Whether you’re looking for some extra juice on top of what your amp’s second channel already provides, or you need a standalone distortion pedal to deliver all the grit and snarl your music requires, a distortion pedal is something that every guitarist should have on their pedalboard.
Today’s guitarists are lucky enough to be living through a sort-of golden age of guitar effects. Not only do you have the perennial heavyweights like Boss, MXR, and TC Electronic continuing to produce awesome effects, but with more small boutique manufacturers joining the fray, there’s more pedals than ever to choose from.
All the competition is driving companies to push the envelope even further. The result is better pedals, better prices, and tons of tone to go around.
Of course, with more distortion pedals on the market than ever before, it’s much more difficult for guitarists to cut through the static to select the best distortion pedal for their rig. That’s where we come in. We’ve put together an exhaustive guide to help you find the best distortion pedals on the market. We’ll also take a close look at thirteen of today’s best distortion pedals.
What is Distortion?
Distortion falls into the broader category of gain effects, which also includes overdrive and fuzz. Since these three effects relate so closely, many beginner and even advanced guitarists have trouble differentiating between them.
All three effects occur as the result of clipping. How much clipping occurs is what separates overdrive from distortion from fuzz.
Gain effects were first discovered as somewhat of an accident. Early guitarists realized that when you crank a tube amplifier to the max, the tubes inside can no longer efficiently handle the voltage being generated, which causes the soundwaves to clip. This clipping translates to a hotter, warmer tone that has a certain sizzle to it.
This is overdrive. While there’s no fundamental change to your tone, the clipping makes your guitar sound bigger, fatter, and hotter. After discovering overdrive, guitarists began to think about what would happen if the signal was driven even more to produce even more clipping, which leads us to the birth of distortion and fuzz.
Distortion pedals create more clipping, and often use multiple clipping stages to generate as much gain as possible. If overdrive is the warm and musical sound of a tube amp driven to the max, distortion is it’s bigger and tougher brother that grew up on the streets.
Not only does distortion generate gain, but it also has a complex harmonic profile that lends a certain heaviness to your playing, which is a practical requirement for hard rock and modern metal.
At the furthest end of the spectrum is fuzz, which takes the concept of distortion and dials it up even more. The clipping with a fuzz effect is extremely aggressive and out of control, and it gets its name from the way it sounds; like your distorted guitar tone is being covered in a thick layer of crackly fuzz.
Choosing the Best Distortion Pedal for You
In just a moment, we’ll be covering some of the best distortion pedal options on the market. But, that doesn’t mean you should run out and purchase the first pedal from our list that you come across. There are many critical things you’ll have to consider to ensure you select the best stompbox for you. Here’s what you should consider before hitting the music store.
Common Controls
Understanding the control layout is going to be critical for getting the most out of any distortion pedal. Most pedals have a fairly similar array of parameters you can adjust, and knowing what each one does and how to set it will help you achieve the tone you’re looking for.
Some parameters are absent from certain pedals, some manufacturers call them by different names, but the fact remains that these are the critical controls you must understand when shopping for a distortion stompbox.
Gain
Some manufacturers call it gain, while others call it distortion. Whichever way you slice it, this control adjusts the amount of gain that’s present in your signal. Lower gain settings will allow more of your natural playing to show through, whereas cranking the gain or distortion control will dramatically increase the harmonic overtones and the amount of clipping in the signal.
Level
A level or volume control allows you to dial in the amount of boost to your signal when you engage the pedal. You can either equalize this control so that there’s no noticeable change in volume whether the pedal is on or off. Or, you can use this control to provide a volume boost for solos and leads.
Presence
A presence control is common on high-gain amplifiers and it’s also found on many distortion pedals. Presence adjusts the upper midrange and treble frequencies of your tone and it allows you to add more liveliness to your tone.
EQ Controls
Arguably the most important knobs on any distortion pedal are the EQ controls.
Depending on the pedal, you’ll find a variety of different options for controlling the equalization of the pedal. Some pedals offer a single tone knob for controlling EQ. As you’d imagine, these pedals offer less granular control over your sound than a multi-band EQ.
