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Guitar Effects – Distortion

A Distortion pedal functions by … well, by “distorting” the original sound wave.  Some characteristics of a sound wave are a certain shape, a certain amplitude, and a certain frequency.  A distortion pedal will distort some or all of these characteristics by electronic manipulation to achieve the desired distorted tone.

Typically distorted sound is “dirtier” than the original “clean” sound.  If you’re playing “edgy music” … rock, hard rock, grunge, metal, things like that … you’re probably seeking a distorted sound.

While current distortion pedals manipulate the tone through solid-state electronics (most often — some pedals use tubes, but these are most effective in “overdrive” pedals), musicians in the pre-pedal world often used damaged equipment — amplifiers with bad or missing tubes, speakers cut with slits or tears, etc — to achieve a distorted sound!

A distortion pedal and a “fuzz” box are basically the same thing — both distort the original clean signal.  The difference between the two is the degree and character of the distortion. 

You probably do not need both a fuzz and a distortion pedal.  But … depending on the style of music you’re seeking — you’ll find that one works better for you than the other.  The only way to determine which is best for you is to take some time at your local music store and try several pedals.

Distorted guitar offers a thicker and heavier “base” — a single guitar can provide a solid backing for a tune.  Distortion also leads to greater sustain and can feedback in a pleasing manner.  Distortion is most commonly used for solo guitar … but is also effective when using power chords.  However, fully voiced chords quite often lose their punch when distorted.  Distortion can also be effective for bass guitar … although you will generally use a pedal specifically designed for a bass.

About the Author

Joey Robichaux operates Free Sheet Music Downloads, a leading source of free sheet music and guitar tablature since 1998. Free Sheet Music offers thousands of sheet music and tablature downloads, lessons, tips, and articles.

GNI Multi Fuzz and Vintage Distortion

Dunlop GCB95F Crybaby Classic Wah Pedal Bundle With QTR-QTR Instrument Cable & AC Adapter $99.99 Dunlop Crybaby Classic Wah Pedal – GCB95F. The Dunlop Crybaby Classic Fasel Wah is Back! Back in the 1960s, a device was born that would change the course of music – the wah pedal. Those original pedals, which included the first Crybaby, are among the most sought-after effects of all time. These legendary inductors are the key to the expressive, vocal quality of the classic wahs and are finally a…

Dunlop WHE202 Green Rhino Electronic Guitar Effects Pedal Bundle $209.90 Dunlop WHE202 Green Rhino Electronic Guitar Effects Pedal. The legendary Way Huge Green Rhino has returned! The Mk II has all the gorgeous classic overdrive that you crave but it has evolved to include cool new features that make it even more rhinoceriffic. In addition to the Volume, Tone, and Drive controls, you get a 100Hz EQ knob to cut or boost your low end by 12dB. Your low notes can either …

ME-70 Guitar Multi-Effects Pedal with a Boss FS5U foot switch, Samson HP10 Headphones, and (3) Sonic Sense Instrument Cables This Sonic Sense package includes the ME-70 pedal, a Boss FS5U foot switch for extra control of your ME-70, Samson HP10 headphones for playing through your ME70 at all hours of the night, and (3) Sonic Sense instrument cables for connecting all of the equipment together….

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Guitar Effects Pedals the Practical Handbook Book/CD (Softcover) $13.49 Starting with the dawn of effects building and continuing to the present day, this detailed compendium investigates effects pedals and how they can supercharge a guitarist’s sound. Experienced player Dave Hunter offers insight from the top builders and tips on how to get the most from each pedal. The author also dissects chains used by top guitarists in creating memorable recordings. The accompany…

How to Modify Guitar Pedals: A complete how-to package for the electronics newbie on how to modify guitar and bass effects pedals $69.95 This package will teach you exactly how to modify and custom tailor each of your effects pedals to your needs and tastes. No experience needed! Includes: * Complete details on how to modify OVER 80 DIFFERENT EFFECT PEDALS! * Basic Definitions and Concepts of effect pedals, their circuitry, and mods * “Walkthroughs” of various circuits – what all those parts do, and what you can change …

