Gain Stacking Guide
What Is Gain Stacking?
Gain stacking is the practice of combining multiple gain pedals—such as fuzz, overdrive, and distortion—to create richer, heavier, and more controlled guitar tones. Instead of relying on a single high-gain pedal, gain stacking allows you to build layers of saturation, shaping how your guitar responds, sustains, and cuts through a mix.
This approach has been used for decades by players across doom, stoner rock, metal, punk, and experimental genres. When done correctly, gain stacking delivers more articulation, tighter low end, and greater tonal flexibility than a single pedal ever could.
Why Stack Gain Pedals?
Stacking gain pedals gives you control over:
- Saturation – Add sustain without excessive compression
- EQ shaping – Emphasize mids or tighten bass before high gain
- Dynamic response – Preserve pick attack and volume control
- Versatility – One pedalboard, multiple gain textures
Rather than maxing out one pedal, stacking lets each circuit do a specific job.
Common Gain Stacking Orders
The order of your pedals matters. Small changes can dramatically affect feel and tone.
Overdrive → Fuzz
Placing an overdrive before a fuzz pedal pushes the fuzz harder.
What this does:
- Increases sustain
- Adds mid focus
- Thickens lead tones
This setup works well for doom and stoner styles where massive sustain is the goal.
Fuzz → Overdrive
Running fuzz into an overdrive tightens and shapes the fuzz output.
What this does:
- Tames loose low end
- Adds clarity and punch
- Helps fuzz cut through a mix
This is ideal for live situations or dense band mixes.
Overdrive → Distortion
This classic stack pushes distortion into tighter, more aggressive territory.
What this does:
- Sharpens attack
- Adds sustain without flub
- Boosts mids for solos
Perfect for stacked Marshall-style or metal rhythm tones.
Fuzz → Distortion
A more extreme option for players chasing walls of gain.
What this does:
- Adds density and compression
- Creates aggressive textures
- Works well for sludge and noise styles
Use sparingly, and control EQ carefully.
Using Overdrive as a Boost
Many players use overdrive pedals with low gain and higher output as a boost.
Recommended settings:
- Gain: Low
- Volume: High
- Tone: Slightly boosted mids
This setup tightens fuzz or distortion without drastically changing the core character.
Gain Stacking for Different Styles
Doom & Stoner Rock
- Fuzz → Overdrive
- Focus on sustain and low-mid weight
- Avoid excessive treble
Metal
- Overdrive → Distortion
- Tight low end
- Strong mid presence
Experimental & Noise
- Fuzz → Fuzz or Fuzz → Distortion
- Embrace compression and chaos
- Less concern for clarity
Tips for Successful Gain Stacking
- Keep individual gain levels lower than expected
- Use EQ controls deliberately
- Adjust pedal order before changing settings
- Stack with intent, not excess
More gain does not always mean heavier tone.
Building a Gain Stack with Kink Guitar Pedals
Kink Guitar Pedals are designed with gain stacking in mind. Our fuzz, overdrive, and distortion pedals feature flexible EQ, clipping options, and output levels that make stacking intuitive and musical.
Whether you’re pairing a Russian-style fuzz with a mid-forward overdrive or stacking dual drive circuits for amp-like saturation, these pedals are built to work together without losing clarity or impact.
Final Thoughts
Gain stacking is one of the most powerful tools a guitarist can use to shape tone. By combining pedals thoughtfully and understanding how they interact, you can unlock sounds that feel bigger, heavier, and more responsive than any single pedal alone.
Experiment, listen carefully, and build a gain stack that serves your playing—not the other way around.