Distortion

Where overdrives use soft-clipping, distortions employ ‘hard clipping’, after an op-amp – delivering more dirt in the process. The idea of distortions is to mimic a cranked amp stack in a single unit, and they tend to work best when run into an amp’s clean channel. Many distortions can be dialled back to a gritty drive, and some high-end units have multiple clipping modes for greater versatility.

TG Recommends

HAMSTEAD ODYSSEY

The Hamstead Odyssey is what happens when you get an amp builder to create a general-purpose gain stage. With a plethora of clipping options and amp-like EQ on tap, it’s a flexible pedal tha’ll go from boost, to dirt, to searing, hot-rodded gain. Though it works as an overdrive, it sings on gnarly settings, with biting distortion and enough level to kick your amp hard.

Bestfor When you need one pedal to do it all

PROCO RAT

The Proco RAT was arguably the first distortion pedal. It holds a secret though – part of its unique tone was the result of op-amp clipping in its LM308 chip. You can get clones with this very chip, but the square-wave chunk of the modern RAT is not to be underestimated. Like the Odyssey, it also has enough level gain to push an amp into extra saturation.

Bestfor Classic tones from a classic pedal

Also Try

Amptweaker Tight Rock

From the designer of the Peavey 5150, so you know this is good!

BOSS MT-2 Metal Zone

A misunderstood powerhouse, for those that tame it, this is a workhorse.

KMA Audio Machines Wurm

A reimagined Boss HM-2 chainsaw with added options and wicked artwork.