What’s the difference between overdrive and distortion? Learn the difference and how to get great tone with either stompbox.

Get Great Tone With OverDrive and Distortion

As guitar players, what are we all after? What do we struggle to describe, work to attain, but always know when we hear it? And what is all that gear out there for? The answer to all three of these questions is the same: great tone. With so much equipment available today to help in creating tone, how do we go about making it do what we want? Let’s take a look at some simple and effective ways to get killer tone with overdrive and distortion.

The first question is which should you use: an overdrive or distortion? The answer isn’t quite that simple. Like many things in the tone-quest world, there aren’t too many fixed rules here. The real answer is: it depends. Maybe an overdrive is what works for you; maybe it’s a distortion. So the next question is: What’s the difference between an overdrive and distortion?

Learn how to chain your guitar effects pedals.

BOSS OD-1 OverDrive

Generally, an overdrive is designed to work and sound like an old tube amp turned up loud. A good overdrive can produce the same overtones and harmonics that an overdriven tube amp produces, hence the name Overdrive. BOSS started the overdrive revolution with the legendary and very collectible OD-1.

Learn how to get great tone from an OVERDRIVE stompbox.

A distortion usually goes beyond the amount of gain and harmonic crunching typical of an overdrive. They tend to get more distorted, are usually (but not always) louder than typical overdrives, and often have multiple gain stages for abnormal amounts of sustain. The BOSS MT-2, probably the best selling distortion pedal ever, is a good example of a distortion pedal with those features. Now that we know what they are, let’s look at making them do what we want: getting great tone. First, let’s start with overdrive and after you’re finished reading that check out the distortion article.

Learn how to get great tone from a DISTORTION stompbox.

So there you have it, what is your preference? What do you use to get your tone? Leave us your comments.

Related links and articles:

• Get Great Tone With BOSS OverDrive
• Get Great Tone With BOSS Distortion
• Billy Duffy: The Cult of Tone
• 10 Original BOSS Stompbox Design Elements

BOSS Distortion

A distortion pedal usually goes beyond the amount of gain and harmonic crunching typical of an overdrive. They tend to get more distorted, are usually (but not always) louder than typical overdrives, and often have multiple gain stages for abnormal amounts of sustain. The BOSS MT-2, probably the best selling distortion pedal ever, is a good example of a distortion pedal with those features. Since distortion pedals tend to be louder and have more inherent distortion than overdrives, it is a little trickier to use them in conjunction with the amp’s own distortion sound. It might be what you want, especially if you’re after a nu-metal, super heavy, or very grungy sound. If you use your pedal this way, you are distorting distortion. This can get pretty ugly, but sometimes it’s just the thing. Set your pedal similarly to using an overdrive to use it this way: For example, set the BOSS DS-1 level up, the distortion somewhat down, and the tone for neutral.

What’s the difference between Overdrive and Distortion? Find out!

BOSS DS-1 Distortion

Distortions tend to be more effective when you use your amp set for a clean sound and let the pedal’s own tone sing through. Good distortion pedals, such as the BOSS Metal Zone, are quite sophisticated. Under the hood is some powerful circuitry that can create multi-stage distortion just like a high-end boutique tube amp. The MT-2 even has studio quality EQ: a 3-band tone section with parametric sweepable mids for duplicating pretty much any distortion tone you might want. For blazing metal tones, try this setting with a Metal Zone and your amp set for a clean and neutral sound.

BOSS MT-2 Metal Zone

Adaptive distortion does what?…

Another cool distortion pedal is the BOSS DA-2 Adaptive Distortion. Powered by Multi-Dimensional Processing technology (MDP), the DA-2 Adaptive Distortion delivers ideal distortion tones wherever you play on the guitar neck. Diverse guitarists like John 5 (Marilyn Manson / Rob Zombie) use the DA-2 to achieve amazing tones. Check out this video of John 5 and the DA-2 in action.

Just concepts…

To wrap up: These are not rules. They are concepts. Regardless of this post’s title, “Get Great Tone With BOSS Distortion” you can use these principles with any overdrive stompbox. The best way to incorporate them into your playing is to experiment. There are many pedals on the market, each with its own characteristic tone. One may be just the thing to make your tone what you’ve wanted it to be. Try some out, both with your own amp and guitar, and with others. The magic combination is out there. Do you have a favorite BOSS distortion pedal? Did you find this article useful? Leave your comments below.

Related links and articles:

• Overdrive Vs. Distortion: What’s the Difference?
• Get Great Tone With BOSS Overdrive
• 10 Original BOSS Stompbox Design Elements
• The VG-99 Inspires

Here’s what we shipped to Austin for you to play!

