MXR Distortion Plus Vs. '78 Bad Ass Distortion, Simularities & Differences?

I am a longtime Distortion + user/advocate. It was the first effects pedal I ever bought (back in '79 when I was 14, which I still use today plus two more for back up). Personally, when used in front of my SF Dumble Modded overdrive channel, this thing screams and grinds in a way that is unique. Nothing else sounds like it. I once had a MXR Distortion 2 and more recently a MXR Distortion 3 and both of them were big disappointments compared to the original. My question is this, has anyone done a side by side comparison of the Distortion Plus and the new '78 Badass Distortion?
I imagine the Badass is basically a Distortion + with a couple of tweaks thrown in so MXR (Dunlop really, although one the MXR founders who went on to found Whirlwind, who primarily makes cables ,but a couple of years ago offered reissues of the Dyna Comp, Distortion + and the Phase 90) could market a new product. If anyone has actually compared the two, I would be interested in knowing their experience.
Jack
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I have not compared the two side-by-side, but I have had about 15 mins with a '78 Custom Badass Dist and it did not remind me of a Distortion +

It is most definitely a DS-1 based pedal. And it sounds like one - or rather a modded one. The Schematic has been verified as such I gather.
Aledgedly modified in a very similar manner to those offered for DS-1 by Robert Keeley.

It's been a long time since I tried a Distortion + but I remember liking it when I did.

I didnt take to the Custom Badass, though, I hardly gave it the fullest of trials. But as I favour the sound of a RAT or an SD-9 for that kind of dirt, it would have taken quite some adjustment on my part.

The other songwriter in my long term band, Black Angel's Death Song, uses a DS-1 exclusively (when he's playing distorted) he is also kind of a tonal ****** (bless his heart) though and I have had to dial in his amp on numerous occasions (not too mention getting him to get his guitar professionally set up more than once a decade). I do like his distorted tones on our recordings though and they don't sound at all like mine, which is a good thing, since it's easier to tell who is playing what.

I have the Custom Badass and I really like it. I get a great range of tones.

...modified in a very similar manner to those offered for DS-1 by Robert Keeley.

The 78 B.A.D. is essentially a production model Seeing eye/Ultra mod DS-1 (Keeley). There are really no differences other than where MXR now uses "the cheapest components" because it's all automated. Even though there are numerous claims that modded DS-1's sound better with "premium components," The 78 B.A.D. essentially proves that not to be true.

Anyway, as the owner of scratchbuilt DOD OD 250's/D+'s, etc., IMO it is the simplicity of the circuit that makes the originals sound so great, and not even MXR's subsequent "reissues or revisions" sound quite as good. The circuit is so simple that if you change a component type, it changes the sound.

There are some popular D+ clones that are little more than the base D+ design with a switch for different types of clipping diodes, so you can instantly hear the differences, and hear "that great old sound" disappear in the process. The critical part is matching the characteristics of the original diodes. The originals need not be used, but spec-wise, they have to be matched.

I'm sure the Whirlwind version is probably great for those who had an original D+ and loved it.

The 78 B.A.D. and original D+ have as much in common as the original Mopar hemi and the new one - almost nothing.

IMO, the 78 B.A.D. is popular for the same reasons the Turbo Rat/Guv'nor, and all the pedals that use LED clipping diodes are popular - you get a huge volume boost with clipping that is much less buzzy. Crunch Box/Plimsoul/Riot - all popular.

And I think that subbing a LED in a DS-1 is one of the most popular DIY mods ever. It's cool to have an LED "turn on and off" while you play...

Thanks for the "feedback", so to speak. I just read another post you made on another thread and it seems to me that you know of what you speak

Reviving this one from the grave because I took a lunch time trip to the music store today. I've been itching to add another flavor of dirt to my collection and tried a few pedals.

I heard so many great things about the 78 I had to try it. Nice pedal and very flexible. Then I tried an open box dist + they had and was surprised how great the thing sounded. The 78 sure looked cooler but in the end I took the dist +. Can't wait to get it home and turn it up.

I hope it sounds that good on my gear!

-tWsEr_4Prk

The '78 sounds much better in this demo due to the bass. The Plus sounds thin and weak in comparison.

When I got the Plus home and pluged it into my ac15c1 it didn't sound nearly as good. At the store the amp I demoe'd it through was a low end Peavey with very little treble. On that rig there was a clear winner, the Plus. It still sounds ok on my Vox but the fizzyness others had mentioned became apparent.

A little disappointed. At least I can return it.