Guitar Pedals & Effects

How To Get Distortion Without a Pedal: The Complete Guide

By · 13 min read

acoustic guitar | Sandy Music Lab

Distortion is one of the most fundamental concepts in guitar playing. It’s what makes your sound “grungy” and gives it that sweet, thick crunch — it’s excellent for solos because it adds a nice texture to your tone. However, sometimes you may not feel like spending money on a distortion pedal or may not find an open power outlet.

Here are some of the ways you can get distortion without a pedal:

  1. Use a tube amp.
  2. Turn on your amp’s overdrive channel.
  3. Turn the gain to 10.
  4. Use a low-wattage amp.
  5. Use a vintage amp.
  6. Use the bridge pickup setting.
  7. Play with palm muting.
  8. Turn the volume dial to the maximum.
  9. Use a Tube Screamer.
  10. Try out different EQ settings.
  11. Use an amp with built-in distortion.
  12. Use heavier strings.

Read on for a more in-depth look at each method listed above. Find out about some of the best equipment to use to add distortion without a pedal.

Related: how to WAH and how to use a loop pedal with an acoustic guitar.

If you want to find out what my recommended guitar gear is, then here is what I recommend on Amazon:

1. Use a Tube Amp

This is one of the most powerful, crucial tips to getting distortion without a pedal: use a tube amp.

Tube amps have a naturally “overdriven” sound that you can’t get from a solid-state amplifier. By using an overdrive channel on your amp and turning up the volume knob, you’ll almost immediately begin to hear distortion come through your speakers. Not sure a tube amp is worth the cost? See are tube amps worth it today.

For instance, if you were playing a classic rock song with three power chords per bar at an average volume level of 4-5, cranking up the volume knob to 10 would give those same power chords the necessary amount of thickness and grit for metal or hard rock songs. Our guitar amp settings guide shows how much gain and mids to use for rock.

If you’re looking for a tube amp that can help you distort the sound, you may come across several options.

However, the following tube amps (available on Amazon.com) often stand out due to their impressive capabilities when it comes to distortion:

Orange Rocker 15

If you’re looking for a tube amp to use, the Orange Rocker 15 is one of the best low-wattage amps to try out.

It has an extremely warm sound that’s perfect for jazz and blues, but it also works well when you turn up the distortion channel and use a lot of power chords or simple riffs.

Even with the gain set at 10, the Rocker 15 won’t get extremely dirty — it still has an excellent clean sound.

This tube amp is an excellent choice for those who want to limit how much space their amp takes up without sacrificing too much on sound quality.

EVH 5150III LBXII

The EVH 5150III is one of the best tube amps out there for guitarists who love blues and classic rock but want to get heavy when they need to.

It’s capable of producing a lot of distortion without being excessively noisy.

The amp also has good auditory feedback, so you won’t have to worry about not hearing what you’re playing too well.

Revv G20

The Revv G20 is one of the best tube amps for heavy metal guitarists looking for an affordable alternative to other similar amps.

It has a responsive distortion channel complete with shimmers, effects, and tones that mimic other amps.

Turning the gain up to 10 on the Revv G20 will give you an excellent, thick sound that’s perfect for crushing solos or power chord rhythms.

2. Turn On Your Amp’s Overdrive Channel

This is a great way to add some grit and distortion to your tone without using a pedal. There are two ways to go about this:

  • You can turn up the overdrive channel on your amplifier’s clean channel.
  • You can use the overdrive channel of your amp’s distorted channel (the distorted channel will sound much better most of the time).

If you want to switch between overdrive channels with a footswitch, many amps come with one built-in. If not, you can always purchase a third-party footswitch or even rig one up with a killswitch and some alligator clips!

3. Turn the Gain to 10

Many amplifiers have an input gain knob that determines how much ‘input’ power is needed before beginning amplification. Turning it up will give you maximum power (and maximum distortion).

For amps with multiple overdrive channels, turning the gain up will usually make the pre-driven channel much more distorted than if you were to turn it down. This can be very helpful if you want a light overdrive rather than full power.

4. Use a Low-Wattage Amp

If you’re looking for some dirty power but don’t want to spend your money on an overpriced tube amp head, don’t worry!

You actually might find that lower-wattage amps are better for metal and other kinds of hard rock music, as they tend to have thicker lows, crisper highs, and better compression than high-wattage amps.

Higher wattage amps may offer increased volume levels and a broader soundstage, but you might find that they don’t have the in-your-face tone that makes distortion so desirable.

There are several low-wattage amps on the market.

Because of that, it may not be easy to pick one if you’re a beginner — but don’t worry! Here are some low-wattage amps worth trying out to get the best distortion.

Most Versatile: Fender Blues Junior IV

The Fender Blues Junior IV is one of the most popular amps for metal players because it offers excellent power without being too pricey.

It has three channels with independent volume controls, allowing you to switch between clean, crunch, and full-powered modes even if they’re all at different volume levels.

This model also features a built-in compressor that can smooth out your tone when playing chords or single notes by reducing the volume of any higher frequencies.

Budget Option: Orange Crush 12 1×6″

One of the cheapest tube amps on the market today, this little guy has enough power for small gigs but not much else. It won’t be loud enough for anything larger than a small house party!

This is a great starter amp for players who want to get the most out of the tube sound without spending a lot of money.

Premium Option: Dr. Z Z Wreck 112

Another very popular tube head, the Dr. Z amps are known for their incredibly bright tone that cuts through any mix. 

One of its most remarkable features is an adjustable compression feature that limits your signal if you’re playing loud. This can be great if you play with a lot of palm muting or other aggressive techniques because it will prevent your notes from overloading and sounding muddy.

5. Use a Vintage Amp

There’s definitely something special about old tube amps. Whether it’s their classic look or raw power, there’s just no way to improve on them! Guitarists from all genres and backgrounds love vintage amplifiers for their distinctively dirty feel and nostalgic appeal.

If you’re tired of modern amps with digital effects and want a truly unique, vintage sound, then a vintage amp may be your best choice. And if you don’t have hundreds of dollars laying around, then buying a vintage amp might be a better option in the short run, as their resale value is typically lower than that of modern amplifiers.

Also, with vintage amps, you don’t have to worry about replacing a fried power tube. They just keep on going, no matter how old they are. With that in mind, it’s worth investing in a good quality amp cover for when your amp isn’t in use; otherwise, you may end up with an expensive paperweight!

6. Use the Bridge Pickup Setting

Although not every guitar has a “bridge pickup,” if your guitar does have one, it’s usually used for heavier riffs and playing styles. This may include power chords, palm muting, and other metal techniques.

If you want to add some extra crunch to music played with power chords or palm-muted open strings without going full-on metal, switching to the bridge pickup setting will give you a good start!