John Landgraff MO D Distortion

The Mo D distortion is an easy pedal to use. It has the obligatory volume/tone/gain setup and a three way switch which fine tunes the grind. I'll give it a 9 as the switch may take a bit of getting used to but all the tones in this pedal are so good that it really doesn't matter where you set it. The gain knob has detents in it so you can get your favorite settings very easily...nice touch!

The Mo D is really an excellent sounding pedal. Compared to Landgraff's Dynamic Overdrive is definitely has more gain (which shouldn't be a surprise) but it also is brighter, more percussive, and just exploding with harmonics. Lower in its gain range it can certainly ape a few of the dynamic overdrive's tones but it's really its own thing. The Dynamic Overdrive is smoother, warmer, and milder. The Mo D is also more versatile of a pedal, with a lot more tone shaping options and wider range of controls. I've heard a lot of ProCo Rat comparisons made to the Mo D and while it does use the same opamp it's a very different sounding pedal than any Rat I've tried (vintage or turbo). In fact, what it most sounds like to me is Fulltone's OCD. Comparing them side by side the OCD is a little bit muddier and less transparent with a bit less harmonics; it focuses more on the fundamental. The Mo D on the other hand just has more bite, and there's better note separation and definition when playing chords. Also the Mo D sounds a lot better than the OCD when you turn it up...it almost gets into a sort of psudeo-fuzz sound that could be very usable in the right situation. Not to knock the Fulltone OCD, which I think is a great pedal-maybe better for dirty blues stuff- (and a lot cheaper than the Mo D) but I do have to say that the Mo D just has that something special about it that's hard to quantify but you notice it the minute you turn it on. Another thing I like about the Mo D is, that for a distortion pedal, it's pretty darn quiet!!! The Dynamic Overdrive has way more buzz in it whereas the Mo D has very little background noise. Overall its probably the best distortion pedal ever with a very usable, verastile and unique sound.

It's built very very well. You open it up and you can tell these things are made by hand. Hand wired, point-to-point on a vector board with really nice right-angle wiring, very neat and clean. I'd expect this to last a lifetime as long as you take care of it (and you wouldn't go kicking around a $400 pedal would you?). The only thing is that the hand-painted finish seems a bit easy to scar...doesn't really change the tone though does it?!?

Well here's the deal with Landgraff pedal customer support. The things are built one at a time by one man: Mr. Landgraff. And he seems like a really nice, genuine person who really cares about the products that he's making and the players who are playing them. The only problem is that the word is definitely out of his stuff and so he's seems to be totally swamped. I think that's pretty telling of the build quality and tone of these things considering that his pedals are probably some of the most expensive new pedals on the market right now...a LOT of people are obviously willing to pay for the best!!! Unfortunately, that means that you're not going to get a tremendous amount of one-on-one time with him like some boutique builders and you've got to wait over a year to get a pedal from him. I just tried to order another of his pedals after I got the Mo D and he's so swamped right now that he isn't even taking orders!! So, you know what they say, nothing good comes w/o a wait...get ready. The wait time, demand, and popularity of Mr. Landgraff's products in no way diminishes who he is as a person or the quality of his work but it does make it harder to get what you want from him which isn't to say his customer support is bad but it is what it is...

It's a wonderful distortion pedal, one of if not the best I've ever played. That alone would give it a ten but I will take a point away because it is very expensive and another point away for the fact that it's NOT easy to get your hands on one. However, it is worth the money and the wait. I've used it now on over ten gigs and on quite a few recording sessions and it's an incredibly toneful and versatile pedal that's sure to please many!!

there aren't any bad sounds..

It's a MONSTER...Once I heard it...And my buddy told me John had another special one waiting for him...I bought it from him immediately...$420 for a pedal is RIDICULOUS!!!!!!!!
But it sounds that good..

Build like a tank....

Luckily for my..my guitar bro is VERY close to John L... so he helps me with that part....So yeah..very easy

The mo'd through my Dr Z kt45...2 el34's...1 ef86..1 12ax7....and tube gz34 rectifer....62 reissue and custom build strats...produce some of the best sounds Ive ever heard...

