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Post subject: What does an "overdrive" pedal do?
Posted: Sun Feb 08, 2009 4:16 pm
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I have seen a few of these in my guitar store and on-line but I am not quite sure what they do.

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Posted: Sun Feb 08, 2009 4:24 pm
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To put it very simply, an overdrive pedal is used to increase the signal between the guitar and amplifier to the point where the sound distorts. Its kind of like turning the Gain on the amplifier right up and then some. This way you can get a crunchy distorted sound without ridiculous volume.

maybe someone else can explain it a bit better.

Next time you're in the shop, just ask if you can try one out and ask the guy (or girl) there to demo it for you. Also get them to show you a Distortion pedal. They all work and sound slightly different and its REALLY COOL FUN mucking around with them. :D


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Posted: Sun Feb 08, 2009 9:45 pm
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Try http://www.oldtonezone.com/distortionov ... -shootout/
The shootout lets you a/b listen to about 18 different OD pedals at various settings :)

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Posted: Mon Feb 09, 2009 10:41 am
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Overdrive is different than distortion. Overdrive pedal would simulate the crunch of tubes being hot from the volume of the amp being turned way up without having the neighbors bang on the walls.
Distortion would be like adding gain to your amp through the distortion channel.


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Posted: Mon Feb 09, 2009 12:30 pm
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Hello PeterP,

Thanks for the link.
That was a bit of fun.

Cheers.


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Post subject:
Posted: Mon Feb 09, 2009 12:49 pm
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Ya that fellow did a lot of work to put that page together.
He must have had a lot of fun testing them all out :D

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Posted: Mon Feb 09, 2009 1:17 pm
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It adds distortion to the sound and if you have it in a pedalboard with a flanger it will add richness to the flanger, if you know what that is. :wink:

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