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Harmonic Percolator $225.00 The Harmonic Percolator is a distortion pedal that was made in Milwaukee Wisconsin in the 1970′s. It used a silicon NPN transistor and a germanium PNP transistor in a design that passes even order harmonics while suppressing odd order harmonics. These even order harmonics are more pleasing to the ear than odd order harmonics. This is the original circuit, not someone’s interpretation of it. The …

Used Boss Fz5 Fuzz Distortion Pedal $59.99 In Store Used USED BOSS FZ5 FUZZ DISTORTION PEDAL

Electro-Harmonix Graphic Fuzz XO Fuzz Guitar Effects Pedal $149.7 For the true tonal alchemist, the Electro-Harmonix Graphic Fuzz XO is a unique distortion pedal with 6-band EQ, sensitive to the dynamics of your playing. Sliders for Overdrive, Sustain, and Volume further its array of tones. Use the Graphic Fuzz guitar pedal solely as an EQ or switch on the distortion for total sound sculpting.

Maxon D&S Distortion And Sustainer $142.5 3 controls (distortion, tone, and balance) provide a wide variety of distortion effects, from subtle overdrive to extreme fuzz – all with incredibly low signal-to-noise ratio and full-bandwidth frequency response.

T-Rex Tonebug Fuzz Pedal $99 Of all the effects that can really make an electric guitar solo really stand out, fuzz is clearly the king. Insanely dirty, but also soft and creamy, fuzz differs from distortion by being far more extreme – boosting the guitar’s signal until it clips so much, it turns from a sine wave into a square wave.

Carl Martin The Fuzz $319.9 By using the wave guide’s deep and high controls it is possible to clean up the distortion, and with the 3-band EQ shape the sound in any way needed. With the wave guide, the 3-band EQ, and the extraordinary high maximum gain, it is possible to create distortion sounds going from old blues fuzz, over the mid-’80s hard rock, to more hardcore metal. Features a built-in regulated power supply.

Used Electro-Harmonix Graphic Fuzz Xo Fuzz Guitar Effects Pedal $130.24 For the true tonal alchemist, the Electro-Harmonix Graphic Fuzz XO is a unique distortion pedal with 6-band EQ, sensitive to the dynamics of your playing. Sliders for Overdrive, Sustain, and Volume further its array of tones. Use the Graphic Fuzz guitar pedal solely as an EQ or switch on the distortion for total sound sculpting.True bypassCan be used as standalone EQSuperior midrange scoopsTough and compact die-cast chassis96DC-200BI power supply included

Electro-Harmonix Graphic Fuzz Xo Fuzz Guitar Effects Pedal $149.7 For the true tonal alchemist, the Electro-Harmonix Graphic Fuzz XO is a unique distortion pedal with 6-band EQ, sensitive to the dynamics of your playing. Sliders for Overdrive, Sustain, and Volume further its array of tones. Use the Graphic Fuzz guitar pedal solely as an EQ or switch on the distortion for total sound sculpting.True bypassCan be used as standalone EQSuperior midrange scoopsTough and compact die-cast chassis96DC-200BI power supply included

Mxr M-104 Distortion + Guitar Pedal $69.99 The MXR M-104 DISTORTION + Guitar Pedal can be set to produce low volume controllable distortion or increased to achieve a warm tube overdrive. Maxed out the MXR M-104 Pedal produces an extreme fuzz with long sustain.

