What Are the Differences Between Overdrive, Distortion and Fuzz Pedals?
Overdrive, distortion, and fuzz are the three most famous types of guitar pedals. These effects have been revered by players since the dawn of the instrument and are an intrinsic part of rock and roll. But despite being similar, they are not the same.
Each effect has its own unique characteristics and features that can completely alter your guitar tone. While overdrive pedals offer a low-gain creamy sound with lots of dynamics, distortion, and fuzz are on the more extreme side of the spectrum, being synonymous with a gritty and compressed sound.
Today, we will explain the difference between overdrive, distortion, and fuzz, as well as present you with our top recommendations on each category. Let's get started!
In a hurry? Check out our selection of the best overdrive, distortion, and fuzz pedals at the end of the article.
A Brief History of Distortion in Guitar Music
Nowadays, when we think about distortion, the guitar instantly comes to mind. The history of the instrument is so deeply tied to the birth of this effect that it is impossible to talk about one without mentioning the other. But it wasn't always like that.
When the first guitar amplifiers came out in the 1940s, a clean, pristine tone was all the rage, and any type of dirt in your sound was considered an undesirable malfunction. It wasn't until the rock n roll revolution that distortion took a whole new meaning.
The history of the effect is filled with folklore and legends, though. Like with any innovation in music, it is based on experimentation and breaking the norms. At the beginning of the 1950s, guitar players realized that turning the volume of a tube amp all the way up would result in a dirty and ragged tone: it was the birth of the overdrive.
Some guitarists even resorted to damaging their amplifiers to push the boundaries on how distorted a guitar could get: it is the case with the tone on the song "Rocket 88" by Ike Turner. Legend has Willie Kizart damaged his amp while transporting it to the studio and decided to record his part anyway. The result was a tone that's similar to what we nowadays call fuzz.
The first distortion-based guitar pedals appeared in the 1960s and were quickly adopted by bands such as The Kinks and The Rolling Stones, leading to a complete change in the history of music.
Overdrive, Distortion, and Fuzz - Differences and Characteristics
What Are Overdrive Pedals?
MMK Electrics Red Cream Soda Pedal
Overdrive is the basis for all other distortion effects. It is the sound you get when you crank the volume of a tube amp all the way up. The result is a thick-sounding guitar tone loved by players across all genres, especially blues and more traditional styles of rock and roll.
Overdrive pedals make it much more convenient to achieve this kind of sound, as they eliminate the need to turn your amplifier volume to "dangerous" levels and offer more tone flavors and parameters to experiment with.
One reason many guitar players love the overdrive effect is because of the dynamic control it offers: it sounds different depending on how soft or hard you play each note, allowing for many more expression possibilities.
As an example of the effect, we have the song "Pride and Joy", by Stevie Ray Vaughn. The guitarist was a fan of the Tube Screamer overdrive pedal. Listen to how the effect allows for a thick yet expressive tone.
These are the main characteristics of overdrive pedals:
- Overdrive pedals have a lower gain ceiling.
- The effect has a higher amount of tone control and dynamics when compared to its counterparts.
- These pedals offer a cleaner tone that's excellent for bar chords and rhythm guitar.
- The tone of an overdrive pedal can vary greatly depending on its model and components.
What Are Distortion Pedals?
Joe Gore Gross Distortion Pedal
Distortion is the grittier brother of the overdrive. It produces a more distorted and compressed sound with lots of sustain. This style of sound manipulation is called "hard clipping".
Distortion is a quite vast term, so many tone styles fall under its umbrella. On one side, we have more traditional pedals that are based on analog circuits; On the other, modern and innovative effect units that are based on digital circuitry.
Distortion is synonymous with styles such as heavy metal and hard rock, but it's a quite versatile effect that can be found on the pedalboard of many legendary guitar players. While it's hard to choose a song that showcases the distortion pedal, listening to "Basket Case" by Green Day will give a better idea of the flavor of the effect. Notice how it is much more compressed and has way more sustain than the overdrive.
The main characteristics of distortion pedals:
- Distortion has a higher gain ceiling, allowing you to push the effect further.
- The effect has lots of sustain and can make your tone sound very compressed.
- There are many types of distortion pedals, from analog ones to modern, digital-based units.
- Using distortion for solos is an excellent idea, as it helps the guitar to cut through the mix.
What Are Fuzz Pedals?
EarthQuaker Devices Hoof Fuzz Pedal
The fuzz pedal is a thing of its own. It is an extreme type of distortion with many flavors and variants but is usually associated with a buzzy, saturated, in-your-face sound. The effect is achieved by using transistors in its circuit.
The world of fuzz is so vast, and there are lots of classic units that are sought-after: the fuzz face, the big muff, and many more. Nowadays, many pedals take inspiration from these classics to bring the effect to artists in a more modern fashion.
