Fuzz vs. Distortion
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BadHairDayologist
Re: Fuzz vs. Distortion
They aren't even close to the same thing.
They aren't even close to the same thing.
baritone
New member
Re: Fuzz vs. Distortion
Very similar in sound and design, but lots and lots of variation in present technology with both. Between distortion and fuzz, the variation is still in a pretty similar domain. The technical differences come down to the specific models: op amps, transistors, caps, toobs, etc. Most of what I learned about this topic, I got from reading Guitar World n stuff. I know we have more knowledgeable members at these forims.
Very similar in sound and design, but lots and lots of variation in present technology with both. Between distortion and fuzz, the variation is still in a pretty similar domain. The technical differences come down to the specific models: op amps, transistors, caps, toobs, etc. Most of what I learned about this topic, I got from reading Guitar World n stuff. I know we have more knowledgeable members at these forims.
Re: Fuzz vs. Distortion
Actually fuzz sounds far more like farting most of the time. If you've got a cranked amp on the edge of breakup it takes some edge off the fuzz which is great, but trying to play some "power chords" with a fuzz just doesn't sound that hot. Nice open A with a good distortion can't help but put a smile on ones face.
What type of crazy 18 year old doesn't like distortion ? lol
Actually fuzz sounds far more like farting most of the time. If you've got a cranked amp on the edge of breakup it takes some edge off the fuzz which is great, but trying to play some "power chords" with a fuzz just doesn't sound that hot. Nice open A with a good distortion can't help but put a smile on ones face.
What type of crazy 18 year old doesn't like distortion ? lol
Re: Fuzz vs. Distortion
I know there not the same but what I want to know is, what do they (in technical terms) do to the signal of your guitar?
I know there not the same but what I want to know is, what do they (in technical terms) do to the signal of your guitar?
PFDarkside
of the Forum
Re: Fuzz vs. Distortion
If we compare a fuzz like a fuzz face with a distortion like a DS1, the Fuzz Face is using a very simple circuit with transistors, the transistors amplify and distort the signal. The DS1 uses OpAmps to amplify the signal (and they impart their own sonic signature, not necessarily distortion) and that amplified signal is clipped by a pair of diodes. You run into a fuzzy middle ground with a Big Muff, it uses transistors (4 stages total IIRC) that amplify and distort, into a couple of pairs of clipping diodes. The Muff seems to behave like a fuzz but with more distortion like a typical distortion pedal.
Not only is the feel different, I'd bet an oscilloscope would show a significant wave difference too.
If we compare a fuzz like a fuzz face with a distortion like a DS1, the Fuzz Face is using a very simple circuit with transistors, the transistors amplify and distort the signal. The DS1 uses OpAmps to amplify the signal (and they impart their own sonic signature, not necessarily distortion) and that amplified signal is clipped by a pair of diodes. You run into a fuzzy middle ground with a Big Muff, it uses transistors (4 stages total IIRC) that amplify and distort, into a couple of pairs of clipping diodes. The Muff seems to behave like a fuzz but with more distortion like a typical distortion pedal.
Not only is the feel different, I'd bet an oscilloscope would show a significant wave difference too.
Hot _Grits
Buttery Toneologist
Re: Fuzz vs. Distortion
this is a bit like comparing purple with orange. You're going to get a million different responses and it's highly likely that no-one will get to the bottom of it...
this is a bit like comparing purple with orange. You're going to get a million different responses and it's highly likely that no-one will get to the bottom of it...
Fikealox
New member
Re: Fuzz vs. Distortion
Generally speaking, overdrives employ soft clipping (which means those parts of the sine waves that exceed the clipping point get squashed), while distortion employs hard clipping (which means those parts get cut off). Fuzz pedals vary a lot, but generally they are function like distortion pedals that amplify a lot and clip aggressively, resulting in a heavily clipped sine wave (looking more like a square wave). The very "sharp" edges of the clipped wave are what makes it sound buzzy.
It is complicated a bit because many overdrive pedals can act like distortion pedals when cranked hard enough (or fed a signal of high enough amplitude), and similarly, many distortion pedals can act like fuzzes when cranked hard enough or fed a high amplitude signal.