Dwarfcraft Shiva Fuzz Guitar Effects Pedal $200 The Dwarfcraft Shiva Fuzz pedal stretches guitar effects limits. Shiva is a fuzz monster, covering all of Dwarfcraft’s fuzzy favorites. The Shiva pedal does beefy tyrannosaurus fuzz, groovy octave fuzz, unsettling science experiment squelching and belching, and both rhythmic and tonal oscillation. Dwarfcraft’s Shiva Fuzz is no ordinary signal-changing pedal. This pedal is a mystery to get lost in. You get sounds that a conventional distortion, fuzz, or reverb pedal simply can’t get. The Shiva Fuzz pedal summons random musical qualities to happen outside of a conventional signal for truly mind-bending results. While the Shiva makes a couple familiar sounds, like a nice beefy power-chord type of fightin’ fuzz, and a snotty octave up, Dwarfcraft found it much more exciting to get odd sounds out of it. Shiva squeels, motorboats, and goes deep with sub-octave powers. Many of these sounds can be switched on via the pedal’s right-mounted Starve switch.

Dwarfcraft Bit Mangler Distortion Guitar Effects Pedal $300 The Dwarfcraft Bit Mangler distortion effect pedal, pairs the wicked Bit fuzz, an extremely cruel and loud circuit, with the smooth octave up and grinding lows of the Vintage Fuzz Master. Both fuzzes have chaos and noise modes available, and the intensity of each is controlled by the stombox’s great big joystick. Formerly produced by Devi Ever USA, the Bit Mangler pedal rips your guitar tone into a new and exciting chaotic noise masterpiece. Vintage Fuzz Master switchVintage Fuzz Master noise toggleVintage Fuzz Master chaos toggleVintage Fuzz Master volume knobBit switchBit noise toggleBit chaos toggleBit volume knobMaster joystickLEDs

Dwarfcraft Dream Mangler Distortion Guitar Effects Pedal $300 The Dwarfcraft Dream Mangler distortion guitar pedal is a monster effect that combines the terrible powers of disaster fuzz, a treble-blasting oscillating screaming demon, and the smooth power of a vintage fuzz master. On one side is a Disaster Fuzz, on the other is a vintage fuzz master for all the destructive tone that you could ask for. Disaster Fuzz is simple and straightforward. The toggle triggers the oscillation, the volume knob adds strength to the sound, and the footswitch engages the effect. Disaster fuzz oscillation is controlled by the joystick, as is the intensity of the Vintage Fuzz master. The result is noise aplenty with volume to spare. The joystick alters the intensity of the disaster fuzz, increasing as it gets closer to the volume pedal. Engaging the toggle produces killer electronic oscillation sounds that buzz and distort in some of the coolest ways possible. The Vintage Fuzz Master produces very smooth blended distortion that is not grating, but produces sound that still could rupture eardrums. It features a noise and chaos toggles. The noise produces splattered tone, much like on the Synth Mangler. The chaos toggle produces destructive noise bursts, with screaming overtones, and the VFM volume lets you push the tone or bring it back.JoystickLEDs for Vintage Fuzz Master (VFM) or Disaster Fuzz (DF)DF volumeDF oscillation toggleDF footswitchVFM volumeVFM noise toggleVFM chaos toggleVFM footswitch

Keeley Fuzz Head Guitar Effects Pedal $209 The Fuzz Head from Keeley is a unique lead boost that combines the best of fuzz and overdrive effects. Transparent, dynamic, and fully tweakable, with an NPN Germanium transistor at its heart but much more up its sleeve. With external Fuzz and Head controls, you can easily call up a number of dynamic fuzz and overdrive effects. The unique Si/Ge switch allows you to control a secondary clipping stage by adding a pair of diodes (one Germanium, one silicon) into the circuit for smoother clipping, more saturation, and loads of sustain. Pedal tweakers will love the internal gain control, which sets the overall range of the external Fuzz control, and the internal tone control or sharpening high-end or cutting it back. A small, flathead screwdriver is all that’s needed to fine tune your tone. Three swappable capacitors are also included with the Fuzz Head, so that if you must change the low-end response of the pedal, you can.NPN Germanium transistor Additional gain stage with a pair of high-gain Darlington silicon transistors for tons of volume Buffered output True-bypass Large blue LED Si mode inserts two silicon diodes in the distortion circuit for an increase in fuzz and compression for more sustain; Ge mode is natural and open-sounding Transparent and dynamic Internal gain and tone controls

