Help with distortion and gain pedals

[kaiqueunder]

I'm facing two problems.

1. When connecting my Stratocaster (single coil) I was looking for a more transparent drive tone that I could get. I really liked the "heir apparent" but even with the gain at maximum, it seems that there is very little drive in the pedal. I think it could be something related to my input gain, does anyone know how I can adjust this? I only found the master volume of the pedalboard.

2. When connecting my Les Paul, all the distortion pedals, even at maximum, also sound as if they can't reach a very high gain, and the distortions sound extremely digital or strange.

[silverhead]

Check your Global Settings -> Ins/Outs and make sure the Guitar In Pad is off.

 

You could also try changing your Vol block to the Gain model to add a boost.

[kaiqueunder]

On 3/22/2025 at 10:41 AM, silverhead said:

Check your Global Settings -> Ins/Outs and make sure the Guitar In Pad is off.

 

You could also try changing your Vol block to the Gain model to add a boost.

The pad is already disabled. Where would this volume change due to gain be that you mentioned?

[grdGo33]

On 3/21/2025 at 8:00 PM, kaiqueunder said:

I'm facing two problems.

1. When connecting my Stratocaster (single coil) I was looking for a more transparent drive tone that I could get. I really liked the "heir apparent" but even with the gain at maximum, it seems that there is very little drive in the pedal. I think it could be something related to my input gain, does anyone know how I can adjust this? I only found the master volume of the pedalboard.

2. When connecting my Les Paul, all the distortion pedals, even at maximum, also sound as if they can't reach a very high gain, and the distortions sound extremely digital or strange.

Two things:

1) Think it's just the nature of distortion.  There's the 3 main types, overdrive, distortion and fuzz.  But for OD & Distortion, even within a type, there are different types of sounds, which respond again differently.   So the Heir for instance isn't designed to sound like a metal zone..

 

Ex;

Quote

https://www.perplexity.ai/

There are several popular types of distortion pedals, each with its own unique characteristics and tonal qualities:

•  ProCo RAT: The RAT is a classic distortion pedal known for its versatile sound, ranging from light overdrive to heavy distortion. It features a hard-clipping circuit that produces an aggressive edge and has been used by many famous guitaristsKlon 
• Centaur: Although not strictly a distortion pedal, the Klon Centaur is a legendary overdrive pedal known for its transparent boost and subtle coloration. It's highly sought after and has inspired many clones due to its unique sound.
• Boss DS-1: Introduced in 1978, the DS-1 is one of the best-selling distortion pedals of all time. It uses hard-clipping diodes for an aggressive edge and is known for its gritty, warm tone
• MXR Distortion+: Released in 1974, this pedal has been used by a wide range of artists across various genres. It's known for its simple design and ability to produce everything from light overdrive to heavy distortion
• Ibanez Tube Screamer: While primarily an overdrive pedal, the Tube Screamer is often used to push tube amplifiers into distortion. It's known for its mid-range boost and smooth clipping characteristics
• Metal Zone: The Boss MT-2 Metal Zone is designed specifically for high-gain metal tones, featuring a powerful equalizer section for shaping the distortion.

These pedals represent different approaches to distortion, from the more subtle overdrive of the Tube Screamer to the extreme fuzz of the Big Muff, allowing guitarists to find the perfect distortion for their style and sound.

 

2) Two, for the 'high gain', again, I think it's the nature of distortion, what would you precisely define as 'gain' ?  Imho, gain refers more to volume, but gain when sitting in front of an amp results in more distortion, given the amp is hit harder.  But 'gain' on a clean amp wouldn't do much in terms of distortion.

 

So I'm again guessing that it's not the Go or the Go's distortion pedals which sound off or don't work just right, might be more a case of misconceptions of gain/distortion/pedals in general.

 

Remember that most guitarists see 'gain'/distortion as a combination of pedal gain/distortion + amp gain/distortion.  Hell, lets leave AI to answer again!  :D 

 

Quote

Gain, boost, and distortion are related but distinct concepts in guitar pedals:

• Gain: Gain refers to the amount of amplification applied to the input signal in a pedal or amplifier's preamp stage . It controls how hard the preamp is driven, which can lead to distortion when pushed beyond a certain threshold. Gain is often associated with the amount of distortion in your tone, regardless of the overall volume

• Boost: A boost pedal primarily increases the volume of your guitar signal without intentionally altering its character. It amplifies the signal cleanly, without adding distortion. However, when used with a tube amplifier, a boost can push the amp into natural overdrive by increasing the input signal beyond the amp's headroom

• Distortion: Distortion occurs when a signal is amplified beyond the capability of a circuit to reproduce it accurately, resulting in a compressed and altered waveform . While gain can lead to distortion, dedicated distortion pedals use specific circuitry to clip the waveform intentionally, creating a more aggressive and sustained distorted sound

     The key differences are:

• • Gain is a broader concept that relates to signal amplification and can lead to various tonal changes, including distortion when pushed hard enough.

  • Boost primarily increases signal level without intentionally altering tone.

  • Distortion intentionally alters the waveform to create a specific type of tonal coloration.

   In practice, these concepts often overlap. For example, many overdrive pedals combine gain and boost functions, allowing you to increase both the distortion and volume of your signal. Understanding these distinctions can help guitarists achieve their desired tones more effectively through pedal selection and signal chain arrangement.