Where does overdrive go in a pedal chain?
The common starting point is: tuner → compressor → overdrive/distortion → modulation → delay → reverb. Drives go early so they shape your guitar's raw signal; time-based effects go late so their repeats stay clean. Rules are there to be broken — plenty of players love fuzz or drive after a wah or phaser.
Stacking overdrive pedals
Low gain into high gain
Many players run a lower-gain drive first to tighten and push a higher-gain pedal. Swap them and listen — neither order is "wrong".
Using overdrive as a boost
Gain low, level high: a four-knob drive becomes a clean-ish push into an already-breaking-up amp.
What is the best overdrive pedal?
It depends on your amp, guitar and style. The most useful answers come from owners — read what members say below, or ask about your own setup.
How to set up a guitar pedalboard
Plan the chain first
Lay pedals out in signal order before fixing anything down, keeping your most-stomped switches within reach.
Power and cables
Check each pedal's voltage and current needs, and keep patch cables short to reduce noise.
Overdrive discussions from members
No overdrive threads yet — be the first to start one.