Whether you are an amateur or an experienced guitarist, getting yourself a proper distortion pedal is a wise investment.
Out of all the products for guitar effects, this one seems to be the most important. It is not only ideal for saturating the tone, but also allowing you to replicate the powerful sound of your favorite guitarists.
It is great no matter what genre you are playing, including blues and jazz, rock and roll, and even heavy metal. Bearing this in mind, we have prepared a couple of tips as well as reviews of a few top options, including the budget and premium ones that you might consider suitable for you. Let’s get right to it!
At a Glance: Our Top Picks for Guitar Distortion Pedals
- OUR TOP PICK: Pro Co RAT2
- Electro-Harmonix
- MXR M75
Table of Contents
What is a Distortion Pedal?
A distortion pedal is a digital or an electric device that will boost your performance by darkening the sound and also contributing to the overall signal output of your instrument. It usually comes as a clipping item that you will put along with your guitar.
While it is not a must, especially if you already have a proper distortion pedal, getting ahold of one can go a long way towards your overall performance. Keep in mind that an overdrive pedal is in no way the same as the distortion variety, as it produces milder sound effects and is more common for indie rock, etc.
What Does a Distortion Pedal Do?
The main three uses are saturating the tone, improving the signal, and last but not least, distorting the sound.
Saturation
As mentioned above, by saturating the tone, you will be able to replicate the sound that you hear in popular guitar songs that are played by pros, and thus, up your performance by at least a few levels. Saturation makes the sound of your guitar richer and more powerful.
Signal
By improving the signal, it will not only become more powerful but also what you play will become more intense and clear.
Distortion
The distortion is an effect that can be provided either by an amp or a pedal and is something that is widely appreciated in heavy metal bands.
How to Choose a Distortion Pedal
In order to select your ideal option, there are a couple of things to consider. These don’t include only the brand and the price, but also how simple is it to use one, as well as the innovative features that may come along.
Simplicity
The first thing that you should look for when buying a distortion pedal is that it is simple to use. What this means is that the set up itself should not take a lot of time, and that tweaking the settings to get the ideal tone will be as simple as using the two featured knobs.
Price
It is a fact that you might be able to find fine distortion pedals for the low price point of $50. Investing enough time into searching and looking for the best value might be worth it when it comes to over dial, signal, and overall distortion effect that the pedal will provide.
Electric or Digital
Last but not least, you should choose between the two types of distortion pedals. The first one usually comes at an affordable price and is suitable for guitar players who are used to classic devices that don’t require any high-tech knowledge. The digital one is somewhat more effective, as it picks up on the sound impurities and distorts them, making for a more powerful and a better-sounding performance!
Comparison Chart of the Best Guitar Distortion Pedals
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Best Budget Option  |
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Review of Best Distortion Pedals
Investing in a distortion pedal can prove to be quite vital if you are going to play a lot of songs that require intense and boosted sound. No matter how good it might be, you can never recreate the distortion that an electric or digital device allows, which is why getting yourself one is a good choice. Thus, read on to consider the few different models that we have highlighted as the best value offers and products you might be comfortable with!
Best Overall:
Pro Co RAT2
No products found.
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
From what we can see, the best thing about this distortion pedal is that it offers a fine crunch right out of the box. Once you set the filter to 80-90%, you will be getting an ideal distortion level that will support both lead guitar and bass. Additionally, it allows low-frequency distortion, which is not so common for the low-end pedals.
Why it Stands Out to Us
What we love about this product is that while it is on the affordable side, it is user-friendly, and thus a good choice for anyone interested in the effects of a proper distortion pedal. While it is a bit higher than some of its competitors, getting used to it and tweaking the three-knobs will not take a lot of effort.
Who Will Use This Most
Not only is this distortion pedal a great choice for lead/solo guitarists, but also bass players due to the powerful filter effect. Additionally, whether you are an amateur or a guitar player with a few years of experience, using this distortion pedal will be quite an enjoyment. Not only does this distortion pedal come at a fine price, but it is also a great alternative for any pricey distortion amp, and thus an ideal choice for those on a tighter budget!
Bottom Line
If you are a solo guitarist and you are looking for a distortion pedal that can boost your lead by finding the middle spot between clean and overdrive effect, then this pedal is for you. It is probably the best value model on the market. Coming from a reliable American brand, featuring a few different knobs and a simple set up, it is everything that you will need!
Runner-up:
Electro-Harmonix
No products found.
