Overdrive vs Distortion vs Fuzz: What's The Difference?

[@ScienceofLoud]

We all know that Overdrive, Distortion, and Fuzz effects make our guitars sound great, but what makes them different from one another? Join Colin as he talks headroom, clipping, and sound wave destruction! #overdrive #distortion #fuzz Gain access to exclusive content at: www.patreon.com/csguitars Buy CSGuitars Merchandise - www.csguitars.co.uk/store Website - www.csguitars.co.uk Contact - [e-mail] Affiliate Links: Thomann - www.thomann.de/gb/index.html?offid=1&affid=367 Sweetwater - imp.i114863.net/2mGGg CSGuitars uses: LEWITT Microphones - www.lewitt-audio.com/ Hoffnine Cabinets - www.hoffnine.co.uk/ Hosa Cables - hosatech.com/ Dragon's Heart Guitar Picks - www.dragonsheartguitarpicks.com/ Title graphics and logo by: www.studiosmithdesign.co.uk/ Join the discussion at: Facebook - facebook.com/csguitars Instagram - instagram.com/csguitars/ Twitter -twitter.com/CSG_Scotland

[@bennettmusiclabs9382]

Distortion sounds like Chunka Chunka Fuzz sounds like BSZZT BSZZT Overdrive sounds like the clean note.. but with hair around it.

[@ChrisLeeW00]

Thanks, that really helps.

[@nickritcher4583]

Best comment

[@senza4591]

**PERFECT**

[@DIYTFY]

With pubes around it.

[@kevinr.3542]

so basically: Clean is like a fully shaven cock. Overdrive has some manicured pubes. Distortion is a fully overgrown man bush. And Fuzz is like a redhead with short curly pubes

[@actuallyasriel]

"In both these cases, careful design of the circuits and tone-shaping elements is made to ensure that the resulting overdrive or distortion is tasteful, natural, and high-quality. ...And then there's fuzz." Best segue of the century.

[@spark300c]

well there is careful design of circuits for fuzz too get nice taste sound out of it. with fuzz you want synth like sound. in my mind distortion sound worst at high gain because models distortion of a transformer. so it goes even father than fuzz in terms of distortion. fuzz stop as square wave. distortion goes to point the wave form is very narrow spike.

[@actuallyasriel]

spark300c Yeye I love fuzz~ I just thought the segue was funny

[@cameronlawrence5728]

@@actuallyasriel I replayed it several times because I was laughing. IDK how it just struck me funny

[@RobertBakerGuitar]

Yep it's official you make the best videos ...EVER!

[@ScienceofLoud]

+Robert Baker hey, I'm not the one with huge online music websites sharing my links. I've got some way to go yet.

[@onpsxmember]

he came a long way and improved a lot. Don't forget what is all behind doing a good video.

[@acefrehley681]

They should start making quadruple Humbuckers.

[@tomislavsekerija1957TN]

clep clep :D

[@DaNgErDaVe1994]

there already is. just put 2 twinblades together. i've seen it done before

[@AdhamMGhaly]

As a guitarist AND an engineer, I really, reaaalllyy, reeeeaaaallllyyyy enjoyed this video. Thank you.

[@GuyNamedSean]

I absolutely love fuzz. That lo-fi punk rock grit is my jam. Plus, I play bass and a little fuzz goes a long way when getting a good bass tone.

[@hairychris444]

IMO Best thing to do is run a wet/dry signal when using fuzz on bass so that you don't lose the bottom end (a problem with a lot of gain pedals). Then again I'm an idiot and run a RAT, 2 fuzz pedals and 2 delays in my wet chain.... The RAT is savage - recommended! Tube Screamers also sound great but as they shelve the low end a dry signal is vital. Most bass-specific gain pedals have a wet/dry mix built in which is handy if you're using them, but a lot of the more "interesting" pedals don't. FWIW a lot of metal bands use a bit of extra dirt on bass. My lot are kinda Melvins-influenced so I can use some pretty extreme gain in a few instances.

