Colin
Well-known member
heeeeeeeeere's Johnny
- Thread starter Hookpunch
- Start date
Lucidology
Well-known member
the DS-1's made in Japan are supposed to the superior sounding ones...
So always check were they are made on the bottom of the pedal..
Distortion is simply a thicker amount of gain,
compared to an almost transparent gain from an overdrive ...
Distortion is often a harmonically complex tone created ,
which over takes the natural sound of the guitar...
Overdrive keeps the natural sound of the guitar in tact,
yet adds some grit or girth to the tone,,,
So always check were they are made on the bottom of the pedal..
Distortion is simply a thicker amount of gain,
compared to an almost transparent gain from an overdrive ...
Distortion is often a harmonically complex tone created ,
which over takes the natural sound of the guitar...
Overdrive keeps the natural sound of the guitar in tact,
yet adds some grit or girth to the tone,,,
Rossie
Well-known member
- Joined
- Sep 20, 2006
- Messages
- 513
I have a Keeley DS1, sounds miles better than a stock one. You would never want a stock BOSS ever again. But if it's a Made in Japan BOSS, then it's a different story 
Difference of distortion and overdrive:
Guitar Effects - What They Do
Difference of distortion and overdrive:
Guitar Effects - What They Do
Tim O'Sullivan
Well-known member
Overdrive always sounds better than distortion to me.
Differences
I was watching a Jorge Tripps interview where he explained that overdrive is played through a distorted tube amp. You're not getting much distortion from the pedal because it doesn't produce much, so you stack gains on top of the amp. If you play an overdrive through a clean amp, then you will get an extremely subtle distortion from the gains stacking but not a lot.
Distortion and fuzz on the other hand is the opposite extreme. Instead of playing through a distorted tube amp, you usually play through a clean amp, and the sound becomes completely clipped from the pedal (square waves). Most of the gain comes from the amp, and the pedal does all of the distortion. If you distort a distorted amp, you'll generally get an undesirable thick wall of distortion, where not many notes are going to come out.
I prefer fuzz (specifically a Way Huge Swollen Pickle Mark 1), but when I'm doing some bluesy rock, a Tube Screamer is my best friend. Most metal players I hang out with are generally overdrivers, so I'm kind of a black sheep even in metal. It's up to you though. I recommend if you are going to play an overdriver, to use a tube amp.
I was watching a Jorge Tripps interview where he explained that overdrive is played through a distorted tube amp. You're not getting much distortion from the pedal because it doesn't produce much, so you stack gains on top of the amp. If you play an overdrive through a clean amp, then you will get an extremely subtle distortion from the gains stacking but not a lot.
Distortion and fuzz on the other hand is the opposite extreme. Instead of playing through a distorted tube amp, you usually play through a clean amp, and the sound becomes completely clipped from the pedal (square waves). Most of the gain comes from the amp, and the pedal does all of the distortion. If you distort a distorted amp, you'll generally get an undesirable thick wall of distortion, where not many notes are going to come out.
I prefer fuzz (specifically a Way Huge Swollen Pickle Mark 1), but when I'm doing some bluesy rock, a Tube Screamer is my best friend. Most metal players I hang out with are generally overdrivers, so I'm kind of a black sheep even in metal. It's up to you though. I recommend if you are going to play an overdriver, to use a tube amp.
Tim O'Sullivan
Well-known member
Holy old thread alert!
And nearly 5 years later, overdrive still sounds better than distortion to me!
And nearly 5 years later, overdrive still sounds better than distortion to me!
dwells
Well-known member
I'll give u the shorter version : The Xoric BB preamp Over drive pedal is all you will ever need !! done
DrKev
Moderator
There is no fundamental difference between distortion, overdrive, and fuzz. It's like the difference between a Cox's Pippin, a Pink Lady and a Granny Smiths - they're all still apples, just different names for different varieties.
Two words - Radial Engineering. Just too awesome for any more words.
Two words - Radial Engineering. Just too awesome for any more words.
Spudmurphy
Well-known member
I've just had a look at the Rad Engineering site and was "met" by a picture of Luke.
I'm no snob when it comes to tone and have used a 15 quid overdrive in the past. - The rad engineering site seems to imply that the overdrive units are digital and these are often frowned on by armchair critics. What unit do you recommend DrKev and is it digital?
Norrin Radd
Well-known member
I thought Distortion was a square wave effect and OD was a sine wave effect, no?
I prefer ODs. I like the smooth sound of OD vs. the more raw tone of distortion. But I still like my ODs with tons of gain.
