Finding the best cheap overdrive pedal doesn’t mean sacrificing tone or quality. We’ve rounded up budget-friendly options that deliver impressive grit and warmth, perfect for enhancing your guitar sound without breaking the bank.
Under $50 | Under $50 Product Image | Product Title | *GEARANK | **Sources | Check Prices |
 | 90 | 3525+ | |||
 | 89 | 225+ |
Under $100 | Under $100 Product Image | Product Title | *GEARANK | **Sources | Check Prices |
 | 94 | 5075+ | |||
 | 95 | 2900+ | |||
 | 94 | 3700+ |
*Gearank = Rating score out of 100.
**Sources = Number of gear owner and user opinions analyzed for these product Gearank Ratings.
Research Process: How Gearank Works
Overdrive pedals act as an additional gain stage between your guitar and the input stage of your amplifier. It’ functions like an additional tube for adding grit and character to your sound.
They are a sweeter kind of distortion pedal, which employs more subtle forms of clipping. They add that sweet, harmonically rich saturation that can take your playing style up to the next level.
Some circuits, like the often imitated and duplicated Tube Screamer, have a slight bass cut and mid boost that makes your overdrive tone cut through a dense mix. These types of overdrive pedals are perfect for Blues and Rock.
Other overdrive pedals are used to achieve modern high gain sounds, plugged in front of a high gain amp. They kicked off a high gain revolution during the late 90s and early 2000s when people started using Tube Screamers in front of roaring Peavey 5150/6505 or Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier amplifiers to achieve new levels of articulation. This opened up genres like technical metal and progressive metal.
Key Considerations
Price Range: We’ve got you covered whether you’re looking for pedals under $50 or willing to stretch your budget up to $100.
Controls: Overdrive pedals typically come with knobs for adjusting gain, tone, and volume. Understanding these controls will help you fine-tune your sound.
Ease of Use: Some pedals are plug-and-play, while others require tweaking. Consider your comfort level with adjusting settings.
For more details, check out the Things To Consider section. If you’re looking for other types of pedals, check out The Best Guitar Pedals: Eleven Essential Effects. Lastly, if you need to learn more about Overdrive vs Distortion, click here.
Best Cheap Overdrive Pedals Under $50
Behringer TO800
A great value overdrive guitar pedal for those who want the classic tube screamer circuit without breaking the bank.
At publication time, this was the best cheap overdrive pedal under $50.
Pros:
- Distinct TS midrange hump great for blues
- Surprisingly quiet pedal
- Affordable
- Flimsy enclosure
- Battery compartment hard to open without tools
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The Behringer TO800 is what is now commonly referred to in the pedal community as a YATS or “Yet Another Tube Screamer”. However, the TO800 may predate the term since it was released in the early 2000’s when boutique pedal makers were few and far between.
Aside from homemade clones of the TS circuit, the TO800 was the most accessible Tube Screamer style pedal in terms of affordability back then (at least in my neck of the woods).
Similar to the original medium gain overdrive, the TO800 has just 3 controls: Drive, Tone and Level. Drive can range from a nice boost with a mid-bump and lean low end (perfect for boosting a high gain amp), to a warm sounding vintage lead sound all the way.
It won’t be doing heavier styles on its own, but a TS style pedal is a go-to for a lot of high gain metal as a tone-shaping boost pedal to tighten up the low frequencies.
It’s interesting how a circuit designed to replicate vintage tones is also responsible for some of the heaviest, most crushing metal tones. For metalheads-in-training, the TO800 is still a great value pedal for tightening up amplifiers. The circuitry and components are surprisingly quiet compared to early DIY Tube Screamer clones I had back in the day.
- Controls: Drive, Tone, Level
- Analog
- Buffered Bypass
- 9-Volt Adapter/Battery
TC Electronic Cinders
An affordable Blues Driver alternative, with a more compact form factor. Cinders accurately describe it’s warm, but not overly hot overdrive flavor.
