Unique overdrive, fuzz, and distortion pedals?

[TysonMRox]

I don’t mean something that no one uses, I mean what are all the clones based on? Like, 80% of overdrives are tube screamer clones. Fuzzes are usually based on the fuzz face, tone bender, or some kind of big muff. So what are the unique circuits that everyone copies?
Tube Screamer, Timmy, Klon, Fuzz Face, Tone Bender, Big Muff, Maestro, DS-1, Rat, Distortion+

Boss BD-2? Echoplex Preamp? DOD 250? Blues Breaker? Electra?

Sorry if this is stupid or has been discussed before.

 

[South Park]

Most circuits for distortion are a cascade base design or diode clipping . It is all about clipping the signal . It is just how you want to get thar

 

[IOSEPHVS]

While it's not unique, i.e. only one exists in the entire universe, the EHX Graphic Fuzz is very interesting. It is not a truly a fuzz, but rather a distortion pedal with variable envelope response, sustain, and a 6-band EQ.

Since I have a hi-gain valve amp, I only use the EQ features, but I've plugged it into a solid state amp and its distortion is the best that I've heard from a solid state pedal.