Overdrive or Distortion?

[MTJR]

Hey, i searched the forums and found some info but still not too sure. What exactly is the main difference between these 2 effects? Considering getting a pedal as right now i have none except those built into my amp. I'm using a Timbre SR200 Strat. Saw Sub's good reviews of the biyang OD-7, but wondering how much difference in tone i can get rather than just the tone being, umm.."clearer"? Up to what level of distortion from that pedal will i be able to achieve? (can plz give some examples of the level by like songs and stuff?) Thanks in advance!

 

[fuzztremecho]

bro

check this out

Guitar Amplifiers - Overdrive & Distortion

 

[5stringwonder]

Here's a link to a thread on TGP on the topic and also a link to the article that they reference.

overdrive vs distortion defined - The Gear Page

Premier Guitar - Defining Your Dirt - Nov 2007 - Premier Guitar magazine has the latest in guitar information and equipment along with music interviews, product reviews and much more.

 

[THOA]

I used to ask this same question to myself...

... until I saw Edder's answer here: http://soft.com.sg/forum/gear-guitar/34917-difference-overdrive-pedal-distortion-pedal.html.

... then, I completely understood, heh.

 

[5stringwonder]

ha ha...

"Chugga Chugga and Djeng Djeng"

that's some technical stuff right there...

 

[MTJR]

Whoa, thanks guys! Decided to go to youtube to HEAR it for myself!

 

[kerplunk182]

honestly, i prefer distortion than overdrive. Maybe cause i never really tried od pedals. But i love chugga chugga. So it's distortion for me

 

[Dime]

distortion for rhythm then you go overdrive for that face melting leads!

 

[THOA]

ha ha...

"Chugga Chugga and Djeng Djeng"

that's some technical stuff right there...

I'm not a technical person, so any references to technical circuitry and treatment of signal waveform would confuse me more than it answers.

So Edder's answer suits me just fine, lol.

 

[5stringwonder]

neither am I. which is why I like the answer too...

 

[faizal_rocks]

Distortion is wat others have said earlier..high gain, powerful sound with tat chugga chugga tone found in most punk n metal songs

Overdrive is where the clean sound starts to break up to sound dirty but not in chugga chugga territory yet Overdrive is awesome for playing blues, esp with a Strat

 

[MTJR]

Ehh, but with a distortion pedal, can i lower the level till its near that of an overdriven sound? or are they totally different?

 

[faizal_rocks]

Quite possible. Some pedals have the ability to do that. U gotta try for urself.

Why not give the Boss OS-2 Overdrive/Distortion pedal a try? Its 2-in-1

 

[Dime]

but you can always roll down the volume knob on the guitar itself to acquire the desired overdrive effect.

 

[zullio]

i use both at the same time, sometimes.

distortion to play hard rock, overdrive to play punk.
on both to play nearly metal but not there yet.

 

[6969]

what kinda music do u play?

 

[zullio]

generally rock.

jamming stone sour, switchfoot, mcr and breaking benjamin...

 

[MTJR]

Will overdrive be able to get me the sound similar to blink 182 and RHCP?

 

[zullio]

i'd like to believe its possible.

 

[Godspeed64]

Don't forget the fuzzzzz! Lotsa mojo that one!
Hmmm, for OD think of Oasis rhythm, John Mayer and SRV leads?
Distortion, think of AC/DC?
Fuzz, think of Muse?
Most simplest way of looking at it!
MTJR : A mild OD (TS-9 etc) won't allow you to get that sound! That's more into distortion territory.. However a more kranky and harsher OD can give you that. but of course distortion does better at that..