Boogie Bill
New member
So MXR has 3,569 distortion, overdrive, fuzz and "metal" dirt boxes...where do I start?
Which ones work well, and which ones don't?
Bill
Which ones work well, and which ones don't?
Bill
Sorting Out The MXR Dirt Boxes....
- Thread starter Boogie Bill
- Start date
LonePhantom
New member
Re: Sorting Out The MXR Dirt Boxes....
What sort of sounds are you after?
What sort of sounds are you after?
JeffB
Let it B
Re: Sorting Out The MXR Dirt Boxes....
I am partial to the original script D+. The current version sucks, but PGS has a reissue.
I also like the Distortion 3, which I see as a spiritual successor. Its crunchy and can be set up fairlywarm.if you wwnt it, not too crazy.
TheBadass78, i have had one sitting around here for a year, plus., awful lonely. Harsh, square wavey. Only time I have liked itwas as a.goose for my strat when my phaser is on..has a faux fuzz robin trowery type thing going on. I much prefer an old MIJ DS1 over this "improved" version.
I am partial to the original script D+. The current version sucks, but PGS has a reissue.
I also like the Distortion 3, which I see as a spiritual successor. Its crunchy and can be set up fairlywarm.if you wwnt it, not too crazy.
TheBadass78, i have had one sitting around here for a year, plus., awful lonely. Harsh, square wavey. Only time I have liked itwas as a.goose for my strat when my phaser is on..has a faux fuzz robin trowery type thing going on. I much prefer an old MIJ DS1 over this "improved" version.
Dr. Vegetable
New member
Re: Sorting Out The MXR Dirt Boxes....
I've been auditioning a few MXR distortion units recently. I have a Classic Distortion (GC limited edition) a '78 Badass, and a Dime Distortion.
The Classic and '78 are quite similar. Somehow, I prefer the Classic, though. It sounds very rich in front of my Blues Jr. The '78 Badass just doesn't hit the same creamy crunch for me. Maybe I haven't fiddled with it enough yet...
The Dime was a bit of a surprise. I picked it up for $50 from the used case at GC. Very cool unit with the 3-band EQ controls. Not as organic sounding as the Classic, but a great pedal for sculpting tone. Warning: 18VDC supply needed!
I have also been looking at a few other MXRs from the wrong side of the display case. The Modified OD and Fullbore Metal pedals look very interesting, and I'd love to get my ears on a Classic 108 or a script (re-issue?) D+.
You may find these difficult to evaluate until you put them into your own setup. They do seem to be very sensitive to where they are placed in the chain and what amps they are used with IME.
3 down, 3,566 to go...
I've been auditioning a few MXR distortion units recently. I have a Classic Distortion (GC limited edition) a '78 Badass, and a Dime Distortion.
The Classic and '78 are quite similar. Somehow, I prefer the Classic, though. It sounds very rich in front of my Blues Jr. The '78 Badass just doesn't hit the same creamy crunch for me. Maybe I haven't fiddled with it enough yet...
The Dime was a bit of a surprise. I picked it up for $50 from the used case at GC. Very cool unit with the 3-band EQ controls. Not as organic sounding as the Classic, but a great pedal for sculpting tone. Warning: 18VDC supply needed!
I have also been looking at a few other MXRs from the wrong side of the display case. The Modified OD and Fullbore Metal pedals look very interesting, and I'd love to get my ears on a Classic 108 or a script (re-issue?) D+.
You may find these difficult to evaluate until you put them into your own setup. They do seem to be very sensitive to where they are placed in the chain and what amps they are used with IME.
3 down, 3,566 to go...
the guy who invented fire
Fuzzy. Guitars
Re: Sorting Out The MXR Dirt Boxes....
It's not too bad...
Custom Badass 78 Distortion-Based on the original Boss DS-1 with a few tweaks-If youlike the DS-1 you'll likely enjoy it, if you don't keep walking.
Custom Badass Modified OD-This is based on the Way Huge Green Rhino which is of the TS/SD camp of OD-soft clipping, etc btu with some nice added features for tayloring the lows and mids.
Fullbore Metal-I think it sucksk but I don't like those metallic/scooped metal tones, the built in gate is a great idea for these types of players.
