Anybody played an MXR '78 Distortion?

Rich_S · Apr 27, 2011

When MXR first announced the Custom Badass '78 Distortion, there was some arguing about what the name meant. Some folks said the '78 was a reference to Van Halen I, and the pedal was a Marshall-in-a-Box kinda thing, like the MI Audio Crunchbox I suppose. Others said it referred to the release date of the original ProCo Rat, and the '78 pedal was MXR's take on same.

If I had an MXR dealer within 2 hours of me, I'd just go try one of the things, but I don't.

Has anybody had a chance to play one of these critters? If so, what's it like?

Vasshu the humanoid typhoon · Apr 27, 2011

Re: Anybody played an MXR '78 Distortion?

I'm curious as well

http://www.jimdunlop.com/product/m78-custom-badass-78-distortion
Some soundbits

Rich_S · Apr 27, 2011

Re: найти местона

Re: найти местона

badBeby said:
местонахождение абонента bee line нгтс телефонная база...

:smack: Of course! It all makes sense now.

Rich_S · Apr 27, 2011

Re: Anybody played an MXR '78 Distortion?

MF is still showing it as a pre-order. They're certainly taking their time getting this one out on the street. All Dunlop's production capacity must be tied up cranking out Way Huge stuff.

Vasshu the humanoid typhoon · Apr 27, 2011

Re: Anybody played an MXR '78 Distortion?

Yeah not in stores here either....allthough they are advertising for it!

whatshisname · Apr 28, 2011

Re: Anybody played an MXR '78 Distortion?

Those sound clips have me very interested!

Aceman · Apr 28, 2011

Re: Anybody played an MXR '78 Distortion?

Sounds like someone didn't make a production deadline.

Also, Bad@$$, 1978, and MXR: I don't really see those ending up in the same sentence at all. I'm sure that in 80-84 I was hearing some 1978 MXR distortion pedals. Not remembering anything worth remembering, let alone 'bad@$$'

Khriss Bliss · Apr 28, 2011

Re: Anybody played an MXR '78 Distortion?

i agree. the 78 refers to a series of mxr pedals, as they made yesteryear. for example the logo used to be scripted font. so when they released the evh phaser pedal to sound like it did on eruption it had a script function i. e. press this button to get orig 78 sound-(great pedal btw). but while the old mxr distortion pedal is very ok, say if u were into Randy Rhoads, its not marshall in a box. its just a good distortion pedal with good bypass and less mushing of the whole range of sound. i assume the badass is meAnt to capture that era in mxr products. but maybe what want is the boss power stack pedal, or also try the gain function onthe pricey boss fender 65 pedal- it also models tube sag, tube crunch. but then before u buy it, i would look into a seymour duncan pedal with a real tube. i love my ibanez tubeking pedal once i put a JJ 12 ax7 in it, took out the sovtek- love it. i bet the blackstar pedals (w a real preamp tube) are great also. but the mxr is just the middle between lotta overdrive and a fuzzbox- its a distortion pedal, of quality, but... other than rhoads and page i dunno who would have used it professionally.

WhoFan · Apr 28, 2011

Re: Anybody played an MXR '78 Distortion?

the store near me has a huge bunch of MXR stuff they just got in... i should try out the 78....

i plan to go and try out the Phase 90 they have in... just judging by some clips i've heard i think i like new cheaper one over the sounds of the 74 handwired reissue...

Ed Hunter · Apr 28, 2011

Re: Anybody played an MXR '78 Distortion?

dunlop approached EVH with this idea and he flat out will not endorse a fuzz/overdrive unit. he swears he never used one back in the late 70's and early 80's. dunlop then decided to call it the 78 and we all know what album came out that year with a mega gain tone. it is a way to make money from a artist without a lawsuit. there is another product called the 78 that also uses this same method.

Vasshu the humanoid typhoon · Apr 28, 2011

Re: Anybody played an MXR '78 Distortion?

Do we have anymore uncomfirmed stories??