Really, REALLY Dumb Question...

[BriGuy1968]

So, here's a really, REALLY dumb question for a guy who's been playing for over thirty years to ask:

What's the difference between overdrive and distortion? :dunno:

I've always used the terms interchangeably, but it's become obvious to me for quite some time now that they are different. I just never asked because I didn't want to open myself up to looking like the idiot I am! :34:

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Really, REALLY Dumb Question...

In the most basic sense, they are the same; distortion pedals have more gain on tap and usually have some sort of midrange control.

 

[Lazarus1140]

Re: Really, REALLY Dumb Question...

Overdrive allows you to cruise at a higher speed with fewer RPMs.
Distortion is a specific pain which is the object of discussion and/or is near at hand as opposed to dattortion which is a different pain altogether.

 

[BriGuy1968]

Re: Really, REALLY Dumb Question...

Overdrive allows you to cruise at a higher speed with fewer RPMs.
Distortion is a specific pain which is the object of discussion and/or is near at hand as opposed to dattortion which is a different pain altogether.

LOL... Now THAT really clears it up!

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: Really, REALLY Dumb Question...

As far as I can tell, overdrive enhances the tone of your guitar, while distortion does something more akin to replacing it.

 

[Empty Pockets]

Re: Really, REALLY Dumb Question...

Overdrive uses soft clipping and is used to boost a dirty signal. Distortion uses hard clipping and is meant to turn a clean signal into a facsimile of a cranked amp. There are lots of exceptions.

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Really, REALLY Dumb Question...

Every company describes their pedals differently, but in a general sense, if you look at the signal on an oscilloscope, you'll see:
Overdrive = soft clipping
Distortion = hard clipping
Fuzz = square wave clipping

The traditional way to create these is to put clipping diodes in the feedback loop for overdrive (so some of the signal is passed through but not clipped), clipping diodes straight to ground for distortion (so the entire signal is clipped over a certain threshold) and cascaded transistors for fuzz, just overloading the signal.

Of course now, there are a lot of MOSFET based circuits that are trying to be amp-like. And there are simple overdrives that only use transistors. In general, the waves will look like the above categories no matter how it's created.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Really, REALLY Dumb Question...

Overdrive = soft clipping
Distortion = hard clipping
Fuzz = square wave clipping

This definition pretty much covers the pedals. The boundary between the categories will be blurred somewhat, depending upon how much signal you feed into them.

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: Really, REALLY Dumb Question...

Nuthin.
It is all distortion.

 

[Artie]

Re: Really, REALLY Dumb Question...

PFDarkside stated it pretty well, but I'd just add, that I generally think of on "overdrive" as a device to "drive" your amp into its own distorted character, while a "distortion" pedal, generally brings along its own character. So, the OD relies on the personality of the amp. The Distortion may not.

 

[BriGuy1968]

Re: Really, REALLY Dumb Question...

So, if I'm putting this all together correctly (at least in a general sense):

Overdrive creates its "distortion" by pushing the natural sounds of the guitar and amp through increased gain.

Distortion (and fuzz) are more of an artificial distortion created by the pedal itself.

Does that kind of sum it up? It makes sense to me anyway...


[emoji450]Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk [emoji441]

 

[Rand-O-Monium]

Re: Really, REALLY Dumb Question...

Easy. Compare Boss DS-1 and SD-1 side by side.

QFT

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: Really, REALLY Dumb Question...

My SS amps don't like overdrive as much as distortion

But when I kick on the overdrive into the tube amp
It acts like I just stuck my finger up its bum

 

[BriGuy1968]

Re: Really, REALLY Dumb Question...

My SS amps don't like overdrive as much as distortion

But when I kick on the overdrive into the tube amp
It acts like I just stuck my finger up its bum

In the end, that's all that matters!