Hello! What distortion effects you use should depend significantly on your guitar and amp. The Crowther Hotcake, one of Ed’s favorite distortion pedals, sounds fantastic through a Vox amp, but lackluster through a Fender (hence Ed’s switch to a Carl Martin AC-Tone, a pedal designed to make a Fender sound like a dirty Vox). I’d recommend the Hotcake, which Thom has used as well, if you have an amp that it sounds good with. However, all of the following distortion pedals are excellent choices depending on your setup and the sound that you’re looking for (though there may be an ever better one out there to suite you).
From Thom’s page (emphasis added):
2008-2010 In Rainbows/From The Basement/Atoms for Peace Tour
Board 1
Guitar - Boss TU2 - Telenordia Kompressor - Fulldrive 2 Mosfet - Bixonic Expandora - EHX Holy Grail Reverb - Vox AC30 OR Board 2
Boss LS-2 (for acoustic, disconnected)
(Powered by daisy-chain from the Boss TU2)
From Ed’s page:
Overdrive/Distortion:
BOSS OD-1(analog man modded)
BOSS SD1
Carl Martin AC Tone
Ed’s main source of distortion for shows in 2011 and for the 2012 tour. Effectively replaced his Crowther Hotcake, which is designed to work with a Vox amp and so likely did not work well with his new Fender Vibro-Kings.
CSL Super Fuzz
Part of Ed’s 2014 theGigRig pedalboard.
Crowther Hotcake
Acquired some time between OK Computer and Kid A, the Hotcake almost immediately became Ed’s main source of distortion for his Vox AC30. It served as a fundamental part of certain ambient sounds requiring distortion, such as his pseudo-Ondes Martenot. It is also used on its own on Myxomatosis.
When Ed switched to the Fender Vibro-Kings, the Hotcake was replaced by the Carl Martin AC Tone. Though initially part of Ed’s 2014 theGigRig board, Ed ultimately decided on the Wampler Euphoria instead.
2014 Settings: Level 1, Presence 1, Drive 1.
Ibanez Tube Screamer TS-808
Klon Centaur
Ed has the “Gold Horsie” version. Acquired some time around 2010-11. Used for touring in 2011 and 2012.
2012 Settings: Gain 2, Treble 12, Output 9.
2014 Settings: Gain 9 OR 1, Treble 12, Output 9:30.
Lovetone Big Cheese
Used live for fuzz sounds in 1997 and 1998, then (after a lengthy absence) in 2011 and 2012.
Marshall Shredmaster
Used during the OK Computer Era, a (very short) time when ALL THREE members of Radiohead were using them at once.
ProCo Rat
Used when exactly…? This might be as much of a myth as Jonny’s use of one.
Voodoo Lab Sparkle Drive
Used from 2002 to 2009.
Wampler Euphoria
Part of Ed’s 2014 theGigRig pedalboard.
2014 Settings: Tone 11, Bass 8, Volume 11:30, Gain 11:45, Voicing Open.
