how do you get more juice (or sustain) from a distortion pedal?

[mbengs1]

there are plenty of distortion pedals out there but most of them lack gain or sustain. I found a way to fix this is to use a graphic equalizer as a boost. but i still need a bit more.what other techniques can lengthen sustain. i thought a compressor would work or maybe another boost like an ep booster or mxr echoplex. but is there any other ways out there?

[1001gear]

How long in seconds?

[goodhonk]

Compressor after the distortion would work. For an all in one check out the pigtronix philosopher's rock.

[goodhonk]

And a wah in front works well to add controllable feedback and sustain, ime.

[mbengs1]

Compressor after the distortion would work. For an all in one check out the pigtronix philosopher's rock.

 

 

does a compressor make the distortion squishy? I always used compressor to add sustain in multi effects units. but in individual pedals compressors seem to have a warmer and squishier sound.

[goodhonk]

Depending on the compressor, but i think you'll mostly notice it in the attack. Really depends on how you have it set.

[WWW]

A big muff will sustain for days if you let it.

 

Some vibrato in the fretting hand will add sustain.

 

More amp volume will add sustain.

 

The guitar, pickups and hardware are the base though. If your base isn't a good sustain platform then I think you're looking for a band-aid fix with a pedal.