Are you looking for the Distortion Pedal For Guitar? If so, you’ve come to the right place.
Choosing the Distortion Pedal For Guitar can be difficult as there are so many considerations, such as MXR, Friedman, BOSS, Electro-Harmonix, JHS Pedals, JOYO, ModTone. We have done a lot of research to find the top 20 Distortion Pedal For Guitar available.
The average cost is $101.91. Sold comparable range in price from a low of $16.67 to a high of $279.99.
Based on the research we did, we think Boss – DS-1 Distortion is the best overall. Read on for the rest of the great options and our buying guide, where you can find all the information you need to know before making an informed purchase.
20 Best Selling Distortion Pedal For Guitar (20 Sellers)
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Reviewers Noted:
Easy to use . Good sound quality . Compact . Build quality . Weight
Features:
- 3 weeks / with tracking & insurance)2.
- 2 weeks / with tracking & insurance)3.
- 3 weeks / with tracking & insurance) 2.
$62.99
4.6
Reviewers Noted:
Easy to use . Good sound quality . Compact . Build quality . Weight
Features:
- This is a boss ds-1 with ultra seeing eye mod in a red metal box.
- Works perfectly.
- Power supply not included.
$29.00
4.6
Reviewers Noted:
Ease of use . Sound quality . Size . Noise level
Features:
- Gain boost circuitry helps you add dual distortion to the audio
- Blue colored led helps you check its working status easily
- Bottom and level controls facilitate convenient usage
$69.99
4.8
Reviewers Noted:
Easy to use . Compact . Good sound quality . Build quality . Weight
Features:
- Give smooth distortion and punchy sound to your guitar's voice with this distortion pedal
- The compact and portable design of this pedal makes it convenient to carry while you tour with your band
- True bypass switching lets you change to clean patches and prevent any unwanted noise
Reviewers Noted:
Easy to use . Sound quality
Features:
- Amp up your onstage guitar performance with the help of this efficient guitar preamp
- This distortion pedal comes with smart filtering to reduce unwanted frequencies
- 3-band eq allows you to balance high bass and low treble tones conveniently
$16.67
4.5
Reviewers Noted:
Compact . Ease of use . Sound quality
Features:
- 100% analog british sound distortion takes you from classic marshall-stack crunch to high gain paradise
- Tube-amp-like dynamic response brings great definition and clarity from warm/smooth playing to cutting lead solos
- 3-mode tone shaping provides a detailed voicing taste tweaking
$39.99$29.99
3.9
Reviewers Noted:
Easy to use . Sound quality . Size
Features:
- Sturdy, lightweight aluminum case
- True bypass switching
- Easy-to-use gain, tone and level controls
Reviewers Noted:
Compact . Ease of use . Sound quality . Portability . Build quality
Features:
- This overdrive pedal is designed to modify the gain intensity for loud and clear audio
- True bypass switching sends signals to the amplifier without interference
- Three simple knobs help enhance the functionality of this pedal
Reviewers Noted:
Easy to use . Compact . Sound quality . Build quality . Weight
Features:
- Newly revised two-stage gain circuit with discrete analog components
- Standard mode delivers the legendary sound of the original ds-1
- Custom mode provides fatter distortion tones with focused midrange and increased touch response
$29.00
4.6
Reviewers Noted:
Easy to use . Sound quality . Portability . Size . Weight
Features:
- Its 3-band equalizer allows you to optimize the sound for high-quality audio
- Constructed with metal chassis to enhance its structural integrity
- Built-in led indicator lets you check the status of the battery
$24.99
4.6
Reviewers Noted:
Easy to use . Sound quality . Portability . Size . Weight
Features:
- Take off with the most extreme and sought-after hard rock or heavy metal distortion
- Multi-gain circuitry to give you super-thick, tube-like distortion plus endless sustain
- Dedicated distortion, 3-band eq and level controls for awesome sound shaping
Reviewers Noted:
Ease of use . Sound quality
Features:
- 2-7/8 inches depth: 129 mm
- 5-1/8 inches height: 59 mm
- 2-6/16 inches weight: 450 g
Reviewers Noted:
Weight
Features:
- Eq shelves and mid control let you add different distortion effects to the music
- Gain and level controls allows you to customize the intensity of the distortion
- Integrated led indicator displays the power status of this pedal
$62.99
4.6
Reviewers Noted:
Easy to use . Good sound quality . Compact . Build quality . Weight
Features:
- Classic boss distortion tones for guitar and keyboard
- Reproduces dynamics of playing, from soft to hard
- Distortion, level and tone control to tailor overall sound as desired
$140.59
4.6
Reviewers Noted:
Ease of use . Sound quality
Features:
- This distortion pedal is designed to modify the gain intensity for loud and clear audio
- Buffered bypass sends the signal to the amplifier without interference
- Four knobs help enhance the functionality of this pedal
$29.00
4.6
Reviewers Noted:
Ease of use . Sound quality . Size . Noise level
Features:
- Multiple knob settings let you change the frequency for optimal distortion effects
- Diligently designed to be powered by a 9 v battery or dc supply for an uninterrupted usage
- Led indicator allows you to check the status of this pedal conveniently
Reviewers Noted:
Easy to use . Compact . Portable . Good sound quality . Build quality
Features:
- Built in usb audio/midi interface
- Knob-based interface
- Eight simultaneous effects categories
Reviewers Noted:
Compact . Good sound quality . Easy to use . Weight . Portability
Features:
- The compact, travel-friendly size lets you bring it with you wherever you go
- Treble knobs assist in operating the device smoothly
- Ac adapter and 9 volt battery help improve the performance of this distortion pedal
Reviewers Noted:
Compact . Easy to use . Good sound quality . Weight . Craftsmanship
Features:
- The 10v of input power delivers clear and crisp output
- True bypass switching minimizes the distortion to enhance the audio quality
- This pedal allows you to add multiple bass effects during your jamming sessions
Reviewers Noted:
Easy to use
Features:
- Touch sensitive translucent overdrive manipulator
- Light to medium gain overdrive with active eq controls
- Level and drive controls to adjust overall output and amount of overdrive
1. Boss – Ds-1 Distortion
Product Details:
Boss's colourful stomp boxes are the most recognisable pedal range in existence. for over 40 years, guitarists from bedrooms to stadiums have put their boot down on a boss effect to transform their sound. several models have passed into guitar legend and early examples can fetch extremely high prices. happily, boss have maintained their stellar reputation for world-class effects in bomb-proof casing with their current range and have fended off the imitators for decades to remain the pre-eminent single pedal effects manufacturer in the business. if there's an effect for guitar (or bass, vocals, keysbe creative!) then you can bet boss have a pedal of it in their range or even invented it outright! every guitar player should get to experience the joy of selecting a pedal from boss's exhaustive roster, plugging it in and unleashing their wildest sonic dreams. without doubt boss's most popular compact effect, the ds-1 has been the one pedal to rule them all since it's inception in 1978. from it's distinctive orange box form to it's abrasive clipping and gain structure, the ds-1 is an undisputed classic.with just three simple controls – tone, level and distortion – you can dial up a multitude of dirty sounds from tight and grainy right through to smooth sizzle with a heap of sustain. legendary!
Specifications:
Reviews:
This is the amazing Boss DS-1 distortion pedal, loved by all who use it. Amazing value at just £55. I won't bore you with stories about how robust it is, because we all know Boss equipment lasts forever. It looks and feels great, but most importantly, sounds incredible. I play punk rock, and with my Gibson SG Special, plugged into my Marshall JCM 900 this delivers exactly the sound I want. I loved that in the manual it gives example sound setting, one of which was British Punk. That just made me smile. I knew instantly it was right up my street. Oh, and if you're into electronics, this thing is made of pin-through-hole components, so it leaves it open for a good bit of modding. There are plenty of guides for that online. Sitting in my Boss BCB-30 pedal board this never fails to make me smile.Thomas B.
