MXR distortion + or MXR ZW44?

[EmiAba]

Hi
I want to add a OD pedal to my gear. Currently I play my les paul straight into an orange dark terror head, or sometimes with a boss chorus between the guitar and the amp. I need to boost it up. I have gathered information on this forum and I have heard a lot of audio samples on youtube and ended up with two pedals: MXR distortion+ and MXR ZW44. I like them both and I can not decide. Any help?

 

[mjsmanahan35]

Re: MXR distortion + or MXR ZW44?

https://youtu.be/9-Aacrs7jpc
https://youtu.be/8E62dCPGWs0
Ibanez Tube Screamer Mini Demos.

Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk

 

[El Dunco]

Re: MXR distortion + or MXR ZW44?

Bring your amp to a music shop (it's quite portable after all) and try them out. It's the only way to be sure. The ZW-44 is going to be brighter and give a more metallic edge to the sound.

 

[misterwhizzy]

Re: MXR distortion + or MXR ZW44?

Bring your amp to a music shop (it's quite portable after all) and try them out. It's the only way to be sure. The ZW-44 is going to be brighter and give a more metallic edge to the sound.

Unless you flip the switch inside and turn it into a GT-OD. Best pedal mod I've done.

 

[El Dunco]

Re: MXR distortion + or MXR ZW44?

Unless you flip the switch inside and turn it into a GT-OD. Best pedal mod I've done.

True. I quite like the GT side because it's warmer and less metallic although sometimes those grinding highs work depending on the amp and the sound you're after. I have a custom overdrive a local pedalmaker built for me based on the ZW/GT circuit with the switch on the outside (and another switch that allows for one diode, cascaded diodes or none plus a clean boost) but used virtually none of the original components which I chose after blind testing them during a breadboard challenge. That overdrive so far beats every overdrive I've compared it to.

 

[misterwhizzy]

Re: MXR distortion + or MXR ZW44?

True. I quite like the GT side because it's warmer and less metallic although sometimes those grinding highs work depending on the amp and the sound you're after. I have a custom overdrive a local pedalmaker built for me based on the ZW/GT circuit with the switch on the outside (and another switch that allows for one diode, cascaded diodes or none plus a clean boost) but used virtually none of the original components which I chose after blind testing them during a breadboard challenge. That overdrive so far beats every overdrive I've compared it to.

I moved the switch to the outside also. My PRS likes the ZW mode with its scoop, and my LP likes the GT better.

 

[Matt42]

Re: MXR distortion + or MXR ZW44?

I keep meaning to do that to my pedal, but keep putting it off because A) it's not even on my board right now and B) I lack the tools to do it right.

 

[misterwhizzy]

Re: MXR distortion + or MXR ZW44?

I keep meaning to do that to my pedal, but keep putting it off because A) it's not even on my board right now and B) I lack the tools to do it right.

You need a switch, a soldering iron, a drill, and about two inches of wire. Total of about three dollars in parts.

 

[Matt42]

Re: MXR distortion + or MXR ZW44?

The drill and the iron are things I'm missing.

We do have a drill and an soldering iron at work, maybe I can talk my boss into letting me do it here. Then I just have the to fight against the fact that I rarely use that pedal and it sits in my closet 99% of the time right now.