Pros:
- Great “BD” guitar tone on a budget
- All-metal enclosure
- Slightly warmer tone reflects the BOSS Waza version
- Footswitch reliability is a common problem with TC Electronics pedals
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The TC Electronic Cinders is a spin off a familiar blue pedal from BOSS known for its clear sounding breakup characteristic. Compared to the mid hump of TS-based designs, the “BD” inspired sound of the TC Electronic Cinders helps achieve a more “glassy” tone for single coils without over-accentuating the icepick trebles.
It has a basic set of controls for Tone, Drive and Volume and that’s all it needs. The rest is up to your guitar. I found the tone to be slightly warmer than the BOSS BD-1 when I tried it (expect an extended review later), but over all very similar once you nudge the TC Electronic Cinders’ tone knob to 1 o’clock. It’s around here that the two pedals sound nearly 1:1.
The interesting thing is, BOSS’ own Waza version of the BD-1 sounds a bit warmer than the stock BD-1. Those that have plinkier sounding strats or teles that want a bit of that Waza warmth will be at home with the Cinders.
One con I might have to note is the footswitch. I don’t know how long it will hold up but from previous experience with TC Electronic pedals, it’s usually the first part to go.
Looking for a BD type overdrive on a budget? Check out the TC Electronic Cinders.
- Controls: Tone, Drive, Volume
- Analog
- True Bypass
- 9-Volt Adapter/Battery
Best Overdrive Pedals Under $100
Boss SD-1 Super Overdrive
A budget friendly overdrive guitar pedal that works well with tube amps. Get the Boss SD-1 if you’re looking for a reliable way to push your amp to great sounding overdrive.
Pros:
- Adds muscle to vintage amplifiers
- Good standalone drive tone for blues and indie
- Rugged Boss housing
- Controls might be too simple for tweaking
- Noise floor higher than many boutique offerings
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The earliest experience I have of the Boss SD-1 was when my guitar teacher was playing through his Marshall stack. I was amazed at the sheer volume and gain from his JCM 800 back then.
Then he tells me “If you liked that, then check this out!” as he takes out a small yellow pedal from a cabinet and sets it up. When he kicked it on, I was beyond floored at the thick, angry sounding tone from his already roaring JCM.
That’s when I tried to get my own SD-1 and when I tried it, I was disappointed. Not because of the pedal but I realized that he wasn’t using the SD-1’s gain to achieve that tone. He was using it to push the JCM’s preamp harder. I regrettably sold my first SD-1 because I didn’t know better but I found myself wanting to try one again now that I have a tube amp with me.
Unique Boss SD-1 Super Overdrive
Compared to many boutique offerings today that are more or less variations of the TS style circuit, the SD-1 by Boss is its own animal. As a light overdrive going into a clean amp, it has slightly less midrange hump versus Tube Screamer type pedals with a bit more grit. For those looking for a standalone overdrive pedal, the SD-1 is a good choice.
As with my experience, it shines the best when paired with a good Marshall amplifier or any “British” flavored tone. Even practice amps get a good kick from it.
One con of the SD-1 that more expensive pedals address is the noise floor. It isn’t distracting or unusable but it’s the only reason why more expensive pedals have an edge over it. It also lacks the versatility of many boutique pedals that offer controls for many parameters.
Still, if simplicity and long-term durability along with affordability are your priorities, the SD-1 is a perennial favorite that is sure to floor you (and your tube amp) the way it did when I first heard it on that JCM.
- Controls: Level, Tone, Drive
- Analog
- Buffered Bypass
- 9-Volt Adapter/Battery
- Used by: The Edge, Jonny Greenwood, Steve Vai, Zakk Wylde, John 5
Boss BD-2 Blues Driver
An overdrive pedal that gives you vintage tube amp tones and articulation with minimal tweaking. Perfect for blues, rock, and similar styles.
At publication time this was the Highest Rated Overdrive Pedal Under $100.
Pros:
- Vintage style tube overdrive tone
- Great articulation and detail, even at higher gain settings
- Great sound with different amp types.
- Not a boost type overdrive
- Limited controls.
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The aim of the Boss BD-2 Blues Driver is to replicate the bluesy overdriven tone of a vintage tube amplifier, packed in a stompbox. And it does the job pretty well if you look at its many favorable ratings and reviews.