Zvex Vexter Fuzz Factory Guitar Effect Pedal $179 The Vexter Fuzz Factory from ZVex is a 5-knob fuzz pedal with 2 NOS ’60s germanium transistors, and it comes in a hand-polished aluminum chassis with hand-silkscreened, 2-color text. Though the circuit isn’t modeled after any one specific classic fuzz, it delivers tones straight out of the 1960s. These 5 knobs control the Fuzz Factory’s parameters at various operating levels, letting you shape your own personalized fuzz effect. ZVex designed the Fuzz Factory to consume less energy than other effects pedals. When on, the Fuzz Factory’s current is less than 3 mA. This fuzz pedal is hand-painted and assembled, and each is unique. Fuzz Factory Controls Volume: Output level Gate: Squelches noise after end of sustain. Turn to the right to eliminate squeals, hiss, and buzz, stopping just as they disappear, or use to tune in exact feedback pitch. Turning to the left opens gate. Compress: Adds attack characteristic when turned to the left, which gets softer to right, and suddenly pinches tone when all the way right. Also tunes in fat, feedbacky fuzz. Lower the Stability and see what happens to this control. Drive: Increases distortion when used as a “normal” fuzz and adjusts feedback pitch and tonal thickness. Stability: Use to control feedback pitch. This is one of the more finicky controls, so it will take some experimentation to get it right. Made with 2 new old stock ’60s germanium transistors Volume, Gate, Compress, Drive, and Stability controls Hand-silkscreened, hand-polished aluminum chassis

Line 6 Dm4 Distortion Modeler Pedal $249.99 The Line 6 DM-4 Distortion Modeler Pedal gives you programmable overdrives and distortions in a floor stompbox. It holds 16 models of vintage overdrive, distortion, and fuzz effects; including the TS-808 Tube Screamer, Fuzz Face, Big Muff, Rat, Octavia, Tone Bender, Tube Driver, and more! With 4 programmable presets and an expression pedal input for realtime control of all effect settings. Bass, middle, and treble controls and true bypass switching.

Used Line 6 Dm4 Distortion Modeler Pedal $175.12 The Line 6 DM-4 Distortion Modeler Pedal gives you programmable overdrives and distortions in a floor stompbox. It holds 16 models of vintage overdrive, distortion, and fuzz effects; including the TS-808 Tube Screamer, Fuzz Face, Big Muff, Rat, Octavia, Tone Bender, Tube Driver, and more! With 4 programmable presets and an expression pedal input for realtime control of all effect settings. Bass, middle, and treble controls and true bypass switching.

Guyatone Rhs-Tzm5 Red Heat Torrid Fuzz Guitar Effects Pedal $199 The Guyatone RHS-TZm5 Red Heat Torrid Fuzz Guitar Effects Pedal is a new take on the classic three-transistor fuzz circuit, designed by notable Japanese engineer Toshi Torii of HAO fame.The Torrid Fuzz offers a variety of wild and wooly tones that can emulate many classic fuzz pedals or create all-new fuzz effects. Level and Depth controls vary the output and degree of distortion while Tone controls a hi-cut filter. +/- Phase control allows for additional tuning of the fuzz effect, while the Attenuator control allows the TZm5 to be optimized for single coils or humbuckers.From classic Fuzz-in-your-Face spit to nu-rock shock, the TZm5 packs a plethora of fuzz effects into a pint-sized package.ControlsLEVEL: Adjusts output level when effect is engaged. Turn clockwise to increase output volume.TONE: Adjusts tone of effect. Turn counter-clockwise to cut high frequency.DEPTH: Adjusts strength of distortion. Turn clockwise for increase distortion.PHASE: Adjusts phase of output signal:+ : POSITIVE PHASE- : NEGATIVE PHASEATTENUATOR: Selects proper input sensitivity against output level from connected instruments. Standard setting is at MAX position, turning counterclockwise to reduce input signal if sound is distorted due to high input signal.Offers a variety of wild and wooly tonesAdjustable output and degree of distortionAttenuator control adjusts for single coils or humbuckers

