Why your distortion sounds fizzy (and how to fix it)
Fizzy distortion is that buzzy, brittle, "bees in a tin" high-end — the opposite problem to a muddy tone. It is almost always too much gain, too much treble/presence, or (going direct) no speaker/cab simulation. Here is how to fix it.
Lower the gain. The biggest cause. Past a point, extra gain adds only fizz and hiss, not heaviness. Back it off until the fizz clears — you usually need less gain than you think for a tight, heavy tone.
Cut treble and presence. Fizz lives in the high end. Roll treble and presence back until the harsh buzz turns into a smooth edge. A high cut / low-pass around 6–8 kHz kills the worst of it.
Add a cab sim / IR when going direct. A raw amp or pedal straight into an interface sounds fizzy because no speaker is rolling off the top end. A cab simulation or impulse response (IR) is what makes direct tones sound real — the single biggest fix for digital fizz.
Tighten with an overdrive out front. A Tube Screamer or similar overdrive in front of your distortion trims the low end and focuses the mids, so the gain reads as heavy rather than buzzy.
Check the pickup and pedal. Cheap distortion pedals and very bright bridge pickups fizz more. A darker pedal, a mid-focused amp, or backing your guitar tone knob off slightly can all help.
💡 In order: gain down → treble/presence down → add a cab sim if direct → tighten with an overdrive → check the pedal/pickup. Most fizz is just too much gain and top end.