Distortion and overdrive are two similar but different types of pedals. A distortion pedal ranges from light and crunchy to heavy and metallic. Famous examples would be the Boss DS-1 Distortion, the Pro Co Rat, the MXR Distortion +, and the much derided yet still popular Boss MT-2 Metal Zone. A distortion pedal by definition clips the signal of the guitar before it gets to the amp. That clipping creates the guitar sound we know of as distortion. Distortion pedals are meant to sound like a high gain amplifier, but in a box. Distortion pedals work best in front of a clean amplifier, and they will sound the same at low volumes and at higher volumes. However Randy Rhoads has used his MXR Distortion + as a clean boost, more like an overdrive. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWLAPSB9MAM
On the other hand there are overdrive pedals. Overdrive pedals have two functions, to provide a boost in volume and gain. The most famous and popular overdrive pedals include the Ibanez TS-808 and TS9 Tube Screamers, the DOD 250, the Fulltone OCD, and the Boss SD-1 Super Overdrive and BD-2 Blues Driver. Overdrive pedals usually only have three controls, gain/drive, tone, and level/volume. An overdrive pedal can push a clean amp into breakup or crunch, and boost the volume and/or gain of an already dirty amp. Overdrive pedals are more transparent and don't colour your tone nearly as much as distortion pedals due to having less gain. Overdrive pedals work exceptionally well with tube amps, creating a creamy, bluesy crunch in front of a Fender Twin reverb and pushing a Marshall Plexi or JCM 800 into some serious lead tones. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-ssot8PSRI
So which would I recommend? I would recommend a distortion pedal for those who want to change their tone entirely, but it won't sound as good as a great tube amp. I would recommend an overdrive pedal to take their current tones the extra mile. Whatever you do though, don't put a Metalzone in front of a good high gain amp. It will only make a mess. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYtXBUS_kwY
So which would I recommend? I would recommend a distortion pedal for those who want to change their tone entirely, but it won't sound as good as a great tube amp. I would recommend an overdrive pedal to take their current tones the extra mile. Whatever you do though, don't put a Metalzone in front of a good high gain amp. It will only make a mess. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYtXBUS_kwY
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