[@nicholastotoro7721]

GuyNamedSean Fuzz is my absolute guilty pleasure. I seem to actually rarely use it in a tune, but always jam or noodle with my Fulltone Octafuzz when we're taking a break... such and intoxicating pedal... the tone, the attack, everything.

[@jonarzuaga4465]

Nice profile pic man

[@figjam9530]

well yeah, fuzz on a bass sounds great. on a guitar it sounds like the guitar is being suffocated with a pillow. ain't nobody got time for dat.

[@Skelterbane69]

When looking for bass fuzzes, always look for some sort of blend knob

[@RoachDoggJr2112]

Here's how I see it- Overdrive will get you Iron Man Distortion will get you Master of Puppets and Fuzz will get you Dopesmoker

[@jacktowers7533]

The MountianDude the green Russian muff reissue literally has the words "Follow the smoke toward the riff filled land" embroidered on the circuit board

[@tylerjohnson7971]

@@jacktowers7533 If that's true, I'm selling all of my pedals for it lol

[@jacktowers7533]

@@tylerjohnson7971 don't need to sell any gear it's like $80usd, however I use it in a distortion chain, feeding it into the EHX Hot Wax boosting the fuzzed signal and adding some extra filth

[@NickyHendriks]

Agreed, although when you say fuzz the first thing that comes to my mind is Empress Rising. And yeah, go get the Russian Green Muff, that's a beast on both guitar and bass! Of all the pedals I have it's my favourite!

[@brushot]

I like to think it like Overdrive gives you AC/DC Distortion gives you any metalcore/metal band since the 90s Fuzz gives you the west like/ country like riffs IDK

[@nukeboy14]

You know someone is a metalhead when you see how hyped they get when the word "distortion" is mentioned :D

[@tk4x431]

Yes yes yes!

[@PeterIovine]

000-000-0000 (Repeat 405839 times)

[@certifiedpossum8655]

010010-01010-0110-0000 (Repeat infinitely)

[@VocasoGK]

What about Metal Zone?

[@ajrockel3838]

Why do you think I clicked on the video?

[@UdiIsReal]

it is so nice to finally find someone properly explaining the difference with some electrical background as well. this video inspired me to make one of my own on the same topic analyzing these effects on an oscilloscope (when i get the time). thank you my dude!

[@danielhumphrey5231]

Did you ever make this video?

[@DasOmen02]

"AND THEN THERE'S FUZZ"

[@wiggledixbubsy98]

Does he dislike fuzz or something?

[@pmAdministrator]

@@wiggledixbubsy98 You don't?

[@wiggledixbubsy98]

@@pmAdministrator I do not. I love fuzz

[@lean_jordan]

LOL'd on that 😂

[@jxomxo]

I absolutely love fuzz to death but damn is it chaotic lmao

[@hhscadets0925]

1:17 "Bastardization of a sound wave" This might be my favorite definition for distortion yet!

[@alfierussell8210]

This so useful, not only does it explain the differences very well, it goes into the science of wavelenghts behind it and what happens inside the amp. Keep it up dude.

[@InfinityEnterprises]

I'd just like to add this minor point-a part that you seemed to overlook is that, as the peaks of the fundamental tone reach a brick wall, the rest of the harmonics of a note continue to increase in relative intensity, which is largely what creates the sound we call distortion.

[@gtrsuite]

Oh.

[@MrG0CE]

THAT JUST HAPPENS WITH OVERDRIVE AND MORE OR LESS FUZZ, BUT NO WITH DISTORTION, CHECK THIS OUT: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nZublIdtjKp6o9E

[@isodoubIet]

@@MrG0CE It happens with distortion too. It happens with any distortion-like effect. That said, the DS-1 in that video works very differently from what Colin described.

[@allenomak]

Yes, but no. The harmonics are the side effect of clipping. If the fundamental tone was not clipped, it would not produce any harmonics. If you somehow filter out the harmonics of your clipped fundamental tone, you will end up with the original tone workout any clipping (and reduced gain)

[@nikfish1]

Mind blown

[@electriclordzoffuzzfx5858]

Thank you for this very informative video. Corrosion of Conformity many moons ago introduced me to the beauty of Fuzz...and Geezer lead me to bass. I just subscribed to your channel. Greetings from the Bay Area, Nor-CaL....

