Best Guitar Distortion Pedals: Top 5 Picks For Rock Guitarists

While considered an old design by many, the ProCo RAT 2 proves age is irrelevant when making the best distortion sounds. As the incarnation of the first ProCo RAT introduced in 1978, its tight clipping and aggressive sound remain the golden standard for distortion pedals today. It’s essentially half distortion and half fuzz, a distinctive and fascinating mix that made the stompbox stand out for decades. 

Looking at its tank-like chassis, the pedal is straightforward to operate. You get three dedicated knobs for Volume, Filter, and Distortion. Equipped with rubberized grips, these three knobs are the peak of user comfort. Turning the knobs is smooth as butter with glowing indicators for easy use despite low light conditions. The stompbox comes with a rubberized base for the most stable on-stage sessions. Most importantly, it functions as a distortion, fuzz, and overdrive pedal—practically everything you need in a single box.

Imagine having a single box with all your favorite sounds from the 1970s rock music in it. That’s what the JHS PackRat Multi-Mode distortion pedal offers. Under the hood, you’re not only getting two or three but nine flavors of delicious rodents in a single pedal. So, if you’re a RAT fan, this is a solid must-have.

On the box, you’ll get four dedicated controls on the PackRat: Volume, Distortion, Filter, and Mode. The Mode is where you’ll find the treasure trove of distortions. Beginning on the OG, you’ll have the White Face V3, Turbo V5, Brat V6, Dirty V7, LA, LandGraff MOD, Caroline Wave Cannon, and JHS Mode. More than a versatile pedal, you’re practically treading through decades of the colorful music history of the iconic RAT productions in one package! How cool is that?

Are you looking for a reliable dynamic audio grinder distortion stompbox? Look no further than EarthQuaker Devices Zoar pedal. Promising Hi-Fi modern distortions with medium-gain fuzz and overdrive tightness, it’s a more-than-worthy investment for your drop-tuned guitars and basses.

The Zoar comes in the familiar EarthQuaker Devices housing with a six-control setup. In the box, you get six knobs to control your tone’s Weight, Gain, Level, Bass, Mid, and Treble. The Gain and optimized 3-Band EQ controls provide you with nearly unlimited adjustments without compromising focus and sensitivity. But the real deal-maker here is the Zoar’s Weight control that handles the low-end. This function can give you everything from crispy fuzz and high-gain distortion to a clean boost and overdrive!

MXR’s entry for the high-gain category, the Super Badass, is an aptly named unit that is a league on its own. Offering sweeping distortion variations, it covers an expansive genre, from rock to metal and everything in between. With a robust three-band EQ, the pedal can effortlessly swing from growling overdrives to tight, metallic shrills.

The compact MXR stompbox comes with six knobs for the Output, Distortion, Bass, Mid, and Treble. Tweaking the Distortion and Output controls lets you pick between a clean boost and a sizzling roar of harmonically saturated tones. Topped with a highly customizable EQ, the Super Badass is your golden ticket to the glorious land of crunchy music.

Any discussion involving the best distortion pedals wouldn’t be complete without Boss DS-1. Finding its place on the pedalboard of Steve Vai and Kurt Cobain, the DS-1 is an undisputed king of dirty stompboxes. Featuring uncomplicated controls, the DS-1 has a three-knob setup for the Distortion, Level, and Tone. 

Despite its classic simplicity, there’s plenty of versatility packed in the compact orange chassis. The Tone control can push your highs, augment single coil pickups, or thicken your rhythm tones. The Level knob adjusts the volume to a decent loudness while the Distortion regulates your gains and sustains. Overall, the DS-1 is more than capable of handling any distorted music you throw at it like the champ it is.