Now I don't hate it, but Its not my first go to pedal. I like the more modern BOSS "Metal Core". It is however like all BOSS PEDALS built like a tank, extremely reliable and a great first pedal. For the money, this is a super value. I found that I like it for "Gain Stacking" in combination with the BOSS MD-2"Mega Distortion" and a few other pedals. Even two DS-1 DISTORTION together improve the performance to me. Overall it's not terrible and I see were for some it could really be a price but I lean towards Heavy… Heavy Metal and for that it's more a corvette when you need a Lamborghini. Do I hate it, NO… I actually own two of them.kt.precisio-7
I have a 60w Fender Deville amp. Lovely clean sounds straight from the amp but couldn't really use the overdrive channel without the volume getting to an inconsiderate level at home. This pedal has addressed that issue really well. This pedal now provides me really raunchy distortion while providing a greater control for volume. The pedal also provides a nice boost in changing between a clean channel directly from the amp and then through the pedal. Very pleased with this investment, particularly for the price. Very easy to use.Gregory H.
2. Boss Ds-1 Distortion Pedal, Orange
Product Details:
From screaming loud to whisper soft, the boss ds-1 distortion pedal can faithfully reproduce the dynamics of your playing style. level and distortion controls give you complete command of the amount of signal processing. tone knob lets you tailor eq right on the unit. the boss ds-1 distortion pedal is a tough stompbox that can take whatever your boot can dish out.
Specifications:
| Length | 6 in |
| Height | 0.1 in |
| Width | 4 in |
Reviews:
This is the amazing Boss DS-1 distortion pedal, loved by all who use it. Amazing value at just £55. I won't bore you with stories about how robust it is, because we all know Boss equipment lasts forever. It looks and feels great, but most importantly, sounds incredible. I play punk rock, and with my Gibson SG Special, plugged into my Marshall JCM 900 this delivers exactly the sound I want. I loved that in the manual it gives example sound setting, one of which was British Punk. That just made me smile. I knew instantly it was right up my street. Oh, and if you're into electronics, this thing is made of pin-through-hole components, so it leaves it open for a good bit of modding. There are plenty of guides for that online. Sitting in my Boss BCB-30 pedal board this never fails to make me smile.Thomas B.
Now I don't hate it, but Its not my first go to pedal. I like the more modern BOSS "Metal Core". It is however like all BOSS PEDALS built like a tank, extremely reliable and a great first pedal. For the money, this is a super value. I found that I like it for "Gain Stacking" in combination with the BOSS MD-2"Mega Distortion" and a few other pedals. Even two DS-1 DISTORTION together improve the performance to me. Overall it's not terrible and I see were for some it could really be a price but I lean towards Heavy… Heavy Metal and for that it's more a corvette when you need a Lamborghini. Do I hate it, NO… I actually own two of them.kt.precisio-7
I have a 60w Fender Deville amp. Lovely clean sounds straight from the amp but couldn't really use the overdrive channel without the volume getting to an inconsiderate level at home. This pedal has addressed that issue really well. This pedal now provides me really raunchy distortion while providing a greater control for volume. The pedal also provides a nice boost in changing between a clean channel directly from the amp and then through the pedal. Very pleased with this investment, particularly for the price. Very easy to use.Gregory H.
3. Behringer Hd300 Heavy Distortion Pedal
Product Details:
The behringer hd300 heavy metal distortion effects pedal gives you the tools to create high levels of crushing distortion and sustain with ease. there's serious sustain on offer, giving you the ability to get really sludgy, crushing sounds with ease. the expanded 4-knob layout gives you total control over your tone with a dedicated 'bottom' knob perfect for optimising the pedal for lower tunings or 7+ string guitars. if you need to go heavier, go with the hd300.
Specifications:
| Battery Capacity | 9 V |
| LED Color | Blue |
| Power Supply | DC |
| Number of Settings | 5 |
| Indicator Type | LED |
Reviews:
This line of pedals is a great entry-level/affordable effects option if you want to experiment with new sounds, but it's equally good if you know what you want, and what you want is nothing fancy or bizarre sounding, just some perfectly "standard" effects. And this particular unit is one of the most handy and usable distortion units of the line IMHO. It provides a great range of distortion tones, and most of them perfectly usable/suitable for metal, hard rock, etc. I mean, it's not easy to find a bad setting in this pedal, one that generates a truly disgusting sound (unlike other units… like the ultra metal or the heavy metal… which require some precaution in their knob tweaking). The enclosure is plastic, and replacing the battery is a little bit tricky, but that's very easy to tolerate when you see the price tag. And, It just sounds good to me. I have no complain.
4. Pro Co Sound Rat 2 – Compact Guitar Distortion Pedal
Product Details:
Rat 2 – compact guitar distortion pedal the rat 2 from pro co sound provides classic rat tone in a compact and portable design ideal for casual or professional guitarists. great as a primary distortion or as a boost to your amp's natural distortion the rat 2 excels at versatility. knobs for filter volume and distortion let you find the perfect settings. turn the filter all the way up to roll off brittle high-end or turn it down to let your guitar's brightness come through. true bypass switching ensures that no unwanted noise enters your signal path when the pedal is off. the virtually indestructible steel construction is made for life on the road. industrial-grade knobs switches and jacks stand up to the rigors of daily use. the sloped face and glow-in-the-dark graphics make for easy stomping and settings changes even during a lighting change. the unit can be operated from a 9v battery or from a wall outlet.
Specifications:
| Material | Steel |
| Color | Black |
| Voltage | 9V |
| Indicator Type | LED |
| Number of Knobs | 3 |
Reviews:
Overall: I have more overdrive pedals then I realistically need but my selection of distortion pedals has always been disappointing for my taste, just never the right tone regardless of the set up. I figured this pedal wasn’t too much and saw good reviews for the pedal historically. Yes there are differences from the originals to the model we have today but this distortion pedal is ridiculously versatile. The distortion pot is very broad and goes from a subtle O\D to a full faced fuzz and then when you sweep thru the filter, that’s where you see how versatile the Rat truly is. Is this a pedal geared towards the modern metal sound? Probably not. Is this pedal a good product for the price? Absolutely! The ease of use with the three control knobs just makes this pedal a great first buy or for those, like myself, who seemed to keep coming up short with distortion pedals, a truly simple and reliable tank of a stomp box. Seriously, you know you want it, or you wouldn’t be looking at it. Make your dayEric
The Rat pedal is a classic and was my first pedal in 1986 when hi gain amps werent affordable to 15 year old kids. That pedal was mean ! It had the original lm308 chip and gave me the Kill Em All sound I craved. Fast forward to 2020 and the pedal has not changed much. Its mean and can give you fuzz to mean hi gain rhythm and violin line like sustain on leads. For $69.99 it is affordable and awesome. Cons : you cant power this pedal with a standard Boss power supply. Its either buy a Rat power supply/wall wart or run it on batteries. Also, the battery compartment is plastic and not as tank like as the rest of the pedal. The changing of chips does make the pedal lose some of its magic. The new chip is fine but I do miss the lm308 and maybe its hype Im falling for. It likely is. So what can you do ? I sent my pedal of to Utah to be rehoused. The pedal itself is hard to adhere to a pedalboard bc it is so heavy and awkward. So mine is being put in a more pedalboard friendly housing. Also, all the components like in and out jacks etc will be replaced/upgraded as well as some cheap components inside the pedal. You also get the lm308 chip. Hell yeah ! For $150 you get a massively improved pedal. Do you need to do this ? No of course not. But if you want the best Rat pedal youcan get ( which in the new housing also allows being powered by a Boss style power supply via wall wart or pedalboard) then the mod will be a fun way to modify an already smoking pedal.swampdonkey90
This is a great pedal and is very versatile. It can go from an overdriven tube amp tone at low gain settings to very thick heavy distortion/fuzz tone. I like to set the gain low to a nice overdriven tube amp tone and then have my boss SD-1 in front of it pushing the pedal harder. It gives it a nice 80s hair metal, Marshall JCM800 type tone. The tone of the pedal is great and it is very versatile and a good deal. It will stay on my pedal board. The other nice thing is is it's extremely easy to use with just 3 knobs and very easy to find a great tone. When I first got this pedal I didn't like how bright it was but that where the filter knob comes into play and you can roll off the brightness to match the guitar and amp you have and get a great tone. This allows you to play it on bright and dark amps a like. I use it with a Gibson Les Paul standard with burst bucket pro pickups into my 65 reissue fender Princeton reverb and I will also run it into my Boss katana MKii 50 watt. This pedal works great on both tube and solid state amps.Rhinosaur
5. Revv G3 Distortion Pedal
Product Details:
Used, in excellent condition – includes original box. the revv g3 distortion packs the purple channel 3 of the revv generator into a compact effect pedal, which creates optimal conditions for tight metal riffs with its unique and distinctive sound. the gain control and the effective 3-band tone control allow the sound to be perfectly tuned. in addition, it is possible to determine the basic gain structure using the three-level "aggression" switch.
