Worst Distortion Pedals

[cgarges]

I've seriously been collecting some of the worst-sounding and/or oddest cheap distortion pedals I can find. A couple of my favorites have been donations from people and include the DOD Super Distortion and Grunge pedals. Another favorite is the Danelectro Sitar Swami. What really awful ones come to mind? I'm also willing to take more donations to the cause, if anyone needs to make some space...

Chris Garges
Charlotte, NC

[Jay Kahrs]

Back in the day I had a neon-pink DOD 'Thrash-Master' that was ummm...rather interesting...

[soundwarrior]

I once bought a boss metal zone. I sold it rather quickly. All I heard was fuzzy air when I tried to record with it. Tube amps all the way ever since. If you want to check out some high end pedals go to www.tonemerchants.com. I don't work for them or anything. They just have a lot of good gear.


Joey

[cgarges]

Originally Posted by soundwarrior

If you want to check out some high end pedals go to www.tonemerchants.com. I don't work for them or anything. They just have a lot of good gear.

I'm just interested in weird, cheap, awful-sounding crap, really. There's plenty of info on awesome boutique pedals.

Chris Garges
Charlotte, NC

[s00p3rm4n]

Originally Posted by cgarges

I'm just interested in weird, cheap, awful-sounding crap, really. There's plenty of info on awesome boutique pedals.

Chris Garges
Charlotte, NC

The DOD Grunge pedal has a wonderful balls distortion sound. I wouldn't call it "bad" by any stretch, it's just narrow in its range of uses. Jon Brion uses one at Largo every once in a while.

By that definition something like an Octavia would be "bad" - it's only got one sound and it's expensive as a new pair of boobs. But it gets the job done if that's the work you want to do, ya know?

I have a Boss Metal Zone and love it when the batteries die (which is rather quickly, I might add). I have a DOD "tube overdrive" or something like that that was about $20, and it does a good clipped-out fake-tube sound - just another cheap fruit in my little vine.

[DC11]

Any DOD overdrive or distortion pedal is in that catagory.

I think the best horrible-psychotic-who came up with this thing-make sounds you'd never think of till you heard it-pedal: Zvex's Fuzz Factory

They've got some of the more interesting pedals you can find. From incredible to WTF IS THAT NOISE

[De chromium cob]

This is definitely the worst....But in a GOOD, genital chewing way......

http://www.metasonix.com/TX1.htm

[DC11]

Wow, I want one just for that page.

[Mr Generic]

Guitar Center sold one called the "Roadkill" which is a nasty sounding piece of crap. Plus you can crush it by stepping on it, which isn't so good for a footpedal.

The DOD "Death Metal" pedal has so much gain, you can't even use it.

The DOD Gonkulator is a "grunge" overdrive (take a quick guess which decade this was) combined with a useless ring modulator- you can't adjust the oscillator frequency so it just makes the guitar sound like a vacuum cleaner. (Try a EH Frequency Analyzer or a Moog Ring Mod for the real deal).

The Sovtek Big Muff (80's issue, Olive Drab color)...has a "tone" knob that is more like a bandpass filter. You have to turn the knob to the 2/3 octave or so that you'll play while the pedal is switched on, otherwise it sounds like you're playing thru a telephone.

The new boss "Overdrive Modeler" is good for a laugh, if you can afford to toss it from the roof afterwards...

[el cochino]

I had an endorsement with DOD, and they made a pedal called "Death Metal" which totally sucked. The manual had diagram of "my settings" even though I've never used this pedal. I felt really sorry for a kid that came up to me after a show and told me he bought the pedal, because he likes my guitar sound.

[s00p3rm4n]

Originally Posted by el cochino

I had an endorsement with DOD, and they made a pedal called "Death Metal" which totally sucked. The manual had diagram of "my settings" even though I've never used this pedal. I felt really sorry for a kid that came up to me after a show and told me he bought the pedal, because he likes my guitar sound.

LOL That's wonderful.

At least it threw the inevitable imitators off the trail for a while, right?

[covert]

I generally find that if the words Metal or Turbo appear on the pedal, it will produce horrible noise.

[kevinc]

It`d be kind of cool to discretely dedicate an albums guitar sounds to $30 (and under) distortion pedals.

Could make for some cool tones when all blended together in crappy layers.

[Bob Ross]

My very first fuzz box circa 1974 was called the Gilsonite Fuzz. It was some OEM rip-off of a Big Muff Pi rebadged to be sold by the Gilsonite Music Company in suburban New York.

It had none of the sonic charm [sic] of a Big Muff Pi, only the same physical appearance. The sound was more akin to a reciprocating saw cutting through plywood, all synthetic buzz, no attack, no sustain, just a weird sputtering release. Imagine listening to the guitar intro to the Stones' "Satisfaction" played back through a 2" AM radio speaker. With holes in it. Underwater. Yeah, that's it.

If I could find one again I'd buy it in a heartbeat.

[doorknocker]

Originally Posted by DC11

I think the best horrible-psychotic-who came up with this thing-make sounds you'd never think of till you heard it-pedal: Zvex's Fuzz Factory
E

Yeah but the Fuzz Factory also delivers a GREAT 'straight' fuzz sound. A really great sound,a Fuzz factory and a AnalogMan DS-1 is all I need for my live distortion needs.

I wish I'd still have my first ever pedal that also happened to be the worst sounding fuzz I've ever heard: A Schaller wah/volume/fuzz-in one pedal.