The effect is a favorite among guitarists of all genres but rose to fame with garage rock and psychedelic rock. Throughout history, it has become a staple in the tone of many players: Jimi Hendrix, Keith Richards, and Jack White, just to name a few.
As an example of this effect, we had to choose one of the first songs to popularize the fuzz: "Satisfaction", by the Rolling Stones. The pedal used in this guitar part was a Maestro Fuzz, which first came out in the 1960s.
These are the main characteristics of fuzz pedals:
- Fuzz pedals are famous for their buzzy and saturated tone.
- The effect uses transistors to give the tone its gritty characteristic.
- There are lots of types of fuzz pedals, and many modern pedals are based on classic units from the past.
- Fuzz pedals are very versatile and can be used on anything from riffs to solos.
Top Picks for Overdrive, Distortion, and Fuzz Pedals
Now that you know the difference between overdrive, distortion, and fuzz guitar pedals, here are our top picks. We selected three effects units for each category, taking into account factors such as tone, playability, and versatility.
Best Overdrive Pedals
MMK Electrics Red Cream Soda Pedal
The MMK Electronics Red Cream Soda is a very versatile overdrive, with a full-bodied tone. It is based on Centaur and TS-style overdrives. One of its flagship characteristics is the treble cut, which can thicken the sound of your guitar considerably.
Spicy Pedals Jalapeno Screamer Verde Pedal
The Spicy Pedals Jalapeno Screamer is one of the most versatile overdrive pedals in our shop, as it can go from subtle creamy break up to extremely distorted tones while having lots of dynamic control and character.
Best Distortion Pedals
Joe Gore Gross Distortion Pedal
The Joe Gore Gross is a pedal that can go from subtle distortion to heavily compressed tones. It has an impressive number of 228 clipping diode configurations, selected via its two 12-position rotary switches, making it one of the most versatile distortion units on our website.
Dirty Haggard 386 Distortion Pedal
The Dirty Haggard 386 is simple yet powerful, featuring two power amp LM386 chips. It is quite versatile as well, as it covers everything from moderate overdrive to heavy distortion. One of the best characteristics of this pedal is its built-in noise suppression feature.
Best Fuzz Pedals
EarthQuaker Devices Hoof Fuzz Pedal
The EarthQuaker Devices Hoof is one of the most famous modern fuzz pedals. It is based on the classic green Russian fuzz circuit that was made famous in the 1980s and 1990s but with modern twists, such as the scooped mids and quieter circuitry.
Wonderful Audio Technology Fuzz Lands Pedal
The Wonderful Audio Technology Fuzz Lands combines JFET, germanium, and silicon transistors to help you achieve innovative tones. With its many parameters and controls, you can go from vintage to modern flavors of fuzz with the flick of a switch.
Bonus: Multi-Distortion Pedals
Many pedals on the market offer a combination of overdrive, distortion, and/or fuzz. These can be an excellent choice if you're looking to add some versatility to your pedalboard without losing precious real estate.
Haunted Labs/Cusack Music Carolina Reaper Pedal
One example of a multi-distortion pedal is the Carolina Reaper, a collaboration between Haunted Labs and Cusack Music. This pedal combines a germanium fuzz and a germanium overdrive, both with their own separate circuits, allowing for lots of experimentation and versatility.
Humanoid FX Goblin Pedal
Despite its compact size, the Humanoid FX Goblin features an overdrive and a fuzz circuit. This is an excellent pedal for those who are short in space on their pedalboard or simply looking for compactness and versatility.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Combine Overdrive, Distortion, and Fuzz Pedals?
Sure! It is a great idea to explore the different nuances you can get when combining these pedals. For example, one of the most popular combinations is to use an overdrive pedal to push a distortion or a fuzz even further, making your tone cut through the mix more easily.
Should I Keep My Amp Tone Clean When Using Distortion Pedals?
There is no hard rule. Some guitar players like to run their distortion into a clean amplifier for versatility and convenience, some prefer to push the gain of the amp a little (often when using fuzz). We recommend you experiment with different settings.
Conclusion
These are the main differences between overdrive, distortion, and fuzz pedals. While overdrive can give you a thick sound with lots of dynamic control, distortion and fuzz are supposed to push the boundaries on how dirty a tone can get. No matter your playing style, make sure to explore and experiment with all three effects!
Below is a recap of all the pedals mentioned in the article. These are some of our top picks for the best overdrive, distortion, and fuzz units.
|
Effect Type |
Pedal |
Price |
|
Overdrive |
$195.00 |
|
|
Overdrive |
$150.00 |
|
|
Distortion |
$289.00 |
|
|
Distortion |
$125.00 |
|
|
Fuzz |
$179.00 |
|
|
Fuzz |
$190.00 |
|
|
Multi-Distortion |
$229.00 |
|
|
Multi-Distortion |
$110.00 |
Make sure to check out our complete selection of guitar pedals!
Bonus: Use the code IASN10 at checkout for an extra 10% discount!