If you want to dirty-up the sound of your electric guitar then an overdrive or distortion pedal is exactly what you need. Since overdrive and distortion is what makes that classic, raw electric guitar sound possible, for most guitarists, it's an absolute essential.
Overdrive & Distortion: The Most Popular Stompboxes
Guitarists use effect pedals to sculpt their guitar sound and give it their own unique flavour, and one of the most popular guitar effects has to be the overdrive or distortion. These effects distort the signal of your guitar, giving it that timeless and iconic rock or metal-style sound. Overdrive pedals have a milder effect than distortion pedals, and usually add some tasty and warm overtones on the side, making them a really versatile effect that's been used to play everything from blues and hard rock to indie and new wave. You can also set up an overdrive or 'tube-screamer' to serve as a kind booster pedal to inject more saturation into the sound of a valve-driven guitar amplifier. Distortion, on the other hand, is more extreme than overdrive and delivers a thick sound that's usually combined with some compression to knock off the sharp sonic edges.
Well-Known Overdrive Pedals
At Bax Music, we stock a mind-boggling array of different overdrive and distortion pedals. One of the most well-known pedal builders is Boss who don't just offer high-grade sound for a good price, but have built some icons, including the subtle SD-1 Overdrive and the far-less subtle MT-2 Metalzone. When it comes to tube-screamers, Ibanez and Maxon are considered the masters: rock history wouldn't be the same without the Ibanez TS9 and Maxon OD-9. Another really popular name is Fulltone, who produce the legendary OCD Overdrive pedal. If you're just starting to build your pedalboard, then you could opt for some entry-level pedals from brands like Behringer, who offer a really affordable way to get to know the sound of overdrive and distortion.
Frequently Asked Questions About Overdrive & Distortion Pedals
What does a distortion pedal do and what does it sound like?
A distortion pedal radically changes the standard clean sound of your guitar and amplifier. At any volume, you can get the same level of distortion, giving you an outspoken and raw, powerful sound no matter what.
What's an overdrive pedal?
Overdrive pedals adds a mild level of distortion to the sound of a guitar or emphasise the sound of a valve-driven amplifier. An overdrive can either be set up to add some light dirt to a clean signal or to boost a distorted signal, taking it up an extra level.