Specifications:
| Product Type | Guitar preamp |
| Depth | 4.76" |
| Height | 1.25" |
| Width | 2.75" |
| Weight | 0.8 lb |
Reviews:
I bought this pedal about a week ago online through Guitar Center. I was skeptical as I've played and owned dozens of Distortion Pedals. MXR Distortion+, Big M*** Pi, Boss Metal Zone, Blackstar DistX to name a few. This pedal is extremely sturdy and well built. Built better than any Boss pedal. The knob/pots are top notch. Unfortunately my amp is a Fender Frontman 212R. The distortion on this amp is terrible. When I first plugged this pedal in…it sounded similar to the Blackstar DistX pedal. It had this honky distortion sound…very similar to Def Leppard's High N Dry album. I put new speakers in the Amp recently. Celestion V30's. Holy cow! This pedal now sounds like a Mesa Rectifier! The EQ on this pedal are extremely touchy. They also work together. If you set the High's above 12 o clock and set the low's to say 9 o clock, the High EQ is almost unbearable. However, setting the Bass and High at 12 o clock, the treble isn't as bad. Which is why I say they work off of each other. The Distortion is clear and not muddy at all. Chords sound great and do not get lost among the vast amount of Distortion. It's essentially an Overdrive pedal that you can add more distortion to by using the Aggression toggle switch. When set to off, it is a very good Overdrive. When set up to Blue, the gain is increased and it's kept very tight. When set down to Red, It has even more gain than blue and is a bit more flubby but not much. All in all great pedal! My only complaint is the switching between clean and Distortion. If you switch between Clean and Distortion the Pedal doesn't immediately switch to the Volume you have it set at…it kind of starts off low and quickly builds up to the volume you have it set at. It would be sincerely annoying in live applications.Devarim12
This is the best distortion pedal I have ever used. Its sounds great run into a good clean channel and doesn't need boosting although it stacks very well with other pedals. I love the versatility of the aggression modes and find all three useful. I tried it as a pre-amp but preferred it in front of my amp. I play metal and hard rock and this pedal has the sound in my head. I love it!!!!David
I bought this pedal from Scan, I didn't know they sold music equipment, previously used them happily for pc components. Arrived next day and cheapest price on the internet. This pedal is hard rock and metal heaven. Amp Like distortion even when running into the clean channel of a solid state amp. Off mode is good, blue mode is the best a distortion could be and red adds a bit of thickness. I don't see me using anything other than blue mode. This pedal never gets muddy at any distortion level, always articulate making it a wonderful tool for solos. Even works fantastically with single coils of a USA Strat. A must for High gain enthusiasts. I don't normally like to buy expensive or boutique style pedals as I think they are usually overpriced and overhyped but this is worth every penny.ianto
6. Sonicake Distortion Pedal For Electric Guitar Shark 3 Modes Normal, Modern, Classic High Gain Distortion Guitar Effects Pedal True Bypass
Product Details:
Sonicake shark is a triple-mode distortion guitar effects pedal, providing the classic, crushing hot rod marshall stack crunch/distortion tone, which is rich, dynamic, and most importantly, like all the marshalls, loud! flipping the toggle up, you get the normal mode, which is a classic marshall-stack rocking crunch tone, which basically define the sound of rock n' roll. keeping the toggle at middle, you get the modern mode, an edgier and more aggressive hi-gain tone, focused and with a little tighter low end, which is perfect for modern shredding and riffage. flipping it down, there is the classic mode, a vintage voicing, a bit less gain, designed to reproduce the tonal mojos all the old-time heroes, hendrix, clapton, page, blackmore… you name it. special design of led indicated knobs shows the control of tone and level, as well as the work state of the pedal; heavy duty, black, metal casing. 100% analog british sound distortion takes you from classic marshall-stack crunch to high gain paradise. tube-amp-like dynamic response brings great definition and clarity from warm/smooth playing to cutting lead solos. 3-mode tone shaping provides a detailed voicing taste tweaking. true bypass footswitch keeps a clean signal path. working with 9v center negative regular pedal power supply(not included).
Specifications:
Reviews:
I suppose for a specific type of sound for someone this could suffice. I have other options and have used other inexpensive distortion units for decades. Just lacks Sonic character, dynamics and didn't add anything positive to my sound. I DO really like their volume/wah mini pedal…they are all well-made and terrific. I wanted to support this product but it was a disappointment. Do your reviews carefully before deciding.spacecoaster44
I'm a studio engineer and have 7 different chorus pedals most name brand and are expensive but for the price.., this pedal cannot be beaten. Put this together with a couple of other pedals and you will never look back. Lush Setting is absolutely killer. Good quality construction and noise free. I play and record in stereo but for the price you can easily afford 2 of these sweet sounding pedals. Hey for the money you cant lose.818eleven11
7. Rogue Distortion Guitar Effects Pedal
Product Details:
The rogue distortion pedal creates an edgy distortion effect reminiscent of the hard rock tones of the '70s and '80s. it also lets you overdrive your favorite tube amp or solid state amp, creating harmonically rich, sustaining tones.three control knobs let you quickly adjust the amount of distortion, high-end bite and overall volume of the effected sound. a true bypass switch engages and disengages the effect. an led indicator shows you when the effect is engaged and gets dim when it's time to change the battery.the rogue distortion pedal is made of aluminum and built to last.
