Tonerider BD-1 British Distortion Pedal

This is a very classic 3 buttons stompbox, gain + vol + tone hence the ease of use can only be 10. I would prefer to have a treble / bass control instead of the tone control alone, but this is not a matter of "ease of use", isn't it ?

I totally disagree with earlier posts.
Make me think there are different version of this box on the market ?
I bought mine new, and it is definitively a killer one.
I mostly play on a Peavey Classic 50 410 combo, which is very weak for distortion - but the best for clean sounds, and I play loud.
Around 9 o'clock, this box is very similar to a Marshall Shredmaster. Not 100% the same, because the Shred master has different tone controls, but really very close - and : with no hiss or noise at all, as opposed to the ShredMaster. I'm in love with that sound, very AC/DC or Pink Floyd 'Money' like.
Pushing the gain further, it goes to very modern sounds. I can understand why someone playing since 30 won't like it : it is close to Steva Vai, Nalbatov sounds... Not really tailored for my grandfather !!
I love it, my favorite preset is between 8 and 10 o'clock.

The usual Gain Volume and Tone controls. Couldn't more simple.

My three favourite guitars are a PRS CE22. An Epiphone Dot
(Copy of a Gibson 335) I installed genuine Gibson '57
Burstbuckers. A Farida Les Paul copy which has Tonerider
Rebel 90 single coil p/ups. I play these through a Fender Twin
Reverb which gives a very clean sound.
No discernable noise, or "POPS" when the pedal is switched either on or off.
A great sound. Very different from the Tonerider American Overdrive. I use this pedal on numbers like Alright Now (Free) and Donna Summers Hot Stuff. I get exactly the sound I've been looking for on numbers like these.

So far - so good. No problems, does what I want it to each time I switch it in.
I always use without a back up.

Not needed customer support yet.

My band play anything from 70's Disco/Dance to rock, and anything in between. Usually have to change sounds radically between numbers.

A sturdy construction, and a good build quality.

This is pretty easy to dial in considering it has 3 knobs. They are pretty expressive when adjusting. Pretty basic, just twist and tweak until you are satisfied.

I play a B.C. Rich Mockingbird Special into a Fender Hot Rod Deville. Like any distortion pedal, it will create some noise, however compared to some it is very minimal in my setup. This is the category that really matters for most readers, and while I can't say this is the best distortion pedal I can also say this isn't the worst. Though it is one of the better ones I have used. I honestly don't believe that deserves a 2 that the previous poster stated. I am able to get a very good distortion sound reminiscent of Mesa Rectifier stuff. I am not sure if it was just the other posters amp (which is a great amp) but when trying this pedal with other amps (i.e. Peavey Classic 30/50, Crate V series) the Fender Hot Rod seemed to like this pedal more. It even sounds great in lower tunings, which I play in C and standard. I find the secret to this pedal is to turn up the volume (around 4 o'clock) and keep the gain around noon. This gets me some great distortion, that is nice and thick with the right amount of bite. Another great thing about this pedal is that it is true bypass with an analog path. This still allows for your guitar and amp to really open up and give a nice growl, at least in my setup.

I haven't gigged with this, but it seems to be as sturdy as other pedals that I have used in the past.

I haven't had to deal with customer support, though the dealers for Tonerider products are top notch, especially RH Factor Guitars.

I play everything from classic rock to modern hard rock. I enjoy a nice overdrive and also thick distortion. This pedal does deliver the sound I am looking for, which would probably compete with other high gain amps. If I were to lose this pedal I would definitely buy another. I have actually thought about getting another just to have some different settings with this pedal. I wish it had a switch that could give a bass boost, because it can be very bright. I bought this solely off the company's website clips. I was rather impressed at the sound they captured. It definitely pushes my amp into high gain territory, and to me it sounds absolutely great. I have been playing about 11 years and have gone through a couple of different high gain tube amps. After demoing the Fender Hot Rod series with this pedal I was sold on what Fender's could do and how versatile they can be. This product is great and I am eager to try their version of the American Overdrive. Do yourselves a favor and try this pedal, it really is better than the last reviewer made it out to be.

This is your basic Distortion pedal with volume, tone & gain.I COULD NOT get a useable tone out of this thing.I tweeked my amp, I ran the pedal thru every conceivable configuration---it is a HORRIBLE sounding pedal!!

I play a PRS singlecut guitar with PRS #7 humbucking pickups thru a Mesa Boogie Lonestar 2x12 amp. I could not get a decent tone out of this pedal. There was so much hype about this thing and for the life of me I have NO idea why!!

It seems to be built in a sturdy steel case like most pedals but that really doesn't matter if it is not useable!!

Did not contact them.

I have been playing for over 30 years.I play everything from Zeppelin to The Grateful Dead, Satriani to Eric Johnson,SRV to Santana, The Allman Brothers to Govt Mule etc...I play very well built professional Equipment(PRS,Mesa Boogie)I have tried many a pedal in my 30+ years of playing--PLEASE do not waste your time or money.At times this pedal makes you sound like you are playing in a tube,it is whiny,tinny and hissy.Want a nice fat crunchy distortion that has character and great tone? Well YOU WILL NOT FIND IT WITH THIS PEDAL!!

This is NOT A GOOD effects pedal!! I was EXTREMELY dissappointed! The description does not even come close to what this pedal can and can not do!!The tone is HORRIBLE, very hissy, tinny and at times sounds like you are playing in a tube! The tone control is awful, you either get a high end biting tinny sound or a low end muddy crappy sound.

I play a PRS singlecut with PRS #7 Humbucking pickups thru a Mesa Boogie Lonestar 2x12 amp( A very high end Quality set up). I have been playing for 30+ years, have giged all over for the past 25 years. Music is my passion, My life!!Trust me about this pedal. I was hoping for a nice fat crunchy rock kind of distortion----NOT GOING FIND IT with this thing!!

It seemed to be built like many other pedals, nice metal casing etc..But I have NO WAY of knowing how dependable it is because after 2 1/2 hours of trying to get this thing to produce an actual tone I could use I sent it back!!

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I play everything from Zeppelin to Satriani, Allmans to the Grateful Dead, Vai to Eric Johnson and just about everything else in between.The guitar is my life, I am more passionate about playing now( At 46) than I have ever been.Pedals and Tone are a very subjective thing, I know this, But trust me DO NOT WASTE your time & Money, Search for something else!! With All the hype over this pedal I really expected something WAY better!!