[@AndriyVasylenko]

Thanks! And how would you classify a crunch sound?

[@rashadchoudhury4018]

Andriy Vasylenko a warm, classic rock style crunch is definitely an overdrive in my opinion, or maybe a light distortion

[@DJ-vg1pr]

Fuzz, my man.

[@Josev-TV]

lol I came to say its distortion but then saw the other comments and made question myself

[@oldmategio]

A hot overdrive sound, full of mids, but still balanced, something that sounds crispy like you are eating cereals

[@swissarmyknight4306]

I'd say its old terminology that is a touch imprecise. I've heard it used to refer to overdrive and fuzz both, but usually in a bluesy/classic rock setting.

[@VSPhotfries]

Scottish Egoraptor is better at guitars than Merican Egoraptor is at games. Also thanks for the informative vid, man!

[@genejas]

TheRev also Scottish version is less fat

[@VSPhotfries]

aeneas6899 .Poteeto Potato Now that's just mean. And true.

[@MrJennety]

TheRev Now I cannot unsee it

[@nitrobw1]

I see more James Franco than Egoraptor

[@zeoalexo]

whered you get egoraptor from

[@koencornelissen1979]

I really like how this channel is growing! he's also making the videos become harder to resist when I scroll through my subs. great job making the videos better and interesting in a entertaining way to watch!!

[@matcarpes]

Amazing video, man! Really impressed by the amount of work you put here!

[@ScienceofLoud]

+Matheus Carpes thank you.

[@harleycurnow5242]

it would be cool to run the signal through an oscilloscope. I'd like to see how other effects such as reverb and s phaser change the sound

[@benzene1637]

This is the BEST explanation of the differences. It really helps to show those wave diagrams and you make it very entertaining! Great job!

[@Masetheguitarman]

This channel is so good. Keep it up man, you're answering questions that a lot of other music channels don't even bother with.

[@veiga7658]

This guy is pure entertainment for guitar lovers. Great job man

[@huffalmighty]

I appreciate you showing how the circuitry works. That’s pretty helpful as an EE major playing guitar

[@Dan-sx9gl]

This is so simple and clear to understand! I’ve been on a journey to have a more comprehensive understanding of how guitar gear works. Your videos have been crucial!

[@PocketUnv]

Hands down the best tutorial I've seen on the subject! Thank you so much for including the schematics of each effect!

[@funkdefied1]

Wild. I always thought that fuzz was the least distorted, and overdrive was the most. Interesting thanks for the insights.

[@Albee213]

I love how fuzz sounds, I never thought of it sounding like a tube about that's about to fail, but it does.

[@erniesfo2022]

Colin has done the best explanation of the difference between overdrive/distortion/fuzz that I have ever seen or heard. Whenever someone asks me about the subject I just point them to this video. Thanks again [A self-taught audiophile]

[@oscarmadslien4853]

probably gonna be buried but this is EXACTLY what I needed for my electronics coursework!

[@ScienceofLoud]

+Oscar Madslien glad I could assist

[@Deeplycloseted435]

Excellent explanation! I don’t even play guitar.....I’m a synthesizer person and use a shit ton of these pedals. We like the bass pedals because they can handle the low end a synth puts out, and often come with a mix knob.

[@mike1967sam]

Hey Collin, my name's Mike and I've been watching your videos/reviews for a couple of years now...I'd say about 2 and a half years and I've noticed a significant improvement in the work your doing, the videos got better, became more interesting, the topics are much broader and cover a wider range of ideas. The questions and thoughts we all have in this complicated age where Plug and Play is hardly ever the personal preference or option of any guitarist...we have all this gear to deal with which brings hang ups and problems sometimes and it seems you're doing a really good job to help us all out in answering these same questions. Good job. Cheers. Mike.