I love its overdriven tone, which is smooth and sweet, without the harshness that other overdrives seem to add. Even with its simple 3-knob interface, it is a versatile dirt pedal, from slightly overdriven tones to maxed-out gain. And it does all this with incredible articulation, reproducing the nuances of your playing.
While there aren’t any complaints about its performance, there are some who feel that the pedal is a bit too bright sounding for their taste.
This pedal is also a favorite among “modders”, who tweak the components and circuitry of the pedal to their preference, some of these modded versions have even made their way into the pedalboards of famous guitarists.
- Controls: Level, Tone, Gain
- Analog
- Hardwire Bypass
- 9-Volt Adapter/Battery
- Billy Joe Armstrong, Prince, Tom Morello, Lincoln Brewster
Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer Overdrive Pedal
The Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer is as classic as it gets. This is for you if you’re looking for to enhance your amp tone, or you just want the classic Tube Screamer tone.
Pros:
- Great tube amp enhancer
- Drives tube amps into classic gritty overdrive
- Works great as a boost pedal
- Not sa good when used as a standalone overdrive
- Limited controls
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With a long list of big name users, there’s really no denying the influence of the Tube Screamer to rock music and guitar playing in general. As such it is a good idea to keep the current production model as close to the original as possible. While there are many who claim to be the best tube screamer clone, nothing beats the original.
The Ibanez TS9 pedal is built in the same factory as the original, along with utilizing the same components and distinct green paint on its chassis. This means that you’re getting the same pedal as artists like Stevie Ray Vaughn used to craft their immortal tones,
It’s not as good when used as a stand alone pedal, but the TS9 is incredible as a tone enhancer, be it for tube amps, or for a complex pedalboard setup. This is an important consideration if your choosing between the blues driver vs tube screamer pedals.
While most users of this pedal are into Blues and Rock, it does get commendations from a wide variety of musical backgrounds. Still, the TS9 is not as versatile when used on its own, so it may not appeal to those looking for an all-in-one overdrive pedal.
- Controls: Tone, Level, Overdrive
- Analog
- Hardwire Bypass
- 9-Volt Adapter/Battery
- Used by: Stevie Ray Vaughn, Gary Moore, John Mayer, Carlos Santana, Eric Johnson
Things to Consider When Buying an Overdrive Pedal
If you’re not very experienced with overdrive pedals (also called OD pedals), or you just want to brush up on your background knowledge before putting any money down, check out the sections below!
Controls
The controls on the best overdrive pedals will generally fall into three main categories: Gain, Volume, and Equalization.
Gain (also referred to as Drive or Overdrive) controls the amount of overdrive present in your signal, with lower levels adding subtle grit to the tone, while higher settings apply more overdrive saturation.
Volume controls the level of the signal, or how loud it is.
Equalization controls, often referred to as tone, control a section of the frequency spectrum. A control simply labelled: tone, generally changes both low and high-end frequencies. Many of the best guitar pedals come with EQ controls that only affect certain parts of the spectrum, like the mids or high-end (these controls are also generally labeled as the frequency they control).
You can get more details, or even pictures of the controls for each pedal by downloading their manual. We’ve included the links to the manual where available.
Ease of Use
The guitar overdrive pedals may not seem complicated at first glance, but believe it or not they can be a bit hard to work with depending on your gear and the controls on your pedal.
Some pedals have so many controls that it can be hard to dial in a good sound, or the controls they do have can be counterintuitive. But those that can tweak complex OD pedals like the LA Lady Overdrive are pleased with the result.
Conversely, there are also pedals that only have three controls. In fact, many of the best overdrive pedals ever only have three controls.
You may be asking: If some of the greatest overdrives of all time only have three controls, why should I bother with more getting more controls? Well, it depends on the tone you want and what you want to have control over. If you want to carefully sculpt your tone, the best guitar overdrive pedal for you is one packed with control features. Many transparent overdrives make do with minimal knobs.
The only tradeoff is that it will take longer to dial in that tone than other pedals – which means more waiting time during setup. Whereas with a simpler pedal, it’s more of a plug and play situation.
