What it does
The pedal has two ways of being used. It can create a distorted tone of its own, or it can be run as a boost for higher-gain rhythm and solo tones.1
A point Fender emphasized at launch is how the pedal responds to the guitar: "it's responsive enough that a guitar's volume control can be adjusted to the exact amount of distortion desired, from aggressive crunch to full-on saturation."1 In practice that means rolling the guitar's volume knob back cleans up the amount of distortion, and opening it up pushes the pedal into heavier saturation, without touching the pedal itself.
"The Fender Distortion pedal drives tube or solid-state amps into thick distortion and singing sustain."
The Competition Series announcement covered the pedal alongside other Fender pedals of the same release, and the same description appeared in coverage from Guitar Interactive Magazine.3
Fender distortion pedals
The Fender Distortion is one of several distortion pedals in the maker's range. Others include the Fender Pugilist Distortion, the Fender Full Moon Distortion, the Fender MTG Tube Distortion, the Fender MTG: LA Tube Distortion, the Fender Trapper, the Fender Hammertone Metal and the Fender Godzilla Distortion3.
Questions
Can the Fender Distortion be used as a boost?
Yes. Along with producing a distorted tone of its own, the pedal can be run as a boost to push higher-gain rhythm and solo tones, according to the press coverage that accompanied its release. It is also responsive enough that a guitar's volume control can be used to dial in the exact amount of distortion desired, from aggressive crunch to full-on saturation.
What kind of amps does the Fender Distortion work with?
Fender's own description, as reported at the pedal's release, says the pedal drives tube or solid-state amps into thick distortion and singing sustain, so it is intended to work with either type of amplifier.
Sources (3)
- Guitar Pedal News: Fender Competition Series Pedals, Delicious Audio, 2013-01-08
- Fender Introduces Competition Series Effect Pedals, Guitar World, 2013-01-07
- Fender Releases Competition Series Effects Pedals, Guitar Interactive Magazine, 2013-01-08