It’s more common for a distortion pedal to offer controls for treble and bass, or even a three or four band EQ for dialing in the perfect tone for you.
A pedal that offers multiple EQ parameters isn’t necessarily better than one that only offers a single tone control; it just doesn’t offer as much control. Some of the most famous distortion pedals of all time offer a single tone control, or no onboard EQ at all.
Necessary Power Requirements
A critical area that most guitar players overlook are the power requirements of their pedals. If you use only a pedal or two, you might be able to get by using batteries alone. Most guitarists, especially those with large pedalboards, rely on power supplies to provide the juice they need.
It’s easy to forget that not all power supplies are generic. Not only do you need to make sure the voltage is correct, but you also need to ensure that it’s the right configuration. Always consult the owner’s manual to ensure you’re meeting the power requirements.
Invest in a Noise Gate
When it comes to distortion or drive pedals, you’re usually working with lots of gain and driving your signal to the brink of explosion. With all that comes tons of additional noise, which can ruin your tone for both you and your audience. Adding a noise gate to your army of guitar pedals is the best way to tamp down the feedback and buzz that a distortion box is sure to generate.
The Top 13 Best Distortion Pedals
Ready to supercharge your sound with a new distortion pedal? Read on for our take on the top distortion pedals available today.
MXR M75 Super Badass Distortion Pedal
Best distortion pedal for rock and classic metal
The name says it all with the MXR M75 Super Badass Distortion. This snarling beast is one of the most versatile pedals on the market, and it’s ideal for any guitarist who needs their distortion pedal to nail a broad range of tones.
The pedal offers knobs for output level and distortion as well as active bass, middle, and treble controls. The EQ is hugely responsive, and depending on how you set the level and distortion; you’ll be able to achieve a range of tones as broad as rock itself. The Super Badass distortion covers it all from Dimebag’s menacing mid-scooped tone to the classic snarl of AC/DC.
The tone clears up beautifully as you roll back your volume, providing finer control of your live sound, and the true bypass circuitry ensures that nothing is getting in the way of your sound.
Features & Specs
Analog distortion
Control for output, distortion, bass, middle, and treble
Die-cast housing
9V center-negative power supply or battery
True bypass
Who Should Use This?
The MXR M75 Super Badass Distortion is the ideal pedal for guitarists who cover a broad range of styles from the sounds of the 70s on forward.
Boss DS-1 Distortion Pedal
Best distortion pedal for beginners
No best distortion pedal list would be complete without mention of the one that started it all, the Boss DS-1.
Since 1978, this affordable distortion has been Boss’ best-selling pedal, and it’s easy to see why. It’s easy to use, it’s excellent as a standalone pedal or a boost, and they build it like a Sherman tank. Guitars from Kurt Cobain and Dave Navarro to Joe Satriani and Steve Vai have all had a Boss DS-1 on their pedalboard at some point.
The Boss DS-1 distortion pedal offers controls for level and distortion and a tone control that allows you to dial in a broad range of tones from nasally to beefy and full. The pedal does muddy up a bit at higher distortion levels, but if you use it for what it’s good at, it’s a genuinely stellar pedal.
Roll back the distortion and crank the level control to deliver a clean boost for solos and leads, or crank up the distortion and roll back the tone to achieve darker and more modern tones from the DS-1.
Features & Specs
Digital distortion
Controls for gain, tone, and level
Die-cast housing
PSA series power supply or battery
Buffered bypass
Who Should Use This?
The DS-1 is an ideal pedal for beginners looking for an affordable pedal from a reputable manufacturer or lead guitarists looking for a unique boost for solos.
EarthQuaker Devices Acapulco Gold V2
Most unique distortion pedal
Far and away the most exciting and unique pedal on our list, the EarthQuaker Devices Acapulco Gold V2 is a single knob chaos machine that’s capable of delivering a far-reaching range of high-gain tones with the help of a single knob.
This pedal uses the Sunn Model T as its muse, a legendary amp known for its incredibly punishing sound when you dime it out. The single output knob allows you to dial in anything from a subtle boost to full roaring Sunn heaviness to uncontrollable fuzz, so it’s surprisingly versatile given its single-knob configuration.