Pedals without a ton of controls may be less versatile, but they’re easier to get a good tone out of when compared to a pedal with more controls (case in point for those of you who’ve read up on different pedals, the Boss Metal Zone).
Expensive vs. Affordable
When looking at gear, many of us assume that more expensive pedals (like tube pedals) are always going to be better than their cheaper counterparts. But in the real guitar world, this doesn’t always turn out to be the case.
Now, we’re not saying that people who buy expensive pedals are all a bunch of cork sniffers, because that’s not that case. More expensive pedals can have a range of benefits including versatility build quality and durability.
Expensive pedals generally come with more controls, or are engineered with a high-level of quality towards a specific purpose. They can cover more ground sonically, and they’re built with (as a general rule) higher grade components.
They also have a tendency to isolate noise better, so you don’t get as much electrical interference. Some premium overdrive pedals, like the Klon Centaur, have a specific voicing that many aspire for, behaving like a tube pedal in terms of tone and response. Responsive overdrives are great at reproducing the nuances of your playing when you’re using picks or fingerpicking.
However, cheaper pedals can still offer the valve amp like overdrive sound you are looking for. They just may not be as versatile or be built with the same quality components.
A good example would be the original Ibanez Tube Screamer. It was affordable when first released, and it went on to grace the rigs of some of the best guitarists in the world. Always take into account the reality of diminishing returns when looking for an overdrive pedal.
Best Overdrive Pedal Selection Methodology
The first edition was published in 2018.
Since there are many guitar effects, distortion pedals, and fuzz pedals that can also be used as an overdrive pedal – we decided to narrow down our scope to those that are designed primarily (properly labeled) for overdrive use. This means that some popular dirt pedals aren’t considered, like the Electro Harmonix Metal Muff, which is meant for high-gain distortion use.
Being readily available from a major American retailer was also a selection criterion. For this edition, we further limited our search to the best affordable overdrive pedals with a maximum street price of $100. We ended up with a short list of 11 overdrive pedals which you can see the list in our Music Gear Database. We then collated over 13,000 review and rating sources, which we processed with the Gearank Algorithm to produce rating scores out of 100 for each pedal.
Finally, we divided our best cheap overdrive pedal recommendations based on price, including sub $50 and sub $100, and recommended the highest rated in each price category. For more information about our methods, see How Gearank Works.
About the Author and Contributors
Here are the key people and sources involved in this guide’s production – click on linked names for information about their music industry backgrounds.
Lead Author & Researcher
Contributors
Jerry Borillo: Product Research.
Alexander Briones: Editing and Supplemental Writing
Jerome Arcon: Supplemental Writing and Research.
Mason Hoberg: Suplemental Writing.
Jason Horton: Editing and Illustrating.
Media / Image Credit
Main/Top Image: By Gearank.com using photographs of the Boss SD-1, Ibanez TS Mini, and EarthQuaker Devices Plumes.
The videos above have been embedded in accordance with YouTube’s Terms of Service.
The individual product images were sourced from websites, promotional materials or supporting documentation provided by their respective manufacturers except for the additional Behringer TO800 photograph which was taken by the author.
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Comments:
5 responses
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Due to us reducing the price limit from $150 to $100 for the October 2022 Edition, the following pedals were removed from the recommended list above:
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Our February 2021 update resulted in the following pedal being removed from the recommended list above, but you can still see our analysis of it:
- Boss BD 2 Blues Driver
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As a result of the change in price range covered by this guide for our February 2020 update the following over $150 pedals came off the recommended list above:
- Friedman BE-OD
- Ibanez TS808
- JHS AT (Andy Timmons)
- Rockett Pedals Archer Boost Overdrive
- Wampler Plexi-Drive Deluxe
In addition the Maxon OD808 is a sub $150 pedal that we removed due to more highly rated options now being available.
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We’ve removed a pedal from the recommended list above due to a lack of availability: Xotic Effects BB Preamp.
More Guitar Pedals
Disclosure
Author & Contributors
Raphael Pulgar
I've been an audio engineer for 20 years specializing in rock and metal recordings. I also play guitar and produce original music for my band and other content creators.
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