastic on all guitars and interacts very dynamic with my amp. I like it most with my Tele!

Conclusion: an amazing overdrive stompbox for blues, rock, classic rock,... Just don't expect hi-gain sounds from it, by itself. (However, a friend of mine also has one and he uses it to push his 50w Marshall JCM800 - must be the best heavy overdriven sound I ever heard!!)

So far so good...

??
I hope I'll never need them.

I play a lot of different stuff... mostly indierock (Pixies, The Smiths, Echo & The Bunnymen, Fischer-Z, The Sound), 70s/80s postpunk (Gang Of Four, The Chameleons, Joy Division), new wave (The Cure), classic rock, bluesy licks,... The Alberta is a perfect match for all that.
I've been playing for more than 15 years now and have owned/tried *hundreds* of overdrive boxes over the years. Along with the Marshall Guv'Nor and Ibanez Tubescreamer this is the best I've come across!
I can't imagine playing without it anymore. My playing has improved a LOT since I have it. If it were stolen or lost, I'd buy it again the same day.
I got it as a present from my wife. BEST present ever!
By the way, it has a blue LED. I love it. My wife loves it. Everybody loves it.

its a stomp BoX.

from what i know the alberta is a ts808 copy made with some tlc in denmark. i was trying to get my hands on an original ts808 but had no luck (under $1000Au). i went to a shop and got every ts808 copy and the re-issue by ibanez and fell in love with the alberta. it is tru bypass which i wanted cos its good to mix things up. its warm and round like the ts808 and keeps its your end well. bieng a ts808 copy IT HAS A MID BOOST! this is a great sound but id like to have the option.

its made of metal, i cant afford a backup and i dont think il ever need 1 (its a risk i take)

never used them

I studied jazz and i teach and play most styles(some badly) exept clasical. this pedal obviously does roch and blues best and won`t do metal or real heavy rock

Damn i wish it had a switch that turned off the mid boost(this creates that nasal sound) dont get me rong it sounds great but sometimes i want a natrul sound without further complications to my pedal board. im reserchin the possibility of getting one put in.(please contact me if u know it can be done)

... Well, 3 knobs and a stomp switch. Gain, level, tone. No problem.

I like the somewhat nasal tone. For many songs I prefer that midrangy guitar sound and Alberta gives me that. Don't like the Tube Screamer. I like the Fulldrive 2 a lot too, but I use these two pedals for different things. I will normally not give a 10, thinking people exaggerate when having recently acquired something. However, having used Alberta for 3-4 years now for almost half of the songs I play, it would be odd if not giving a least 9?

Never had a problem.

Never needed it

I play mainly rock and have played guitar for 44 years. For a slightly nasal tone Alberta is best, otherwise I use Fulldrive 2. These 2 pedals are equally important to me and fulfill my needs. Have used both for a couple of years.

Easy to use. Gain, Volume and Tone.

I played with the pedal on various Marshall, Fender and Matchless amps. The pedal sounds "best" with the Marshall type amps. But comparing it to other quality pedals (keeley etc.) reveals that the sound is quite nasal. I know it's a matter of taste what you like in overdrive pedals but I actually found it to have a "closed" and flat sound. An interesting thing about it is that you (to a certain degree) can hear your original guitar signal almost parallel to the overdrive effect which makes it quite dynamic.

Was very stabil the 3 months I had it.

T-rex is a relatively new company. In the beginning they were helpful when I called them concerning other products. But now (when they have succes) it seems that the service is getting worse and focuses on well-known clients..

I have been playing for 20 years. The last 10 professionally. I've, over the years, learned that it's much better to buy 1 high quality pedal/amp than 6 cheap ones. Of course it should be based on your financial situation an musical stadium. This overdrive is OK - maybe it's just not the one for me.