Are there examples of guitar distortion before Ike Turner?

Yes, there are examples of guitar distortion before Ike Turner. One notable example is the work of electric blues guitarist Elmore James. James’ signature guitar sound, sometimes referred to as “slide distortion”, was characterized by a raw and overdriven sound that produced a distorted and fuzzy tone. He accomplished this by using a slide to fret his guitar and by playing through an amplifier that was turned up to a very high volume. Another early example of guitar distortion is the work of blues guitarist Robert Johnson. Johnson’s recordings, made in the 1930s, featured a distinctive distorted sound that was created by the use of a slide and a bottleneck, as well as by playing through an amplifier with limited headroom.