Updated by Bobby
Updated on August 7th, 2023
Recent adds include the Wampler Gearbox, Maestro Invader, Caline Tigershark, DAE Duality DX, Harley Benton Binary, Empress Menace, and more. Hat tip to Don L, Vasilios, Jeremy Gonser, Matthew Gartner, Mr. Astley, and James Stiltner in the comments section.
QUICK HIT: Collecting distortion pedals that have a built-in noise gate.
This is a simple list of distortion pedals with a built-in noise gate, meant for easy browsing. All of the pedals in this list have been vetted and verified to have a noise gate built directly into their circuit.
Some noise gates are internal and can't be controlled, though the gates in all these pedals actually have an external level control, like the AmpTweaker distortion pedals.
In this list our goal is curation and not necessarily to review or rate each distortion pedal we mention.
If you're looking for a more general list, checkout our best guitar pedals parent page.
Noise Gates and Distortion Pedals
Distortion pedals that produce really high gain levels benefit from having an internal noise gate, because high gain can cause noise problems that need to be addressed specifically. Moreover, an external noise gate won't sound as natural or be as tailored to your distortion pedal's sound.
Having a built-in solution is your best option to reduce distortion pedal noise and avoid unwanted feedback from a high-gain signal.
While most distortion pedals don't include this features, the ones that do are typically higher-end, many from boutique guitar pedal manufacturers.
Distortion Pedal with Noise Gate Options
The Amptweaker Tight Metal JR with a built-in noise gate.
As a consequence, there aren't many options when it comes to distortion pedals with noise gates built in. Amptweaker is probably the most consistent when it comes to keeping a noise gate standard. Aside from Amptweaker, there are a couple of options from MXR and some boutique manufacturers. If you know of one that I missed, drop it in the comments section.
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Distortion Pedals with a Built-In Noise Gate
Pedal | Title | Rated | Browse |
|---|---|---|---|
 | EHX Nano Metal Technical | n/a | |
 | Amptweaker TightRock JR Technical | n/a | |
 | Empress Heavy Technical | n/a | |
 | Gamechanger Audio Plasma Pedal Technical | n/a | |
 | Horizon Devices Precision Drive Technical | n/a | |
 | Horizon Devices Apex Preamp Technical | n/a | |
 | NUX Metal Core Deluxe Technical | n/a | |
 | Strymon Sunset Dual Overdrive Technical | n/a | |
 | EHX Big Muff Fuzz Technical | n/a | |
 | Amptweaker TightMetal Technical | n/a | |
 | Amptweaker TightMetal PRO II Technical | n/a | |
 | Egnater Black Metal Technical | n/a | |
 | KHDK Dark Blood Distortion Technical | n/a | |
 | MXR M116 Fullbore Metal Distortion Technical | n/a | |
 | Rivera Metal Shaman Technical | n/a | |
 | Amptweaker Big Rock Pro II Technical | n/a | |
 | Amptweaker Fat Metal Pro II Additional PEDAL Info | n/a | |
 | Amptweaker Tight Drive (second version) Technical | n/a | |
 | Amptweaker Tight Rock (second version) Technical | n/a | |
 | Behringer VT999 Vintage Tube Monster Technical | n/a | |
 | Boss OD-200 Hybrid Drive Technical | n/a | |
 | Caline Tigershark Technical | n/a | |
 | Chase Bliss Audio Bliss Factory Technical | n/a | |
 | Dead World Audio Duality Technical | n/a | |
 | DSM Noisemaker Drive Maker Technical | n/a | |
 | G2D Morpheus Distortion Technical | n/a | |
 | Ibanez 7th Heaven Technical | n/a | |
 | Ibanez SM7 Smash Box Technical | n/a | |
 | Ibanez Tube King (Japan version only) Technical | n/a | |
 | ISP Technologies Theta Preamp Distortion Pedal Technical | n/a | |
 | Joyo Bullet Metal Technical | n/a | |
 | KMA Machines Guardian of the Wurm Technical | n/a | |
 | Line 6 AM4 Programmable Amp Modeler Technical | n/a | |
 | Line 6 Crunchtone Technical | n/a | |
 | Line 6 DM4 Distortion Modeler Technical | n/a | |
 | Line 6 Dr. Distorto Technical | n/a | |
 | Line 6 Uber Metal Technical | n/a | |
 | Maestro Invader Technical | n/a | |
 | Maxon Real Tube Overdrive TECHNICAL | n/a | |
