Distortion Pedal

Distortion Pedal

ALESIS CF 1 COMBO FOOTPEDAL GREAT SHAPE
ALESIS CF 1 COMBO FOOTPEDAL GREAT SHAPE
Paypal   US $9.89
MXR M 135 Smart Gate Pedal
MXR M 135 Smart Gate Pedal
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Boss V Wah PW 10 Modeling Wah  Effects Pedal
Boss V Wah PW 10 Modeling Wah Effects Pedal
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Visual Sound V2 Double Trouble Twin Tubescreamer TS808 X 2
Visual Sound V2 Double Trouble Twin Tubescreamer TS808 X 2
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Grungey Overdrive Distortion Pedal Good Working Order
Grungey Overdrive Distortion Pedal Good Working Order
Paypal   US $15.79
BOSS OC 3 SUPER OCTAVE
BOSS OC 3 SUPER OCTAVE
Paypal   US $50.00
BBE SONIC STOMP PEDAL NR
BBE SONIC STOMP PEDAL NR
Paypal   US $78.00
Boss Super Octave OC 3 Pedal
Boss Super Octave OC 3 Pedal
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FAB Pedal 4 Pack
FAB Pedal 4 Pack
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New JOYO JF 02 Guitar Ultimate Overdrive Effect Pedal
New JOYO JF 02 Guitar Ultimate Overdrive Effect Pedal
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Morley Pro Series WAH Pedal
Morley Pro Series WAH Pedal
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New Modtone Clean Boost Booster Pedal w True Bypass 4709]
New Modtone Clean Boost Booster Pedal w True Bypass 4709]
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Boss GE 7 Equalizer Guitar Effect Pedal
Boss GE 7 Equalizer Guitar Effect Pedal
Paypal   US $26.00
TC Helicon VoiceTone H1 Vocal Harmony Harmonizer Electronic Effects Pedal NEW
TC Helicon VoiceTone H1 Vocal Harmony Harmonizer Electronic Effects Pedal NEW
Paypal   US $149.00
Digitech Grunge distortion overdrive pedal lovely sound warm to FireBreathing
Digitech Grunge distortion overdrive pedal lovely sound warm to FireBreathing
Paypal   US $31.61
MXR Effects Pedal Back Plate Cover
MXR Effects Pedal Back Plate Cover
Paypal   US $30.00
Fishman Platinum Pro EQ acoustic preamp
Fishman Platinum Pro EQ acoustic preamp
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Modified MXR Loop Selector A crossfader for your effects
Modified MXR Loop Selector A crossfader for your effects
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Boss Rocker Distortion Pedal
Boss Rocker Distortion Pedal
Paypal   US $53.00
Boss ME 30 Guitar Digital Foot Pedals
Boss ME 30 Guitar Digital Foot Pedals
Paypal   US $40.00
E 20DS Distortion Pedal FX Electric Guitar Effects New
E 20DS Distortion Pedal FX Electric Guitar Effects New
Paypal   US $21.61
BOSS OS 2 OVERDRIVE DISTORTION GUITAR EFFECTS PEDAL OS2 VGC
BOSS OS 2 OVERDRIVE DISTORTION GUITAR EFFECTS PEDAL OS2 VGC
Paypal   US $47.42
Radial Engineering Tonebone Plexitube Tube Distortion Distortion Guitar
Radial Engineering Tonebone Plexitube Tube Distortion Distortion Guitar
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NEW T REX BASS JUICE BASS DISTORTION EFFECTS PEDAL
NEW T REX BASS JUICE BASS DISTORTION EFFECTS PEDAL
Paypal   US $245.00
Boss GE 7 Equalizer Guitar Effect Pedal Excellent Condition In Box
Boss GE 7 Equalizer Guitar Effect Pedal Excellent Condition In Box
Paypal   US $65.00
BLACKBOX OXYGEN COMPRESSOR EFFECTS PEDAL
BLACKBOX OXYGEN COMPRESSOR EFFECTS PEDAL
Paypal   US $347.75
Dunlop MXR Smart Gate M135 Noise Gates Guitar Effect Pedal
Dunlop MXR Smart Gate M135 Noise Gates Guitar Effect Pedal
Paypal   US $109.99
Guitar effect lot Hilton sustain stereo delay tubulator morley volume NR
Guitar effect lot Hilton sustain stereo delay tubulator morley volume NR
Paypal   US $15.50
Boss BD 2 Blues Driver Guitar Effects Pedal
Boss BD 2 Blues Driver Guitar Effects Pedal
Paypal   US $33.99
FOR YOUR FULLTONE SOUL BENDER  ORIGINAL BOX AND PAPER WORK
FOR YOUR FULLTONE SOUL BENDER ORIGINAL BOX AND PAPER WORK
Paypal   US $5.99
Marshall Guvnor Plus Distortion Guitar Effect Pedal
Marshall Guvnor Plus Distortion Guitar Effect Pedal