[@Ryan_Perrin]

Thanks for showing the circuit diagrams!

[@tharii314]

Love the way you explaining it nicely. I smashed the subscribe though I'm not a passionate guitarist, but an enthusiast about audio technologies.

[@Whiplash9000]

EE here, did a project SPICE simulating and building these circuits. You can get distortion in the feedback loop of the op amp if you use a diode with a stupidly sharp IV curve (to, you know, clip harder). Blue LEDs were quite something. Also! The germanium and silicon discussion is the same thing for the clipping diodes! Softer vs harder clipping, respectively. Love your videos!

[@jammerman0101]

i'm 61 American playing on and off since I was 13 but never really got that much of an education in pedals starting out with an old stereo as an amp and an old French fuzz box as THE effects pedal lol it's nice to travel around the world to your accent zone which adds a lot of color to the education and your damn smart about it ,carry on lad

[@ashleyness683]

I just built a pedalboard for my ukulele and vocals. I’m running the Boss Blues Driver and a Canyon Delay (pretty sure you had a review of that one that I watched right after I got it) in the uke chain and Behringer Graphic EQ and Compressor, plus TC HOF mini reverb and Ditto on the vocal chain. I also tried the Fuzz Face with the uke and really liked that sound, but figured one distortion effect was enough to start with. Thanks for the great videos!

[@LazyCat010]

One is never enough. Fuzz into drive is a wonderful sound!

[@brucek3030]

Appreciate that you don't endlessly ramble in your videos in one take. Clearly, you have thought about what you are going to say, written out your comments, use useful edits, and deliver the information in a concise and meaningful manner. Subscribed.

[@omsingharjit]

5:19 what makes this sound possible if we compare to acoustic guitar

[@WilburTrapRepository]

You always put just the right amount of nerd in your explanations that it really sinks in for me. Cheers!

[@Chasing_Thoughts]

I finally subbed.. there's much content and value on this channel

[@CaptPostmod]

I've watched (and read) many different explanations of this topic over my 20 years of guitar playing. Your explanation here is one of the best! You very clearly and intelligently explain exactly what's going on and what it means with some nice demos. Great job!

[@zerostarinc]

Awesome info, brudda. Love the micro dark in the back

[@jfxberns]

Finally an intelligent overview of the three genres that both gives a moderately technical explanation paired with good examples of the genres. Huzzah.

[@jimmymarchisotto8152]

Great info Colin, I've been playing for over 33 years. I'm glad to say I'm learning things from your videos and I cannot thank you enough! I'm subscribed and checking out all your instructional videos. Thank you again my friend! Cheers!

[@teunputker]

Your tone and playing were awesome in this video, truely great.

[@ScienceofLoud]

Thanks

[@jornvallis8051]

Videos like this are exactly what I need more of in my life. Been playing guitar for 17 years, still don't know that much about gear.

[@undertakerrick]

Thank you for offering the explanations for all the things you do. It really helps to know what all these electronic devices we use are actually doing. I have been able to improve my rig's setup with the knowledge I have gained watching your videos. I use a pedalboard with 19 different pedals and a looper/switch to organize it all as well as plugging into a stack (head and cabinet) as well as a combo amp for a stereo sound. My setup has always been fairly complicated. I plug my effects into a carl martin octaswitch but because it only has 8 loops I have to combine so one loop has my OD, Dist, Fuzz, and metal pedal and another loop has all my Modulation pedals. I use the effects loop on my noise gate because it is always on and put my EQ and volume booster in that loop so the EQ is always on and when I want a volume boost I just turn my booster pedal on. I have to change settings and what pedals are off or on before every song when on stage and it gets complicated. I am trying to simplify but still have all the elements to my tone that I have come to rely on. Your videos are helping me with this. Thank you.

[@SmithIllusions]

Great information as always! Excellent job hitting the main points and ideas without getting overly technical. I'm liking that Plexitroll a lot. I've had one on my board for the last several months and I think it's there to stay.