Reviews:
This was one of my first pedals; it was the first distortion pedal that I added to my rig. Obviously, you know what you're getting when you see a pedal retail such a low price. That said, I've since added a lot of other pedals to my board and I sometimes come back to this one. It has a great bite and does well on the high end. I don't prefer the low end through this pedal, but I'm yet to use it with a compressor. At the end of the day, it's a fun intro to distortion and the price truly outweighs the cons to this pedal. If you're experienced with effects or if you're interested in playing live, this is not a great option. However, if you like jamming in the garage and you don't mind a bit of high-end feedback when you push it to 11, it's a steal.Mitchell
Recently purchased the Rogue analog delay for my acoustic pedal board when it was on sale and so far really like it. Saw that MF was having a sale on effects and saw the whole Rogue line of pedals on sale for a really REALLY LOW price so I thought what the heck? Before buying this pedal I did read a lot of negative reviews on the Blues Distortion pedal but again for the LOW price I was going for it. What did I have to lose?? I wish I would have listened to the negative reviews, I pretty much agree with them all. Not sure why they would call this pedal a Blues distortion???? Not even close. The only thing I can think of is there is something missing on this one ( and all of the other people who reviewed it) cause it totally missed the mark. Really, really thin with no gain. It could be called the stick man treble boost pedal and I think that would be a great description. I do love the color ( of the pedal) and thats as for as it goes for me. Pass on this one at any price!RockMeister
I liked this one enough to buy a 2nd one. It's a variation on a Blues Breaker. The first one I got cut so much bass I cracked it open and modified the caps in the "t-junction" to let more bass through. This second one I got was voiced more normally. This guy has a nice 'open dynamics' kind of feel to it. Not a ton of compression. It responds very well to picking dynamics. Honestly, it's one of the best, and cheapest, blues breaker clones out there. Its tone is basically 'light crunch' with a lot of low-end and high-end freqs removed. Low gain settings make it a really decent 'always on'/'base tone' kind of pedal for blues. If you want a flat response 'base tone', go elsewhere, like the Plumes or Timmy, but they feel more like modified tubescreamers, so it's a trade-off. Another really good BB clone pedal is the Tone City King of Blues. That one is truly low-gain BB territory, and comes with a Klon clone built into it. It's smoother though, less crunch, so it's a bit different.TheUnnamedBluesman
8. Ibanez Tsmini Mini Tube Screamer
Product Details:
Specifications:
| Dimensions | 1.375" W x 3.5" L x 1.625" H |
| Indicator Type | LED |
| Voltage | 9 V |
| Maximum Gain | +30 dB |
| Input Impedance | 500 kOhms |
Reviews:
I'm a metal guy at heart, so when I finally put the Metal Zone away and started building a grownup pedal board, a Tube Screamer was high on my list. I was particularly interested in this unit because of the size, since my beginner board probably isn't going to be very big. I plugged this little guy into my regular setup and was immediately blown away. If you've played some metal you know the setup: straight into a high gain amp, drive at 0, level at 10, and tone dialed in to taste. It made my Orange Micro Dark Terror, digital Bias FX rig, and even my sad old Marshall solid state roar, but in a much more defined way that never felt flabby or uncontrollable. I would recommend pairing it with a decent noise gate to trim down the hum, but that's just what electric guitars do when you crank the gain, and not a flaw of this pedal in particular. Okay, sure, it can do metal. I've also run this unit through a bunch of other setups and contexts. Through my Orange I definitely got very usable blues and classic rock tones by pulling the gain and volume back on the amp, and setting everything on the pedal around half way. I can even see potentially using it with the drive all the way up as a lead boost or to slightly break up a clean tone. This little thing is a beast for sure, and is pretty much perfect for my uses. It's not a transform your amp kind of effect, it's meant to compliment what your existing equipment already does. It has some specific things it does well, and it *really* nails them. #sweepstakesDan
Stop what you're doing right now. RIGHT NOW, and get this pedal. This tiny little monster sounds incredible and I am kicking myself for not trying any kind of Tube Screamer for my 20+ years of playing guitar. This literally sounds like a tube amp in a box. You can dial in the perfect amount of boost or drive without really impacting your guitar's true tone. If you push it all the way, it's almost in distortion territory, yet it retains warmth and picking dynamics…on the other hand it compresses nicely – like a tube amp. How does it do that? It's magic. I got this mini version because I'm building a mini pedal board, so it fits perfectly. Don't let the size fool you though, because it sounds incredible. The only drawback is that it needs an external power supply. Oh, and as an added bonus, this is made in Japan, and it shows. The switches, knobs, and inputs feel very high-quality. In my opinion, this is incredible bargain.Jamers
I collect Tube Screamers, and decided to get this for the collection. Soundwise, it works as a TS808; great transparent overdrive for stand-alone use but excels at boosting gain on an overdriven amp. Not as harsh or "dark" as a TS9, and a decent price. Definitely a TS to consider if you're trying to save some money; you definitely won't be missing out on the sound of the TS808. Also great if you want to add a Tube Screamer to a board, but need to save space. The only negative I can say is the Level and Tone knobs are difficult to see for settings, but that's true with most mini pedals. It doesn't take a battery, but there again, neither do most mini pedals. Construction is more solid than the Mooer Green Mile, and the TSMini is made in Japan (thought for sure it was Chinese). The price is great on these, but I'd also consider checking out the East River Overdrive by EHX; my current favorite Tube Screamer clone. As far as the Ibanez Tube Screamer line-up, this is seemingly the best value.Dave
9. Boss Ds-1w Waza Craft Distortion Pedal
Product Details:
Revising a legendary boss pedal with new tonal possibilities and waza craftmanship, the waza craft ds-1w distortion pedal redefines the classic ds-1 sound with a new, higher-gain voice mode, an updated two-stage analog gain circuit, and the discrete, 100% analog circuitry expected of a waza craft design. relive the timeless, well-defined gain boosting of the classic ds-1 in standard mode, or explore new sonic avenues with the fatter, more dynamic custom mode. the ds-1w's versatile tone knob provides wide-ranging frequency control fine-tuned for each circuit mode, while the premium-quality buffer eliminates unwanted signal loss to ensure a crystal-clear bypass tone. with carefully selected analog components and the rugged construction quality typical of boss's waza craft pedals, the ds-1w is built to stand the test of time and deliver versatile, face-melting distortion for decades of continuous use.
Specifications:
| Audio Circuit Type | Discrete All-Analog |
| Bypass | Buffered Bypass |
| Nominal Input Level | -20 dBu |
| Nominal Output Level | -20 dBu |
| Input Impedance | 1 Megohm |
| Output Impedance | 1 Kilohm |
| Recommended Load Impedance | 10 Kilohms or Greater |
| Indicators | 1 x Check-Battery LED Indicator |
| Battery Type | 1 x 9 V Alkaline |
| Operating Current | 15 mA |
| Material of Construction | Metal |
| Dimensions | 5.1 x 2.9 x 2.3" / 12.9 x 7.3 x 5.9 cm |
| Box Dimensions (LxWxH) | 6.4 x 4.5 x 2.5" |
Reviews:
Now I don't hate it, but Its not my first go to pedal. I like the more modern BOSS "Metal Core". It is however like all BOSS PEDALS built like a tank, extremely reliable and a great first pedal. For the money, this is a super value. I found that I like it for "Gain Stacking" in combination with the BOSS MD-2"Mega Distortion" and a few other pedals. Even two DS-1 DISTORTION together improve the performance to me. Overall it's not terrible and I see were for some it could really be a price but I lean towards Heavy… Heavy Metal and for that it's more a corvette when you need a Lamborghini. Do I hate it, NO… I actually own two of them.kt.precisio-7
I had one of these racks for well over 5 years. My original got pretty dingy so I decided to buy a new one because the first one served me well. I bought this Christmas of 2019. After 6 months of use, the rack is beginning to rust. Try to find the product using description and model number on KitchenAid website so I can contact them about it for possible replacement but got "product not found". Other than the metal rack, it's a great product. The rack should be stainless steel. I generally love KitchenAid products but I recommend against this one.randy_san
Highly Underrated! Many people think this is a low-grade Boss effect pedal, but with proper settings and usage, it stands up to the quality and fidelity you have come to expect from Boss "Built like a Tank" pedals. The reason many people give this pedal low marks is because the Tone Knob is crazy! Similar to the Fender Reverb Tanks, this knob goes from just about right to way out of control in a hurry! – lol. Set fully left/counter-clockwise (7 o'clock), it is dark and muddy, around 8 o'clock it will sound good for a Strat lead tone, around 9 o'clock and a little beyond is good for fat Gibson humbuckers to cut through any mix, and anything beyond that is way too thin, harsh and God knows what you would use it for outside of a specialized high freq-type notch filter effect or laying heavy on a low string. This is what people don't like about this pedal…the Tone control is too wide – lol. Find the right spot and you are there tone-wise. This is Distortion, not Overdrive and it is made to provide searing lead tones and carefully voiced rock chords. It holds a strong distortion without going into feedback as easily as other pedals. There is even a video on YouTube that shows one coupled up with a Boss OD-3 Overdrive…I do it too. It's nice to have one set for crunchy rock and the other set for searing leads and sustain…but I am also guilty of engaging both of them at the same time! As with just about any distortion pedal out there, the higher the gain, the more the noise, but all in all, this pedal holds the noise level down while keeping a strong tone that if need be, any noise gate could easily manage…I don't use one. The Level control can act as a lead boost if you cut back on the Drive. You really can't get rid of the distortion effect, but you can minimize it to a point that it will behave like a boost with a little grit behind it and most times this works just fine, especially live. As of July 2012 the average price for the Boss DS-1, used, in good condition is nineteen to thirty dollars. The higher being free shipping and original factory box. The other factor are the older models made in Japan go for a significantly higher price (sixty to one hundred dollars) to people who collect vintage gear or have discriminating tastes. With the abundance and affordability of these pedals I say, "Why not have it in your arsenal?" If you set your unity gain and tone to be "seamless", it is worth twenty bucks to have it there & ready to kick in when you need to hold a high note (or any note) extra long without worry…and if nasty is your thing, this pedal can get really nasty set to anything past 11 o'clock. (Which is only 1/3rd of the way "up".) This pedal also doubles as a great little gift for a budding rock star. It is cheap and it provides good distortion, which is what they are most likely looking for, until they get good enough to deserve a two hundred & fifty dollar pedal. I, myself have many expensive pedals, play professionally (26 years) through a large rig and have this pedal at home in my "Boss Chain." Be conservative and use micro adjustments and you will find a great usable pedal at a terrific price.guitaroperator
10. Behringer Um300 Ultra Metal Distortion Pedal
Product Details:
The um300 effects pedal gives you the most extreme and sought-after hard rock or heavy metal sounds with super-thick, tube-like distortion plus endless sustain. the um300 features dedicated distortion, 3-band eq and level controls for awesome sound shaping. a cool blue status led for effect on/off and battery check plus a first-class electronic on/off switch for highest signal integrity in bypass mode are included. the um300 runs on a 9 v battery or a dc power supply (not included).