Paypal   US $300.00
LOVEPEDAL ETERNITY OVERDRIVE DISTORTION GUITAR PEDAL RARE 1ST VERSION 568
LOVEPEDAL ETERNITY OVERDRIVE DISTORTION GUITAR PEDAL RARE 1ST VERSION 568
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electro harmonix double muff effects pedal
electro harmonix double muff effects pedal
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Made in the USA late 80s DOD FX35
Made in the USA late 80s DOD FX35
Paypal   US $29.00
Boss DS 1 Distortion Guitar Effect Pedal
Boss DS 1 Distortion Guitar Effect Pedal
Paypal   US $55.00
TC Electronics G System
TC Electronics G System
Paypal   US $879.00
Boss ME 5 Guitar Multi Effects Pedal Board MADE IN JAPAN
Boss ME 5 Guitar Multi Effects Pedal Board MADE IN JAPAN
Paypal   US $125.00
HBE Homebrew Electronics Bytchn Swytchn Dual Loop Pedal
HBE Homebrew Electronics Bytchn Swytchn Dual Loop Pedal
Paypal   US $90.00
1 AUTH DEALER ISP Decimator Noise Reduction Pedal
1 AUTH DEALER ISP Decimator Noise Reduction Pedal
Paypal   US $129.95
NEW XOTIC EFFECTS AC BOOSTER
NEW XOTIC EFFECTS AC BOOSTER
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Digitech RP90 Mulit Effects Processor
Digitech RP90 Mulit Effects Processor
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Source Audio Hot Hand Wireless Adapter
Source Audio Hot Hand Wireless Adapter
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KOD NG 14 METAL MAX Vintage Analog DISTORTION DRIVE guitar pedal |1982
KOD NG 14 METAL MAX Vintage Analog DISTORTION DRIVE guitar pedal |1982
Paypal   US $109.07
Xotic Effects EP Booster
Xotic Effects EP Booster
Paypal   US $71.00
Modtone MT CB Clean Boost Pedal
Modtone MT CB Clean Boost Pedal
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Boss Metal Zone MT 2 effect pedal
Boss Metal Zone MT 2 effect pedal
Paypal   US $69.99
Boss GE 7
Boss GE 7
Paypal   US $48.73
Rothwell switchblade distortion pedal
Rothwell switchblade distortion pedal
Paypal   US $124.88
BOSS PSM 5 POWER SUPPLY AND MASTER SWITCH GUITAR FX EFFECTS PEDAL LOTS OF WEAR
BOSS PSM 5 POWER SUPPLY AND MASTER SWITCH GUITAR FX EFFECTS PEDAL LOTS OF WEAR
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TC Helicon VoiceTone C1 Vocal Auto Tune  Pitch Correction T PAIN Effects Pedal
TC Helicon VoiceTone C1 Vocal Auto Tune Pitch Correction T PAIN Effects Pedal
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Boss by Roland GT100 Professional Multi FX Guitar Processor
Boss by Roland GT100 Professional Multi FX Guitar Processor
Paypal   US $549.00
Loooper single FX loop pedal RARE
Loooper single FX loop pedal RARE
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Boss A B Footswitch FS 6
Boss A B Footswitch FS 6
Paypal   US $1.25
Danelectro DJ14 Fish and Chips 7 Band EQ Pedal
Danelectro DJ14 Fish and Chips 7 Band EQ Pedal
Paypal   US $15.00
WAH WAH FX PEDAL Harrier Music DF2210
WAH WAH FX PEDAL Harrier Music DF2210
Paypal   US $20.53
Boss GE 7 Graphic Equalizer Guitar Pedal Excellent Condition
Boss GE 7 Graphic Equalizer Guitar Pedal Excellent Condition
Paypal   US $10.00
Clean Boost Re Make of 1968 EH Linear Power Boost LPB1
Clean Boost Re Make of 1968 EH Linear Power Boost LPB1
Paypal   US $45.00
Boss BD 2 Overdrive Guitar Effect Pedal
Boss BD 2 Overdrive Guitar Effect Pedal
Paypal   US $30.00
BOSS PQ 4 PARAMETRIC EQUALIZER Guitar Effect Pedal
BOSS PQ 4 PARAMETRIC EQUALIZER Guitar Effect Pedal
Paypal   US $189.99
Danelectro FAB METAL Guitar Effects Pedal D 3
Danelectro FAB METAL Guitar Effects Pedal D 3
Paypal   US $8.00

Distortion Pedal

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.

Distortion Pedal?

what is a good quality distortion pedal for playing heavy metal that's under $200

I have always used an MXR Distortion + but Toadworks makes a really good distortion pedal as well as a great overdrive pedal too! Check out the website below...they have sound samples of the effects pedals

Boss DS-1 Distortion Pedal Demo


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