Re: A few definitions _ Overdrive, Boost, Fuzz, Distortion
Posted by Silver Blues on
URL: http://guitar-fx-layouts.238.s1.nabble.com/A-few-definitions-Overdrive-Boost-Fuzz-Distortion-tp13960p13962.html
Well, let me start by telling you how I see it.
Boost - a transparent volume increase, or sometimes with treble or bass added, as you say. Used mostly to shove the front ends of tube amps into natural breakup or give more gain to other pedals. Typically simple circuits without any form of induced clipping (cascaded gain stages, diodes, etc.) Example, EHX LPB.
Overdrive - Low-to-medium gain combined with intentional clipping. Can be construed as seeking to emulate the tone of amplifiers under overdriven conditions, as you say. Some are simple (Electra), some are moderately complex (Tube Screamer, which is actually typically used to push amp fronts contrary to it's description), some are no-holds-barred emulations or solid-state verbatim of amplifier preamps (Catalinbread's things, much of RoG's stuff, Marvel Drive, I could go on).
Two types of fuzz. You have your sustaining fuzz, which is extremely high gain but smooth sounding and designed to give you huge, saturated tone. Classic example is the Big Muff. There's also the kinds of fuzzes that are more gated and/or dirty sounding, supposed to sound like the way they used to do fuzz (slashing loudspeaker cones). Examples could include Tone Benders, Fuzz Faces I guess, Devi Ever's stuff, etc.
Distortion is really just high-gain OD. Certain amps just have really hot gain stages, like Soldanos, Bogner, Peavey, Mesa... the "modern metal" kind of tones. This is "distortion".
This, however, is not really accurate, because there is so much overlap between these arbitrary categories. Pedal categories are like porn, you don't know how to describe it but you know it when you hear it. Like what's a "Fuzz Drive"? You can only say that a pedal fits a category by listening to it. Although, we do tend to have prime examples of what is what.
I've heard Plexi emulators being categorized as both ODs and distortions. Something like the Ramble Drive, for example, kind of fits more in the OD category, while the DLS III (or the Keeley Stahlhammer) or something like it I'd put it in distortion.
I'm just trying to think of an emulator-style pedal that would be more like what you're looking for, if I think of one I'll come back.
That wasn't clear at all
URL: http://guitar-fx-layouts.238.s1.nabble.com/A-few-definitions-Overdrive-Boost-Fuzz-Distortion-tp13960p13962.html
Well, let me start by telling you how I see it.
Boost - a transparent volume increase, or sometimes with treble or bass added, as you say. Used mostly to shove the front ends of tube amps into natural breakup or give more gain to other pedals. Typically simple circuits without any form of induced clipping (cascaded gain stages, diodes, etc.) Example, EHX LPB.
Overdrive - Low-to-medium gain combined with intentional clipping. Can be construed as seeking to emulate the tone of amplifiers under overdriven conditions, as you say. Some are simple (Electra), some are moderately complex (Tube Screamer, which is actually typically used to push amp fronts contrary to it's description), some are no-holds-barred emulations or solid-state verbatim of amplifier preamps (Catalinbread's things, much of RoG's stuff, Marvel Drive, I could go on).
Two types of fuzz. You have your sustaining fuzz, which is extremely high gain but smooth sounding and designed to give you huge, saturated tone. Classic example is the Big Muff. There's also the kinds of fuzzes that are more gated and/or dirty sounding, supposed to sound like the way they used to do fuzz (slashing loudspeaker cones). Examples could include Tone Benders, Fuzz Faces I guess, Devi Ever's stuff, etc.
Distortion is really just high-gain OD. Certain amps just have really hot gain stages, like Soldanos, Bogner, Peavey, Mesa... the "modern metal" kind of tones. This is "distortion".
This, however, is not really accurate, because there is so much overlap between these arbitrary categories. Pedal categories are like porn, you don't know how to describe it but you know it when you hear it. Like what's a "Fuzz Drive"? You can only say that a pedal fits a category by listening to it. Although, we do tend to have prime examples of what is what.
I've heard Plexi emulators being categorized as both ODs and distortions. Something like the Ramble Drive, for example, kind of fits more in the OD category, while the DLS III (or the Keeley Stahlhammer) or something like it I'd put it in distortion.
That sounds like a Muff to me. There are ways to tune the circuit to get less wooly attack if that's what you're after, or just turn the tone a little to the treble side for some bite. But huge, "forever" sustain is characteristic of a Muff.
I'm just trying to think of an emulator-style pedal that would be more like what you're looking for, if I think of one I'll come back.
That wasn't clear at all
Through all the worry and pain we move on
| Free forum by Nabble | Edit this page |