Grunge’s lyrical themes are complemented by a somewhat specific yet very diverse approach to composition. Of course, the genre is very guitar-centric and the guitar tone plays a huge role in sending the message across.
The distortion is usually raw, inspired by old-school 1970s metal, often with a slightly brighter twist. Most often, it’s a combination of distortion or overdrive pedals and tube-driven amps. This way, you’ll get some “bite” and even dynamic response when needed. Of course, there’s still some variety to grunge tones, so let’s take a closer look at some of the best distortion pedals for grunge.
Our Top Picks
- Boss DS-1 – An absolute classic that comes in handy for a plethora of genres. It’s a conventional hard-clipping distortion that’s far more versatile than its simple layout might suggest. When it comes to grunge, it’s useful to pair it with a tube-driven amplifier.
- ProCo RAT 2 – Another simple distortion pedal. This one tends to sound a bit harsher and fuzzier, but it’s just enough to help you get a more saturated grunge tone with a somewhat lo-fi twist when needed.
- Boss OS-2 – One of Boss’ most underrated gems. While this pedal isn’t as popular and widespread as the DS-1, it has one pretty interesting feature. Apart from the three basic controls, there’s also a “color” knob.
- Ibanez TS808DX – While I wouldn’t usually recommend an overdrive for grunge, this particular version of Ibanez’s classic Tube Screamer is something different with an additional boost option.
- Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi – Electro-Harmonix’s Big Muff Pi is an absolute classic. If you need a very simple solution to make your tone huge and overwhelming, Big Muff Pi is the pedal you want.
In the rest of this guide, I’ll first walk you through what to look for in a distortion pedal for grunge, then take a look at my top picks, before finally answering some frequently asked questions.
Contents
What to Look for in a Distortion Pedal for Grunge
Although “grunge” is a broad term, there are a few sonic specifics that appear in the genre. The tone is somewhat similar to old-school metal and proto-metal. It’s raw, it’s mostly mid- and high-end-focused, and there’s some fuzziness to the tone.
However, grunge also comes with a bit of a punk attitude in all of its aspects and that also goes for its tone. So you’re free to give a different twist to it. At the same time, it should “clear up” a little when you roll down the volume knob.
From my experience, the best thing for a proper grunge tone would be to use a distortion pedal in front of a tube-driven amp. The idea is to get that raw “organic” distorted tone while making it mids-heavy and slightly fuzzy.
It’s also possible to do it on solid-state amps although the tone may lack some much-needed warmth. Additionally, they’ll lack dynamic response which is also important for grunge unless they have a quality built-in digital modeler.
Although we all love simple solutions, it’s almost never the case with guitar tones. As you can see, it doesn’t just come down to distortion pedals — it’s a combination of different factors.
Nonetheless, a proper pedal will help you get that tone, especially if you’re playing through a tube amp. It’s best that the pedal is a conventional hard-clipping distortion and not something like a fuzz. It can also be an overdrive (smooth clipping) if you’re using a tube amp or if you just want it to sound clearer.
Other than that, I recommend pedals with simple controls and those that are more vintage-oriented. Also, avoid metal-focused distortion pedals as they’ll sound too harsh and “chugging” for grunge.
The Best Distortion Pedals for Grunge
1. Boss DS-1
Boss’ DS-1 is an absolute classic that comes in handy for a plethora of genres. It’s a conventional hard-clipping distortion that’s far more versatile than its simple layout might suggest. When it comes to grunge, it’s useful to pair it with a tube-driven amplifier.
DS-1 comes with a basic 3-knob layout, allowing you to control volume, tone, and distortion levels. However, the response of its distortion and tone allows for more elaborate tone-shaping.
For instance, the pedal’s overall tone is somewhat harsh, sometimes even borderline fuzzy. However, rolling back on the tone knob can help you smoothen things out.
The distortion level control can also help you create a milder and more “sparkling” twist to your tone. This is especially noticeable if you’re using single-coil pickups. It’s not one of those “buzzsaw” distortion pedals that make things too noisy. However, it can still make things sound pretty wild when needed.
There are also newer versions like DS-1W and DS-1X. But no matter which one you pick, they’re great for almost any genre and even respond nicely to your guitar’s controls.
2. ProCo RAT 2
ProCo RAT 2 is another simple distortion pedal. However, we have a different beast on our hands here. This one tends to sound a bit harsher and fuzzier, but it’s just enough to help you get a more saturated grunge tone with a somewhat lo-fi twist when needed.
Once again, we have a pedal with three controls. However, instead of the tone control, there’s so-called “filter.” Essentially, it does the same thing by altering the EQ curve. However, it has a slightly different response which, in return, gives this pedal a unique twist.
If you leave the filter knob to let all the high-ends through, you’ll be able to get a borderline fuzz kind of tone. You can also clear it up and get a more “sparkling” kind of tone but it’s still noticeably harsher compared to DS-1.
