The Empress Dist is an Empress distortion pedal. Close alternatives include the Aria Lil' RAT Distortion and the Behringer Centaur Overdrive. It pairs well with the Hiwatt DR103H and the Marshall Silver Jubilee 25/55 100W Amp Head.
Empress Dist
Empress · pedal
The Empress Effects Distortion is a high-gain distortion pedal from Canadian boutique manufacturer Empress Effects, designed to deliver wide-range saturation from moderate overdrive through to extreme high-gain distortion with precise three-band active EQ control. Empress Effects is known for precision electronics and studio-grade build quality, and the Distortion pedal reflects the brand approach of providing maximum tonal control with high-quality components. The Empress Distortion covers a broad gain spectrum with detailed frequency shaping capability suited to both studio recording and live performance contexts.
- distortion
- eq
- studio
- frequency
- boutique
- live
- high gain
- saturation
Genres the Empress Dist is commonly used in
- Electronic
- Metal
- Alternative Rock
- Rock
- Hard Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Classic Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Amps that pair well with the Empress Dist
Hiwatt DR103H
Hiwatt
25% matchHiwatt DR103H pushes a high gain tone toward tight
Marshall Silver Jubilee 25/55 100W Amp Head
amplifier
25% matchStack Marshall Silver Jubilee 25/55 100W Amp Head on top and a high gain tone tightens toward tight
Traynor BB115
Traynor
tonal matchTraynor BB115 takes that high gain character and pushes it toward tight
Gallien-Krueger Legacy 410
Gallien Krueger
tonal matchGallien-Krueger Legacy 410 pushes a high gain tone toward tight
Egnater Renegade 65 4x10 Combo
Egnater
tonal matchEgnater Renegade 65 4x10 Combo pushes a high gain tone toward tight
Gallien-Krueger Legacy 210 Bass Combo
Gallien Krueger
tonal matchGallien-Krueger Legacy 210 Bass Combo takes that high gain character and pushes it toward tight
Gallien-Krueger MB210-II
Gallien Krueger
tonal matchFeed a high gain signal into Gallien-Krueger MB210-II and it comes out closer to tight
Aguilar SL110 Fawn Limited
Aguilar
tonal matchAguilar SL110 Fawn Limited takes that high gain character and pushes it toward tight
Pedals that stack with the Empress Dist
Xotic EP Booster
Xotic
17% matchXotic EP Booster pushes a high gain tone toward clean boost
Shin's Music Dumbloid
Shins Music
16% matchStack Shin's Music Dumbloid on top and a high gain tone tightens toward tight
Electro-Harmonix Deluxe Electric Mistress
Electro-Harmonix
15% matchKeep Empress Dist's high gain voice out front: Electro-Harmonix Deluxe Electric Mistress goes after Empress Dist in the signal chain so its modulated voice doesn't muddy it
Crazy Tube Circuits Golden Ratio
Crazy Tube Circuits
14% matchCrazy Tube Circuits Golden Ratio's own tight character is the real reason this is worth trying
Hungry Robot The Borderland
Hungry Robot
12% matchKeep Empress Dist's high gain voice out front: Hungry Robot The Borderland goes after Empress Dist in the signal chain so its modulated voice doesn't muddy it — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Hungry Robot Moby Dick V2
Hungry Robot
12% matchRun Hungry Robot Moby Dick V2 after Empress Dist in the signal chain, clear of Empress Dist's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Wampler Cory Wong
Wampler
tonal matchFeed a high gain signal into Wampler Cory Wong and it comes out closer to clean boost
Spaceman Effects Atlas IV
Spaceman
tonal matchStack Spaceman Effects Atlas IV on top and a high gain tone tightens toward clean boost
Alternativessee all similar tone character →
Aria Lil' RAT Distortion
Aria
69% similarityShared character: distortion, metal, live
Behringer Centaur Overdrive
Behringer
68% similarityShared character: high_gain_settings, overdrive
Dunlop MXR M94SE Super Badass Distortion
Dunlop
68% similarityShared character: various_guitar_types, high_gain_settings, distortion
Benson Amps Portable Distortion 424 MKII
Benson Amps
67% similarityShared character: high_gain_settings, distortion, recording
Source Audio Soundblox Multiwave Distortion
pedal
67% similarityShared character: distortion, metal, overdrive
JHS Colour Box V2
JHS Pedals
66% similarityShared character: studio, distortion, recording
JHS Overdrive/Preamp
JHS Pedals
65% similarityShared character: high_gain_settings, distortion, recording
Fortin Amplification Tempest Overdrive Signature Architects
Fortin Amplification
65% similarityShared character: studio, high_gain_settings, recording
One Control Bjfe in your hand series Shades
One Control
62% similarityShared character: tone_shaping, studio, live
Catalinbread Tribute Low Gain Overdrive Vari-O-Boost
Catalinbread
97% similaritysimilar tone character
Source Audio SA250-US
Source Audio
94% similaritysimilar tone character
Digitech DOD Boneshaker
Digitech
94% similaritysimilar tone character
See all alternatives to the Empress Dist (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Empress Dist?+
The closest matches in character are the Aria Lil' RAT Distortion, the Behringer Centaur Overdrive, the Dunlop MXR M94SE Super Badass Distortion.
What pairs well with the Empress Dist?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Hiwatt DR103H, Marshall Silver Jubilee 25/55 100W Amp Head, Traynor BB115 — Hiwatt DR103H pushes a high gain tone toward tight.
Compare
- vs Catalinbread Tribute Low Gain Overdrive Vari-O-Boost
- vs Source Audio SA250-US
- vs Digitech DOD Boneshaker