Going to SXSW? Our new pedals are, too! Join BOSS at SXSW this year during the the first edition of The Austin StompBox Exhibit hosted by The Deli and Delicious Audio. This free, interactive, in-the-headphones display of guitar effects pedals will take place Friday and Saturday, March 15 and 16, at the Austin Clayworks Gallery on 1209 E 6th St. BOSS is showcasing the brand new line of Multi-Dimensional Processing pedals alongside some of the tried and true BOSS classics. Curious to see what a stompbox exhibit looks like? Here’s a picture of the 2012 StompBox Exhibit in Brooklyn, NY. Don’t forget to bring your guitar so you can test them out in person! Here’s a preview of the BOSS pedals on exhibit.

Download BOSS Compact Pedals PDF

TE-2 Tera Echo

Our 100th BOSS compact series model! Powered by our latest MDP technology, the TE-2 produces a dynamic new ambience effect that goes beyond traditional delay and reverb. Although any guitar sounds fine in John 5‘s hands, we dare to declare that any guitar is fun to play paired with this pedal.

Features:

• Proprietary Multi-Dimensional Processing technology separates incoming audio into several dimensions to provide optimum effect for any type of sound or playing.
• Unique ultra-dynamic stereo echo and ambient effects controllable by playing dynamics

DA-2 Adaptive Distortion

In a nut shell, this pedal employs musical distortion that plays well all over the neck, from tight, edgy low-string tones to fat, smooth highs for lead playing. In other words, this pedal creates the ideal tone for every register. Don’t want to take our word for it, read Sonic State’s Richard Beech’s DA-2 review.

Features:

• Uses BOSS’ Multi-Dimensional Processing technology (MDP) to deliver ideal distortion tones wherever you play on the guitar neck.
• Superb unique “clear” distortion; ultra-responsive to volume changes and playing dynamics.
• DA-2 “knows” where and what you are playing to produce optimum tone whether it’s screaming leads or heavy chords

MO-2 Multi Overtone

With shimmery multi-string resonance to flute-like transparency to powerful textures reminiscent of organs, the MO-2 is what Richard Beech also calls “an evil synth.” Read the review by Richard Beech.

Features:

• Uses BOSS MDP technology to produce unique polyphonic harmonic overtones for new unique sounds.
• Great for leads and chordal playing
• Combine with DA-2 and TE-2 for fantastic, huge tonal textures

RC-3 Loop Station

This pedal delivers a powerful looping ability in a small footprint. The RC series is preferred by many musicians the world over for practicing; many use it as a professional tool for playing live in a solo set-up. If you really want to get creative, see what this year’s Loop Station World Championship 3 (LSWC3) contestants pulled off during their showdown. Yes, there is a contest for such performances and it was amazing!

Enter for a chance to win an RC-3 Loop Station pedal autographed by John 5, Steve Stevens, Billy Duffy, Herman Li, and Darryl Jones. Contest ends April 5, 2013.

Features:

• Top of the line stereo compact pedal looper.
• Massive internal memory: 99 onboard loops, 3 hours of stereo looping.
• Built-in drums for perfect looping timing plus USB for easy connection to computers

DD-7 Digital Delay

The DD-7 takes the best features from its predecessors and expands the creative envelope with Modulation Delay mode, classic modeled Analog Delay mode, external pedal control option, longer delay time, and more. With this pedal you can take your delay up to 6.4 seconds and record up to 40 seconds in Hold mode for overdubs or solo rhythms.

Features:

• BOSS stereo digital delay with several modes, including Reverse, Modulation Delay and Analog Delay: models the famous BOSS DM-2 analog delay, beloved for its characteristic warm delay sound.
• 6400 ms delay time and built in 40 second looper (Hold mode).
• Built in tap tempo and external EXP pedal control for real time control of delay parameters.

MT-2 Metal Zone

Features:

• One of the most popular BOSS pedals; super long sustain and heavy mids and lows.
• Very wide range of distortion tones from mild to extreme.
• 3-band EQ with semi-parametric mid controls provide ultra-wide tone range.

CH-1 Super Chorus

Features:

• Provides the famous BOSS original stereo chorus sound.
• Four controls make it super easy to dial in perfect chorus sounds.
• Sounds great in mono and stereo.

DS-1 Distortion

 Features:

• The best selling BOSS distortion: used by top pros everywhere.
• Responds to playing dynamics for authentic feel and sound.

BD-2 Blues Driver

Features:

• Classic tube tones with strong gain and output.
• Very responsive to dynamics and picking technique.
• Sounds and feels just like a vintage tube amp

TU-3 Chromatic Tuner

Features:

• World’s most popular pedal tuner; seen on pedalboards everywhere.
• Super accurate and easy to read in any environment.
• BOSS durability and quality: 5 year warranty!

Related links and articles:

• How to Chain Your Guitar Effects Pedals
• Billy Duffy: The Cult of Tone
• Play an Entire Live Set with Just the GT-100
• Download BOSS Compact Pedals PDF