[@PANICBLADE]

I got me a Blackout Musket which is like a vintage Russian Muff but with a preboost inside of it as well as a mid control to tame or deepen the mid scoop associated with Muffs and a focus knob that lets it go from sloppy and boomy to razor sharp. It can get a little into soft clipping and hard clipping territories, but is mainly a smooth square wave machine.

[@ScienceofLoud]

That's a proper tooled up fuzz

[@justinmartin4024]

I've been watching your videos for a while now, and I feel I've learned a majority of what I know about gear from you, pedal chains, distortion v overdrive, gear history etc. Thank you for making such awesome videos!

[@tecnogadget2]

Hey! i just wanted to tell you that im glad that your videos are now so well produced! Nice room :)

[@reddoggie100]

Thx for the info. Learned about u thru GuitCon. I just learned more about what’s actually happening w these differences in the past 10 mins from u than I have in the last 10 yrs. lol!

[@nosir.7676]

Hell Yea! New Video! You got me way more educated on guitar gear than I previously was and its oh so very helpful :D

[@abe423]

holy fuck dude. ive been watching your vids before i even had a youtube account. And the quality has increased tenfold! goodjob man! keep the great videos coming!

[@jacobsaldana9661]

Do a video about chorus pedals

[@wulfila99]

Jacob Saldana Yes please

[@CallxMexLos]

i'd like that vid

[@frankystrings]

Chorus is a detuner. A Soundwave gets duplicated but slightly off key and off time to seem as if there is more than one

[@MeatyController]

He finally did today! Hazaaaa!

[@doomerius1300]

Frank White detuner and delay, sort of

[@tsiakkiros]

Amazing vid dude, learned lots of stuff about waveform clipping. The video really helps to understand the difference between Overdrive/Distortion/Fuzz. I have a 6-slot Behringer case/pedalboard with 6 pedals. MultiFX (flanger, chorus, phaser, delay, tremolo, pitch shifter), GrapicEQ, PowerOverdrive, HeavyDistortion, VintageTubeOverdrive and SuperFuzz and i always struggle to explain their difference to non-guitar friends. I bought the Fuzz just for fun, and i almost never use it, but it's fun. Surely, the Compressor/Sustainer would be have been much more useful, but less fun.

[@MelloDeeBeats]

Great vid

[@lostlatinlover]

So glad you make these videos about effects. I don't feel so dumb when checking out or buying gear at my local music stores. Many Thanks!

[@tyschuby]

Once again Colin this was a wealth of information. Thank you again!

[@Alzahar_Negatheron]

great video! you answered my questions about pedals better than anyone else I've found, AND explained them so much better!

[@irrelevantfish1978]

This is one of the best explanations of the differences between the three "gain effect" types, though I think it's important to mention that there are multiple electronic ways to skin all three of these cats. For example, many overdrive circuits use transistors instead of soft-clipping diodes (in fact, transistors emulate overdriven valves more accurately). There are also distortions that rely on overdriven opamps instead of hard-clipping diodes, fuzzes that use CMOS timing chips instead of discrete transistors, and a myriad of "hybrid" circuits that mix-and-match some of these elements in from different classes of circuits (eg, using transistors instead of opamps to feed diode-clippers).

[@Mistertbones]

"In both of these cases, careful design of the circuit and tone shaping elements to ensure that the overdrive or distortion is tasteful, natural, and high quality... and then there's fuzz." Favorite part of the video.

[@mctwishvonnoodles9793]

6:22 I've *never* seen anyone run the tone that high on a Muff

[@jxomxo]

I play on a Muff and very high tone almost always makes it sound like shite

[@cursedcliff7562]

Cliff is rolling in his grave

[@piratesting]

You have such a good way of explaining the information in all of your videos. I subscribed. Thanks for all the great info.

[@w.rustylane5650]

When I started playing guitar in the 60's I had a Fuzz Tone pedal. It was great and I wish I still had it.

[@mcp20366]

Excellent vid Colin. Well done.

