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

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
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[@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

[@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

[@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

[@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

[@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

[@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

[@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?

[@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

[@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

[@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?

[@AdhamMGhaly]

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

[@oscarmadslien4853]

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

[@ScienceofLoud]

+Oscar Madslien glad I could assist

[@hhscadets0925]

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

[@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!!

[@PocketUnv]

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

[@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.

[@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.

[@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!

[@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!

[@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!

[@Alzahar_Negatheron]

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

[@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

[@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!

[@iFuzzyArts]

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

[@piratesting]

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

[@tyschuby]

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

[@radiojet1429]

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

[@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.

[@alexmort6119]

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

[@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!

[@dalepal]

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

[@LordKaos666]

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

[@MetalBaller83]

Thank you so much for doing these videos man, very helpful! Cheers!

[@LaloBajo6th]

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

[@nikolay-tsys]

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

[@aranvanderstarre]

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

[@jeffreymorreale7223]

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

[@mcp20366]

Excellent vid Colin. Well done.

[@matcarpes]

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

[@ScienceofLoud]

+Matheus Carpes thank you.

[@mikehancho7172]

Love the vid Colin! Keep going bro!

[@zerostarinc]

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

[@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!

[@tecnogadget2]

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

[@huffalmighty]

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

[@russ2796]

Really enjoyed this video, well done!

[@PolkovnicEagle8128]

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

[@Chasing_Thoughts]

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

[@jackwalsh6660]

Fantastic video, love how you included the schematic

[@dclarkmusic]

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

[@CWunderA]

Thank you! Such an amazingly clear and thorough reference!

[@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.

[@josephgiuffre5564]

Great video! Love your channel!

[@absoutezeo2126]

Very informative, comprehensive, and detailed video here.

[@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.

[@myminoxbeard3089]

You finally upgraded your sound/camera! amazing!

[@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!

[@Eflodur]

Straight to the point explanation! Great work!

[@rfdc]

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

[@fredrikolofsson1972]

Thanx alot Colin I really enjoy your videos :D

[@jakekrystal5724]

Great video dude! Makes a lot of sense

[@sazarod]

Great video, man!

[@user-db9kb9cn3h]

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

[@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

[@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

[@sailorgio]

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.

[@jturon9184]

Thanks Colin. Excellent info.

[@JoKerTheFirst]

very nice video mate!

[@Albee213]

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

[@ChrisMisery]

Great video and I love how the production has gotten a bit grander! Nice job dude and keep killin' it!

[@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.

[@veiga7658]

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

[@gatormouth337]

great video. Very informative. Thanks a lot.

[@jadeanderson9651]

This is great, I love this and you've got a new subscriber. I play bass, really new to it and this was very helpful to me.

[@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.

[@Suzumebachigr]

5:35 stopped video cause i had tears in my eyes....

[@RT060789]

Informative. I am on a mission to relearn guitar effects and you were very helpful. Thanks.

[@isaak8145]

very informative and interesting video, well done.

[@UnveiledShadows]

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

[@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.

[@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.

[@stalwartoak6345]

Such a good video!!

[@jfxberns]

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

[@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]

[@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....

[@Railbugman]

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

[@juicysuit]

Thank you! Those schematics and waveforms helped a lot.

[@luke_reiss]

Good job, Colin!!!

[@luke_reiss]

If you make a video comparing the signal headroom of digital pedalboards and analog overdrive and distortion pedals, please, let us know (something like headroom differences between simulated and real distortions, as well as dynamics differences). Most of them can be set to sound the same within a range of usable area on each parameter, but many times, this usable area is different, and one version goes further than the other depending on the features. Examples: virtual tube screamer vs. real tube screamer, virtual big muff vs real big muff, etc.

[@funkdefied1]

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

[@teunputker]

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

[@ScienceofLoud]

Thanks

[@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.

[@ejjamd9965]

Great video!

[@damien6685]

Saved this link so I can come back to it or send it to others. Spot on!

[@iggypopshot]

Excellent, excellent video

[@gasper47]

thanks man your videos are very educational

[@CristobalBragagnolo]

Thanks for the video mate

[@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!

[@ASJerrell]

This was a kick ass and entertaining video.

[@C0nnie]

Can't talk about fuzz without talking about Electric Wizard

[@beeveli]

and sleep

[@rich1051414]

That is honestly what you think of when you think of fuzz? No respect for you...

[@C0nnie]

Richard Smith I think of Tony Iommi but w/e

[@rich1051414]

Jimi hendrix?

[@spekenbonen72]

Yes, you can talk about fuzz without mentioning EW. Gotsa get paid by ZZtop has a terrific fuzz sound. Fu Manchu, also great fuzz sound. Monster Magnet (early works) have AWESOME fuzzelicious sound. Fuzz is the real distorion, the rest is just cheezy overdive... I'm glad that "gain" is not mentioned as a type of distortion though :) (not intended as a hostile post or anything)

[@ix-Xafra]

Great vid!!

[@nandor1964]

You make the best tutorials, info vids, and any other musical videos. You should be much more popular