I got a Danelectro 'Grilled Cheese' that sounds like a combination bewteen a broken wah stuck in the upper position and a cat in heat.

My fave 'what-was-that' distortion is the 'Insane' setting on the POD though. Big fun!

Andi

www.doorknocker.ch

[Marlowe]

Ross Distortion from the early eighties. Solid state crap ass.

[bongo]

Mosrite Fuzzrite


Look out they're making CLONES!

In Pennsylvania.

Maybe it's time to move.

[scotty-o]

I think the Guyatone Harmonic Distortion pedal sounds rather poopy. I don't think mine works properly, however...............
Oh well, go it for $10 bucks at a pawn shop.

-Scotty

[TAVD]

No such thing as a bad distortion pedal. Well, ok, maybe some DOD ones are useless. But some cheap ones that I hate to like are the Rick Gram women tone, Dano french toast and Dean Markley overlord. I have to respectfully disagree with Marlowe on the black Ross pedal. Mine sounded great and had all the makings of a number of boutique pedals with one or two component changes.

[sysexguy]

I love the ghost notes one gets doing any double stop bends on octave fuzzes. The Retroman wolftone is the best example (as would be a Foxx tone machine + all clones......I believe Danelectro does one on the cheap (FT))

Effector 13 makes crazy fuzzes that sound awful in a great way

lots of schematics, kits and stuff on the great www

garage sale stuff: heathkits, old projectors etc.

Andy

[Jay Kahrs]

I had a Metal Zone at one point, some kid left it at the old studio and never came back for it. Every once in a while someone would pull it out and mess around but I don't think it ever made it onto a track. Then one day when I actually wanted to use it on something it was gone, I guess someone swiped it from the pedal box.

Poor bastard

Who mentioned the DOD Gonkulator? That's a pretty insane pedal and I love mine for those times when I'm looking for something that's a cross between Vernon Reid & RD2D. The knobs have great names like 'Suck' & 'Heave' so how bad can it be? thumbsup

[Marlowe]

Mine is brown... I don't know if it's the same on the inside. I've seen other Ross pedals going for big bucks on eBay but I've never seen the Ross distortion get more than $40.

Originally Posted by TAVD

I have to respectfully disagree with Marlowe on the black Ross pedal. Mine sounded great and had all the makings of a number of boutique pedals with one or two component changes.

[zakco]

Another vote for the Boss Metal Zone.

Sounds small and fizzy like a swarm of angry bees. Tiny little bees and plenty of em'.

[kevinc]

Originally Posted by TAVD

Rick Gram women tone,.

That`s a rather odd name for a distortion box.

Is it supposed to be effeminite overdrive ?

Or is it just supposed to sound sexy ?

[David R.]

Sorry, I know it is not a pedal, but the worst distortion of all time award goes to the Roland Jazz Chorus.

At least, in my distorted opinion.

[TAVD]

Originally Posted by kevinc

That`s a rather odd name for a distortion box.

Is it supposed to be effeminite overdrive ?

Or is it just supposed to sound sexy ?

Seriously? Ever heard of Eric Clapton? The WT pedal is supposed to emulate the distortion you get when you dime a Fender champ amp or similar, as Clapton supposedly did on some recording. What was it, Layla sessions? Anyway he invented the woman tone sound.

[joeq]

Originally Posted by Bob Ross

My very first fuzz box circa 1974 was called the Gilsonite Fuzz. It was some OEM rip-off of a Big Muff Pi rebadged to be sold by the Gilsonite Music Company in suburban New York.

It had none of the sonic charm [sic] of a Big Muff Pi, only the same physical appearance. The sound was more akin to a reciprocating saw cutting through plywood, all synthetic buzz, no attack, no sustain, just a weird sputtering release. Imagine listening to the guitar intro to the Stones' "Satisfaction" played back through a 2" AM radio speaker. With holes in it. Underwater. Yeah, that's it.

If I could find one again I'd buy it in a heartbeat.

I remember those guys. They called everybody "my friend" in their thick accents, and no matter what you asked for, they would tell you that Ibanez was better.



That Agonizer pedal looks interesting, and I had no idea my momma was involved in its manufacturing process.

[kevinc]

Originally Posted by TAVD

Seriously? Ever heard of Eric Clapton? The WT pedal is supposed to emulate the distortion you get when you dime a Fender champ amp or similar, as Clapton supposedly did on some recording. What was it, Layla sessions? Anyway he invented the woman tone sound.

Thanks and sorry. I`d never heard that before though I`ve listened to and dug my share of Clapton.

Maybe if it was called "angry pissed off woman tone" it`d make more sense to me.

[Piper1021]

I remember some cheap pedals from the 80's - Orion Distortion, I think. They were only $29.99 back in the day when a Boss pedal (like the Metal Zone or Heavy Metal) would cost $75-$100. I don't think they make'em anymore, but I wouldn't have given you 5 bucks for one back then.

[Reverend]

For an old pedal I like my Jax Fuzz and for a new one I like my Danelectro French Toast.The fuzz on the Dano sucks but I like to use it as a special effect with the octive on chords sound great .
The Jax just sounds bad and buzzy with no sustain at all.But kinda cool sometimes.
Its fun to copy fuzz pedal schematics off the web and change different componets.You can get crazy sounds.Ive made a few pedals that way.
Rev. Royal