need some help picking out a B-day present

[VanZeppelin667]

ive been looking for something to replace my overdrive, (im a stomp box kinda guy myself, but i have been checking this out http://www.musiciansfriend.com/produ...ler?sku=150313

but im not good when it comes to these things, i play with a southern/ british crunch, i realized that, the vox is an amp modeler, is that like something you put on a rack? anybody ever try one out? and is there a foot switch i can get for it, i apologize if i sound ignorant as hell, but ya got learn somewhere,
or if anyone has any suggestions on some form of other over drive pedal im all ears, i really just want the tube in vox so my amps wont be 100% solid state, thanks in advance!

[Axxman300]

Check out an Ibanez Tube Screamer some time before you buy. You don't lose any signal with it and it has great tone.

[againstthewind]

Can't go wrong with the tube screamer mentined by Ax above. Also maybe check out the Marshall Bluesbreaker, or Bluesbreaker II. I own both, pretty similar, both have solid tone.

[TheMightyCopenHalenII]

Boss, Ibanez Tubescreamer, and VOX even has some
Tube overdrive units out there. There's lots of good
boutique units out there too, and I don't you could
go wrong with any of them or any of the three mentioned
above.

What kind of amp will you be putting the unit through?
If you've got a decent tube amp, and want that tone,
the Tonelab might be a bit much if you're just looking for
a basic OD unit. The Tonelab is basically a desktop recording
unit as well as for live use. It's not a rackmount unit. There is
a footswitch available I believe, but the Tonelab SE is basically
a floor equipped version of the Tonelab with all the inherent
footswitches and expression pedals.

[VanZeppelin667]

well i have a Moog/gibson labs series 100 watt, that i run to a marshall 4x12 cab, pedal wise, all i use is a crybaby, mxr phase 90 (evh style) and a digitech overdrive straight to my amp, the guitar is use is a gibson les paul, and im so dang lost on what to get, cuz i gave to order it because im out in westren kentucky, so i dont get to test these things, kinda makes it hard

[TheMightyCopenHalenII]

well i have a Moog/gibson labs series 100 watt, that i run to a marshall 4x12 cab, pedal wise, all i use is a crybaby, mxr phase 90 (evh style) and a digitech overdrive straight to my amp, the guitar is use is a gibson les paul, and im so dang lost on what to get, cuz i gave to order it because im out in westren kentucky, so i dont get to test these things, kinda makes it hard

I can't really say how true the bypass is on a Tonelab, but if it's good enough you could just use the stompbox models on there if you wanted to (although, I'm not sure at all as to what paramaters you can/can't turn off to leave only the overdrive on). If you don't want all of the other complements the Tonelab offers besides Overdrive/Distortion models, and only want an OD pedal, then take a chance on an Ibanez Tubescreamer, one of the VOX Tube Overdrive units, or a failsafe BOSS Overdrive as previously mentioned. If you don't like it, you can always sell it on EBay and you can sure as hell buy em on Ebay too to save money and do some experimentation. If you have a fairly transparent clean channel on your amp you could always use the amp models on the Tonelab in addition to the Overdrive models on your lead channel (again if it has a true bypass). I would check out the ZOOM G2, G7 and G9 as well if you're considering the Tonelab route - I can attest that those units do have a fairly true bybass and they also have some Overdrive models.

[solo-ed]

Get a pod xt.

[VanZeppelin667]

ive made up my mind, i appreciate the help cuz im getting what axx suggested (and others), and everyone else, but mostly axx, heres what i picked out, http://www.musiciansfriend.com/produ...sue?sku=150343

still appreciate yalls input, i was goin to get an amp modeler unknowingly and was needing a good overdrive stomp box, boy do i look stupid, oh well wasnt the first.