Guitar Question

**The Mask** · 12-03-2005, 03:01 PM

also, the difference between gain and distortion (i think) is that distortion is a compressed signal. so if you had a really high gain, and you played hard, it would distort. if you played softly, it wouldn't, or if it did it wouldn't be anywhere near as severe.

with distortion the signal is (probably) compressed as it goes in, and boosted up to the point where it will always distort no matter how hard you play.

so gain would be good for van halen type stuff, and distortion for like nirvana or whatever.

12-03-2005, 03:01 PM	#31
The Mask That Entenbrot, The Mask Posts: 56,852	also, the difference between gain and distortion (i think) is that distortion is a compressed signal. so if you had a really high gain, and you played hard, it would distort. if you played softly, it wouldn't, or if it did it wouldn't be anywhere near as severe. with distortion the signal is (probably) compressed as it goes in, and boosted up to the point where it will always distort no matter how hard you play. so gain would be good for van halen type stuff, and distortion for like nirvana or whatever.