Overdrive Definition

[Guitar Toad]

So, is overdrive when the guitar pickup pushes more power to the preamp which then pushes more than design current to the power amp?

Maybe I should just ask: What is overdrive? How is overdrive different than fuzz and distortion as these terms are commonly used?
I know that distortion, grossly overdriven power amp, is mostly the metal sound. Does Angus Young use distortion or overdrive or are these terms merely synonyms, or varying degress of overdrive?

Thanks for entertaining my query.

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Overdrive Definition

Distortion is caused by overdrive.

 

[drew_half_empty]

Re: Overdrive Definition

well, fuzz is a thing amps don't really do, i think, it's more of a pedal thing

distortion, to me, is sort of a really heavy overdrive, caused by pushing the front end of an amp with tons of signal & really rigid clipping, same can be done in a pedal. A 5150 produces distortion

overdrive is more like a natural thing that happens, like you turn up an amp real loud & just the sheer volume causes the tubes to overdrive. Plug into a fender deluxe reverb at your local shop & crank it (don't worry, only 22 watts), that's overdrive

usually overdrive tends to be more mild than distortion, and fuzz is just kind of a thing all its own

 

[Jimbojsr]

Re: Overdrive Definition

Overdrive - smooth, low-gain stuff, easy to do just with your amp. Distortion tends to mean the heavier, more freaked overdriven sound, commonly attained by a pedal. Fuzz is really artificial. Try listening to.....

Overdrive: White Stripes, 'The Hardest Button To Button'

Distortion: Just about any track using a Marshall amp Kinda difficult to name a track as there are lots of different styles of distortion (rock, metal, etc etc)

Fuzz: Smashing Pumpkins, 'Today' or Nirvana, 'Heart-Shaped Box'

 

[Guitar Toad]

Re: Overdrive Definition

Distortion is caused by overdrive.

That's what I thought.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Overdrive Definition

My definitions:

Overdrive Pedal: a pedal or boost that boosts the output of the pickup to a level that causes the amp itself to distort and go into "overdrive".

Fuzz or Distortion Pedal: a pedal that creates square wave distortion of the pickup signal so that the signal is now distorted. That distorted signal is then amplified by the amp, but the amp itself may or may not be driven into creating additional distortion or overdrive.

I think the subtle diff is that an overdrive pedal causes the amp itself to distort.......whereas the signal from the output of a fuzz/distortion pedal is already distorted before it is even fed into the amp.

And, as usual, there are exceptions!

Lew

 

[flank]

Re: Overdrive Definition

i would say Angus is definately Overdrive in my book......just marshalls turned up loud

overdrive is generally warmer and less saturated. Distortion is edgier, more more gain, and more saturation

fuzz is just a certain sound to itself. It is very saturated but not quite as gritty as distortion (gritty not having a negative conotation) and it can be very fat with alot of bottom end and compressed sustain

 

[Stevo]

Re: Overdrive Definition

Distortion is caused by overdrive.

True - when you push an amp hard, whether the front end or at one of the internal stages, you can overdrive, causing distortion. This is the type of distortion that I like.

You can also cause distortion by manipulating the wave form - making it more rectangular by means of electronic comonents, without any "overdriving" of an amp or preamp. The more rectangular the waveform becomes, the more of a "fuzz" sound you get.

 

[BornToShred]

Re: Overdrive Definition

True - when you push an amp hard, whether the front end or at one of the internal stages, you can overdrive, causing distortion. This is the type of distortion that I like.

You can also cause distortion by manipulating the wave form - making it more rectangular by means of electronic comonents, without any "overdriving" of an amp or preamp. The more rectangular the waveform becomes, the more of a "fuzz" sound you get.

Correct.

 

[some_dude]

Re: Overdrive Definition

I think the subtle diff is that an overdrive pedal causes the amp itself to distort.......whereas the signal from the output of a fuzz/distortion pedal is already distorted before it is even fed into the amp.

