This page is not intended to be a thorough and deep analysis of each of these pedals, but might help you get a overall view of what different pedals sound like in the same environment with the same input sample. The samples are recorded straight through a Line6 Pod XT, so no amplifiers, microphones or studios were used. Therefore, the samples will not give the best achievable sounds that can be achieved from each of these pedals, but since all are in the exactly same environment a comparison can be made.

The recording equipment and method as evolved during the few years of the pedalarea existence, thus not all pedals are recorded in an equal way. Some pedals only contain one sample which was recorded with different input samples, so straight comparison is not quite justified, but I have left these samples since they might give some vague impression of the sound the pedal offers. The newer comparisons are made by playing these four samples with different settings through the pedals are trying to explore the different soundscapes these pedals offer. The volume levels might vary slightly from sample to sample, since exact adjustments of the volume levels is very hard with the tools used.

This Overdrive pedal was one of the first commercial overdrives paving the way for a plethora of other overdrives following it. It is based on a operational amp stage with asymetric clipping, thus adding distortion but retaining the original sound. The first versions used a 14-pin Reticon opamp, which was soon changed to 8-pin 4558 opamps from several different manufacturers.

One of the most frequently used overdrive pedals. Good sound for a low price. The older units are produced in Japan, the newer ones in Taiwan. More information and a comparison of different version and modifications can be found in the article section

Very smooth and transparent sounding overdrive with versatile controls - Sweet sound ranging from crystal clean boosting to sweet singing, fullbodied overdrive.

Very dynamic, very cool! There's four different versions out there, please check the OCD article for more detailed info.

Japan made stomp boxes since 1998, nice sounding unit at an affordable price. This overdrive actually sounds surprisingly close to the black label Boss OD-1!

Very nice overdrive pedal from the mid-eighties Ibanez Master series. Made in Japan. Contains two JRC4558D chips (the sought after chip of the original TS-808 Tube Screamers). Soundwise slightly heavier than the regular tube screamers and more versatile with an added control for "Bite" (mid-range EQ).

Excellent tube screamer from 1986-1993. Smooth and fullbodied sound, great for that SRV sound. Was made in Japan until around the end of the 80's, later in Taiwan. The Japan versions contain the sought after JRC4558D chip as used in many of the original TS808 Tube Screamers in the late 70's.

Real Tube Overdrive, Concept & Design by B.K.Butler, Made in USA. Dynamic and strong sound. Uses one 12AX7 (or similar) tube.

The Jekyll & Hyde pedal combines an overdrive and distortion pedal into one unit, offering a broad and versatile spectrum of gain from mild boosting to heavily compressed distortion.

Smooth and silky overdrive with dry/wet signal blending for increased definition, one of the sweetest sounding overdrives out there.

Sweet sounding, transparent and very articulate overdrive. Does not affect the overall tonality of the guitar too much. High quality design.