Cook Your Own Distortion

Description: In the late 1960s, the first distortion effect boxes were developed to replicate the sound of razored cones and overdriven amplifiers. Today, most amplifiers feature a distortion control, yet distortion effects remain popular. This discussion will focus on the methods of creating distortion with effect boxes. Terms such as overdrive, distortion, fuzz, and crunch are often used to describe the type of distortion produced by an amplifier or effect. Overdrive produces a natural and smooth sound, while distortion is characterized by a rougher quality. Fuzz generates a metallic and coarse distortion that transforms a guitar's sound into a fuzzy texture. Crunch is not a specific type of distortion but refers to mild overdrive or distortion, resembling the sound of breakfast cereals combined with a guitar tone. It is important to note that these terms may not apply universally; for instance, Craig Anderton categorizes nearly all his distortions as "fuzz," regardless of whether they are distortion, overdrive, or fuzz effects. For example, Anderton's Tube-sound Fuzz is essentially an overdrive unit. The ultimate distortion or overdrive sound is achieved through overdriven tubes, producing a smooth, singing tone that cannot be perfectly replicated, despite the availability of numerous "tube-sound distortions." While most distortion effects utilize solid-state circuitry, including transistors, operational amplifiers, and diodes, a few commercial tube overdrive effects are available, such as the Red Hot Chili Peppers' Tubester and the PAiA Stack In a Box Kit.

The most common types of distortion effects include overdriven transistors, which operate at the peak of their amplification range to generate a harsh, distorted tone. Fuzzboxes typically employ overdriven transistors, with various designs resembling the Fuzz Face. Different transistors produce distinct distortion characteristics; silicon transistors yield a harsh, metallic sound, while germanium transistors offer a smoother tone, as seen in the original Fuzz Face from the late sixties. Unipolar transistors, such as JFETs and MOSFETs, provide a softer, more tube-like sound.

Another prevalent method of creating distortion involves two diodes connected to ground in opposite directions, which clip the peaks of the signal to generate distortion. Examples of this approach can be found in the MXR Distortion+ and ProCo Rat, typically utilizing silicon diodes. This technique often produces a sound that is more akin to overdrive than "hard" clipping distortions. Additionally, two diodes may be placed in the feedback path of an operational amplifier or transistor, which rounds out the signal peaks, yielding a softer tone reminiscent of tube amplification. The Ibanez TubeScreamer is a notable example of this method.

Various other methods for generating distortion exist, such as zener diode clipping and CMOS inverters, both of which are commonly employed to achieve tube-like tones. AMZ's Tube-like distortion utilizes zener diode clipping in the feedback path, while CMOS inverters, typically CD4049s, are featured in designs like the MXR Hot Tubes distortion and Craig Anderton's Tube-sound fuzz. Operational amplifiers are among the most frequently used components in distortion effect design. A basic understanding of op-amps is beneficial for designing distortion effects.Later in the sixties, the first distortion effect boxes were made to simulate the sound of razored cones and overdriven amps. Now, most amps have a distortion control, but distortion effects are still popular. Now we`re going to discuss the methods of creating distortion with effect boxes. When talking about distortion, you can usually hear the words overdrive, distortion, fuzz and crunch.

They are words describing the type of distortion an amp or an effect gives out. Overdrive is a natural and smooth sound, while a distortion is more rough. Fuzz is a metallic and very rough type of distortion that turns the sound of a guitar into a fuzzy sound. Crunch is not a specific type of distortion, but mild overdrive or distortion. Crunch has a sound that resembles the sound of breakfast cereals crunching combined to a guitar sound (I don`t mean snap, cracle and pop =).

These don`t apply to all effects on the market, for example Craig Anderton calls almost all of his distortions "fuzz", no matter if it`s a distortion, overdrive or fuzz. For example Craig Anderton`s Tube-sound Fuzz is actually an overdrive unit. The ultimate distortion/overdrive comes from tubes which are overdriven so that it creates a smooth singing sound.

Nothing can mimic tubes, although there are a million different "tube-sound distortions" available, they just can`t make the real sound of tubes (there are pretty good ones though). Usually distortion effects use solid state circuitry like transistors, opamps and diodes, but there are a few commercial tube overdrive effects available (like the Red Hot Chili`s Tubester or PAiA Stack In a Box Kit).

Here are the most common distortion effect types: Just like overdriving tubes, transistors are being overdriven by setting them to run at the top of the amplification range. This creates nasty, distorted tone. Usually fuzzboxes use overdriven transistors. Check out different Fuzz Face -like designs to see what I mean. Different types of transistors distort differently. Silicon transistors make a nasty, metallic sound. Germanium transistors have a little smoother sound. Germaniums were used in the late sixties on the original Fuzz Face, for example. Unipolar transistors, such as jfets and mosfets have a softer, more tube-like tone. This is a very common way to create distortion. Two diodes shunt to ground the opposite way around will cut away the peaks of the signal and thus, create distortion.

Check out MXR Distortion+ and ProCo Rat to see what I mean. Usually made with silicon diodes. Another very common method. This creates more overdrive-like sound than "hard" clipping distortions. Two diodes are connected on the feedback-path of an opamp or a transistor. This rounds out the peaks of the signal "softer" and provides a little tube-like tone. Ibanez TubeScreamer uses this method. There are also different methods for creating distortion. To mention a few, there are zener diode clipping and CMOS inverters. Both are commonly used for tube-like tones. AMZ `s Tube-like distortion uses zener diode clipping on the feedback path. CMOS inverters (CD4049`s, usually) are used in designs such as MXR Hot Tubes distortion and Craig Anderton`s Tube-sound fuzz. Opamps (or operational amplifiers) are probably the most common component in creating distortion. To know a few opamp basics won`t hurt you when designing distortion effects. If you`re a know-it-all DIY effect guru, you can skip this subtitle, since you probably already know all we`re discussing here.

The differental is a very rare (I`ve never seen one) in