Distortion is a guitar effect that alters the signal’s waveform, creating a gritty, aggressive sound characterized by a high level of harmonic content and sustain. It’s achieved by amplifying the input signal to the point where the amplifier or pedal’s circuitry begins to clip, causing the waveform to become squared off and jagged. This clipping produces harmonics that weren’t present in the original signal, resulting in the characteristic “gritty” or “dirty” tone associated with distortion. Distortion pedals typically feature controls for adjusting the amount of gain or distortion applied, as well as tone-shaping knobs to tailor the sound’s frequency response. Distortion is widely used in rock, metal, and punk music to add power, aggression, and sustain to guitar solos, riffs, and rhythm parts, creating a bold and intense sonic impact in the mix. Popular distortion pedals include the Boss DS-1, Pro Co Rat, and Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi.
Effects refer to electronic devices or pedals that modify the sound of your guitar, adding colour, texture, and atmosphere to your playing. Common effects include distortion, delay, reverb, chorus, wah, and modulation, each shaping your tone in unique ways. Effects pedals are popular tools for creative expression, allowing musicians to craft signature sounds, from subtle enhancements to dramatic sonic transformations. This category includes a wide range of stompboxes and multi-effects units suitable for all styles and skill levels.
Guitar FX (effects) refer to the wide range of pedals and processors that shape and manipulate a guitar’s signal to create different sounds. From classic distortion and overdrive to reverb, delay, modulation, and pitch-shifting, effects are at the heart of a guitarist’s creative toolkit. Whether analogue or digital, stompbox or multi-effects unit, Guitar FX allow players to express mood, texture, and dynamics in unique ways. Used thoughtfully, they can transform a simple riff into something atmospheric, aggressive, or entirely otherworldly.
A pedal is a compact device that guitarists use to alter their instrument’s sound by shaping effects such as distortion, delay, reverb, and modulation. Typically housed in a rugged enclosure and controlled by footswitches, pedals are designed to be placed on the floor for hands-free operation during playing. They can be analogue or digital, true bypass or buffered, and come in countless varieties to suit different styles and preferences. Pedals are essential tools for creating signature tones and adding colour and texture to a guitarist’s sound.
We have new and used ZVEX Effects musical equipment available on our website for fast direct delivery from sellers across the UK & Europe.
ZVEX Effects is a boutique guitar pedal company founded by Zachary Vex in the mid-1990s. Known for its wild creativity and hand-painted enclosures, ZVEX quickly stood out in the effects world with unique, often experimental designs that pushed the boundaries of what a pedal could do. Their flagship product, the **Fuzz Factory**, became iconic for its insane level of tweakability and unpredictable, velcro-like fuzz tones, used by artists like Matt Bellamy of Muse. ZVEX pedals are often characterised by unconventional controls, playful names, and a real sense of sonic adventure.
Beyond fuzz, ZVEX has created a wide range of effects that include loopers, oscillators, overdrives, and modulation pedals—all with a flair for the unusual. Notable models include the **Super Hard On** boost, the **Box of Rock** distortion, and the **Instant Lo-Fi Junky**, which mimics the character of worn-out cassette tapes. Many ZVEX pedals are available in both hand-painted and Vexter (screen-printed) versions, with the former being collector favourites. The brand continues to attract experimental musicians and pedalheads who love pushing sonic boundaries.
£252.74
Dual Channel Distortion/Boost PedalBoth channels switchable between Distortion and BoostEQ on both channelsThree-position mini-Toggle switch for Sub Contour on both channels
£231.33
This Vexter Series Box of Rock features UV printed graphics to commemorate our 25th Anniversary. This Box of Rock simulates Zachary's favorite amp turned up all the way, a 1966 JTM45 Pedal Dimensions (LxWxH): 4.70" x 2.38" x 1.82"
£254.84
Made with 2 new old stock '60s germanium transistors Drive, and Stability controls Hand-silkscreened, hand-polished aluminum chassis
£232.22
The ZVex Vexter Series Lo-Fi Junky Modulation and Chorus/Vibrato guitar effects pedal emulates the ZVex Lo-Fi Loop Junky in real time though a combination of THAT chip compression, Belling bucket-brigades and ultra low-current National Semiconductor op-amp filters It exquisitely copies the texture and feel of the original Lo-Fi in a new and extraor…
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