Specifications:
| Product Type | Guitar pedal |
| Pedal Type | Distortion |
| Battery Power | 9 V |
| Dimensions | 2.125" H x 2.75" W x 4.8" D |
| Weight | 0.73 lb |
Reviews:
This thing is unbelievably excellent. I’m down with serious chunk and couldn’t find a pedal anywhere that tickled my fancy of fatness of tones and clean as a whistle chugging. If you want metal, this will give you the sound you want, the thing has six knobs and they all do great differences in tone and distortion. My mate is a full blown metaller gtar ist and scoffed at me buying this thing. He came round and I said that I wanted to hear him thru this pedal so he did after I dialed him in to my liking amd he blew himself away with me alongside him He now has one too!!!! HahahaGeoff K.
The distortion operation is like MT-2. Sound and operation is similar, But it has differernt knobs for min settings. Distortion levels quickly passes overdrive/crunchy so it it not usable for that. Bass level is not usable after 2 o'clock setting. Treble and mid levels and mid frequency levels change a lot sound. Level setting is use fun if you don't want to load the amps input and cause additional distortion… Battery changing is easy.
11. Behringer Um300 Ultra Metal Distortion Effects Pedal
Product Details:
Heavy metal distortion effects pedal take off with the most extreme and sought-after hard rock or heavy metal distortion this behringer product has been designed to compete head to head with leading products on the market multi-gain circuitry to give you super-thick, tube-like distortion plus endless sustain dedicated distortion, 3-band eq and level controls for awesome sound shaping blue status led for effect on/off and battery check runs on 9 v battery or the behringer psu-sb dc power supply (not included) first-class electronic on/off switch for highest signal integrity in bypass mode high-quality components and exceptionally rugged construction ensure long life conceived and designed by behringer germany in the churning, smoldering world of heavy metal, it's the middle frequencies that make the difference between mush and muscle. with the um300 ultra metal, you not only get take control of the mids, you micromanage them! metal to the max the um300 effects pedal gives you the most extreme, sought-after hard rock and heavy metal sounds with super-thick, tube-like distortion – plus virtually endless sustain. the art of tone like most distortion stomp boxes, the um300 comes with distortion and level controls. and the high and low controls let you dial in the amount of top-end and bottom you desire. but the similarity to other stomps ends right there. what this means, in terms of tone, is thick, tube-like distortion with endless sustain, for everything from aggressive, traditional metal assaults to bone-crunching mayhem. a bright blue led tells you when the um300 is active, while a top-quality on/off switch maintains highest signal integrity in bypass mode. take off with the most extreme and sought-after hard rock or heavy metal distortion this behringer product has been designed to compete head to head with leading products on the market multi-gain circuitry to give you super-thick, tube-like distortion plus endless sustain dedicated distortion, 3-band eq and level controls for awesome sound shaping status led for effect on/off and battery check
Specifications:
| Product Genre/Category | Musical Instruments |
Reviews:
This thing is unbelievably excellent. I’m down with serious chunk and couldn’t find a pedal anywhere that tickled my fancy of fatness of tones and clean as a whistle chugging. If you want metal, this will give you the sound you want, the thing has six knobs and they all do great differences in tone and distortion. My mate is a full blown metaller gtar ist and scoffed at me buying this thing. He came round and I said that I wanted to hear him thru this pedal so he did after I dialed him in to my liking amd he blew himself away with me alongside him He now has one too!!!! HahahaGeoff K.
The distortion operation is like MT-2. Sound and operation is similar, But it has differernt knobs for min settings. Distortion levels quickly passes overdrive/crunchy so it it not usable for that. Bass level is not usable after 2 o'clock setting. Treble and mid levels and mid frequency levels change a lot sound. Level setting is use fun if you don't want to load the amps input and cause additional distortion… Battery changing is easy.
12. Boss Distortion Ds-1x
Product Details:
When designing the x series pedals, boss wanted to deliver something truly special. to that end, an incredible amount of research and development was put in to creating the proprietary boss mdp chip, allowing for multi-dimensional processing. multi-dimensional processing, or “mdp” for short, allows the pedal to analyse your performance and adapt its own output to your playing. with the ds-1x you get a pedal that changes the way the guitar world looks at distortion stompboxes, delivering incredible levels of clarity and dynamic response. thanks to boss’ mdp technology, the boss ds-1x gives you distortion that sounds great wherever you’re playing on the neck; even when you’re at the highest gain settings. fat, full bodied tones on the high notes and crisp, clear, tight response on the low notes and incredible definition when playing multiple strings at once. as you play up and down the neck you’ll notice that the mdp technology adapts to your performance so you’re always getting optimum tone. regardless of your settings, the ds-1x never gives you a muddy or boomy sound – just a smooth, natural presence allowing you to cut through without sounding harsh. the combined input from the world’s greatest guitarists and the engineers at boss has produced an incredibly musical, inspiring and exciting technology in the boss x series pedals.
Specifications:
Reviews:
I have playing guitar for over 20 years. This is a totally new distortion for me. I have tried several others that were excellent, like some MXRs, this is even better I think. I have had the DS-1 in the past but then I upgraded to the Boss Metalzone MT2 and the Boss MetalCore ML2. Both excellent buy more metal. You can play rock, metal, blues, almost anything with the Boss DS-1X. The high and low have a wide range. The Distortion control changes the contour also adds more treble/high as it goes up. At lower values you can use it with split humbuckers or two single coils for very crunchy TS9 boosted over drive SRV type tones. This is what I like about this. Great sound with neck and brigde humbuckers and split coils. In my setup i use Evolution7, Deactivator pickups. As you play up to higher frets, the sound stays thick very smooth. On low strings it stays relevant, without being boomy. the sound morphs in sutbtle ways if you play to very low strings. it is a totally new effect, not just a distortion.NoNickName1
As I transition from PODs to stomp boxes, this is the first distortion I buy. The online reviews are good. I recommend Pete Thorn's sound test as it's a demonstration in detail. After trying it out myself I cannot but agree with everyone. It's NOT a improvement of the old DS-1. It's a whole new beast! Sounds great, responsive, good dynamics, clear low end (not muddy) and sweet high end (not screaming). What more could you want? It makes me wanna buy the OD-1X too!Rickrock
13. Abasi Pathos Distortion Pedal
Product Details:
The abasi pathos distortion pedal presents an impassioned appeal to the varied sonic needs of the modern guitarist. designed to retain the feel of an american-style tube amp channel, its versatility is derived from the "smooth" and "edge" voicings that range from an emotive crunch all the way to scorching, yet controlled distortion and sustain. the two voicings can be sculpted with a set of musically tuned eq shelves and mid control, as well as potent gain and level controls. it is these precision tools that allow pathos to encompass the functionality of several dirt boxes in one; be it a push to a driven amp, a full-on distortion channel in front of a clean amp, or a boost in front of a digital modeler. crafted in the usa by tosin abasi in conjunction with brian wampler, pathos is the choice for any discerning guitarist seeking an array of distortion flavors to emote their musical story.