Because of that, the categories are to a large extent a matter of degree rather than of kind, and so there are no real hard-and-fast rules to what overdrive is, what distortion is, and what fuzz is. It doesn't help that some pedals do things like asymmetrical clipping, with half of the wave being hard-clipped and half being soft-clipped; or using different components (germanium vs. silicon transistors, etc) to alter the sound in various ways.
My rule is simple, though... It's down to the ear of the beholder. If it sounds round and smooth it's overdrive, if it's harsher and more aggressive it's distortion, and if it's fuzzy and buzzy it's fuzz.
Generally speaking, overdrives employ soft clipping (which means those parts of the sine waves that exceed the clipping point get squashed), while distortion employs hard clipping (which means those parts get cut off). Fuzz pedals vary a lot, but generally they are function like distortion pedals that amplify a lot and clip aggressively, resulting in a heavily clipped sine wave (looking more like a square wave). The very "sharp" edges of the clipped wave are what makes it sound buzzy.
It is complicated a bit because many overdrive pedals can act like distortion pedals when cranked hard enough (or fed a signal of high enough amplitude), and similarly, many distortion pedals can act like fuzzes when cranked hard enough or fed a high amplitude signal.
Because of that, the categories are to a large extent a matter of degree rather than of kind, and so there are no real hard-and-fast rules to what overdrive is, what distortion is, and what fuzz is. It doesn't help that some pedals do things like asymmetrical clipping, with half of the wave being hard-clipped and half being soft-clipped; or using different components (germanium vs. silicon transistors, etc) to alter the sound in various ways.
My rule is simple, though... It's down to the ear of the beholder. If it sounds round and smooth it's overdrive, if it's harsher and more aggressive it's distortion, and if it's fuzzy and buzzy it's fuzz.
Re: Fuzz vs. Distortion
I think the main difference between fuzz and distortion is how it's treated after the square-wave conversion, most fuzz boxes are just wide open to the amp and pass along the buzziness, while most distortion units have some R/C networks to roll off the nastier harmonics and artifacts so you get a more controlled sound.
If you're lucky and your guitar makes a good match with your pedal and your amp, you're in like a little dog meeting Sarah Silverman.
I think the main difference between fuzz and distortion is how it's treated after the square-wave conversion, most fuzz boxes are just wide open to the amp and pass along the buzziness, while most distortion units have some R/C networks to roll off the nastier harmonics and artifacts so you get a more controlled sound.
If you're lucky and your guitar makes a good match with your pedal and your amp, you're in like a little dog meeting Sarah Silverman.
baritone
New member
Re: Fuzz vs. Distortion
There is to much overlap in technology and terminology these days. From certain articles I've read, with diagrams n things, it also appears that overdrives and distortions usually have more symmetric waves, while fuzzes have crazywild assymetric waves. I have a RockTron Zombie distortion pedal, which has a knob to gradually throw off the symmetry of the wave shape. I noticed that as that knob is cranked up, it sounds more like fuzz than distortion.
There is to much overlap in technology and terminology these days. From certain articles I've read, with diagrams n things, it also appears that overdrives and distortions usually have more symmetric waves, while fuzzes have crazywild assymetric waves. I have a RockTron Zombie distortion pedal, which has a knob to gradually throw off the symmetry of the wave shape. I noticed that as that knob is cranked up, it sounds more like fuzz than distortion.
Artie
Peaveyologist
Re: Fuzz vs. Distortion
This is closest to the right answer. Fuzz and distortion are, in fact, the same thing. We clip the signal. Its just that most fuzz boxes use an external PN junction, usually a diode, while a distortion pedal uses an internal PN junction, such as the output transistor within an opamp. In one case, the clipped signal is taken directly out, and in other cases, its buffered with additional circuitry to "smooth" the clipping.
Its all a matter of degree.
This is closest to the right answer. Fuzz and distortion are, in fact, the same thing. We clip the signal. Its just that most fuzz boxes use an external PN junction, usually a diode, while a distortion pedal uses an internal PN junction, such as the output transistor within an opamp. In one case, the clipped signal is taken directly out, and in other cases, its buffered with additional circuitry to "smooth" the clipping.
Its all a matter of degree.
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