The Acapulco Gold offers a mini-size housing with top-mounted I/O sockets, so it’s also an excellent choice if you’re looking to preserve precious pedalboard space.
Features & Specs
Analog distortion
Single output control
Die-cast housing
9V center-negative power supply or battery
True bypass
Who Should Use This?
The Earthquaker Devices Acapulco Gold is one of the best distortion pedals guitarists trying to lay waste to their audience with an absolutely punishing tone. If you’re into doom metal, consider this dirt box the doomsayer.
TC Electronic Dark Matter Distortion Pedal
Best distortion pedal value
TC Electronic has a reputation for pushing the envelope with exciting new technology, and now they’re doing it at a more affordable price than ever. The TC Electronic Dark Matter Distortion is on the cutting edge of pedal technology at a price that any shredder can afford.
This pedal offers control for level and distortion and bass and treble knobs for shaping your tone. With all knobs at half-mast, the Dark Matter provides the smooth and warm breakup that’s characteristic of most quality distortion stomps.
When you crank this thing up, it starts to muddy up just like any distortion pedal would. But, with the help of the bass and treble knobs, it cleans up remarkably, allowing you to achieve everything from warm and responsive overdrive to punishing high-gain mid-scooped madness in a matter of seconds. The voicing switch also wholly alters the bass response, allowing you to change the pedal’s sound with the flip of a switch.
Features & Specs
Digital distortion pedal
Controls for gain, level, bass, and treble
Die-cast housing
9V center-negative power supply or battery
True bypass
Who Should Use This?
The TC Electronic Dark Matter is perfect for any guitarist looking for a boutique-quality pedal at a bargain bin price, and it stands on it’s own against some of the best distortion pedals for heavy metal and high-gain tones.
Fender Pugilist Distortion Pedal
Best distortion for blues and classic rock
While Fender is an absolute legend when it comes to guitars and amps, it’s only recently that they’ve thrown their hat into the ring with effects pedals. The brand’s recent pedal line includes the Fender Pugilist Distortion, a beautiful-looking pedal with a fantastic design.
Recognizing many guitarists like to chain multiple gain effects together, Fender builds the Pugilist with two gain stages that you can run in series or stack together. Each stage features independent tone and gain control, along with a blend control to mix the two gain stages, and a level control for dialing in your volume.
There are also mini-switches to toggle between series or blend mode for the gain stages and a bass boost switch. The pedal also boasts knobs with LED indicator lights and a gorgeous brushed gold finish.
The Fender Pugilist is a fantastic pedal for low and moderate gain applications, but it tends to muddy up and lose some of its responsiveness at higher distortion levels.
Features & Specs
Analog distortion pedal
Control for gain A, gain B, tone A, tone B, blend, level, bass boost, and gain stage chaining
Anodized aluminum casing
9V center-negative power supply or 9V battery
Switchable bypass
Who Should Use This?
The Pugilist is an ideal pedal for blues and classic rock guitarists looking for a great distortion tone for low and moderate gain applications.
Pro Co Rat 2 Distortion Pedal
Best guitar distortion pedal
No distortion discussion would be complete without talking about one of the most iconic pedals of all time, the ProCo Rat. From Nuno Bettencourt and Kurt Cobain to James Hetfield, countless legends have a Rat on their pedalboards.
While the original Rat is more of a fuzz pedal, the ever-versatile Rat 2 covers far more tonal territory, functioning as an overdrive, distortion, or fuzz, depending on how you dial in your sound. The Rat 2 features control for distortion, filter, and volume, with the filter control functioning as an EQ control that offers a surprisingly broad range of tones from low-end punishment to a shrill whine.
Whether you use this pedal as a boost to propel your guitar to the front of the mix during solos and leads or as a standalone stomp to deliver all the grit you need, the Pro Co Rat 2 is one of the most popular and versatile distortions on the market today.
Features & Specs
Analog distortion pedal
Controls for volume, filter, and distortion
Die-cast case
9V center negative power supply or 9V battery
Mil-spec glass epoxy circuit board and heavy-duty sockets and components
Buffered bypass
Who Should Use This?