 | Maxon RTD800 Tube Overdrive Technical | n/a | |
 | MXR EVH515 Overdrive Technical | n/a | |
 | Neunaber Neuron Technical | n/a | |
 | Nobels DT-SN TECHNICAL | n/a | |
 | Nobels DT-XN TECHNICAL | n/a | |
 | Old Blood Noise Endeavors Alpha Haunt Expanded Fuzz TECHNICAL | n/a | |
 | Positive Grid BIAS Distortion Technical | n/a | |
 | Source Audio LA Lady Technical | n/a | |
 | Stone Deaf Fig Fumb Technical | n/a | |
 | Stone Deaf Warp Drive Technical | n/a | |
 | Strymon Riverside Drive Technical | n/a | |
 | TC Electronic Booster+ Line Driver and Distortion Technical | n/a | |
 | Tech 21 American Woman Technical | n/a | |
 | TrueTone Jekyll & Hyde Overdrive Technical | n/a | |
 | Wampler Gearbox Technical | n/a | |
 | WinterDrive MKII Overdrive, Distortion, and Preamp Technical | n/a | |
 | WMD Acoustic Trauma Technical | n/a | |
 | ZVEX Box of Metal Technical | n/a | |
 | Joyo Argos Overdrive Technical | n/a | |
 | Joyo Chopper-Z Distortion Technical | n/a | |
 | Harley Benton Binary Technical | n/a | |
 | Empress Heavy Menace Technical | n/a | |
 | Solar Guitars Chug Technical | n/a | |
 | Harley Benton Double Agent Technical | n/a | |
 | EHX Hell Melter Technical | n/a | |
 | Ibanez Pentatone Preamp and Equalizer Pedal Technical | n/a | |
 | DSM Humboldt Electronics Black Clouds High-gain Distortion and Boost Pedal Technical | n/a | |
 | Okko Dominator MKII Technical | n/a |
Anything to add?
As I mentioned, distortion pedals with a built-in noise gate are oddly rare and hard to track down. This means I could have missed some mainline and certainly boutique options.
I'd like to maintain this as a running list and update it when necessary.
In that regard, I could use some help. If you know of a distortion pedal with a built-in noise gate, drop a line in the comments, along with a link to the pedal's manufacturer or sales page and I'll include it in the write up.
Related Articles
Written by Bobby Kittleberger on Effects & Roundups
Written by Bobby Kittleberger on Effects & Roundups
DSM & Humboldt Black Clouds Distortion and Boost
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/BlackClouds–dsm-humboldt-electronics-black-clouds-high-gain-distortion-and-boost-pedal
—
OKKO Dominator MKII Distortion
https://reverb.com/p/okko-dominator-mkii
—
Thank you for frequently updating the list, it looks amazing. Cheers and God bless.
Good finds, and thanks for the kind words. Added both to the table.
DSM Black Clouds
https://www.sweetwater.com/c969–Distortion_Overdrive?highlight=BlackClouds&utm_source=google&utm_medium=organicpla
🤘🏻
Got two more to add. EHX Hell Melter and Ibanez Pentatone
https://www.ehx.com/products/hell-melter/
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/PentatonePre–ibanez-pentatone-preamp-and-equalizer-pedal
Good finds. Added. 🤘🏻
Empress Effects Heavy Menace: https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/HeavyMenace–empress-heavy-menace-distortion-pedal
Solar Guitars Chug Pedal: https://www.solar-guitars.com/product/chug/
Harley Benton Double Agent: https://www.thomann.de/gr/harley_benton_double_agent.htm
Got em.
Empress Effects Heavy Menace
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/HeavyMenace–empress-heavy-menace-distortion-pedal
Nice. Added. 🤘🏻
JOYO Argos Overdrive: https://www.amazon.com/JOYO-Overdrive-Multi-mode-Electric-OVERDRIVE/dp/B0BMLL14RD
JOYO Chopper-Z Distortion: https://www.amazon.com/JOYO-Distortion-Simulators-Electric-CHOPPER-Z/dp/B0B74Z1D6R
Harley Benton Binary: https://www.thomann.de/gr/harley_benton_binary.htm
Thanks, Vasilios. I added all three.
Just found a $60 clone of the Precision Drive with the same built in noise gate:
Demonfx Precision Drive Overdrive w/Gate Option Fast US Ship No International wait time New! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09QG838Q1/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_i_NQ84G7WE5CM5PKMNWQ9Z
DAE Duality DX
https://www.deadwealdaudio.com/duality-dx
Thanks again, Don. Added.
Caline Tigershark
Good find. Thanks, James.
Maestro Invader Distortion
https://www.maestroelectronics.com/en-US/Pedal/Invader-Distortion
Added. Thanks again, Don.