ProCo RAT 2 was common with some 1980s metal bands. So its tone will give a little bit of that twist to your grunge tone.
3. Boss OS-2
Now, the OS-2 is one of Boss’ most underrated gems. While this pedal isn’t as popular and widespread as DS-1, it has one pretty interesting feature. Apart from the three basic controls, there’s also a “color” knob.
Essentially, this control allows you to alter the pedal’s clipping type. In other words, you can choose between soft-clipping overdrive and hard-clipping distortion, and anything in between. So if DS-1 feels too harsh or fuzzy to you, then this is the pedal for you.
I owned this pedal for a while and it worked pretty great on both solid-state and tube-driven amps. It really helps you get that midrange-focused tone without getting too fuzzy or grainy. It’s also a great option for blues rock, hard rock, heavy metal, or even thrash metal.
Overall, it’s a super-versatile pedal. It can serve the same purpose as a Tube Screamer and it can also replicate DS-1. You can’t ever go wrong with it.
4. Ibanez TS808DX
While I wouldn’t usually recommend an overdrive for grunge, this particular version of Ibanez’s classic Tube Screamer is something different. Before we move on, bear in mind that I’d recommend this only if you’re playing a tube-driven amp, or at least if you’re looking for a smoother and bluesier type of tone.
The TS808DX version of the Tube Screamer brings an additional boost option. Apart from a footswitch that engages it, you can also dial in the level of the boost. This is a pure volume boost but it ultimately helps you push your tube amp further into distorted territories.
Additionally, there’s a switch that allows you to determine where the boost will occur. So you can choose whether it’s before or after the Tube Screamer circuit. Depending on the amp, guitar, and other gear that you’re using, this switch will affect the tone differently.
Nonetheless, the pedal adds its much-respected midrange boost, all while keeping things fairly smooth. In addition to that, the pedal also has an option to choose internal voltage. Switching between 9 and 18 volts can also make an impact on the tone.
Despite their overall simplicity, Tube Screamers are usually for advanced players. This is mostly due to their initial intention to push tube-driven amps over the edge.
5. Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi
Electro-Harmonix’s Big Muff Pi is an absolute classic. Although it’s often labeled as a fuzz, it’s hard to describe its tone. And although its controls are pretty simple, they’re not comparable to your usual distortion pedals.
For instance, the sustain knob is something between a drive level and sustain control. Meanwhile, the tone control also has its unique response. Nonetheless, it easily turns your guitar tone into a wooly monster, especially when paired with a tube-driven amp.
Its characteristics are somewhat psychedelic so there’s always that retro vibe. And although the tone is kind of scooped, it finds its use in grunge. If you need a very simple solution to make your tone huge and overwhelming, Big Muff Pi is the pedal you want.
There have been so many variants over the years and Electro-Harmonix still offers different versions. But in my opinion, nothing really beats the classic Big Muff Pi.
FAQs
How Do I Get a Grunge Sound?
Just as is the case with most genres, getting a grunge tone is a culmination of different elements. Your guitar, amplifier, pedals, and various other pieces of gear, as well as your playing technique, affect the tone.
Although grunge encompasses a wider variety of bands, the guitar tone within the genre is raw and usually mid-focused. British-style tube amps in combination with overdrives or classic distortion pedals are very common.
Meanwhile, the tone should be more or less dry, without many atmospheric and modulation effects unless the specific song requires it.
Do I Need a Distortion Pedal for Grunge?
This may not be a simple question to answer as it depends on the amp that you’re using. While a distortion pedal isn’t mandatory, it can not only help you shape your tone but also allow you to control dynamics within a song.
Apart from classic distortion pedals, an overdrive or a fuzz can also occasionally find their place in grunge. At the same time, there should be a focus on the midrange and preferably more room to play around with the dynamics.
Which Distortion Pedal Did Kurt Cobain Use?
Over the years, Kurt Cobain used a few different distortion pedals. He’s well-known for his use of Boss DS-1 which he later replaced with DS-2. Kurt also used a Big Muff Pi and it is believed that the pedal was used for Nirvana’s song “Lithium.”
ProCo RAT was also a part of his rig over the years. He recorded the “Nevermind” album with this distortion pedal.
Apart from these, Kurt was also seen using DOD FX69, Tech 21 Sansamp, MXR M104 Distortion+, and Univox Super-Fuzz.
Conclusion
Although grunge includes a wide variety of bands, each with their unique sound, the movement did share some common approaches to shaping the guitar tone. Any piece of gear that goes towards the late 1960s and the 1970s hard rock and early metal music will help you get there. But most importantly, grunge is also about finding your own voice. So no matter the amps, guitar, and pedals that you end up choosing, you should always try and find what helps you express yourself.