Best Distortion Pedals

When the electric guitar was introduced, musicians noticed that the sound would be distorted if you drove the amplifier beyond its maximum volume. But in the mid-1940's, blues musicians started trying to get certain effects by purposely driving the amplifier to its limits. Then they even would try damaging the amp or speakers to get certain effects. In the '60's, the Rolling Stones started using a commercial amplifier to produce the “fuzz” distortion sound. Ever since, guitarists have been using a wide variety of guitar pedals to create special effects—distortion pedals are just one type. You'll buy a pedal according to the genre of music that you're interested in playing. Pedals are fine-tuned to the specific genre. Here is a guide to some of the best distortion pedals on the market.

There are three basic types of distortion pedals, although there are many specialized pedals for different effects:

• Fuzz—is an effect that some guitarists tried originally to produce by purposely damaging their speakers, like cutting the cone with a razor blade or with a pencil.

• Overdrive—also called a “high-gain pedal”. This attempts to duplicate the tone of an amplifier driven to the extreme. When the power sent to the guitar speaker approaches the maximum rated power, the speaker sound is distorted. The type of transistors in the amplifier will change the sound:

• Silicon transistors: They give a metallic sound.

• Germanium transistors: They give a smoother sound.

• Unipolar transistors: They give a softer, tube-like tone.

• Valve Distortion—This pedal employs a vacuum tube-based circuit, as opposed to solid-state transistors. This pedal produces effects that are described as “crunch” and “saturated”. The “saturated” mode gives maximum sustain (=where the sound of each note is prolonged) , and is preferred for solo playing. “Crunch” compresses the notes together—the opposite of sustaining the notes.

Based on all the consumers' reviews we've scanned, these are the top things they mentioned about their new stuff:

• Valve distortion that “cuts” the notes: Some users noticed that a valve distortion pedal removes the sustain from the notes being played, so that it makes it difficult to play “mellow” music, like for ballads. Look for an overdrive pedal for the more mellow music genres.

• Two functions in one pedal: Some pedals allow for both overdrive and distortion. You might prefer that for greater versatility. Others simply prefer having several pedals.

• Stacking pedals: It is also possible to combine the effects for two or more gain pedals, either to boost or to blend their sounds.

• Other uses: People employ distortion pedals on their keyboard and bass as well.

• Beginner's pedals: There are inexpensive pedals intended for beginners. These are more limited in their range of effects, since it's not certain that a beginner will be able to use all the possible effects of an advanced pedal. You can always upgrade to a more specialized pedal later. Consult an experienced player if you intend to buy an expensive pedal.

• The right pedal depends on the amplifier: A guitar is best in the middle range. A guitar playing tones at the bottom of its range will sound good on its own, but in a band, the drums and bass will drown it out. If the guitar plays at the high end of its range, the cymbals and keyboard will drown it out. There is a distinction between “scooped mids” (where an amplifier stresses high and low tones, but not the middle tones) and “boosted mids”(where the amplifier stresses the middle range). A Fender-brand amplifier tends to stress the bass and treble tones more than the middle tones, so this is a “scooped mids” amp, whereas the Marshall-brand amplifier stresses the mids range. For a Fender mids scooped amp, you'll want to use a mids boosted pedal, to make up for the lack of emphasis of the middle range.

• Surroundings: If you are playing on stage or in a recording studio, you will want your guitar to stress the middle range. If you are playing in a room, where you're playing solo, you can use a scooped pedal and amp, to appreciate the low and high ranges.

Pro Co Sound—was founded by Charlie Wicks in 1974, and is based in Portage, Michigan. They manufacture audio interface products, and sell them through musical instrument retailers and sound contractors.

Electro-Harmonix—was founded in 1968 by Mike Matthews, and has its headquarters in New York City, New York. They specialize in amplification equipment that can also distort the sound—guitar effects pedals.

Wampler—was founded in 2013 by Brian Wampler. They have their headquarters in Martinsville, Indiana. They have a line of hand-built guitar pedals.

Bogner—was founded by Reinhold Bogner and Jorg Dorschner in 1989. They make innovative tube amplifiers, speaker cabinets, and distortion pedals. They now have their headquarters in North Hollywood, California.