Distortion versus Overdrive

TomCat

Hi All

I am going to ask what is probably a dof question here. ???

Here's the setup: Ibanez AFS-75T>Boss SD-1>Digitech Bad Monkey>Boss CH-1>Ibanez DE-7>Vox Pathfinder 15R (Gain set for clean tone)

Both the SD-1 and Bad Monkey are overdrives. I do understand that the general function of an overdrive is to provide more gain to typically a tube preamp stage to increase distortion/compression. The results at the moment are OK with the Monkey providing a light overdrive/distortion and then using the SD-1 at full gain as a booster (although probably not ideal). The sound is fairly compressed, not a lot, but could be thicker with more bite.

My question is what would the difference be if one of the overdrives was replaced with a distortion pedal, ala amp distortion (not looking at a new amp at this stage).

My one option was to look at the Seymour Duncan Twin Tube classic placed after either of the two overdrives.
The new arrangement would then be: Either SD-1 or Monkey>Twin Tube Classic>CH-1>new volume pedal>DE-7

Anyone have any thoughts/comments. What has worked for you. The style is modern contemporary worship / classic rock.

BTW we will at some point be looking at another guitar to compliment the AFS (Maybe either a Tele or Solid body with Humbuckers)

CDee

You can find some very useful info here: http://www.ratcliffe.co.za/articles/effectchain.shtml
I find myself refering to this page very often these days...

TomCat

Thanks CDee

Already had a look there. Did not quite find the answer I was looking for.

Thanks anyway ?

kayDUB

I like to have an overdrive -> dist combo, my ideal would prob be OD1 -> OD2 -> dist. first OD on a light gain setting second OD a bit more and then the dist for a heavier sound. I think you get a lot of flexibility this way, especially for worship. BTW, I play mainly worship, and I find that I don't use the dist too much, find myself mainly using clean and OD.

AlanRatcliffe

I think it's covered in my FX101 workshop notes. Overdrives (including amp overdrive), distortions and fuzzes all fall into the "distortion" family of effects.

Generally the overdrives are the smoothest and sweetest sounding with soft clipping that produces a rounder waveform with more even harmonics and a more natural touch-sensitive dynamic.

Distortion squares off the waveform a bit more, which produces a more harsh edged tone with more odd-order harmonics. They can help you to cut through a heavier mix better and make pinch harmonics jump out a bit more.

Fuzz squares of the waveform pretty radically, creating an almost pure square wave that can be really harsh, but very intense and cutting.

Bear in mind that any of these will also be rounded off and smoothed out if you are playing into a valve amp that's adding it's own smooth character to the mix. Ditto with putting an overdrive after a distortion.

TomCat

Thanks Alan

Makes sense.

Any thoughts on the Twin Tube Classic.

We actually want to take guitar, pedalboard and amp into the store and play with different pedals to see what works best for us.

AlanRatcliffe

TomCat wrote Any thoughts on the Twin Tube Classic.

Sorry, No - have never used one.

We actually want to take guitar, pedalboard and amp into the store and play with different pedals to see what works best for us.

Excellent idea! The only way you really know for sure how it's going to sound with your rig.