MXR Custom Badass OD

guitarded

guitarded

New member
Just scored one of these on ebay for 46 bucks. I used to have the 78 distortion but the weird thing is that the OD seems to have more gain or at least much as the distortion. So far I kinda like it. Tried with a Strat and my Mark IV head. Anyone else try this pedal and like it?


I didn't like the 78 at all but this seems like something that I may be able to use. The construction seems a bit cheap as the chassis is a lot lighter than traditional mxr pedals. Other OD's I own are OCD, Plimsoul, Green Rhino, OD-3. Not to mention all the other I have tried and sold. Just curious what others think about this pedal.
 
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Re: MXR Custom Badass OD

I'm curious to know how different it is from the Green Rhino, since both pedals are laid out about the same, and have the same designer.
 
Re: MXR Custom Badass OD

Gearjoneser said:
I'm curious to know how different it is from the Green Rhino, since both pedals are laid out about the same, and have the same designer.
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I have yet to a/b them but they are very similar. I think the MXR is more aggressive
 
Re: MXR Custom Badass OD

I've got one of these, great overdrive. Great for goosing the dirty channel of my HT-5 for some over the top distortion.

It can sound quite neutral with the mid switch off, and more like a Tube Screamer with it on. Well, that's my opinion anyway.
 
Re: MXR Custom Badass OD

I'm just perplexed as to why someone would let it go for 46 bucks and free shipping. Seems like a really useful and versatile pedal.
 
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I have one and do enjoy it. The construction bothers me though as their is currently a serious problem with the switching on mine. How does the Green Rhino compare constructionwise?
 
Re: MXR Custom Badass OD

The Green Rhino is far better construction but it has a large footprint on the pedal board and the input output jacks are up top which makes less pedalboard friendly as well. The switch on the rhino is really solid and quiet.
 
Re: MXR Custom Badass OD

I just have trouble getting excited about MXR dirt boxes.
 
Re: MXR Custom Badass OD

guitarded said:
The Green Rhino is far better construction but it has a large footprint on the pedal board and the input output jacks are up top which makes less pedalboard friendly as well. The switch on the rhino is really solid and quiet.
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I'm going to be attempting to build a home made pedal board this winter or possibly in the spring, so the size doesn't bother me so much. If it has a similar sound, and is better built, I may just go with one of those.
 
Re: MXR Custom Badass OD

Aceman said:
I just have trouble getting excited about MXR dirt boxes.
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Yea... Me too. I would have never paid full price for this without trying it first. I was pleasantly surprised it sounds as good as it does. Sames goes with Boss but their OD-3 was a winner with me too.
 
Re: MXR Custom Badass OD

Matt42 said:
I'm going to be attempting to build a home made pedal board this winter or possibly in the spring, so the size doesn't bother me so much. If it has a similar sound, and is better built, I may just go with one of those.
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The Rhino is pretty good but there is one thing about it I don't like which is why it came off my board. Hard to describe... but I guess maybe it lacked some dynamics to my pick attack which I didn't dig. What I do like a lot about the rhino is how it sounds with the guitar vol rolled down. Very good as far as cleaning up and you do get better dynamics with a lower input signal. This is just my pickyness.... I am nuts with dirt boxes and my opinions about certain pedals change once in a while too. It is still overall a very good pedal which I plan to hold on to. Thing about the MXR is I pulled a Fulltone Plimsoul from my board in favor of this much cheaper pedal.
 
Re: MXR Custom Badass OD

guitarded said:
Yea... Me too. I would have never paid full price for this without trying it first. I was pleasantly surprised it sounds as good as it does. Sames goes with Boss but their OD-3 was a winner with me too.
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How is it different from the standard MXR OD (or Distortion+)? Tonally, what is there more/less of?
 
Re: MXR Custom Badass OD

Aceman said:
How is it different from the standard MXR OD (or Distortion+)? Tonally, what is there more/less of?
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Couldn't really tell ya.... Haven't tried the standard OD although people here seem to dig that one. Just haven't come across a good deal on one yet. Haven't touched a distortion + in many years and back then I was playing way different than I do today. Last recent MXR dirt box I had was the 78. This one has as much or more gain than the 78 without the harshness and it is considerably darker sounding. From what I remember about the + this one might have a similar amount of output and gain but it is far more flexible. For 46 dollars, I am a very happy camper.
 
Re: MXR Custom Badass OD

It's got a lot more low and mid range than the GT-OD, mostly because of the 100HZ knob and the Bump switch. With the 100HZ set fairly neutral and the Bump off, it sounds extremely similar to the GT-OD to my ears.

I think the CBAOD responds to picking dynamics fairly poorly as well. I actually like that, though, as I usually just use it into a slightly pushed clean channel to get some drive. I would like something a bit more responsive for soloing though.
 
Re: MXR Custom Badass OD

It's got noticeably better response to picking nuances than the green rhino. It does not however, clean up as nice with the guitar vol knob.
 
Re: MXR Custom Badass OD

Matt42 said:
It's got a lot more low and mid range than the GT-OD, mostly because of the 100HZ knob and the Bump switch. With the 100HZ set fairly neutral and the Bump off, it sounds extremely similar to the GT-OD to my ears.

I think the CBAOD responds to picking dynamics fairly poorly as well. I actually like that, though, as I usually just use it into a slightly pushed clean channel to get some drive. I would like something a bit more responsive for soloing though.
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i really like the gt0d. if it sounds like that with an extra bass boost/trimmer im definitely interested to try one.
 
Re: MXR Custom Badass OD

It's really really close. I think the Custom Badass has a touch less gain than the GT-OD. I know it has a bit less than my Wylde, and from what I can recall, the Wylde and GT-OD are pretty much the same, gainwise.
 
Re: MXR Custom Badass OD

I just got the Custom Baddass '78 Distortion but have been laid up since I got it. Hoping for that big stadium sound with my "tube enabled" Laney on the clean channel or even boosting and OD channel. Mainly use my JB/59 Full Thickness Eclipse. We'll see how it goes!!
 
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