[@myminoxbeard3089]

You finally upgraded your sound/camera! amazing!

[@Ernthir]

Excellent video. I love that first riff. I don't know if that is from a song or if it's just improv but I love that dramatic sound. Also cool anecdote about the kinks I didn't know that.

[@rfdc]

Really excellent idea to put the schematics in your explanation! Thumbs up for that!

[@iFuzzyArts]

Great Video! Really helped understand the difference in sound and the wave diagrams were very helpful!

[@dclarkmusic]

Good to know! It's amazing how understanding why something works helps you know how to use it better!

[@brotherterrence]

My God I love guitar science cleaning up all the rumors and misconceptions. Super vid bro!

[@LaloBajo6th]

Thanks! Great explanation on the theory behind distortion and awesome presentation on each different sound. Finally understand the difference.

[@rydersonthestorm7175]

Can you do a video explaining all guitar effects in terms of the manipulation of the wave signal? That visual makes so much more sense to me than alternative ways of explanation. You the man

[@Railbugman]

That's the best explanation for effects I have seen.

[@dalepal]

Excellent video with a very clear explanation along with demonstrations of the differences with pedals.

[@juicysuit]

Thank you! Those schematics and waveforms helped a lot.

[@absoutezeo2126]

Very informative, comprehensive, and detailed video here.

[@vacuumelite2065]

@5:42 "....created to emulate this broken-ness." Splendid language !

[@spencercowan8862]

Do a video about flange pedals. I've always wondered what exactly it does to the sound waves.

[@ScienceofLoud]

It's on the list. It's quite a list though. I'll get around to it eventually.

[@dereks6636]

into to the cradle will rock by vanhalan

[@TheCrimsonIdol987]

Barracuda by Heart uses a flange as well.

[@Nomad_za]

You really simplified that to the point where anyone can understand that! Well done! I love this video! I sadly can't be a patron. I am jobless at the moment. The pedals I have are Ibanes Smash Box, MXR Dime Distortion and an EHX Metal Muff. For all other effects I use Guitar Rig 5.

[@nikolay-tsys]

Thanks man!really nice exploration, and demo. Cheers!

[@russ2796]

Really enjoyed this video, well done!

[@LordKaos666]

Great video! Love the Op Amps diagrams....that clarifies everything :D

[@SufyMusic]

thanks for good explanation

[@patrickpark1686]

Oh no way, I have that Dinosaurs! Poster too. Great videos, keep it up. Good seeing you around Pedalboards of Doom

[@effiemars_]

That's it, buddy. You just gained yourself a new suscriber

[@radiojet1429]

Thanks, Colin. Very simply. some of the best explanations of guitar and amplification topics one could find. Great stuff.

[@alexmort6119]

You never cease to amaze me! High quality content every time! Love it!

[@mrsmiley9772]

The full size Fuzz Face red pedal (the Hendrix version) is my favorite pedal. Sounds like QOTSA

[@Eflodur]

Straight to the point explanation! Great work!

[@user-db9kb9cn3h]

Thank you Collin for the awesome video! Dat fuzz though is awesome!

[@mikehancho7172]

Love the vid Colin! Keep going bro!

[@shibaos]

Beginner question alert: what chord/movable form is that at 3:17, like whats the fingering?

[@MarkDally]

Great video. Over time, these 3 words have become a bit blurred. There's some very heavy overdrives, and fuzzes like the Big Muff, that sound compressed that they are often marketed as Distortion. Some Overdrives are so clipped that they're virtually Fuzz. Marketing, and experimenting often cause confusion, but this sets the record straight.

[@aranvanderstarre]

dude, great video! Clear explanation and nice playing! :-)

[@PolkovnicEagle8128]

Hey Colin, really raising the bar with this video. Keep it up ;-)

[@alexcr5276]

I screamed like a little girl when I saw a Little Big Muff like mine :') awesome video

[@jackwalsh6660]

Fantastic video, love how you included the schematic

[@UnveiledShadows]

Precisely what I needed; I just didn't know I did. Thanks a frick ton! :D