FAR BEYOND DRIVEN
FEW COMBINATIONS OF words seem to please guitarists as much as “more gain.” For some, that might just mean an overdrive set low and used almost as a boost to subtly kiss their amp’s front end. For others it can embody a whole new universe of soft or hard clipping, brimming with new opportunities for sustain and saturation. Since the invention of the Gibson Maestro FZ-1 Fuzz-Tone in 1962 and the Arbiter Fuzz Face in 1966 — and then the consequent arrival of Boss, MXR and Electro-Harmonix in the early Seventies — tone has become something of a personal quest for every player, using the right pedals and amps to best capture the magic in their hands.
As we all know, a good amp won’t. Overdrives can work like an extra channel, which is especially handy for low-gain single-channel combos, or as an EQ shift to help your leads cut through when performing with a live band. And for those hoping for something a little more radical, certain drives can drastically change the tone of what you’re playing through — to the point where you’re not just getting another channel, you’re getting a whole new amp. Here’s a closer look at eight of our favorite overdrive pedals around today.
