The 7 worlds of distortion, overdrive and clipping...

[frans]

The question is a bit broad. You could look on youtube for a lot of examples from stompboxes, the CultureVulture, Fucifier, etc.etc.

[MarkyGoldstein]

I see, I know..

I've started a research sheet with example sound & video files!

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/...nk2a3VIaE9Jb0E

Anybody is invited to bring up interesting examples.

[frans]

The sound not only depends on what kind of distortion but also on how much %%% there is in the sound. Like, how much milk and sugar in your coffee. An italian espresso with two spoons will be different from a sucky latte from a third grade vendor like Starbucks - not just in intensity and 'bean', but also in many other ways.
To name a few, mostly simplified:

2nd harmonic distortion: tubes, if done right, transistors, if done with low gain/low feedback
3rd harmonic distortion : transformers past their linear transfer curve
clipping : clipping...what? Clipping is when the signal exceeds the available voltage and transfer curve of the topology, it could be anything
AD converter cliping : see 'clipping'
mixing desk distortion : as many as there are different topologies of output line amps in the world : see 'clipping'
Sansamp : a fuzzbox with a mix knob
Compressor Distortion : which? VAC, FET, opto, vari Mu... or the transformers in the chain?
Overdriving the 1176 : input attentuator interaction with the gear feeding it, FET/depending on time constant, line amp, output transformer, ...
Overdriving the LA-2A : input transformer, tube stages, vactrol, interstage transformer, tubes, output transformer..