I prefer ODs. I like the smooth sound of OD vs. the more raw tone of distortion. But I still like my ODs with tons of gain.
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ScoobySteve
Well-known member
I thought Distortion was a square wave effect and OD was a sine wave effect, no?
I prefer ODs. I like the smooth sound of OD vs. the more raw tone of distortion. But I still like my ODs with tons of gain.
Fuzz was square wave I thought.... I need to study again. Story of my life.
Both the distortion and overdrive are circuits that alter (distort) original input signal. In terms of signal processing, every system "add" some distortion to input signal.
Our guitar amplifiers does that also, besides adding pure gain which is manifesting in increasing the volume level. In some cases distortion is unwanted, like in radio technology, but in our world distortion gives color to our tone.
Best "color" or best distortion comes form good old tube amp when you crank your amp and make your tube working in saturation state. In this state tube adds a lot of "color" to our sound. That color comes from higher harmonics of distorted signal.
Many guitar stomp boxes try to mimic the distortion, soft clipping, of tube amp in saturation and overdrive is typical example.
Distortion stompbox produce harder clipping and roughly distort input signal, usually using clipping of output diode, which is little bit "farther" from tube saturation.
If the drive channel of your amp can produce enough distortion then overdrive is best thing for you to add little "Mojo", as Mr Steve Vai likes to say.
If you prefer Marshall type of amp then you need more distortion from your pedal so DS-1 would be right choice.
Our guitar amplifiers does that also, besides adding pure gain which is manifesting in increasing the volume level. In some cases distortion is unwanted, like in radio technology, but in our world distortion gives color to our tone.
Best "color" or best distortion comes form good old tube amp when you crank your amp and make your tube working in saturation state. In this state tube adds a lot of "color" to our sound. That color comes from higher harmonics of distorted signal.
Many guitar stomp boxes try to mimic the distortion, soft clipping, of tube amp in saturation and overdrive is typical example.
Distortion stompbox produce harder clipping and roughly distort input signal, usually using clipping of output diode, which is little bit "farther" from tube saturation.
If the drive channel of your amp can produce enough distortion then overdrive is best thing for you to add little "Mojo", as Mr Steve Vai likes to say.
If you prefer Marshall type of amp then you need more distortion from your pedal so DS-1 would be right choice.
DrKev
Moderator
Most stomp box-type single-effect OD/Distortion units are still analogue so it's really a moot point. I love the Radial "Bones" series, which are smaller solid-state versions of their excellent Tonebone series (Luke used to have a Tonebone Classic in his rig before he downsized from the CAE/Bradshaw rack system).
The Texas Bones is what I have at the moment. Despite their marketing blurb, it's far more versatile than SRV or even Billy Gibbons type of thing. Being a twin channel pedal means I can set different EQs and volumes for 'each channel', be it rhythm and lead sounds or two differently voiced leads. It's a wonderfully reactive and toneful pedal that doesn't get in the way of my playing.
I will add their Hollywood Bones Distortion to the board at some point, which is more of distortion than OD, and will suit the higher gain tones I want better. They also have London Bones which does classic crushing Marshall type tones.
But the thing I love about Radial gear is not just the tone, it's the quality. Even with the gain and volume maxxed out, you'll be very impressed at little noise there is. And they're built like tanks too. Their DIs and studio gear are legendary with sound engineers. It's a shame their guitar pedals are not better known. The only user list I've ever seen that's more impressive is on the back of a pack of Slinkys!
HTSMetal
Well-known member
Jimmyb
Well-known member
Sweet!
ScoobySteve
Well-known member
Was the chandler prior to orafterthe BK Butler tube driver? Billy gibbons, Watch, and Eric Johnson made that things famous. Awesome!
Jimmyb
Well-known member
It's the same thing. The circuit was designed by Butler, Chandler wanted to market it with their name, there was a falling out which got a bit messy.
The outcome is that now you can get them direct from BK.
The outcome is that now you can get them direct from BK.
ScoobySteve
Well-known member
Watch... stupid tablet auto correct... SATCH!
Tim O'Sullivan
Well-known member
I always have loved the bog standard Boss Overdrive. No mods, just the basic 39 quid one. Pure bliss!
DrKev
Moderator
And I just can't get along with Boss gear at all. My ears just don't like them.
Cheeky plug - I have a vintage MIJ 1986 Super Overdrive in 9/10 condition, PM me if anyone is interested?
Cheeky plug - I have a vintage MIJ 1986 Super Overdrive in 9/10 condition, PM me if anyone is interested?