That's the definition I use.

 

[Jimbojsr]

Re: Overdrive Definition

I think the subtle diff is that an overdrive pedal causes the amp itself to distort.......whereas the signal from the output of a fuzz/distortion pedal is already distorted before it is even fed into the amp.

Also bear in mind that some amps can, on their own, give what I would call 'distorted' rather than just 'overdriven' sounds - Eg. Marshall Mode 4, Ashdown Fallen Angel....

Just what my ears tell me, anyways!

 

[Guitar Toad]

Re: Overdrive Definition

My definitions:

Overdrive Pedal: a pedal or boost that boosts the output of the pickup to a level that causes the amp itself to distort and go into "overdrive".

Fuzz or Distortion Pedal: a pedal that creates square wave distortion of the pickup signal so that the signal is now distorted. That distorted signal is then amplified by the amp, but the amp itself may or may not be driven into creating additional distortion or overdrive.

I think the subtle diff is that an overdrive pedal causes the amp itself to distort.......whereas the signal from the output of a fuzz/distortion pedal is already distorted before it is even fed into the amp.

And, as usual, there are exceptions!

Lew

Lew,
Thanks for the great info.

I was curious on the amp side of the signal chain. Some amps have more or less dirt/overdrive than others. Is this caused created by having an oversized preamp? Or simply built in-pedal effects. Yes, I know that some amps have built in digital about modelling. But, I want to stay on the analogue side of signal conditioning for now.

If you wanted to build a new Marshall or Mesa or Fender amp with built in radical overdrive without a pedal, do you just give it a bigger preamp?

 

[some_dude]

Re: Overdrive Definition

Is this caused created by having an oversized preamp? Or simply built in-pedal effects.

Cascading gain stages.

Lets take an amp that can only get mild overdrive. If you wanted to distort that amp you'd hit it with an overdrive that was hot enough to distort the preamp.

To do the same without a pedal you use multiple tubes. The first tube is run hot enough to distort the second tube. For more gain you add more tubes.

Sometimes though they do use something similar to a pedal....the JCM900 for instance uses a clipping diode to increase the gain withough adding another tube.

 

[Guitar Toad]

Re: Overdrive Definition

The amp I'm using now REv Hellhound has an effects loop. In the old days I would just put the pedals in line with guitar to amp line. Does it make a difference if I use the amps effects loop with pedals or my "old" way?

 

[Guitar Toad]

Re: Overdrive Definition

Thanks again for the great help and answering my questions. you guys are great!

 

[Jimbojsr]

Re: Overdrive Definition

Shouldn't matter if it's only overdrive-type pedals u have, but if ur using delay, chorus etc etc then use the loop. In a chain of effects, u should always put the overdrive/distortion ones first, then the special effects - the effects loop allows you to effectively put the amp's own "distortion" before the delay, chorus etc etc, and then into the speaker.

 

[some_dude]

Re: Overdrive Definition

The amp I'm using now REv Hellhound has an effects loop. In the old days I would just put the pedals in line with guitar to amp line. Does it make a difference if I use the amps effects loop with pedals or my "old" way?

I put wah, volume, boosts/OD/Distortion/Fuzz in front of the amp.

I put modulation (chorus/vibe/phase/flange) and time based effects (reverb/echo/delay) in the loop.

Also, some pedals don't work well within the loop. I put those out front too.

 

[Guitar Toad]

Re: Overdrive Definition

Does the loop put the effects between the pre-amp and power amp?

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Overdrive Definition

I put wah, volume, boosts/OD/Distortion/Fuzz in front of the amp.

I put modulation (chorus/vibe/phase/flange) and time based effects (reverb/echo/delay) in the loop.

Also, some pedals don't work well within the loop. I put those out front too.

I agree. Perfect answer! Lew

 

[Guitar Toad]

Re: Overdrive Definition

I agree. Perfect answer! Lew

I'll print this off and keep so I will remember.