Blue Box-Gated fuzz with sub octave-pretty crazy sounding pedal truth be told but it has it's uses...Listen to the solo on Fool In The Rain.
Classic 108-This is based on the jimi Hendrix Fuzz Face, it has an added buffer (so it can be used wiht a wah pedal) and is in a smaller box, it is not handwired and forgoes a lot of the mojo parts but is still a good sounding box if you like vintage Silicon Fuzz Faces
Distortion III-This has nothing to do with old MXR Dist pedals, it's smoother and has a MUCH wider range of tones. I'm surprised I don't see this box being used more truth be told. If the Dist III cost $250 and had a 6 month wait list it's be massively popular! A long time staple of Keith Urban FWIW.
Distortion +-This is the newest version of the Dist+...thin, buzzy and sort of crappy IMHO but some guys like it.
Script Distortion +-Mid 70's style reissue of the original, can only be had at PGS.com, all the issues of the original buyt all the cool tones too...Think Randy Rhodes!
GT OD-TS style OD pedal, low gain, soft clipping, a little more gritty than a TS-808, a little more low end than a TS-808, another GREAT pedal and I do see this one a good bit being used.
Dime Distortion-No idea, I assume heavy as hell!
ZW Berzerker Overdrive-Based on Zakk's Boss SD-1 pedals but with more volume, more grit and more low end.
I hope that helps a little.
FWIW, Jim Dunlop has a GREAT website and there are clips and vid's of all of these pedals on there...not the best way to start looking but a good way to narrow it down a bit.
http://www.jimdunlop.com/products/electronics/mxr
It's not too bad...
Custom Badass 78 Distortion-Based on the original Boss DS-1 with a few tweaks-If youlike the DS-1 you'll likely enjoy it, if you don't keep walking.
Custom Badass Modified OD-This is based on the Way Huge Green Rhino which is of the TS/SD camp of OD-soft clipping, etc btu with some nice added features for tayloring the lows and mids.
Fullbore Metal-I think it sucksk but I don't like those metallic/scooped metal tones, the built in gate is a great idea for these types of players.
Blue Box-Gated fuzz with sub octave-pretty crazy sounding pedal truth be told but it has it's uses...Listen to the solo on Fool In The Rain.
Classic 108-This is based on the jimi Hendrix Fuzz Face, it has an added buffer (so it can be used wiht a wah pedal) and is in a smaller box, it is not handwired and forgoes a lot of the mojo parts but is still a good sounding box if you like vintage Silicon Fuzz Faces
Distortion III-This has nothing to do with old MXR Dist pedals, it's smoother and has a MUCH wider range of tones. I'm surprised I don't see this box being used more truth be told. If the Dist III cost $250 and had a 6 month wait list it's be massively popular! A long time staple of Keith Urban FWIW.
Distortion +-This is the newest version of the Dist+...thin, buzzy and sort of crappy IMHO but some guys like it.
Script Distortion +-Mid 70's style reissue of the original, can only be had at PGS.com, all the issues of the original buyt all the cool tones too...Think Randy Rhodes!
GT OD-TS style OD pedal, low gain, soft clipping, a little more gritty than a TS-808, a little more low end than a TS-808, another GREAT pedal and I do see this one a good bit being used.
Dime Distortion-No idea, I assume heavy as hell!
ZW Berzerker Overdrive-Based on Zakk's Boss SD-1 pedals but with more volume, more grit and more low end.
I hope that helps a little.
FWIW, Jim Dunlop has a GREAT website and there are clips and vid's of all of these pedals on there...not the best way to start looking but a good way to narrow it down a bit.
http://www.jimdunlop.com/products/electronics/mxr
RealtyViking
New member
Re: Sorting Out The MXR Dirt Boxes....
Classic Distortion = Distortion III
Classic Overdrive = GT-OD with a microswitch to change over to a Zakk Wylde OD
Best of the bunch in my opinion.
Classic Distortion = Distortion III
Classic Overdrive = GT-OD with a microswitch to change over to a Zakk Wylde OD
Best of the bunch in my opinion.
the guy who invented fire
Fuzzy. Guitars
Re: Sorting Out The MXR Dirt Boxes....