Wampler Gearbox
https://www.wamplerpedals.com/products/distortion-overdrive/andy-wood-gearbox/
Thanks, Don. Added.
ZVex Box of Metal
https://www.zvex.com/guitar-pedals/box-of-metal-guitar-effects-pedal
Got it. Added.
Positive Grid Bias Distortion Twin and Positive Grid Bias Distortion Pro
https://www.positivegrid.com/bias-distortion/
Line 6 AM4 Amp Modeler
https://line6.com/legacy/am4
Line 6 DM4 Distortion Modeler
https://line6.com/legacy/dm4
Maxon RTO700 Real Tube Overdrive
https://maxonfx.com/collections/real-tube-ii/products/real-tube-overdrive-rto700
Source Audio L.A. Lady Overdrive
Source Audio King Maker Fuzz
Source Audio After Shock Bass Distortion
https://www.sourceaudio.net/blog-neuro-editor-and-one-series-drive-pedals.html
Already have the Source Audio LA Lady. The King Maker and Aftershock don’t say anything about having noise gates so I left those out.
Added the other four you mentioned. Thanks again, Don!
You’re welcome! I’m pretty sure all the software options are for all three pedals. I don’t see anything on the page that says the noise gate is specifically for the LA Lady.
Here’s a Sweetwater review that mentions the noise reduction for the Kingmaker Fuzz:
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/KingmakerFuzz–source-audio-kingmaker-fuzz-pedal
WMD Acoustic Trauma
https://wmdevices.com/products/acoustic-trauma
Winterdrive
https://gcrockboard.com/winterdrive-mkii
KMA Machines Guardian of the Wurm
https://www.kma-machines.com/m_guardian.html
Added all three. Thanks, Don.
G2D Morpheus
https://www.g2d.co.nz/rev_morph.php
Nice find. Added.
ISP Theta Preamp
https://www.isptechnologies.com/portfolio/theta-pre-amp-pedal/
ISP Beta Bass
https://www.isptechnologies.com/portfolio/beta-bass-preamp-pedal/
Added the Theta. Haven’t been doing bass pedals so left that one out.
Line 6 Dr. Distorto
https://www.modulargrid.net/p/line6-dr-distorto
Gate: OFF-MILD-CLAMP
Line 6 Crunchtone
http://www.effectsdatabase.com/model/line6/tonecore/crunchtone
Gate: OFF-1-2
Ibanez SH7 7th Heaven
http://www.effectsdatabase.com/model/ibanez/tonelok/sh7
Void: OFF-1-2
Old Blood Noise Endeavors Alpha Haunt Expanded Fuzz
https://www.amazon.com/Old-Blood-Noise-Endeavors-Expanded/dp/B07GC7TPMC
Gate knob
Adding. Thanks, Jerry.
Chase Bliss Fuzz Factory has a built-in gate with knob to control it.
Link? Can’t seem to find it.
It was apparently a special collaboration with Z-Vex:
https://youtu.be/kP6qR3h_Ils
TC Electronic booster + line driver & distortion :
https://www.modulargrid.net/p/tc-electronic-booster-line-driver-distortion
It’s more an overdrive at the end.
Maxon RTD800 : https://www.woodbrass.com/effets-guitare-electrique-distortion-fuzz-overdrive…-maxon-rtd800-real-tube-overdrive-p163915.html?gclid=Cj0KCQjwmIuDBhDXARIsAFITC_6Cbv2PFLbtAD8vHiFAE8Aryn9a-c9xXb7We3O_b4IlpokLFKkSc3UaAhBFEALw_wcB
Both rare and expensive !
Both look great. Added. Thanks again, Jeremy.
Apex Preamp by Horizon Devices has a built-in noise gate. Thanks !
Great find. Added. Shoutout in the updates section!
Looks like Amptweaker recently released a new line of pedals called the “performance series”. Six pedals – all have gates!
1: Tight Drive
https://amptweaker.com/product/tight-drive/
2: Tight Rock
https://amptweaker.com/product/tight-rock/
3: Tight Metal
https://amptweaker.com/product/tight-metal/
4: Big Rock Pro II
https://amptweaker.com/product/big-rock-pro-ii/
5: Tight Metal Pro II
https://amptweaker.com/product/tight-metal-pro-ii/
6: Fat Metal Pro II
https://amptweaker.com/product/fat-metal-pro-ii/
EXCELLENT. I wondered why the old TightMetal had disappeared. Adding all six.
