Any reaxon to NOT buy an MXR Super Badass for Marshallish distortion?

[Dave Locher]

I just bought a Joyo US Dream to experiment with using a pedal for gain and running my amp clean. Consider that experiment a success, but I want a pedal that is a bit better build quality and has more eq flexibility.
MXR Super Badass Distortion?
Easy to find used for cheap, 3-knob eq, and MXR reliability. Anything else I should consider instead? ($50-$90 used)

 

[Diego]

Re: Any reaxon to NOT buy an MXR Super Badass for Marshallish distortion?

I've played one a lot. It's way more aggressive than the US Dream which I used to own, and I actually think the Joyo does a better "vintage Marshall" flavor since the MXR has a lot of "good fizz" in the top end. The Joyo is creamier by comparison.
The Super Badass didn't sound its best with lower gain, but it sounds AMAZING past 12 o' clock in the gain knob. Heavy as balls.

Alternatives? The Marshall Jackhammer pedal, which is dirt cheap used.
The distortion mode sucks, but the overdrive has tons of gain on top, the EQ is super flexible, it kills with low gain and slays if you dime it.
IMO it's better with low gain than the Super Badass, but with more gain the MXR could be better.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Any reaxon to NOT buy an MXR Super Badass for Marshallish distortion?

While not cheap - the Suhr Riot MK2 will give you everything you might ever want....

 

[Dave Locher]

Re: Any reaxon to NOT buy an MXR Super Badass for Marshallish distortion?

I'm just not willing to pay $200 for a Suhr Riot. Not because I can't afford to, but because it offends me to pay that for a 3-knob pedal that I want but don't need.
It sounds like the Super Badass might not be ideal for me either.

Any other recommendations? Gov'nor II?

 

[Gtrjunior]

Re: Any reaxon to NOT buy an MXR Super Badass for Marshallish distortion?

Maybe a used OCD?

 

[devastone]

Re: Any reaxon to NOT buy an MXR Super Badass for Marshallish distortion?

The original Guv'nor was better than the II, if you can solder GGG has a reasonably priced kit - https://store.generalguitargadgets.com/kits/kits-distortion/mgv-complete-kit.html

Or, again, if you don't mind a kit, the BSIAB is an awesome Marshall in a box - https://store.generalguitargadgets.com/kits/kits-distortion/bsiab2-complete-kit.html

The Ibanez SD9 is another great sounding distortion pedal, but it's not a Marshall in a box specifically - https://store.generalguitargadgets.com/kits/kits-distortion/isd9-complete-kit.html

I think the MXR Super Badass is going to a bit too "metal", but I'm not exactly sure what you are looking for.

 

[Empty Pockets]

Re: Any reaxon to NOT buy an MXR Super Badass for Marshallish distortion?

The my favorite Marshall-flavored pedal is the ZVex Box of Rock. It's been my main distortion pedal for almost 10 years now. Turns my 69 Bassman into a raging Plexi.

 

[Dave Locher]

Re: Any reaxon to NOT buy an MXR Super Badass for Marshallish distortion?

Wampler Plimsoul? Catalinbread Dirty Little Secret?

 

[Dave Locher]

Re: Any reaxon to NOT buy an MXR Super Badass for Marshallish distortion?

The original Guv'nor was better than the II, if you can solder GGG has a reasonably priced kit - https://store.generalguitargadgets.com/kits/kits-distortion/mgv-complete-kit.html

I think the MXR Super Badass is going to a bit too "metal", but I'm not exactly sure what you are looking for.

I'm not sure, either! But I know it when I hear it. I do not want super high gain, more like mega crunch. I spent last year flipping boost and OD pedals and realized I actually prefer the clipping of a distortion pedal.
The Guv'nor kit is very tempting (I am very much a do-it-yourselfer) but the description says it's basically a Danelectro Daddy-O. Does that mean I can pick up a Danelectro Daddy-O for less than 50 bucks and have a Marshall in a box?

 

[Dave Locher]

Re: Any reaxon to NOT buy an MXR Super Badass for Marshallish distortion?

Bogner Ecstacy Red?
All of these are less expensive than the Suhr, and most of them have more elaborate eq controls.

 

[eclecticsynergy]

Re: Any reaxon to NOT buy an MXR Super Badass for Marshallish distortion?

+1 on the Box Of Rock, my preferred option.

But given the specified price range, I'd say the Jackhammer might be your best bet.

 

[SweetClyde99]

Re: Any reaxon to NOT buy an MXR Super Badass for Marshallish distortion?

