1. MXR EVH5150 Overdrive: This pedal is based on the signature sound of Eddie Van Halen, who was known for his use of high-gain, screaming guitar solos. It features three-band EQ, gain, and volume controls, allowing you to dial in a wide range of distortion tones.
2. Boss DS-1 Distortion: This classic distortion pedal has been used by countless guitarists over the years, and it's known for its warm, saturated distortion. It has a simple control layout with gain, tone, and level knobs, making it easy to find the perfect sound.
3. ProCo Rat2 Distortion: Another popular distortion pedal, the Rat2 is known for its aggressive, mid-range focused distortion. It has a very distinct sound that can be used for a variety of genres, including hard rock and metal.
4. Ibanez Tube Screamer: This overdrive pedal is known for its smooth, creamy distortion and is often used to push tube amplifiers into overdrive. It can be used on its own or stacked with other pedals to create a variety of high-gain tones.
5. Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi: This classic fuzz pedal is known for its thick, saturated distortion and has been used by countless guitarists over the years. It has a wide range of sounds, from subtle overdrive to full-on fuzz, and it can be used to create a variety of rock and metal tones.
When using these pedals, it's important to experiment with the settings and combinations to find the sound that works best for you. You may also want to consider using other effects such as reverb, delay, and EQ to further shape your tone.