Amp distortion and distortion pedals
- Thread starter nyxynyx
- Start date
subversion
Moderator
quite easily, one is an internal source, the other, an external attachment 
amp's on-board distortion are wired by the manufacturer to maximize their product's full potential. external distortion are employed by the user to make their amp sound the best to them. in both cases, hits-&-misses are aplenty, there is no rigid rule saying one employment is at the exclusion of the other. how about using both simultaneously? that's at your discretion of course.
we note that the default amp distortion help define the amp's signature tone, Marshall & MESA are good examples of why we buy these amps.
amp's on-board distortion are wired by the manufacturer to maximize their product's full potential. external distortion are employed by the user to make their amp sound the best to them. in both cases, hits-&-misses are aplenty, there is no rigid rule saying one employment is at the exclusion of the other. how about using both simultaneously? that's at your discretion of course.
we note that the default amp distortion help define the amp's signature tone, Marshall & MESA are good examples of why we buy these amps.
And I'd say that pedals... are meant to be your dirt in a portable box... to cop the tones of said amps...
Drive pedals were meant to give real-amp-dirt simulation at lower levels. (An exception would be fuzzes... hehehe)
Its simulation because a pedal doesn't contain the drive section of an amp - though some pedals DO do that.
How good is the simulation? I dunno. Up to you.
But its surely useful when you need gain saturation @ lower volumes... you need consistant sound & feel when playing across different amps... you like to add flavour to whatever sounds your amp has... and so on.
Drive pedals were meant to give real-amp-dirt simulation at lower levels. (An exception would be fuzzes... hehehe)
Its simulation because a pedal doesn't contain the drive section of an amp - though some pedals DO do that.
How good is the simulation? I dunno. Up to you.
But its surely useful when you need gain saturation @ lower volumes... you need consistant sound & feel when playing across different amps... you like to add flavour to whatever sounds your amp has... and so on.
When I get to try a Stephenson Stage Hog, then I might be able to answer your question with an absolute reply.
But I have not.
And I can only offer my experience with what I've tried and say - it depends.
As for how tube amps different from pedal tone?
Why don't you go play some tube amps, then play some pedals, well, experience it?
But I have not.
And I can only offer my experience with what I've tried and say - it depends.
As for how tube amps different from pedal tone?
Why don't you go play some tube amps, then play some pedals, well, experience it?
thor666
New member
Don't overload your questions (tube amps - when discussion is on amps in general). It's difficult for others to concisely answer your queries.
In a general sense:
Amp distortion is often designed with the amp in mind. How it's supposed to sound, building on what the amp can do etc. (There are always exceptions though.)
Pedal distortion brings the pedal-maker's choice of sound, without concern for amp characteristics. That's why you need to mix and match. Some pedals will inevitably sound better than others on a particular amp.
There are instances where guitarists have gotten positive results with both types of distortion engaged. How it works for you depends what you want and how you set up and play.
As for types of distortion within the pedals, solidstate/tube amps, read up.
http://users.chariot.net.au/~gmarts/ampovdrv.htm
In a general sense:
Amp distortion is often designed with the amp in mind. How it's supposed to sound, building on what the amp can do etc. (There are always exceptions though.)
Pedal distortion brings the pedal-maker's choice of sound, without concern for amp characteristics. That's why you need to mix and match. Some pedals will inevitably sound better than others on a particular amp.
There are instances where guitarists have gotten positive results with both types of distortion engaged. How it works for you depends what you want and how you set up and play.
As for types of distortion within the pedals, solidstate/tube amps, read up.
http://users.chariot.net.au/~gmarts/ampovdrv.htm
keysersoze808
New member
..
hi.. tube amp have 'tons' of harmonics and soul... but pedals with tubes also quiet good.. got harmonics and fat distortion.. but still cant beat power tubes crraankk up..:twisted:
hi.. tube amp have 'tons' of harmonics and soul... but pedals with tubes also quiet good.. got harmonics and fat distortion.. but still cant beat power tubes crraankk up..:twisted:
