Best Distortion Pedals 2020

By: The Gear Dude |  Date: 10th August 2020

If you are a guitarist, a musician, or a huge heavy rock fan then you have an idea of what distortion pedals are. These are the devices that give all the gain into a clean amp as well as ramp up into infinity, an overdrive channel. The effect of distortion pedals cannot be ignored and there importance has resulted in a market flooded with endless options of distortion pedals, and choosing the right one can be challenging. Since you want your guitar to produce overdriven and distorted sounds that ascertain its dominance over other instruments, how about you let us guide you through our top 10 best distortion pedals 2020.

Boss DS-1

Distortion Pedal
DS-1 pedal is a modern classic; it has been a first-call pedal since 1978. You have probably heard how the orange box pedal puts through paces on numerous top rock recordings. The pedal has developed from the era of the “Nevermind” jumble to the renowned Steve Kai distorted tones. It is a rock pedalboard staple with an incredible sounding. Its first distortion stomp box is perfect and might as well be your last. DS-1 gives you a viable expectation of a dynamic and rich tone whether it is paired with humbucking pickups or the single-coil on your guitar. Guitarists have been lining up to grab the pedal for the signal chains since its inception. Most monogram distorted rock tones have been achieved by the pedal. The pedalboard has great rock flavors to suit all your tastes; it ranges from experimental, heavier grunge-infused genres to modern and indie genres. DS-1’s great a price and versatility makes it a perfect option for your first-choice distortion pedal. It is a concrete investment on atone proven beyond doubt. The pedal has three knobs for diverse tonal directions; distortion knob, level knob, and tone, knob. Different tones are achieved by an up or down cranking movement of the knobs; from all-out fuzz, rich crunch to subtle bite tones. Want a distinct tonal flavor? Boss DS-1 has a scooped midrange that gives you the desired crunch. Each pedal also has a rubberized base and stomp area to prevent it from slipping. Thus, pedalboard enables everyone to craft their tones, whether you are a veteran or an amateur. Over ten million BOSS guitar pedals have been sold to players worldwide because they are reliable and rugged. Some of the esteemed guitarists who have graced the pedals include Dave Navarro, Joe Satriani, John Petrucci, Marty Friedman, Steve Vai, and Yngwie Malmsteen. Onstage and recorded BOSS pedals should also be familiar to you because of great bands of all genres like Muse, Silversun Pickups and The Killers. The success of the bands is attributed to the great sound of DS-1.

DS-1 other features include:
-20 dBu nominal input level,
2.4 inches height,
2.9 inches width,
5.1 inches depth,
9V dry battery type,
4 mA current draw,
9V DC, AC adapter,
1 k ohms output impedance

Pros
- Affordable
- Incredibly good sound


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Fulltone Fulldrive 3

Overdrive/Boost Pedal
Fulltone Fulldrive 3 is a legendary pedal driven by the NOS JRC4558D chip. The pedal offers quality crunch with all trimmings. Flipping the pedal’s order switch places the boost after or even before the overdrive section. But you have to spend some hours to explore the pedal’s unlimited options of tone-shaping. The pedal has two voicings that enable you to choose between contemporary class A-style, classic smooth, harmonic or even symmetrical clipping overtones. If you have got a knack for breathtaking overdrives, Fulldrive 3 is you best option! Fulldrive 3’s two voicings give you total control over the sonic universe. The JRC4558D chip and original circuitry is perfect for the classic 1990s FD2 Fulldrive sound. Moreover, you get the wide asymmetrical voicing for contemporary and sleek overdrive sound; the sounding is open and transparent. It also has an amazing versatility that is a good add to your guitar’s rig. Fulldrive 3 has a discrete and independent JFET Clean Boost with a remote control for studio and stage dominance. The clean boost is a valuable component for tone-savvy pro guitarists. It helps with getting the right volume as well as the right front end of the tube amp. With that added to your brilliant overdrive circuit, you are assured of stage dominance. Fulldrive 3 has a small black knob known as “dynamics” which when spun clockwise avails a germanium-diode limiting function. The function removes grating and irritation spikes produced by clean boosts as you dig into the strings. The pedal ensures a savvy tone as well as keeps the care. If you are looking for a top overdrive pedal, Fulltone Fulldrive 3 should be number one on your list.

Pros
- All-in-one overdrive pedal
- Clean boost for increased versatility
- Flexible


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Xotic SL Drive Mini

Overdrive Pedal
Founded in a small South Californian garage in 1966, Xotic is known for its quality boutique bass preamps and bass guitars. It advanced to progressive crafting stomp boxes and pedal lines used by some of the World’s finest guitarists. Some of Xotic’s popular pedals are AC Booster, BB Preamp and RC Booster pedals. With the SL Drive pedal, cranked British stack souls can be put into any amplifier. It has a classic super Lead sound from late 1960’s and amp-in-a-box effects. The pedal offers similar singing and cutting tones. SL Drive is also reactive to volume and playing knob adjustments just like the legendary amps. The pedal’s character can also be adjusted to Super Bass and other sounds from Super Lead using the internal voicing dip switches. The pedal keeps your tone pure with its effective bypass switching. Xotic SL Drive consists of: British amp-in-a-box overdrive pedal; gain, tone and volume controls that are easy to use, internal dip switches that let you change the pedal’s character; response to touch is incredible; and a true bypass that does not alter you tone. SL Drive’s also includes a separate 9V DC power supply.

Pros
- Incredibly great sound for its size
- True bypass that ensures a pure tone

Cons
- Relatively expensive


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Friedman BE-OD

Overdrive Pedal
Friedman BE-OD is a US-built overdrive pedal desired by guitarists all over the world. The overdrive pedal offers an intense tone of BBE100 on your pedalboard. It is a British-flavored and wide-ranging overdrive pedal that it flexible enough to fit into a high gain territory. The pedal contains all the controls from the legendary amp. Friedman BE-OD has Bass, Gain, Presence, Tight, Treble and Volume knobs that facilitate all dialing activities like smooth breakups and maintaining metal tones. Friedman BE-OD is a compact overdrive pedal that ensures sonic flexibility for your BE100guitar amplifier. It is a “go to” pedal if you are a guitarist looking for sonic flexibility. Friedman BE-OD pedal delivers authentic British tones. It also consists of true bypass switching that keeps the tone pure. The pedal is powered by 9 to 18V DC; it does not have a battery. Its power usage is 7mA, width is 2.5 inches, height is 2.25 inches, and depth is 4.75 inches. Generally Friedman BE-OD features: British overdrive pedal as an advancement of the Friedman BE100 tube amplifier; wide range of tonal controls from bass to gain to presence to tight to treble to volume; true bypass switching that prevents the disengagement of the your tone; ranges from aggressive distortion down to mild breakup; and perfect option for guitar amplifiers looking for aggression.

Pros
- True bypass switching for pure tones
- Wide range of tone controls

Cons
- No battery operation


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Ibanez TS808 Original Tube Screamer

Overdrive Pedal
Next on our review of 10 best distortion pedals 2020 is the Ibanez TS808 that offers an overdriven and thick tube-style tone. The green pedalboard staple is a modern classic. Stevie Ray Vaughan’s craft of a signature tone drove the initial tube screamer into fame. The original tube screamer is quite expensive in the collectors’ market. However, Ibanez TS808 gives you similar tones without spending a significant amount of money. It is the best option if you want to increase your amp and round out tones. An overview of the pedal gives you an insight into the tube screamer’s classic reissue and original chip and analog circuitry. The classic reissue offers a raved-out tone and has a realistic price. The circuitry and chip can be played after plug-in. The TS808 tube screamer has been spotted severally in the signal chain by those who look at pro pedalboards. The pedal is used by many renowned guitarists due to its full, smooth tone in overdriven tube styles. Ibanez has an incredible issue with the merging of the TS808 tube screamer. At an affordable price, you can own a classic and immensely collectible TS808 screamer. The JRC4558D chip makes the original Ibanez full, smooth and sweet. Fortunately, the Ibanez TS808 has also managed to include the analog circuitry and original chip in the modern reissue. The final outcome? The screamer gives you an incredibly amazing sound. From jazz to rock to blues and anything you desire, Ibanez TS808 gives you that classic warmth. TS808 tube screamer overdrive pedal features: classic Ibanez TS88 overdrive pedal reissue; the original analog circuitry, JRC4558D chip and tube screamer; square footswitch similar to the original one; full, smooth overdrive in the overdriven tube style amp; level, overdrive and sports tone controls that allows you to tweak the sound.

Ibanez’s specifications
- 1/8 inch adapter cable,
- Separate 9V DC negative center,
- Height 2 inches,
- Width 2.8 inches,
- Depth 4.9 inches,
- Weight 1.2 lbs.

Pros
- Classic reissue
- Reasonable price tag


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Wampler Tumnus Deluxe

Transparent Overdrive Pedal
Wampler Tumnus Deluxe put an accurate tone in one of its most popular overdrive circuits. The Tumnus Deluxe offers similar precise clarity, powerful boosting and gritty drive potential just like the original design. The inclusion of hot/normal switch and a 3-band EQ gives you even more tonal possibilities. There is also a Buffer on the Wampler Deluxe Overdrive pedal’s side that grants you access to tonal sweetening and a transparent true-bypass switching. Tumnus Deluxe also offers a wide range of characters if you want a tone with broad characters. You will get an incredibly amazing tone when you put the Wampler guitar pedal in the signal chain. The Deluxe’s pedals are of high quality and highly rated by guitarists all over the world. Finding the right ingredient for your tonal recipe is easy due to Tumnus Deluxe’s lush tones of modulations and aggressively crunched distortions. Wampler pedals give your guitar a special effect. The pedal features: 9V DC separate power supply, optional 1 x 9V battery, 70.3mA power usage, 1.5 inches height, 2.5 inches width, 4.5 inches depth, appropriate top-mounted jacks, buffer switches that offer a true bypass switching to maintain the tone, 3-band EQ that shapes the sound to your desired taste, hot/normal switch, classic overdrive tones that also allow you to control deep tones, and high-headroom output.

Pros
- 3-band EQ 


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Electro-Harmonix Soul Food

Distortion/Overdrive Pedal
Electro-Harmonix Soul Food Distortion pedal is certainly your amplifier’s best choice. The pedal has valuable components ranging from clean boosts to rich distortion. The tube amplifier can easily be pushed to its breaking point. With the Electro-Harmonix overdrive pedal, you can use your amplifier for distorted lead and aggressive tones. The higher drive settings will also improve your mid frequencies. Electro-Harmonix drive settings also help your tone cut through the mix. With the drive settings, guitarists are able to prevent the tones from becoming overbearing. The pedal also has a treble control enables you to sustain a fine tune. You can push your tone up to its limits with the Electro-Harmonix Distortion pedal. The pedal is flexible enough for all guitarists and it does not matter whether you are using single-coil pickups or humbuckers. Electro-Harmonix Soul Food Overdrive Pedal consists of: 9V power supply, higher drive settings that improve the mid frequencies to achieve a richer tone, improved power rails to ensure perfect note definition and high headroom, buffered switching or true bypass that can easily be switched, distorted pedal for electric guitars, a broad range of drive control that avails everything including fully saturated distortion and clean boost, and also treble control that either cuts or improves high frequencies, excellent for adding efficiency to humbuckers and taming single coils. Moreover, Electro-Harmonix overdrive pedals are analog, have 1 x 9V batteries, 2.1 inches height, 2.75 inches width, 4.5 inches depth, and 0.55 lbs. weight.

Pros
- Higher drive settings
- Incredibly good sound


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Boss BD-2 Blues Driver

Pedal
BOSS BD-2 Blues Driver Pedal offers a crunchy and juicy sound that you must have heard being called up by great blues guitarists. The driver pedal delivers great value. The Boss BD-2 driver gives you immediate access to all timeless tones through the simulation of a classic tube amplifier. The driver pedal allows you to pull out your favorite tones from the wide range of tones. The latter is possible because BD-2 pedal is promptly responsive to all playing dynamics. You are thus guaranteed of a specific feel and flavor! Your rig gets an emotive distortion and warm overdrive from the blues driver; the driver is a prized addition to the rig. From an overview, the blues driver distortion pedal offers: a classic tube amplifier that gives you access to your desired flavors and BOSS guitar pedals that are reliable, rugged, and over ten million copies have been sold. The pedal is fully loaded with a warm overdrive if you are a fan of blues sound. Boss BD-2 ensures that you get that crunchy and creamy tonal blend. The driver’s design enables it to provide that sound. The driver perfectly fits into your rig like a finely-aged classic tube amplifier, just a bit tougher like all pedals built by BOSS. The driver retails at a small price. You will need the BD-2 driver pedal in your signal chain if you hope to get that overdriven flavor of your rock rig and playing blues to outdo other guitarists. Top guitarists like Joe Satriani, Dave Navarro, John Petrucci, Steve Vai, Marty Friedman and Yngie Malmsteen are part of the ten million players that have bought the BOSS BD-2 driver pedal. The pedal is insulated with a rubberized stomp base and area and a stomp-ready metal box. The housing protects the pedal from slipping; it is suitable for both beginners and veteran guitarists. BOSS’s line enhances your tone crafting. The success of veteran guitarists is enough proof that BOSS produces incredibly great sound. The BD-2 Blues Distortion pedal entails: gain level and tone controls; -20 dBu nominal input level; 1 Mohms input impedance; -20dBunominal output level; 1 k ohms output impedance; -118dBu equivalent input noise level; connectors (AC adapter jack, input jack and output jack), 9V DC power supply; 9mA current draw, 9V dry battery, optional AC adapter, 2.4 inches height, 2.9 inches width, 5.1 inches depth and 15 oz weight.

Pros
- Affordable
- Reliable


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Electro-Harmonix Op-amp

Big Muff Pi Fuzz Pedal
Siamese Dream’s of an alternative to rock is an empire that was built by Billy Corgan and James Iha (Smashing Pumpkins). Billy’s famous V4 IC Big Muff is a crucial element of the legendary sound, praised by many modern guitarists. To get a similar sound for you, Corgan and EHX designed the Electro-Harmonix Op-amp to include the original response and tone. The big muff pi fuzz pedal incorporates the explosive textures and fuzz-laden of Billy’s V4 IC Big Muff. The pedal has gain, tone and volume controls to enable you call up your favorite tone demands. For maximum aggression and output, the pedal gives you a temporary bypass over the pedal tone’s circuit. The latter is attributed to the pedal’s tone bypass feature. The Electro-Harmonix also includes a die-cast resilience and compact size that is enthusiastic to the new generation fans of fuzz tones. Ancient transistor-loaded muffs are recognized for the controlled gain and smoother bite. One key feature in the Electro-Harmonix Op-amp is Corgan’s Siamese Dream tone modified into a new compact and friendly pedalboard. Thus the pedal offers even more control and smoothness compared to earlier muffs. EHX Op-amp Big Muff Pi provides unlimited tone stack options. Some of the options available to you are hot snarling lead and lingering plaintive pedal-point drones. It also consists of a tone bypass switch that momentarily evades your settings to access raw power. Electro-Harmonix Op-Amp pedal’s features include: Billy Corgan’s fuzz sound, V4 IC Big Muff Pi, compact size, die-cast durability, true bypass, gain, tone and volume controls, an inclusive 9-volt battery and a separate 9-volt adapter. It also entails 5mA power usage, 2.1 inches height, 2.75 inches width, 4.5 inches depth, and 1 x 9V inclusive battery.

Pros
- Controlled sustain
- Temporary tone bypass


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Fulltone OCD

 Obsessive Compulsive Drive Pedal
To complete our 10 best distortion pedals 2020 is the Fulltone OCD Pedal. Many guitarists all over the globe have always opted for the Fulltone OCD Obsessive Compulsory Drive pedal since its inauguration in 2004. The drive currently has OCD v2 update that offers maximum signal integrity; the new output buffer is the cause of the latter’s efficiency. Moreover, the Fulltone OCD consists of true bypass mode, efficient dynamic response and Class A input section. The pedal is one of the most sought after by layers and is now even better! The modern classic medal has been redefined to improve performance and fidelity. The output buffer in Fulltone OCD improves the sound of the dirt box. The buffer is also resistant to successive pedal effects. In simpler terms, no matter where you place your OCD V2 in the chain, the tone produced will still be consistent. The output buffer allows for extra sustain by minimizing the loading on the hard-clipping stage on the pedal. Fulltone OCD also consists of a Class A discrete 2N5457 JFET input segment that enhances better performance for both humbucking and single-coil pickups. There has also been an increase on the input impedance to 1 mega ohm from the previous 330K ohm. The outcome of the alteration is an improved dynamic range and an enhanced reaction with the guitar’s pickups. Fulltone OCD also features an enhanced bypass that ensures consistency in your tone. It also has Class A FETs that sustains the tones of your playing. The dynamic range of tones offers a richer sound than that offer in ancient buffer circuits. Fulltone OCD’s specifications include: 1 x 9V batteries; 2.1 inches height; 2.5 inches width; 4.5 inches depth and 1 lbs. weight.

Pros
- Wide range of sounds available
- Incredible overdrive tones


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There you have it. Our favorite 2020 distortion pedals. Now go get some power into your guitar by choosing one of our 10 best distortion pedals of 2020 and experience music in a whole new level.
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