Differences Between Overdrive, Distortion & Fuzz

Even if you're a seasoned guitar pedal geek (aren't we all?) figuring out the differences between overdrive, distortion and fuzz can be a little confusing, especially if you want to get the perfect effect for your sound! So today we’re going to look at all the different types of effects, the differences in sounds and how they interact with your amplifier and guitar. We’ll also aim to show you which styles of effects might be right for you with some of the industry standard options.

To understand the difference though, we need to look at each type of effect just in a little bit more detail. If you want the short version, just skip to the bottom of the blog - but hey, maybe stick around? You might learn something, and let's face it you never stop learning when it comes to music! Let’s take a more in depth look at each type of effect so we can figure out what the difference is between overdrive, distortion and fuzz.

Overdrive pedals can sometimes be confused with distortion pedals, but make no mistake, an overdrive is a different animal altogether. Overdrive pedals drive your valves to the point of distortion, or at the very least mimic what that would sound like if you have a solid state amplifier. The purpose of an overdrive pedal is to mimic the sound of you turning up your valve amp as loud as it can go, except this is a far safer (and neighbour-friendly) option.

It's probably the closest you can get to pure amplifier distortion without actually blowing out your windows.

Essentially, the aim of an overdrive pedal is to provide you with the same dynamics that you get when you play a cranked tube amp. The effect responds to your touch - play soft and you’ll hardly notice the gain, but dig in and listen to how your signal starts to break up. Overdrives provide a soft-clipping sound, so don’t expect earth-shattering crunch from one – it’s there to add a smooth, dynamic sound rather than melt faces.

Overdrive is definitely a "gentle" style of distortion that waits for you to play hard before it unleashes the sound you want. To get the full benefit of an overdrive, play it through a valve amplifier/tube amp as these pedals are designed to make your tubes work harder at lower volumes. Trust us, you’ll really appreciate it, especially through the likes of a VOX AC30, Fender Bassbreaker or Marshall JCM 800. 

Ideal for: Blues, Rock and Country players as well as those who want a gain boost with a bit of flavor without losing the tone of their guitar or amplifier too much.

DESCRIBE OVERDRIVE AS A PERSON!

I think the best way to describe an Overdrive is to think of it as an amplifier sound support system. The pedal says to your amp "OK, I like the sound you've got, but I'm here to push that sound and make you work harder!" It's essentially the personal (sound) trainer of the effects world.

Want more? Check out our 15 Best Overdrive Pedals Blog Here. 

Distortion pedals are very different to Overdrive pedals. A distortion pedal is a little more aggressive than an overdrive as it takes your tone and completely screws with it to create something entirely of its own creation. Where an overdrive simply drives your amp, or mimics that coveted cranked sound, a distortion has it's own agenda completely and changes the sound accordingly. A distortion pedal will cram a load of filth and grit into your tone - and depending on which option you choose - will either create some serious rocking crunch or all-out doom laden, earth-shattering distortion by saturating and taking over the signal completely.

With most distortion pedals, it doesn't really matter how hard or soft you play - you'll get the same effect. A distortion pedal is a hard-clipping device that is here to do one job and do it well - distort your sound! A distortion pedal is commonly associated with heavy rock bands as they give your sound a "heavy" tone, darkening the output and even boosting the signal depending on your settings. It also compresses the signal allowing you to enjoy far more sustain which will eventually break into feedback.

If you prefer the hi-gain sounds of a solid state amplifier, the all-out attack of the grunge sound or the heavier, dirtier and tighter sound of the metal world, you'll love throwing a distortion pedal through the likes of a Mesa Boogie, Blackstar or Laney amplifier. 

Ideal for: Fans of Metal, Rock and the heavier genres of music. A distortion pedal is also a great idea for those who want to make their chorus lines, solos and power chords really stand out. Everyone should have a distortion pedal on their pedal board.

Distortion is a little more selfish when it comes to the effect it has on an amplifier. It basically says to your amp "OK buddy, I hear what you're trying to do, but I think I can do a better job. When you ask me to get involved, it's just me. Cool?" The distortion pedal hears what you're saying and is going to do exactly what it's here to do -it will not deviate from the task at hand!

Check out our Best Distortion Pedals Blog for more.

Where distortion pedals provide a hi-gain distorted sound, they fear to tread where fuzz pedals go. A fuzz pedal takes your sound and clips it extremely hard - known as square-wave clipping - thereby compressing the distortion to make an almost unrecognisable sound. This thing does exactly what it wants!

The fuzz pedal heavily saturates your tone and covers it in a woolly, "fuzzy" feel - there's really no better way to describe it! This type of pedal offers a huge amount of sustain by heavily processing your signal and offering a more artificial tone that is entirely its own, which some guitarists feel makes your amp sound like its broken. Fuzz pedals clip so hard that playing anything other than lead lines or single-string riffs sounds a bit weird.

However when you decide to bust out a power chord or huge riff, the amount of power behind them is astonishing. Think about Smashing Pumpkins 'Cherub Rock' which made use of the EHX Big Muff and you'll get the idea, or The Stooges 'I Wanna be Your Dog' to give you an idea of how interesting (and iconic) a fuzz pedal can be.

If you turn a guitar amp up loud you'll get the sound of an overdrive, if you turn it up full whack you'll get distortion - fuzz is the sound of an amp pushed past its maximum into completely unnatural territory and it sounds great! Jimi Hendrix was perhaps the most famous fuzz pedal player of all time championing the likes of the Fuzz Face. Couple it with a Wah Pedal and you'll instantly recognise the sound. 

Ideal for: Fans of Grunge, Post-Punk, QOTSA, Hendrix-style tones, big riffs and those who want to add an element of unpredictability to their tone.

Fuzz is a completely different beast altogether. It's all or nothing with Fuzz. It's the opinionated, moody roommate that is predictably unpredictable. It basically says to your amp "I don't care about you or your sound. Seriously mate, when I get involved I'm gonna do whatever I want and I don't care what you think."

Ok, ok! In summary: 

Overdrive pedals either provide a gain boost and “overdrive” your valves within your tube amp, or mimic the effect of the valves within a tube amp distorting. The dynamic is far more sensitive. The harder you play the more it distorts. 

Distortion adds a consistent crunch or grit to what you’re playing. Whereas an overdrive takes your original tone and pushes it harder, a distortion pedal changes the sound completely and saturates the signal. You get the same amount of distortion no matter how hard or soft you play. 

Fuzz is a more aggressive style of compressed distortion. It achieves the sound by heavily saturating and clipping your signal. Fuzz alters the waveform into a square wave and can almost makes your amp sound like it’s broken.

So now go out there and find the best sound for you. Pit Overdrive vs Distortion vs Fuzz and create your very own style of music. Enjoy!