The Pro Co Rat 2 is one of the best distortion pedals for practically anyone looking to capture the balls-to-the-wall sounds of modern rock and heavy metal. It isn’t ideal for the newer, proggier side of metal today, but it manages to tackle practically anything else.
Boss MT-2W Waza Metal Zone Distortion Pedal
Best Boss distortion pedal
The iconic Boss Metal Zone receives a designer facelift from the folks in the Waza Craft department at Boss. The resulting Metal Zone pedal packs all the snarl, crunch, and brutality of the original, with several performance upgrades that make it even more imposing.
The MT-2W metal distortion adds a second operation mode to the original, providing even more clarity and dynamic range than the first Metal Zone. The MT-2W offers control for level and distortion and a three-band EQ that includes a sweepable mid-frequency knob which adds tons of additional range to what this pedal is capable of.
A toggle switch on the front of the pedal allows you to toggle between distortion modes. It employs a premium Waza Craft buffer to deliver unparalleled signal strength without adding color to your tone.
Features & Specs
Analog distortion pedal
Controls for level, distortion, bass, mid, treble, and mid-frequency
Die-cast case
9V center negative power supply or 9V battery
Buffered bypass
Who Should Use This?
The Boss MT-2W Waza Craft Metal Zone pedal is ideal for guitarists looking to capture the cranked low-end metal tones they remember from the 90s, with several performance upgrades that eliminate the muddiness in favor of mountains of punishing metal tone.
Walrus Audio Iron Horse V2 Distortion Effects Pedal
Best pedal for arena rock and classic metal
The Walrus Audio Iron Horse V2 is a boutique pedal that delivers tons of classic distortion with all the attention to detail you’d expect from a pedal from Walrus Audio. This intuitive and straightforward pedal manages to tackle everything from smooth and fat overdrive tones to total hell-on-earth distortion.
The pedal offers a simple interface with controls for level, distortion, and tone. The tone knob provides a dramatic EQ sweep that can take you from death metal to 80s lead guitar with the turn of a single knob. The mini-switch on the pedal’s front allows you to toggle between clipping diodes, which provide three different voicings within one powerful pedal.
Features & Specs
Analog distortion pedal
Controls for level, tone, and distortion
Die-cast case
9V center negative power supply or battery
True bypass
Who Should Use This?
The Walrus Audio Iron Horse distortion is one of the best distortion pedals for guitarists looking for a quieter and more responsive take on the classic distortions of the 80s and 90s.
Revv G3 Distortion Pedal
Best distortion pedal in the studio
The Revv G3 is a fantastic distortion and overdrive pedal that allows you to exact precise control over your tone. The folks at Revv model this pedal over their amplifiers’ legendary purple channel to deliver a level of snarl and responsiveness that’s almost unheard of for a pedal.
At any volume or distortion setting, the G3 lets you tap into incredibly focused tones thanks to its adaptive filtering, which removes muddy or shrill frequencies, leaving you with a focused and responsive tone that cuts through the mix brilliantly.
Features & Specs
Analog distortion pedal
Controls for bass, mid, treble, gain, volume, 3-position voicing switch
Top-mount I/O sockets
Die-cast case
9V center negative power supply
True bypass
Who Should Use This?
The Revv G3 is one of the best distortion pedals for any guitarist who needs maximum versatility and control over their tone. Whether you’re looking for a clean boost, a warm overdrive, or absolute relentless aggression, the G3 delivers it all. The top-mount sockets are also a great feature for tight pedalboards.
Wampler Sovereign Distortion Pedal
Best distortion pedal overall
Many guitarists consider Brian Wampler to be the reigning king of the distortion pedal, and the new Sovereign stompbox only further solidifies this claim. With twin gain stages and plenty of control over your sound’s tonal character, this pedal is one of the finest distortion pedals available.
The Sovereign offers volume, tone, and gain controls and a mid contour control for dialing in the perfect amount of bite. There are also mini switches that toggle between modern and vintage voicings and regular and boost mode. Wampler touts the gain structure of this pedal as highly advanced, and that’s perfectly clear. This distortion is incredibly responsive and musical, and you’ll be hard-pressed to find many better-sounding pedals on the market.