Specifications:
| Operating Voltage | 9V |
| Operating Current | 30mA |
| Number of Knobs | 5 |
| Indicator Type | LED |
| Dimensions | 2.5" x 4.5" x 1.5" |
Reviews:
After playing with this pedal, I’m very disappointed with it! Not much gain or volume! Save your money and shop around
Excellent pedal and definitely the most versatile distortion that I have ever owned. This will cover anything from AC/DC style crunch sounds (in "smooth" mode) to the most saturated modern metal (in "edge mode"). My favorite sound is in "Edge" mode with all EQ controls on full and Gain on 3/4. Great for modern prog. Excellent build quality – as you would expect rom a Wampler built pedal and considering the range of sounds available it is also superb value. Highly recommended!Reviewed by Andertons Music Co.
14. Boss Ds-1 Distortion Pedal
Product Details:
Features tone, leveland distortion knobs on face super-tough construction lets your true guitar tone shine descriptionhere it is. the 1 stompbox for legions of crunch-craving guitarists all over the planet. this ds-1 distortion pedal is a time-proven mainstay of rock and metal tone, no doubt about it. three knobs make way for practically every rock sound you've ever heard. if you dig it loud and distorted, you've simply got to have a ds-1 in your rig. and that's that.
Specifications:
| Product Dimensions | 5.91 X 2.76 X 3.54 Inches |
| Batteries | 1 9V Batteries Required. (Included) |
| Color Name | Orange |
| Hardware Interface | Usb |
| Battery Type | Alkaline |
Reviews:
This is the amazing Boss DS-1 distortion pedal, loved by all who use it. Amazing value at just £55. I won't bore you with stories about how robust it is, because we all know Boss equipment lasts forever. It looks and feels great, but most importantly, sounds incredible. I play punk rock, and with my Gibson SG Special, plugged into my Marshall JCM 900 this delivers exactly the sound I want. I loved that in the manual it gives example sound setting, one of which was British Punk. That just made me smile. I knew instantly it was right up my street. Oh, and if you're into electronics, this thing is made of pin-through-hole components, so it leaves it open for a good bit of modding. There are plenty of guides for that online. Sitting in my Boss BCB-30 pedal board this never fails to make me smile.Thomas B.
Now I don't hate it, but Its not my first go to pedal. I like the more modern BOSS "Metal Core". It is however like all BOSS PEDALS built like a tank, extremely reliable and a great first pedal. For the money, this is a super value. I found that I like it for "Gain Stacking" in combination with the BOSS MD-2"Mega Distortion" and a few other pedals. Even two DS-1 DISTORTION together improve the performance to me. Overall it's not terrible and I see were for some it could really be a price but I lean towards Heavy… Heavy Metal and for that it's more a corvette when you need a Lamborghini. Do I hate it, NO… I actually own two of them.kt.precisio-7
I have a 60w Fender Deville amp. Lovely clean sounds straight from the amp but couldn't really use the overdrive channel without the volume getting to an inconsiderate level at home. This pedal has addressed that issue really well. This pedal now provides me really raunchy distortion while providing a greater control for volume. The pedal also provides a nice boost in changing between a clean channel directly from the amp and then through the pedal. Very pleased with this investment, particularly for the price. Very easy to use.Gregory H.
15. Boss Ds-1x Distortion Pedal
Product Details:
Special edition boss pedal with premium tone the ds-1x launches the famous boss distortion into a modern era of expression, delivering an unmatched level of performance for guitarists with an ear for tone. this next-generation stomp combines over 35 years of innovation in pedal design with the most advanced technologies, bringing you a completely new tonal experience that's only possible with the legendary expertise of boss. prepare to be amazed-the inspiring and ultra-responsive ds-1x will change your thinking about distortion pedals forever. plug into the future of distortion the ds-1x completely redefines the distortion stomp, kicking it into a new universe of dynamic response and clarity. powered by boss' mdp technology, this amazing pedal delivers distortion that sounds perfect no matter where you play on the neck, even at the highest gain settings. you'll enjoy tight response on the low strings and fat, singing tones on the highest notes, plus exceptional definition when playing two or more notes at a time. at every setting, the sound is never muddy or boomy, while the smooth, natural presence ensures that you always cut through without harshness or nasal overtones. with the ds-1x, your distortion tone feels and sounds "dialed in" the instant you turn it on, providing a rich, satisfying playing experience that's both effortless and inspiring.
Specifications:
| Control Type | Knob |
| Output Impedance | 1 K ohm |
| Output Level | -20 dBu |
| Voltage | 9 V |
| Power Source | Battery |
Reviews:
I have playing guitar for over 20 years. This is a totally new distortion for me. I have tried several others that were excellent, like some MXRs, this is even better I think. I have had the DS-1 in the past but then I upgraded to the Boss Metalzone MT2 and the Boss MetalCore ML2. Both excellent buy more metal. You can play rock, metal, blues, almost anything with the Boss DS-1X. The high and low have a wide range. The Distortion control changes the contour also adds more treble/high as it goes up. At lower values you can use it with split humbuckers or two single coils for very crunchy TS9 boosted over drive SRV type tones. This is what I like about this. Great sound with neck and brigde humbuckers and split coils. In my setup i use Evolution7, Deactivator pickups. As you play up to higher frets, the sound stays thick very smooth. On low strings it stays relevant, without being boomy. the sound morphs in sutbtle ways if you play to very low strings. it is a totally new effect, not just a distortion.NoNickName1
As I transition from PODs to stomp boxes, this is the first distortion I buy. The online reviews are good. I recommend Pete Thorn's sound test as it's a demonstration in detail. After trying it out myself I cannot but agree with everyone. It's NOT a improvement of the old DS-1. It's a whole new beast! Sounds great, responsive, good dynamics, clear low end (not muddy) and sweet high end (not screaming). What more could you want? It makes me wanna buy the OD-1X too!Rickrock
16. Behringer Hd300 Heavy Metal Distortion Effects Pedal
Product Details:
Break out the behringer heavy distortion hd300 when you're ready to go beyond the boundaries of brutality. in addition to providing loads of devastating distortion, this little sonic warhead allows you crank up the bottom-end and the gain, laying waste to everything in your path. – with its dedicated gain boost, distortion, tone, bottom and level control, you can dial in a trademark sound all your own. the blue status led tells you when this pedal is activated, and the rock-solid on/off switch maintains outstanding signal integrity in bypass mode. you can power this behemoth with a 9 v battery or a psu-sb dc power supply (not included). pushes distortion to the extreme by producing crushing, bottom-heavy distortion for modern metal and hard rock – dual distortion with gain boost circuitry to give you super thick and heavy distortion with brutal low-end punch and endless sustain – dedicated gain boost, distortion, tone, bottom and level controls for awesome sound shaping – status led for effect on/off and battery check – runs on 9 v battery or the behringer psu-sb dc power supply (not included)first-class electronic on/off switch for highest signal integrity in bypass mode – high-quality components and exceptionally rugged construction ensure long life
Specifications:
| Power Source | Battery, DC |
| Voltage | 9 V |
| Indicator Type | LED |
Reviews:
This line of pedals is a great entry-level/affordable effects option if you want to experiment with new sounds, but it's equally good if you know what you want, and what you want is nothing fancy or bizarre sounding, just some perfectly "standard" effects. And this particular unit is one of the most handy and usable distortion units of the line IMHO. It provides a great range of distortion tones, and most of them perfectly usable/suitable for metal, hard rock, etc. I mean, it's not easy to find a bad setting in this pedal, one that generates a truly disgusting sound (unlike other units… like the ultra metal or the heavy metal… which require some precaution in their knob tweaking). The enclosure is plastic, and replacing the battery is a little bit tricky, but that's very easy to tolerate when you see the price tag. And, It just sounds good to me. I have no complain.
17. Boss Me80 Guitar Multi Effects Processor
Product Details:
This pedal is packed with almost any effect you can think of, all easily accessible through the foot switch system saving you the trouble of navigating through tedious menus. use with boss software on your computer to generate your own patches or download stage ready patches from the website. built in usb/midi interface allows you to connect straight to your computer for di recording with all of your effects. battery powered and comes with power supply.