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
Talking about distortion pedals that offer a clean boost and a great overall performance, it seems that this Electro product is among the best there is. Additionally, it does great when it comes to pre-amping tubes and allowing that natural distortion sound that is common for high-end amplifiers.
Why it Stands Out to Us
We love the fact that apart from the smooth and reliable performance that this pedal offers, it is easy to set-up and adjust, offering a sturdier yet lower design than the product mentioned above. Yes, it is not for bass players, but it remains a worthy choice. From a trusted manufacturer, and featuring a compact and simple design, it is something you will have great use out of!
Who Will Use This Most
As mentioned above, this is a product that is ideal for lead and solo guitarists. Offering the optimal clean boost, it does lack a bit of crunch, and a filter effect wouldn’t hurt. Still, looking at the overall performance, it is a great choice for beginners and experienced guitar players.
Bottom Line
While not as reliable or simple-to-use as the product mentioned above, this pedal still offers a transparent and dependable overdrive, as well as several effects, including treble and distortion, to support your performance. If you are looking for a rugged and natural distortion pedal, the Electro-Harmonix product is the best you can get. It is a great standalone pedal that will allow your natural guitar tone to shine while still focusing on proper distortion and warm overload.
Best for the Money:
MXR M75
No products found.
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
From what we can see, the main thing that buyers love about this product is the natural and clean distortion sound that it allows. Not only that, but while it is great for classic rock and roll, the tube screamer tone that it can output is fantastic! Also, setting the effects by using the given knob controls is quite simple.
Why it Stands Out to Us
We love the True Bypass feature! While the customer service may not be that reliable, you can still get years out of this distortion pedal due to its high-quality build; a fantastic benefit, especially considering the overall price of the product.
Who Will Use This Most
This distortion pedal a great choice for lead/solo guitarists due to the natural distortion. It will also suit bass players as it comes with a good tube screamer tone as well as the bass and treble effects. Once again, it is suitable for amateurs and those who are familiar with what a distortion pedal is.
Who Will Use This Most
This particular distortion pedal is perfect when we consider the value compared to the price and distortion effects that are offered. Overall, it is a great choice for anyone who wants to get good distortion performance that is not hard to set up and may allow years of good use!
Best Distortion Pedal for Metal:
Electro-Harmonix Metal
No products found.
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
Looking at what recent customers have to say, the main highlight is the big muff, as well as the high impedance distortion that you will get out of this pedal. Not only that, but it is highlighted by that crunchy tone, which is essential for the metal genre and bass players. Talking about distortion pedals that are suitable for heavy metal and alternative rock performances, this product is among the best choices you can make. Still coming at a fair price, it is highlighted by a big muff and a high input impedance.
Why it Stands Out to Us
The main reason why we consider this distortion pedal to be a worthy choice is due to the buffered bypass and the featured knob controls. They will allow you versatility and all the power you need in case your favorite genre is metal. Also, while the battery life is unreliable, the alternative power output will allow you to continue rocking on.
Who Will Use This Most
As we have suggested above, this distortion pedal is for metalheads only! Why? Because it does distort the natural tone and thus is not suitable for genres such as 70s rock or anything similar. Additionally, apart from being great support if you are a lead guitar player, it is also cool for bass enthusiasts as well.
Bottom Line
Given the price and the overall performance that this pedal allows, it is certainly a worthy investment! Coming with a couple of innovative and powerful features, including the buffered bypass and top boost control (allowing 3.5 to 4.3 kHz frequencies), it is a pedal that you can be proud of during that important performance.
Best Cheap Distortion Pedal:
BOSS DS-1
No products found.
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
If what you are looking for is an affordable distortion pedal that will highlight the natural tone of your guitar, then this one is a good choice. As buyers suggest, it is incredibly easy to use and allows the warm and clean distortion that any classic rock player will enjoy. On the other hand, it is in no way suitable for a bass or metal performance.
Why it Stands Out to Us
The main reason we noticed this pedal is the rugged and sturdy build that it offers. While at a very affordable price, you will still get to have hours of fun with this product, as it features level, tone, and distortion control. As one of the least expensive options on the market, it is highlighted by a great build and a performance that will allow the natural tone of your guitar to shine.
Who Will Use This Most
This distortion pedal is in no way suitable for metalheads. On the other hand, it is a perfect choice for fans of punk and classic rock from the 70s and 80s. Additionally, due to its rugged, convenient, and simple-to-use design, it is a beginner-friendly choice. If you are on a tight budget, but you don’t want to miss out on the potential benefits of a proper distortion pedal, fear not. The BOSS brand has got you covered!