I'm not sure, either! But I know it when I hear it. I do not want super high gain, more like mega crunch. I spent last year flipping boost and OD pedals and realized I actually prefer the clipping of a distortion pedal.
The Guv'nor kit is very tempting (I am very much a do-it-yourselfer) but the description says it's basically a Danelectro Daddy-O. Does that mean I can pick up a Danelectro Daddy-O for less than 50 bucks and have a Marshall in a box?

I know the Daddy O is a Marshall Guv’ner clone, but I’m not sure it’s 100% faithful to the original circuit. There are other modern distortion pedals that are based on the Guv’ner circuit, with attempts made to improve upon it. The Cruch Box and the Angry Charlie are the firsts to come to mind, but I’m sure others could name more.

 

[devastone]

Re: Any reaxon to NOT buy an MXR Super Badass for Marshallish distortion?

I'm not sure, either! But I know it when I hear it. I do not want super high gain, more like mega crunch. I spent last year flipping boost and OD pedals and realized I actually prefer the clipping of a distortion pedal.
The Guv'nor kit is very tempting (I am very much a do-it-yourselfer) but the description says it's basically a Danelectro Daddy-O. Does that mean I can pick up a Danelectro Daddy-O for less than 50 bucks and have a Marshall in a box?

I'm thinking the BSAIB may be more what you are looking for, or some version of a JFET based amp in a box pedal, like the Dirty Little Secret, the JHS Angry Charlie, or most of Wampler's pedals. Might be a good idea to spend a few hours u-tubin'.

Can't speak to the Daddy O, sound or quality wise.

Or maybe an OD-3 with the Monte Allum's mod?

 

[Diego]

Re: Any reaxon to NOT buy an MXR Super Badass for Marshallish distortion?

The Box of Rock sounds incredible, but I think it's definitely out of your price range.
It's also a looser sounding pedal than the Jackhammer, which can be good or bad depending on what you want.
IMO, the Jackhammer can't compete with the Zvex tonewise, and I like the Jackhammer.

The Marshall is more precise, tight and chugga chugga, the Zvex is a bit more fuzzy maybe but I'm sure a Tubescreamer of sorts in front of it would tighten things out.

 

[Dave Locher]

Re: Any reaxon to NOT buy an MXR Super Badass for Marshallish distortion?

As often happens, the budget needle has been nudged upwards. I'm now willing to go higher if a pedal has good resale. I really like what I hear from the Dirty Little Secret but hard to find used with the 3 knob eq. I am also strongly considering building a guv'nor clone. That is my fallback if I don't find a DLS I am willing to pay for.
I found a zvex for $100 but it's too loose for my taste. I want tight but warm.

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: Any reaxon to NOT buy an MXR Super Badass for Marshallish distortion?

RambleFX Marvel Drive. Hi-gain, normal gain (so you can mix like a jumpered Plexi) and an output level. Sounds just like my real Marshalls, natural compression, touch sensitivity, excellent distortion response/tone. Newer ones have a Presence knob - perfect. Replaced my Carl Martin GoldTone and Marshal Gov'nor on my board. The only thing that might sound more authentic IME is my SansAmp PSA-1 with a 1:1.5 ratio compressor after. Not that the others mentioned in this thread aren't as good or better - just in my experience this is what I found.

 

[Van Noord]

Re: Any reaxon to NOT buy an MXR Super Badass for Marshallish distortion?

Marshall Guv'nor Plus?

 

[devastone]

Re: Any reaxon to NOT buy an MXR Super Badass for Marshallish distortion?

For the $, build the BSIAB and the Guv'nor. The BSIAB is more of an amp in a box type pedal, it's closer to the DLS than a Guv'nor. They Guv'nor is a great distortion pedal that should stack well with the BSIAB.

 

[Dave Locher]

Re: Any reaxon to NOT buy an MXR Super Badass for Marshallish distortion?

Actually found a dude (Frank the Anvil, in Pennsylvania) who will build me a Guv'nor for less than it would cost me to buy a kit and build it myself!
He has a good reputation, and although I trust my soldering skills I just dont have free time for projects lately so I am happy to find someone to do it.

 

[stratguy23]

Re: Any reaxon to NOT buy an MXR Super Badass for Marshallish distortion?

The best bang-for-the-buck Marshall-flavored distortion I've played is the TC Electronic Dark Matter, which can be found routinely in the 30 dollar range. All knobs at noon is an excellent late 70s, early 80s hard rock type of sound.