Used Guyatone Rhs-Tzm5 Red Heat Torrid Fuzz Guitar Effects Pedal $173.13 The Guyatone RHS-TZm5 Red Heat Torrid Fuzz Guitar Effects Pedal is a new take on the classic three-transistor fuzz circuit, designed by notable Japanese engineer Toshi Torii of HAO fame.The Torrid Fuzz offers a variety of wild and wooly tones that can emulate many classic fuzz pedals or create all-new fuzz effects. Level and Depth controls vary the output and degree of distortion while Tone controls a hi-cut filter. +/- Phase control allows for additional tuning of the fuzz effect, while the Attenuator control allows the TZm5 to be optimized for single coils or humbuckers.From classic Fuzz-in-your-Face spit to nu-rock shock, the TZm5 packs a plethora of fuzz effects into a pint-sized package.ControlsLEVEL: Adjusts output level when effect is engaged. Turn clockwise to increase output volume.TONE: Adjusts tone of effect. Turn counter-clockwise to cut high frequency.DEPTH: Adjusts strength of distortion. Turn clockwise for increase distortion.PHASE: Adjusts phase of output signal:+ : POSITIVE PHASE- : NEGATIVE PHASEATTENUATOR: Selects proper input sensitivity against output level from connected instruments. Standard setting is at MAX position, turning counterclockwise to reduce input signal if sound is distorted due to high input signal.Offers a variety of wild and wooly tonesAdjustable output and degree of distortionAttenuator control adjusts for single coils or humbuckers

Fulltone ’69 Mkii Fuzz Guitar Effects Pedal $169.15 Ready to deliver fat and harmonic fuzz whenever you need it, the Fulltone ’69 MkII also cleans up like a vintage Fender amp when you turn down your guitar’s volume control. The Rolling Stones and the Black Crowes have discovered this trick. If you love the first two Hendrix releases, then you’ll love the ’69 MkII fuzz with its two germanium transistors, hand-picked and tested for optimum performance. A Contour knob lets you dial in midrange, harmonics, and sustain, while the Input knob takes the “woofiness” out and gives great overdrive/distortion sounds when backed off. An internal “bias” trimmer allows for adjustment of clipping symmetry, harmonics, and tracking.Specifications subject to change at any given moment due to availability and due to whimsy.True bypass w/LED is standard equipment to preserve tone when the pedal is off!Vintage-style fuzz that’s fat and harmonicCleans up like a vintage Fender ampTwo hand-picked germanium transistorsCountour and Input trim knobsInternal “bias” trimmer adjusts clipping symmetry, harmonics, and trackingVolume and Fuzz controls

Digitech Xhr Hot Rod Distortion Pedal $69.95 The Digitech XHR Hot Rod Distortion Pedal morphs among 3 of the most revered classic distortion stompboxes ever made: the ProCo Rat, the Boss DS-1, and the Arbiter Fuzz Face. The Hot Rod from DigiTech delivers rich rock growls that can be tweaked into a near-limitless array of distortion sounds with a simple twist of the Morph knob. The unique, innovative spectral-contouring EQ provides astonishing tonal range. 2 outputs, one for normal signal out and one with advanced cabinet modeling, make this stompbox ideal for studio or stage! Control on the DigiTech XHR Hot Rod pedal include Level, Tone, Gain, and Morph.Morphs among the ProCo Rat, the Boss DS-1, and the Arbiter Fuzz Face Smooth rock distortion Multiple distortion types Spectral-contouring EQ Clean signal out Cab modeling out Level, Tone, Gain, and Morph controls Studio-quality sound

Electro-Harmonix XO Bass Blogger Distortion Effects Pedal $80.7 The Electro-Hamonix Bass Blogger’s ultra-subtle distortion creates the perfect dialog with your drummer. Dial in your ideal fuzz with the effect pedal’s no-fuss, three-knob design and fuzz/drive selector switch. Dry/effect outputs.