Specifications:
| Interface | Built in USB audio/Midi Knob-based interface |
| Effects Categories | Eight simultaneous effects categories |
Reviews:
Sound: OK, so the pre-set programs are hit and miss for me. But that had to be expected, as I am not plugging a guitar into it, but rather a Korg RK100-S2 keytar. For obvious reasons, the cleaner patches, and patches designed around arpeggios sound decent, while the shredding metal patches sound like ass. I'm sure they would both sound good if I was hooked up with an actual 6 string. Features: The most useful feature as far as I'm concerned, are all of those knobs all over the front of the unit. They make it so easy to dial in the sound. Especially when compared to the all digital products like the GT-1. I had a GT-1B last year, and it was aggravating to modify sounds on the fly. The other most useful feature is the Tone Central app. OMG!!! Last month, I trashed Korg's design decision in their app for modifying the keytar's sounds. The window can't be resized, the lines of text are nearly microscopic, it isn't REMOTELY intuitive to figure out how to re-write the patches. Boss' Tone Central app is the EXACT OPPOSITE of all of that. Full screen, each effect section is on screen alone and has 3 different ways to modify the settings. Get things the way you want, name your patch, and click "write," then choose where you want it saved, and click "OK." It couldn't be simpler. Ease of Use: If the preset patches are hit and miss, the "manual mode" is why I bought this board. The keytar really needs some effects to come alive. This board is simply a placeholder until I can build a quality keytar/synth specific pedal board. Compression, delay, and/or phasers can add a lot of depth to my sound depending on what I'm currently using. Those dials make it super easy to get the sound right quickly. It does sort of suck that they are on the floor, but how could that have been avoided without bluetooth and a phone app? And, if that was the case, I wouldn't have bought it in the first place! Quality: I bought this "blemished." My guess, based on the condition of the box that the factory shipped to zZounds, is that this took a fall off of a shelf in the warehouse. One end of the box was mangled badly! Thanks to Boss' attention to detail in packaging, and legendary build quality, I got this product without a scuff, scratch, or dent for 20% off. I like that build quality. (Feel free to play football with some of those synth specific stomp boxes guys! *wink-wink*) Value: Before my fretting hand got too badly damaged to play bass anymore, I wanted the bass version of this product. I believe that it was discontinued, and I missed my chance. I got the GT-1B but didn't like working with it. When I saw that this was available, I didn't hesitate to put it into my cart. Only then, after the fact, did I realize that it was in "blemished" condition. I almost went back and put a new, full priced one in my cart simply because I didn't want the hassle of potentially returning a broken product. So, yes, I do believe this is worth the normal retail price. Manufacturer Support: In the 12 years I've been playing, I've owned several Boss products from tuners to metronomes to multi effects pedals and I have NEVER had to reach out for support. In my estimation, that's the BEST form of customer service! The Wow Factor: G.A.S.! I can't play guitar a lick. But I've bought guitars in the past simply to hang them on the wall. I can't say that I would ever buy THIS product if I didn't need it. But I'm sure that it will still find some place in my home studio, even after the actual pedal board is complete Overall: An easy recommendation for the guitarist on a budget. Depending on one's needs, stomp boxes and pedal boards can become quite pricey. Between this, the Tone Central app, and the hundreds of additional patches available there, if you can't get the sound you're looking for, the problem lies mostly with you.
I have been buying and selling multi effects for many years. I loved them all, even the silly ones such as the RP50, 505, ME30..too many. I guess my favorites were the Korg AX3000G(which I thought was ahead of its time) and the Digitech RP500(awesome reverbs, mods and filters),and even some Pods for their amp sims too. Yes yes.. they all had their short comings in different avenues.. Boss reliability is were a part of Ny early playing days since the 80s..and to this day, I use Boss single pedals almost exclusively as my main rig. I just love the simplicity of their individual pedals and this unit is the only one that comes close in terms of the logic of its settings. I love KNOBS, and the ME80 has plenty to go around with. SIMPLICITY is the key . No more scrolling up n down a screen on the floor which I can hardly see. Now is the ME80 the best sounding multi-effect out there? No sir! With all the current technologies which can produce units such as The Kemper, Fractals, Boss GT1000, and other high res IR capable units from Zoom and Line 6(including some very capable Chinese newcomers), the ME80 can be seen as kind of outdated to some, The ME80 is certainly not what the top guns use these days, especially when occupying an arena concert stages I'm sure(but I bet they still use one or two boss pedals in their rig lol)..Also, Let's not forget that the ME80 initial introduction day to the world was just about eight years ago.. shall we? But guess what, it's still alive and kicking! And that is exactly why you still see it here for sake in 2022 ar least until Boss comes out with some new monster that can handle the GT1000 chipsets and adding more KNOBS to its chassis. The ME80 is gorgeous, it sounds good, and it has a personality. It also has more to offer than its predecessors such as the ME50/70..I mean, the addition of a separate footswitch for reverb,EQ and a simple patch recall?? I would recommend this unit for any small club or a tight rehearsal space for a quick setup and a speedy wrap-up after a show, when it's finally time to go home, no patch cables required.I AM KEEPING THIS ONE FOR MYSELF! Till I get to warm up for Bruno Mars(not happening soon lol),My main Boss rig is staying home, and that goes to my crybaby and the Budda volume pedal with all them patch cables entourage.James
I don't want to program guitar effects. I don't want to read cheesy names for effects that I can't immediately recognize or understand. The young people like that stuff but I am old and old school. The ME-80 gives me my old stomp boxes but grouped on a modern platform. It is basically foot pedal controlled with a very nice expression pedal and 8 on-off pedals. The foot pedals work flawlessly. But the thing that makes this unit awesome is the knobs. You can turn a knob, set a value and get instant feedback on what you did and look at it anytime to see what it is set at. If you know stomp boxes then you know exactly how this thing works. It has by my estimation about $4K worth of stomp box effects and amp emulations. Whether you want an old Tube Screamer or a Big Muff Fuzz. This thing has it. And it has many new stomp box effects like the amazing Tera Echo, Harmonist, Freeze and a Looper. It has just about every effect you could want and you can play multiple effects at the same time. As far as I am concerned this is the greatest thing since sliced bread. And I am an original POD user. I still plug into the POD now and then. But the POD is history. The ME-80 is what I like today. I even commissioned a guy to build me an angled stand to boost up the knobs and pedal to make it easier for me to dial in changes. I had it painted orange to match my Orange Crush 35RT amp where I port the ME-80 output. Lastly, if you insist on being a programmer, they let you do that as well and offer a ton of presets online. You can hook up by USB to your computer and program away. Brilliant. The one down side… you have to buy an AC/DC adaptor for $30 or use up a lot of batteries. Well since I figure that I saved over $3,600 compared to the cost of all these effects bought stand-alone, I happily coughed up the $30.Brianne
18. Mxr Fullbore Metal Distortion Pedal M116
Product Details:
Guitarists, it's time to shred! the mxr fullbore metal distortion pedal has all the makings to turn your riffs into searing, bone-crushing assaults! a 3-band eq lets you shape the fullbore metal's sound and the midrange is sweepable, letting you scoop the mids for that classic metal tone. a noise gate another staple of shredding is also onboard, completing the trifecta of metalistic attributes that will make any headbanger happy. let the audience know exactly how metal you are and throw the fullbore metal on your pedalboard! the super high-gain distortion three band eq with sweepable mid frequencies tight, fast, switchable noise gate for syncopated metal.
