MXR Distortion + disappointment

So my buddy lent me his MXR Dist since he doesn't like it due to the massive tone suck and I figured out that it's not too bad with all the raves with this pedal. I also don't mind the tone suck but I noticed that using it as a boost together with an OCD-clone/ Overdrive pedal just sucks big time... it adds too much flabby bass sound! I figured that it might be just my setup and guitar/ amp but, I had my fellow guitarist use it live yesterday and the same issue occurs. It adds a bit of volume and gain but too much bass...

Guitar -> MXR Dist -> Overdrive -> Amp

How do you guys use yours? I know that Roads and Yngwie uses this but they're using it on a Marshall with gain on the verge of break up. Does this pedal just sucks big time to combine with overdrive pedals? :neutral:

what kind of distortion?

I use a MXR 78 Badass Distortion and have no problems at all. Honestly I've been using just that between my guitar and amp and I like it. No "tone suck" that I can hear when I play it through my Blues Junior or Excelsior!

Hi. I'm actually referring to the yellow 2 knobs Distortion + (Plus) :grin:

what kind of distortion?

I use a MXR 78 Badass Distortion and have no problems at all. Honestly I've been using just that between my guitar and amp and I like it. No "tone suck" that I can hear when I play it through my Blues Junior or Excelsior!

Hi. I'm actually referring to the yellow 2 knobs Distortion + (Plus) :grin:

Just checking! Wasn't sure if that was what you meant or if your post was just a little vague!

FWIW... 78 Badass all the way! I've never played the yellow pedal! Kinda glad I went with mine instead!

MXR dist+ was the very first pedal I owned. At the age of 14/15 I made the purchase solely on the fact that Randy Rhoads used one. I had it for years and never bonded with it either. I'm sure it has it's uses, depending on what your looking to get out of it but I could never get what I wanted from it. The tone suck for me was irrelevent since I wasn't able to get a usable driven sound out of it to begin with. What blew my mind was hearing that Pete Cornish' creation, SS-2/SS-3(unsure which one) was based upon it or designed around it. Every once in a blue moon I would dig it out and give it a whirl but each time I would be left with the question..... REALLY!?!?

I usually like MXR's offerings, but the Distortion + is not one of them. One of the best all around distortion pedals I've played in 30 years of guitar is the Arion Metal Master, the first version. Not an expensive pedal either, kind of went under the radar. If you can find one, you won't be dissapointed.


136047

Here's one for sale(I'm not affiliated with the product or seller).

http://www.ebay.com/ctg/Arion-SMM-1-Stereo-Metal-Master-Distortion-Guitar-Effect-Pedal-/78675834

This is all just my opinion, but I would not expect much if you are using it with a solid state amp. I used to hate the pedal when using it with a Roland JC amp, the sound was splattery for lack of a better word. I have had more luck with tube amps and the MXR distortion plus (block version) in tandem with a Classic Overdrive. Much more musical results came about when I switched to a tube amp. Beforehand it was one ugly sounding pedal to me, though others could have done something with it even given the same resources.

I have one that I sometimes use for over the top distortion. I use it with an Ibanez Tube King US model. The MXR is an ugly kind of nasty distortion. It works for certain things, but nowhere near my top of the list dirt pedal.

Have you tried going Guitar -> Overdrive -> MXR Dist -> Amp?

I have some pedals that sound terrible in one combination and really good in another.

The Distortion+ is a harsh pedal.

I had one when I was a kid (70's) and I have a used/craigslist Distortion+ now.

I think that you have to desire a harsh 70's fuzz tone to appreciate the Distortion+.

I have to be in a retro-fun state of mind or I don't like it much.

Have you tried going Guitar -> Overdrive -> MXR Dist -> Amp?


Thanks for the idea but, I only use that kind of pedal line up if I want to boost (volume) the sound of my OD sound.

The Distortion+ is a harsh pedal.


Pretty much this... I guess I can offer my buddy $20 for it. It's just in his closet for years. Who knows, it might increase the value after 10 years when Dunlop discontinues it!

Glad to know that I'm not the only who does not dig this pedal :grin: :mrgreen:

Larry Carlton was a big fan of this pedal and used it on a lot of his early albums... I wouldn't call it harsh. That said, it does sound better at volume than it does at bedroom levels.

FWIW... 78 Badass all the way! I've never played the yellow pedal! Kinda glad I went with mine instead!

Yes! +1

The D+ sounds a lot better with the gain low and the level up than visa-versa. Like any two-knob dirtbox, it's also gonna need a little help from the amp to sound good. What amp are you using it with?

The D+ sounds a lot better with the gain low and the level up than visa-versa. Like any two-knob dirtbox, it's also gonna need a little help from the amp to sound good. What amp are you using it with?

My experience exactly with the D+. I got a chance to play one through an SF Deluxe that was already pretty cooking and (with the settings you mentioned) it sounded righteous. I got a kick of playing all that 80s college rock stuff through it... Plimsouls, Guadalcanal Diary, R.E.M., etc... very bright and authoritative.

I got a kick of playing all that 80s college rock stuff through it... Plimsouls, Guadalcanal Diary, R.E.M., etc... very bright and authoritative.

Dont forget Husker DU....the epitome of Distortion + tone!

^^^ I think Don Felder used a D+ (plus LP>Tweed Deluxe) for his "One of These Nights" solo...also Bruce Springsteen on a few songs, "Prove it All Night" , I think...

A simpler time, when there were not so many options or the need to use more than a few pedals. I had a great sounding original early '80's D+ and a terrible sounding recent re-issue. Both did have the dreaded "tone suck", zapping highs and dynamics...My fake "Rat" does anything a D+ could ever do, and much more

Dont forget Husker DU....the epitome of Distortion + tone!

Ah! I knew I was missing someone important. Gotta say, I think Bob Mould reached his peak with Sugar. I could listen to Copper Blue on repeat for days, man.

And now back to the thread...

I had one back in the day, bought it new in 1976. Used it with a Gibson L6-S, phase 45, and Dunlop Wah through an Acoustic Control Corp 134. It never quite got the tone. It was fuzz on fuzz off and totally compressed and obscured the guitar's tone. Quite right about the big black hole of suckage! However, I prefer classic fuzz to heavy metal scooped mid distortion, so it's all in the ear of the beholder, it just didn't tickle mine in a good way. Unfortunately it was stolen from me, thus liberating me to seek replacements --

I'm much happier these days with my analogman boxes...

http://thrill.org/Studio/pedals1.jpg