Some of the most misused terms in music are gain and overdrive. While it would seem that these terms are one in the same, they definitely have differences in what situations you would use them in and what they actually do to your sound.
Many guitar players are confused about what the distinctions are between gain, overdrive, and even distortion. If you’re one of those people, then you might be relieved to know that you’re not alone in that confusion.
Simply put, overdrive mimics a tube amp that has been pushed to it’s limits. And gain is the amount of amplification you want to apply to your output signal.
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What Is Gain on an Amp?
The so-called “Gain” on a guitar amp is one of the most important factors in determining how the amp will be used.
This is almost like using the volume control because when you turn up your amplifier Gain, it makes your amp louder.
It produces more distortion to replicate an overdriven sound but is not quite as loud or distorted as turning up the volume would do.
There are many other factors that determine how an amp will sound – including tone and distortion settings – but it goes beyond the scope of this article.
What Is an Overdrive Pedal?
The sound of overdrive can be heard when a tube amp is pushed to its limits. It’s hard to get this sound from a normal amp, so many players use the stompbox effects pedal for that added volume and crunch.
An overdrive pedal produces a warm sound without coloring the tone of your instrument. This means that an overdrive pedal will give you a more clear tone with louder volume. If you’re into blues, rock, and metal music then an overdrive pedal is a great choice.
Have you ever heard a guitarist sound like they were playing through an amp that was cranked up all the way?
Well, this is probably because they were using an overdrive pedal. Overdrive pedals can add distortion to your tone without being too crunchy or fuzzy.
What Is the Difference Between Volume and Gain?
There is a lot of confusion between gain and volume, especially when trying to choose the right amp. The term “gain” is used to describe the increase in volume when your amp increases the power of its signal.
The gain of an amp can be controlled by adjusting its volume or gain knob. Volume, on the other hand, refers to how loud it already is before you make any adjustments it.
What is the Best Guitar Amp for Gain?
Guitarists know that the tone and volume of their guitar amp is one of the most important factors in creating a good sound. However, there are many other factors you need to consider as well when deciding which amp to purchase.
If you are looking for a high-quality amp with excellent gain, then there is no better choice than the Fender Champion 20.
This brand has been considered one of the best choices by guitarists and it’s easy to see why using this product will help you achieve great results in terms of tone control and musicality. And it also has some nice gain to it as well.
- Shape your sound with the EQ section (Bass plus Treble) as well as dial in lush effects such as digital reverbs, chorus, vibratone and delay.
- Jam along with your favorite tracks by simply plugging your MP3 player into the Auxiliary input and you instantly become part of the band and /or practice privately with the 1/8th headphone output jack that also mutes the speaker output.
- With a turn of a knob, choose from clean to mean tones from the 17 various amp models that will to accommodate almost any genre of music.
- Store extra cables or other small accessories with the open back cabinet. Voltage: 230 Volts EUR
- Enjoy the peace of mind that this amp is backed by Fender’s 5 Year Transferable Warranty.
Last update on 2025-01-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
What Is the Best Overdrive Pedal?
Guitarists have a lot of choices when it comes to overdrive pedals. However, not all of them are created equal.
If you’re looking for an overdrive pedal that’s built like a tank and sounds amazing, we recommend the Boss Super Overdrive SD-1 Pedal.
This is one of the most popular and highest-rated pedals on the market today.
It’s a great choice for people who are just starting out with guitar and want to buy their first overdrive pedal or for more experienced guitar players who already know their stuff.
The Boss Super Overdrive pedal is super easy to figure out and is extremely affordable.
- Overdrive Pedal f Electric Guitar
- Legendary BOSS overdrive pedal with genre-defining sound and feel
- Stacks well with boost, overdrive, and distortion pedals
- Unique asymmetrical clipping circuit produces tube-like overdrive characteristics
Last update on 2025-01-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Overdrive vs Distortion
Guitar players often wonder about the difference between overdrive and distortion pedals. Both are used to “push” a guitar amp into producing more gain, but they produce very different sounds.
Overdrive is created by mixing pre-amplified guitar signals (at or near their maximum level) with a guitar tone that has been amplified at less than maximum levels in order to achieve a desired amount of distortion.
Distortion is simply overdriven amplifier tubes being pushed past their limits. This can be done by using an overdrive pedal or pushing the tubes in your amplifier.