Specifications:
| Material | Metal |
| Pedal Type | Analog |
| Travel-Friendly | Yes |
| Power Source | AC adapter, Battery |
| Battery Voltage | 9V |
Reviews:
If you play between the boundaries of Metal to Hard Rock, you will love this pedal! I've own this pedal for years and it has made some eyes pop and gotten me compliments from all sorts of Musicians to include professional ones. Its very versatile and can literally make any rig scream! Even very simple setups like a decent solid state amp and a cheap guitar.I found That really clean amps like Fenders, and Rolands can really make this baby shine due to its high gain and very distorted nature. This pedal is very responsive and has so much attack its insane. The other cool thing about this pedal is the built in noise gate which really helps clean up the hiss of the gain. it also has a mids scoop similar to the signature Dime distortion pedal. This definitely beats all pedals similar to it like the Boss Metal zone, the T-rex bloody mary, Dime Distortion and many other famous pedals. I love howthis pedal has can get many famous sounds like Randy Rhoads, Disturbed, Pantera, Early metallica, All That Remains, Ratt, Van Halen, Godsmack, and more. The only thing about it that some people may not like is that the pedal does have a little bit more controls than average ones and that its high gain maybe too much for some. However I found that if you roll the gain down and mess with the frequency knob and equilizers, you can get a more Crunchy overdrive sound. This pedal literally brings my rig to life and I can't find anything wrong with it. Definitely recommend getting it.Buckshot1894
This pedal is a one trick pony – brutal sounding heavy metal. It can run the gauntlet of thrash, modern, nu, and classic metal – everything from old school Dio and 1980s Metallica to Pantera to Trivium to Avenged Sevenfold. It can scoop the mids out entirely for the dry … And Justice for All sound with the push of a button while the push of another button can enable a nice percussive sound and prevent any bleedthrough of extraneous sound. Using mids dial on this pedal is not a bad thing … it shouldn't be turned down unless specifically needed for a certain sound. Mine is actually set around the 1 o'clock position. Where care needs to be used is actually with the low and especially the high (where it can sound like an annoying chain saw if turned up). Take time and care with dialing in the sound. It is easy to get a brutal sound if used properly and not the high pitched awful whine that you might find on demo videos on YouTube. Definitely recommend using this pedal on the clean channel. Boosting it with an overdrive pedal isn't necessary or useful.JGB
Overall: I have been using my tried and true Boss Metal Zone into a Boss 7 band EQ for a few decades. I had been looking at getting the Waza Craft Metal Zone before my old Metal Zone takes a dump on me, but I also wanted to see what else is out there. I watched a video review of the MXR Fullbore Distortion and was impressed, but not enough to buy one. Well! My fiance took care of that for me and ordered it for me as a surprise. I plugged it in right away the day it got here. I plugged it into my 7 band EQ. I kinda gave it a half ass listen and wasn't impressed. I picked it back up and figured I would exchange it for a noise gate as that is what I needed more. It sat there for a week or so and I decided to give it another chance. I plugged straight in to the front of my half stack and used a suggested setting I found online. I had to back off on my maps EQ across the board and just tweak it. What I heard was something that sounded familiar and new at the same time. I cranked it up and tried the on board noise gate and it works great! Basically it's a distortion, EQ and a noise gate in one pedal. I tried my old set up side by side with this pedal and the fact that this one pedal eliminated 2 other pedals in the chain was what finally sold me. I love this thing. It likes high gain pickups. My Strat with a Seymour Duncan TB 6 Distortion in the bridge sounds like a flame thrower! Distortion is a very personal thing. Not everybody will love it. So far everybody who has listened to me says that it sounds insane, badass, etc. For the music I play it fits. It's an all around sound I can use on everything I cover on guitar. To me that's the goal to have one sound do it all. I'm very happy that I kept it and gave it another try. One thing to remember is that with this pedal it's okay to back everything down and especially on your amp. Usually I would put everything in the middle and adjust my Distortion and EQ around that. With this pedal I have the amp's EQ, everything on 2-3. This could be the Distortion sound your looking for.Jon
19. Xotic Effects – Sl Drive Pedal
Product Details:
Famous for its woody, organic and beautiful sounds of saturation, these legendary british amplifiers, the super lead & super bass, have been delivering one of the all-time classic sounds for almost 50 years. players like jimmy page, paul kossoff and countless other relied on this type of tone for their signature sound. xotic has recreated this vintage masterpiece in a rugged small enclosure. the sl drive offers very amp-like response and cleans up nicely with a roll of your guitar’s volume knob. the internal dip switches allow you to choose the sound characteristics of both 1959 models. the “super lead” setting offers a brighter tone with more gain, while the “super bass” setting has more low end with less highs. this compact design is a powerful tool for the working musicians. the sl drive is equipped with true bypass switching and eliminates any signal interference when switched off. power requirements are either 9v battery or ac adaptor (optional).
Specifications:
| Dimensions | 3.5" W x 1.5" D x 1.5" H |
| Input Power | 9V |
| Input Impedance | 1M ohm |
| Output Impedance | 1K ohm |
| Number of Tone Settings | 2 |
Reviews:
From slight dirt to full on creamy plexi distortion. It’s all there. Cleans up with the guitar volume knob. Pairs well with other exotic effects. I have two SL drives, one for grit and the other set for lead, as well as an exotic AC booster before to add a bit of boost. I run the EP booster at the end for nice volume boost. Synergy with all exotic effects.Charlie
I chose the SL Drive from a huge amount of drives on the market as I wanted something that fit on a small pedalboard, could provide a Marshall style sound at all gain levels as an alternative to amp gain, and which could work well with the BB MB pre-amp also by Xotic. This pedal really delivers. Although it takes time to set up and find the best sounds for personal preference, it provides a variety of useful tones across the spectra of volume, gain, and equalisation. The design is just so thoughtful and I like the possibility of running it at 18v, although at the moment 9v is better to my ears. Recommended as a piece of gear that should fit with most set-ups.Reviewed by Andertons Music Co.
I've had the SL drive for awhile now and try as I might I can't find anything that can kick it off my board. I've tried numerous other amp in a box pedals(Marshall and otherwise),overdrives and distortions but I keep coming back to this little guy. I guess I keep trying because I find it hard to believe that a pedal this small and this inexpensive(relatively) can't be outdone. I use this in conjunction with a standard Tumnus and the 2 together just can't be beat for me and I'm done spending $ trying.mike smith
20. Earthquaker Devices Westwood Translucent Overdrive Pedal
Product Details:
The earthquaker devices westwood is a touch-sensitive translucent overdrive manipulator as clean and pure the breeze which blows through grove of douglas fir trees, hot damn fine cup coffee. this mild-mannered light- to medium-gain will still knock socks right off your trusty low-wattage combo amp, pushing it into anything from cutting, edge-of-breakup rhythm tones, all way articulate, singing lead tones stacked high with pleasing even-order harmonics sweet, sweet sustain. and if you pair up favorite head cab, should probably call neighbors first, because westwood's level control has enough output on tap alert proper authorities.the drive sets level gain for near-clean boost at lower settings, rich, bell-like jangle chime, soaring that are cutting distinct, but never harsh. responds changes in guitar volume any setting, varying intensity pick attack reveals subtle nuances technique tone. the powerful active eq section controls treble bass 20 db cut and/or boost. center-detent pots indicate flat setting. when feel click, there neither nor boost, tone remains unaltered, extra gain. treble affects area around 2khz handy taming icepick-y single coils, or giving humbuckers lift add an open airy top-end sparkle. the operates 80hz can be used tighten low end already dark sounding guitar, turned up, soften attack, introduce tube-like sag browned-out sound plenty woody, organic bottom thump that'll make chords thick chunky, while notes bloom like flowers majestic dogwood. on bass provides warm low-mids smooth top vintage grit next gig roadhouse both wonderful strange. each every real blue rose case, hand built by team special agents black lodge akron, ohio, usa, where owls not what they seem, there's always music air, birds sing pretty song.
Specifications:
Reviews:
I bought this to try out with a solid state Vox Pathfinder. I also bought the JHS Morning Glory, EHX Soul Food and the Walrus Mayflower. The Earthquaker Westwood met my needs the best. The range of drive is AMAZING. This pedal will go from clean to distortion, even on solid state amps. A lot of other "transparent overdrives" DO NOT have this ability. The EQ is very responsive as well.TVC.15
EQD might just be my new favorite pedal manufacturer. This thing is nails. I know it says it's an overdrive, but to me it acts more like a slight boost, with awesome tone shaping abilities. It's stated as being translucent, and it is – it doesn't really color your tone in so much as it articulates your playing dynamics. The Bass and Treble knobs take you from one tone to the other, and I think you would be just as surprised as I was when you hear exactly what they do… It's not as simple as your amp's frontend EQ. Definitely worth the purchase and I look forward to grabbing more EQD pedals in the future.RockSWPA
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