Published on this page in the GuitarFella archive — what our editors chose at the time, not a lab test.
Last Updated November 19, 2019
The latest refresh of this chart saw four models leave us, while we welcomed four new additions. We said goodbye to pedals like the Behringer Super Fuzz SF300, while adding the awesome EarthQuaker Devices Hoof V2 to the top of the list. We also saw the arrival of the Wampler cataPulp Distortion V2, the impressive new Fender Pugilist and the classic Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer reissue.
Are you looking to invigorate your sound with some extreme distortion? Is your guitar’s amplifier struggling to give you the aggressive tone you need? Whether you play punk, hard rock, heavy metal [https://buzzharmony.com/best-guitar-pedal/metal/] or anything in-between, a distortion pedal should be one of the first things on your shopping list!
In this article, we have taken the time to select and review some of the most popular distortion pedals on the market, ranging from classic reissues to brutal modern pedals. The list is rich with variety and caters for distortion-hunters on any budget – from entry-level pedals up to high-end beasts. Let’s dive in!
10 Best Distortion Effect Pedals:
What is the Distortion Effect?
When it comes to adding some girth to your guitar tone through pedals, you have two options. You can either go with an
overdrive pedal or a distortion pedal.
While these are from a similar family of effects – along with
fuzz pedals – they are both quite different. In short, overdrive delivers the traditional ‘crunchy’ high-gain tone, replicating what happens when a tube amp naturally breaks up. Overdrive pedals also tend to retain the same feel and tone of a guitar’s natural sound, but with a bit more bite.
On the other side of the coin, distortion pedals are pure savages, squeezing out as much gain as possible. The natural tone of your guitar and amp are altered significantly – there’s nothing subtle about distortion! It’s deep, crisp, compressed and aggressive, usually accompanied by tons of sustain.
What Makes a Good Distortion Pedal?
Naturally, one of the most important aspects is the gain the pedal can offer you. After all, this is what makes distortion so brutal and one of the
most popular effects pedals in use today.
However, read reviews to actually determine if the distortion on offer with a specific pedal is suitable for your style of playing. There is no one-size-fits-all distortion and there is no one-size-fits-all distortion pedal either. You can find distortion pedals more suitable for classic rock right up to those that cater for severely heavy metal.
For example, Boss offer several distortion pedals, all with their own unique flavor. The DS1 is an all-time classic, delivering high-gain distortion best-suited to classic rock and classic metal – everything from AC/DC to Iron Maiden. It wouldn’t be as suitable for hard rock and modern metal as Boss’s MT-2 pedal. This one delivers face-meltingly high gain that’s been utilized by everyone from Korn to Disturbed.
Aside from the level of gain, you want to ensure that the pedal doesn’t make your tone too muddy when you play at either very high or very low volumes. Providing you are buying a popular or highly-rated pedal (like the models we highlight on this list), you will find the tone should remain clear at whatever volume you play.
Controls are another important factor on distortion pedals, although these differ from model to model. You will almost always find a knob for controlling the amount of gain, as well as one for volume and one for tone.
Truth be told, that’s about all you really need – sometimes less is more. However, some pedals will offer other controls and features. You may find knobs for sustain, some may give a full 3-band EQ, while others offer bass boost switches. Some will also offer handy noise gates, that recognize when you aren’t playing and quickly silence any background noise.
Whether or not these are useful features for you depends on the amount of control you want over your tone.
Should You Just Go for a Proper Tube Amp Instead?
Many professional musicians don’t generally rely on pedals to deliver an epic distortion, but rather turn to beastly tube amps instead. Things like the Peavey 6505, MESA/Boogie Dual Rectifier, or a big Marshall stack. Those amps push out organic, high-gain distortion without breaking a sweat.
So why don’t we all go for these amps instead? One of the reasons is that the cost a lot of money. Distortion pedals are therefore an affordable substitute, allowing you to find the aggressive tone you want without spending thousands of dollars. They also allow you to find that tone without having to play at high volumes, unlike some tube amps.
However, as some distortion pedals color your amp’s natural tone – such as Ibanez’s Tube Screamer – there’s nothing to say that you can’t enjoy using both a tube amp in conjunction with a distortion pedal to achieve a truly killer sound.
The Final Word
Hopefully this article has helped you understand why distortion pedals are some of the
most popular effects pedals in use today. We also hope it has helped you create a shortlist of distortion pedals to check out.
Go read some reviews, watch some videos and try some pedals out if possible. Ultimately, you can’t go wrong with the handful of pedals we’ve highlighted in our chart – all legends in their own right! Remember to check back occasionally, as we are always refreshing our articles and something new may be here soon!