Bottom Line
Looking at the price and the natural tone distortion that this pedal allows, it is an ideal choice for people who don’t want a lot of crunch in their performance. Thus, if the highlight of your performance is playing rock and roll, this could easily be the pedal you should go for.
Best Distortion Pedal for Tube Amp:
TC Electronic Dark Matter
No products found.
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
Looking at recent feedback left by customers, there is not much to say against this product considering its price and overall performance. It is suitable for numerous music genres, given the reliable bass, gain, treble, and level control that it offers. While it lacks a bit of the crunch, it will support both the natural tone distortion, as well as the tube screamer tone that is common for heavy metal genres.
Why it Stands Out to Us
We like this product for the full control that you are getting of the distortion performance. Also, the fact that the featured True Bypass will ensure the clarity of your guitar tone stays present. It is not the sturdiest product there is, but apart from that, there is not much we can say against it.
Who Will Use This Most
This is ideal for solo/lead guitar players. Still, given the voice switch that allows better response, bass players will find it quite handy as well. If you are looking to get an incredibly versatile distortion pedal at an affordable price, then the TC Electronic Dark Matter will work great.
Bottom Line
Not only is it highlighted by the handy voice switch that makes it suitable for bass players, but also by four-knob control that will allow you to get the most out of the offered distortion! Overall, while it certainly is not the most reliable distortion pedal there is, and that is mostly due to its flimsy design, the performance is still good and worth the price.
Best Overdrive Distortion Pedal:
Behringer OD300
No products found.
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
The main thing that we will highlight here is the incredible control you can get from this pedal. The best thing about it is that you can combine overdrive and distortion for an amazing sound boost when it comes to classic rock and punk genres.
Why it Stands Out to Us
We love the innovations in distortion pedals, and that certainly is something that Behringer offers with a reliable design and a combined overdrive/distortion performance. Also, good battery life is a cool feature as well.
Who Will Use This Most
This is perfect for people who are always on the go and don’t have a suitable power supply that they can plug the distortion pedal into. Also, it is great for classic rock lead guitar players, as it offers a warm and natural overdrive and distortion that will boost your overall performance.
Bottom Line
You can’t go wrong buying from a reliable brand such as Behringer, so long as you are okay with the fact that it doesn’t allow much crunch. It is the perfect choice if you are looking for a combination of an overdrive and distortion effect. Good design and great control make it a superb choice for lead guitar players!
Best High Gain Distortion Pedal:
Wampler Sovereign V2
No products found.
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
At the end of our list of the best guitar distortion pedals, we will present you with a product that offers the most gain out of all the products mentioned above. Thus, if you are into pedals that will provide incredible crunch, muff, and boost the sound, this one is an ideal choice!
Why it Stands Out to Us
This sturdy pedal is incredibly reliable, and can offer you years of exceptional performance as long as you don’t put it under heavy conditions. The main thing we love is the versatile distortion performance. Still, it may not be ideal for beginners due to the high sensitivity that this pedal is highlighted by.
Who Will Use This Most
Frankly, this distortion pedal is a great choice for both lead and bass guitar players. On the other hand, you might want to start with a more affordable pedal if you are a beginner, and then slowly move to this one later on.
Bottom Line
A somewhat pricier choice that is still incredible for anyone who wants to enjoy high-gain and a powerful overall distortion that suits almost any music genre!
Pros and Cons of Distortion Pedals
Much like with any other product, there are both advantages and disadvantages to investing in one.
Pros:
- You will get an opportunity to enjoy a cleaner and more natural tone of your guitar, especially if you go for distortion guitars that allow overdrive effect as well.
- You will also be able to make your heavy metal performance more powerful with the distortion pedals that offer high-gain, crunch, and muff.
- Additionally, a pedal is great for covering impurities that are common for beginner players.
Cons:
The main disadvantage of using such a device is that if it is too sensitive, things may get out of control, and the distortion effect will hum the sound instead of boosting it. Thus, be sure to invest in pedals that are somewhat simple-to-use (especially if you are a newbie) and don’t allow too much sensitivity.
Conclusion
Investing in a guitar distortion pedal can go a long way for any guitar player, including lead and bass guitarists. As long as you consider the features mentioned above, including the price, reliability, simplicity, and control that the distortion pedal offers, you should be on the right path to get the ideal unit for you and your desired sound. So what are you waiting for? Do some further research and rock on!
