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Distortion Pedals & Overdrive Pedals

Distortion and overdrive pedals will give your bass guitar or electric guitar an edgier, harder tone.
An overdrive pedal will add gain to your electric guitar signal, causing it to break up or distort a bit (or more) depending on how much is used.
A distortion pedal produces more gain and clips the signal even harder.

You will find distortion and overdrive pedals from brands such as MXRCatialinbreadWamplerKeeley, Electro-Harmonix, and Xotic.

If you are looking for similar sounds, check out a fuzz pedal.

  • Maxon ST-9 Pro+ Super Tube Overdrive

    Maxon ST-9 Pro+ Super Tube Overdrive

    The Maxon ST-9 Pro+ Super Tube Overdrive. FREE shipping in the USA!One of the rarest and most desirable pedals in the original 9-Series lineup, the Maxon-made Ibanez ST-9 Super Tube Screamer was coveted for its ability to control the pedal’s...
    $239.00
    Add to Cart
  • Red Witch Famulus Distortion

    Red Witch Famulus Distortion

    Red Witch Famulus Distortion FREE shipping anywhere in the USA! The FAMULUS is a distortion/overdrive pedal with two totally separate, parallel circuits inside. Each circuit has it’s own distinct voicing. You are able to blend between the two...
    $189.99
    Add to Cart
  • MXR M-80 Bass D.I.+ Direct Box/Distortion

    MXR M-80 Bass D.I.+ Direct Box/Distortion

    The MXR M-80 Bass D.I.+. Due to dealer agreements, we're unable to ship this item outside of the USA. Please click here for more details. This is quite possible the most practical and all-inclusive single stomp box ever made for the bass guitar. The MXR...
    $189.99
    Add to Cart

What is the difference between overdrive and distortion?

Both overdrive and distortion add distortion to your signal. Overdrive does this by adding gain to your guitars signal. The main difference is the amount of distortion you can get out of each pedal. Overdrive will give you a mild to medium amount of distortion, while distortion gives you a much more intense level. Overdrive will boost your sound, while distortion will alter your sound.

Should I get a distortion or overdrive pedal?

As with all pedals, this is dependent upon the type of sound you are going for. In general, heavier rock and metal music will use distortion pedals, while country, blues, and pop music will favor overdrive pedals.

Of course, there is no right or wrong pedal for styles of music! If you are unsure what type of pedal you should get, we would love to help you decide. Give us a call or use the chat feature!

Can I use gain and overdrive together?

Yes, you can use gain and overdrive together. This is called gain stacking. You will usually want to put your overdrive pedal before your gain pedal in your signal chain.

Can I use distortion pedals on bass?

Yes, you can use distortion pedals on your bass guitar. The distortion pedal will give your clean bass tone some grit and an overall more aggressive tone. Some of our favorites are the Source Audio Bass AfterShock, the Electro-Harmonix Bass Big Muff, and the MXR Bass Distortion.