Distorting: The Facts
The line between overdrive and distortion
pedals can be even fuzzier (no pun
intended) than between overdrives and
boosts. After all, both types of pedals distort
the sound, add volume, and often have
tone controls. Some pedals, like the classic
Pro Co Rat (street $94,
procosound.com),
offer a range of grit from smooth overdrive
to near-fuzz rasp, but a distortion pedal
generally squashes the wave flatter than an
overdrive. As mentioned previously, this
distortion of the sound wave is called clipping.
An overdrive pedal engages in “soft”
clipping, while a distortion effect is said to
produce “hard” clipping.
The oft-asked question, “What is the
best distortion pedal?” is impossible to
answer (as it is for any pedal). The aforementioned
50 distortion pedals available
on a single website represent a range of
“flavors” equivalent to a Penzey’s spice
catalog. It’s like asking, “Which is better—cumin, tarragon, cinnamon, or cardamom?”
Distortion pedals impart distinct character
to your tone. Some impart a British-style
attitude, while other add a heavier, more
saturated flavor reminiscent of Mesa/
Boogie’s famous Dual Rectifier amps.
Because of that, you’re going to have
to try a bunch to get a feel for what suits
you, because the names can be pretty
confusing. While it is a good bet that the
Rocktron Zombie Rectified Distortion
(street $79,
rocktron.com) is suitable for
modern metal, you might never guess
that the Coffin Case BDFX-1 Blood
Drive Distortion (discontinued) is a very
warm- and classic-sounding distortion
that will work well for everything from
blues to hard rock.
Distortion pedals are best used with a
minimum of amp gain, otherwise it’s easy to
end up with a muddy and indistinct tone.
Distortion boxes do not respond as well
as overdrives to attack and guitar-volume
control, but they are great for placing before
a volume pedal in order to get massive rock
sounds at a volume that’s comfortable for a
wedding or Bar Mitzvah gig.