I forgot all about those GC MXR pedals...those are just re named GT-OD's, DIII's and Wylde OD's!
I forgot all about those GC MXR pedals...those are just re named GT-OD's, DIII's and Wylde OD's!
bancika
New member
Re: Sorting Out The MXR Dirt Boxes....
So they ripped off a TS ripoff made by the company owned by dunlop who also owns MXR...weird sh*t
So they ripped off a TS ripoff made by the company owned by dunlop who also owns MXR...weird sh*t
tonechaser
New member
Re: Sorting Out The MXR Dirt Boxes....
How is the Wylde OD? I almost picked one up this morning.
How is the Wylde OD? I almost picked one up this morning.
bancika
New member
Re: Sorting Out The MXR Dirt Boxes....
similar to SD-1....if you're on the market for wylde or gt-od, just get a classic od guitar center special (I got mine for 40$ minus 10$ coupon = 30$). All three pedals are the same with internal switch to go from gt-od (more mellow, tubescreamer-ish sound) to zw (more higher-mids, more aggressive) mode.
More info http://diy-fever.com/effects/mxr-zw-gt-classic-od/
similar to SD-1....if you're on the market for wylde or gt-od, just get a classic od guitar center special (I got mine for 40$ minus 10$ coupon = 30$). All three pedals are the same with internal switch to go from gt-od (more mellow, tubescreamer-ish sound) to zw (more higher-mids, more aggressive) mode.
More info http://diy-fever.com/effects/mxr-zw-gt-classic-od/
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the guy who invented fire
Fuzzy. Guitars
Re: Sorting Out The MXR Dirt Boxes....
Not ripped off, borrowed and tweaked.
It's not THE same but close but it is also build differently in terms of construction plus it is in a smaller box.
So they ripped off a TS ripoff made by the company owned by dunlop who also owns MXR...weird sh*t
Not ripped off, borrowed and tweaked.
It's not THE same but close but it is also build differently in terms of construction plus it is in a smaller box.
T
tonello
Guest
Re: Sorting Out The MXR Dirt Boxes....
I just bought a 78 Distortion for my guitar, and it sounds nice, but when I tried it on my Music Man Ray 5, it really sounded good. It kind of had that Chris Wolstenholme (from Muse), fuzzy sound.
I just bought a 78 Distortion for my guitar, and it sounds nice, but when I tried it on my Music Man Ray 5, it really sounded good. It kind of had that Chris Wolstenholme (from Muse), fuzzy sound.
Aceman
I am your doctor of love!
Re: Sorting Out The MXR Dirt Boxes....
In reflection, this really makes me see the big MXR picture:
A couple of decent pedals that are actually copies of other equally cool pedals, a few reissues of pedals that are and always will be (mostly) crappy. Mayybe one or two good boxes in a sea of "meh." original.
But again - dirt is a personal thing. One man's fuzzy buzzy crap is another's high gain Nirvana uber-tone.
In reflection, this really makes me see the big MXR picture:
A couple of decent pedals that are actually copies of other equally cool pedals, a few reissues of pedals that are and always will be (mostly) crappy. Mayybe one or two good boxes in a sea of "meh." original.
But again - dirt is a personal thing. One man's fuzzy buzzy crap is another's high gain Nirvana uber-tone.
Matt42
New member
Re: Sorting Out The MXR Dirt Boxes....
I too am a huge fan of the Custom Badass Mod OD. It is extremely tweakable, yet easy to get a really good sound from. It's been a fixture on my board since I got it a last year. I like it so much that I used it over a borrowed vintage TS808 on a couple of songs on my band's album. The 808 made it on too, but there were a couple of songs that I wanted a thicker lead tone for, and that's where the Custom Badass really shines.
I too am a huge fan of the Custom Badass Mod OD. It is extremely tweakable, yet easy to get a really good sound from. It's been a fixture on my board since I got it a last year. I like it so much that I used it over a borrowed vintage TS808 on a couple of songs on my band's album. The 808 made it on too, but there were a couple of songs that I wanted a thicker lead tone for, and that's where the Custom Badass really shines.
