Let's Break Up

They way you make the guitar signal "break-up" or distort is an essential part of playing electric guitar. There are a million ways to do it, and each one does varied things to the overall sound. One method may not be the only way to go. There may be occasions for a guitarist to use

The pre-amp distortion guy: distorting the amps pre-amp tubes by pushing driving the pre-amp section into distortion. This is achieved by pushing a large amount of signal (or volume) to the pre-amplification stage of the amplifier, and than typically limiting the overall volume sent to the power amplifier by using either a master volume control or a gain channel (essentially a on off button for gain and master volume control). Pre-amp distortion is typically thick and milky. This usually works well enough, but it is so very 80's and 90's.

Power-amp distortion dude/chick: distorting the power amp tubes by running a large amount of signal through the power-amp tubes. This can be very loud and is best accommodated on low-wattage amplifiers or with a device which decrease the output of the amplifier, or a power brick. This can be a loud menacing set-up in which the slightest mention of turning your amplifier down pisses you off.

Pedal distortion folk: This person enjoys the sound of a little tiny box full of solid state circuits clipping. There are a myriad of pedals which create lots of different sounds. Some of them work really well. If you want to have a lot of different sounds this is a good way to go. There are: muffs, rats, shredders, screamers, factories, and so much more. Most of them pretty much sound the same, like a big ball of fuzz. However, recently a few companies have started creating more realistic asymmetrical distortion sounds. This is starting to become a rather solid way to go.

The Digital Modeling Geek: Start off by connecting the throbbing alternating current running out of the veins of your guitar into a circuit which turns it into the binary information that is digital audio, than that digital audio is run through a computer which modifies the sound based upon previous calculations and measurements of the previous methods of breaking up the guitar. Then the signal is converted back into the throbbing alternating current and sent to either a line level signal out (straight to the PA) or to an Amplifier level signal (straight to some speakers). This technology has advanced very quickly in the last few years, and improves every day. The Fractal Audio System Axe-FX sounds awesome, but at $1,999.95 it is difficult to justify buying that when you can buy an set-up which probably does just what you want for half the price.

Post Amp Distortion: Some guitarists (especially in the 60's) used to distort their sound after the amplifier. You can distort a compressor/limiter or pre-amp in the signal of the microphone on the guitar amp/cabinet, or you could do what Dave Davies of the kinks did by cutting the speakers in your amplifier or cabinet up with a razor blade. These can be used with other methods as well to create a unique and often retro sound.