Features & Specs
Analog distortion
Controls for volume, tone, gain, and mid contour, mini switches for different voicings and modes
Hand-built in the USA from premium components
9V power supply or battery
Switchable bypass
Who Should Use This?
The Sovereign is the one for you if you’re looking for a premium overdrive/distortion stomp, especially if you play a single channel amp or an amp that isn’t known for its drive channel.
Keeley Filaments High Gain Distortion Pedal
Best distortion pedal for metal
The Keeley Filaments pedal is an absolute monster that’s straight from hell, and if you have an appetite for modern metal, consider this thing your new favorite meal. The Filaments is incredibly versatile and offers tons of tone sculpting options. You’ll find knobs for level, presence, gain, a three-band EQ, and three mini-switches to add additional boost, brightness, or crunch.
You’ll be hard-pressed to find another distortion that offers as much control over your tone as the Keeley Filaments. While this pedal is most at home with the sounds of modern metal, it’s also incredibly versatile, and it covers a vast ocean of tones in one convenient package.
Features & Specs
Analog distortion
Controls for level, presence, gain, 3-band EQ, three mini-switches for boost/brightness/crunch
9-18V power supply
True bypass
Who Should Use This?
Modern metal guitarists who need a tight and responsive pedal with tons of tonal control love the Keeley Filaments distortion. This one is especially well-suited to seven and eight-string guitars, as the EQ section and presence control allow you to dial out all of the muddiness that’s usually present when you try and run an extended range guitar through a metal distortion.
Mesa Boogie Throttle Box Distortion Pedal
Best American-style distortion
Mesa/Boogie has been hand-building some of the best tube amps in the business from their California shop since the late 60s, and they’ve been a staple on some of the world’s biggest stages. From Keith Richards to Mark Tremonti, countless guitarists have made their bones with Mesa. Now, their legendary drive tones are available in a diminutive stompbox.
The Throttle Box is incredibly musical and versatile, allowing you to dial in anything from a hot Texas blues sound to an all-out metal roar. This pedal offers controls for level, gain, mid-cut, tone, and a mini switch to toggle between low and high gain modes.
Mesa builds these pedals in the same California factory as their amps from top quality components. It sports a die-cast case with a bulletproof matte black finish, so it’s perfect for gigging musicians who are hard on their pedals.
Features & Specs
Analog distortion
Controls for level, gain, mid-cut, tone, low/high gain switch
Heavy-duty case and finish
9V center-negative power supply or battery
True bypass
Who Should Use This?
The Throttle Box is one of the best distortion pedals for you if you’re a fan of the warm and round sound of Mesa’s legendary amps. Blues, rock, and classic metal players are sure to love the Throttle Box.
Wampler Dracarys High Gain Distortion Pedal
Best high-gain distortion for hard rock and metal
Wampler can do no wrong when it comes to distortion pedals, and the Dracarys distortion is a roaring high-gain monster that’s tailor-made for the crushing envelope-pushing sounds of modern metal.
This pedal offers a 3-band EQ for dialing in the ideal tone for any guitar, even eight-string models. The damping switch that lets you open up the pedal for a more classic sound, or keep it tight, which is perfect for the precise rhythmic punishment of today’s more crushing bands. A master volume control and gain knob allow you to further dial in your signature tone.
The pedal also cleans up a bit, making it useful for less aggressive styles. Still, its true bread and butter is dishing out punishing metal tones reminiscent of everything from Pantera to Periphery.
Features & Specs
Analog distortion
Controls for gain, volume, 3-band eq, mini switch for tight/open modes
Die-cast case
9V-18V power supply
True bypass with soft switch
Who Should Use This?
The Dracarys pedal one of the best distortion pedals for guitarists who find themselves still looking for more gain after they’ve dimed out their rigs. Modern metal guitarists need to fire up this pedal for a test drive, with a noise-gate, of course.
Are Distortion Pedals Worth It?
Depending on the style you play and the music you enjoy, you probably already have a solid idea of whether or not your sound requires distortion. If you’re a country or blues musician, you can probably get by without ever adding a distortion pedal to your rig.
But, if you play hard rock or modern metal and you need a guitar tone that’s heavier than hell, you’ll certainly want to add a distortion pedal to your rig.