Time to make it an even 30 I suppose. This one just got announced and is available for preorder, fantastic price: https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/NanoMetalMuff–electro-harmonix-nano-metal-muff-distortion-pedal
30 it is. Added at the top. Thanks!
Nobels distortion special
This one? https://www.amazon.com/Nobels-ODR-1-Overdrive-Effect-Pedal/dp/B0089M057Y
I’m not seeing any kind of a noise gate.
Nobels DT-XN Distortion Xtreme and Nobels DT-SN Distortion Special :
http://www.effectsdatabase.com/model/nobels/dtxn#pictures
http://www.effectsdatabase.com/model/nobels/dtsn
Man, these things are elusive. Can’t find them for purchase anywhere so I just linked straight to Effects DB. Thanks, Jeremy.
Joyo ironman bullet metal.
Nice. Added.
Line6 Uber metal?
Good call. Discontinued but it actually has a couple of gate modes. Added.
Ibanez Tube Kings pedals : TK999 and TK999HT.
I assume one of these? https://reverb.com/p/ibanez-tube-king-tk999us
I’m not seeing the noise gate. Is it internal? Do you have a link to confirm? Thanks!
TK999 Japan version only, not US : https://reverb.com/fr/p/ibanez-tube-king-tk999-mij
TK999HT is the “void” knob :
https://reverb.com/fr/p/ibanez-tube-king-high-voltage-tk999ht
Oh ok cool – I see it. Updated.
ibanez sm7 smashbox pedal
I’m not seeing a noise gate on this one. Is that the “Void” switch?
Yes it is!
Awesome. Good find. Added.
I’m sure you’re getting annoyed with me by now, but i found another one.
Boss OD-200
https://www.boss.info/us/products/od-200/
Nope, not at all. I appreciate the help. Added.
Turns out some Truetone pedals have noise gate switches.
Jekyll and Hyde – https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/JekyllHV3–truetone-jekyll-and-hyde-v3-overdrive-and-distortion-pedal
It has an internal dipswitch to turn the gate on and off per the instruction manual here – truetone.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/V3JH-instructions-rev-2.pdf
The Son of Hyde pedal has the same internal switch but i believe it might have been discontinued – https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1311827-REG/vis_volume_v2soh_u_ea_son_of_hyde.html
Awesome! I added the larger Jekyll & Hyde but left out the smaller one.
I found two more pedals with gates.
Stone Deaf – Warp Drive https://www.stonedeaffx.com/product-page/warp-drive
Stone Deaf – Fig Fumb fuzz https://www.stonedeaffx.com/product-page/fig-fumb
Thanks again. Added.
The Nux Metal Core Deluxe also has a noise gate with the threshold adjusted by holding down the footswitch while twisting the gain knob. https://www.nuxefx.com/metal-core-deluxe.html
Here are two more overdrive/distortion pedals with noise gates:
Neunaber Neuron
Behringer VT999 Vintage Tube Monster
Source Audio – LA Lady doesn’t have a gate knob but you can enable a gate and set the threshold in their software editor/with the cellphone app
Hey Sym – do you have a link or documentation that shows this? I don’t see anything about it in the specs.
Hi Bobby, here is a link to the Source Audio Neuro app which is the software editor for the LA Lady. If you scroll about half way down this page you’ll see where it talks about the noise gate settings. https://www.sourceaudio.net/blog_neuro_mobile_app_and_drive_pedals.html
KHDK Dark Blood Distortion Pedal.
Good find. Added.
American Woman by Tech21 ! Regards !
Thanks, Julio. Added.
Strymon Riverside and Sunset both have noise gates built in. Like many Strymon pedals these are settings that can be adjuster but are not visible from just looking at the pedal or reading the main features. Check em out!
Thanks, Justin. I added both to the top of the table.
Precision Drive by Horizon Devices has a great gate on it. Good for that djenty sound. From Misha Mansoor’s company
Thanks, Kevin – good find. Added it at the end of the table.
Found another that has a dedicated gate knob:
DSM Noisemaker – Drive Maker
https://www.dsmnoisemaker.com/drive-maker
Nice find. Added.
Thanks Bobby, this was just the list I was looking for! Wish more individual distortion pedals had a basic gate with a threshold built in. I always go back to my Kemper, but am building a smaller fly rig and this helped me narrow it down!
The Zoom Driver Pedal had a excellent distortion –multiple choices– and I think even a fuzz all in one pedal with a very easy to use on the fly one knob noise gate—rock-n-roll Swiss Army Knife!!!!!===of coarse it’s no longer made!!!!
Hey Mark – thanks for chiming in. Do you have a link to one of these?