Easy as pie. Three knobs. Seeing as there's no "finish" category for the pedals I will go so far as to say that the paint job on this particular Mo' is ghastly. It looks like a clown threw up on it. This isn't really John's fault, he didn't paint it, just worth mentioning. Landgraff distortion pedals are like a box of chocolates...

Hmmmm.... This is a little tricky, at least for me. In some ways, it's easily a 10. It's kinda Rat-ish/Big Muff-esque in that over saturated, in your face 70's kinda way. It's especially useful for fattening up single coils and makes for a BRILLIANT lead tone. While it does clean up a little bit by strumming more softly and allows for some pretty good rock tones, I don't find it as useful as the Dynamic O.D. While there is a certain degree of tonal overlap between the two, at least as far as gain levels are concerned, the Mo' is certainly a different breed. Please bear in mind that this is NOT a bad thing, just something that I have to get used to. I will say that, regardless of my hesitance to give it a solid thumbs up or thumbs down I really DO like the pedal a lot. It's just not what I was expecting after the D.O....

Too early to tell. Seems pretty solid, though.

Great service so far from Blues Angel, and I have yet to bother John about anything because so far no problems have arisen. He's a pretty easy guy to get along with apparently.

Not was I was expecting, but all in all a pretty good pedal. Not as "dynamic" as the Dynamic Overdrive, but capable of some pretty thick and righteous sounds just the same. Definitely a "lead" pedal, in my opinion. It's certainly worth a try. If you don't like it you can sell it on E-bay and make a killing...

Well I started impatient as ever and went for vol on left gain on right......I was wrong! Toggle and no lables , so I'll say 8. It's still very easy to use.

Mr. Landgraff said it is based on the Rat ....but I have had all three types . Rat 2 and vintage I had modded even. None can do what this Landy can! 11 o'clock gain setting, and toggle down is a great example of an elite boutique distortion!

Seems tough enough. Can't afford a back up , so let's hope it's as tough as it looks!

Very nice and helpful. He let me knoow that this one had had the original bottom exchanged for this non-finished one. Someone has a Landy bottom plate, signed to them, stashed! That is cool ...It is signed to them , after all.
And he told me to call with any questions and updates. He even said , "keep in touch." Very cool!

I have tried MANY a pedal now. And have gave out 10's when I was blown away by my first Boutique peds.
MANY lesser peds have recieved ten ratings. Landgraff is one of the Top three companies, I have tried, doing distortion. It is so much better than a dozen I can think of....I have to give it a 10! I traded 5 peds for 1. And am very happy with what I came out'a that trade with!

Great tone at all settings. You can get a nice, crunchy, 'classic rock' sound, or over-the-top/high gain sounds......all with exceptional tone.

3 knobs: Gain, volume, and tone. They are unmarked, but very easy to remember. Writing would mess up the cool paint job !!

I use two PRSs [a custom and a SAS] thru a Dr. Z Maz 18 Jr. [2X12]. Great tone. Best distortion pedal I've heard, bar none. I can dial in Joe Walsh crunch [can nail the Doobie's China Groove tone], as well as high gain settings ala Eric Johnson, VH, etc.

The tone is always solid in any setting. I've owned the VooDoo Labs Sparkle Drive, the Fulltone Distortion Pro and Fulldrive 2, a Boss DS-1, a Boss GT-5 multieffect, along with others..... Best tone by far is the Landgraff.

Built like a tank. Every pedal hand-made by John himself.

John is an outstanding service person. He will very patiently listen to what you want, and steer you in the right direction. Very honest man.....great to deal with.

I've searched high and low for the 'sound in my head', and finally I've found it!! One VERY satisfied customer. For $325, a pedal better be great, not just mediocre. The Landgraff is great. 'Nuff said. :D

You don't need a manual...just your ears and a great guitar and tube amp. I reviewed the Landgraff "Dynamic Overdrive" and bought #68 and just could not get enough of the Landgraff vibe. I then ordered the "Mo D" distortion pedal (#6). This pedal takes off where his overdrive leaves off. It has true bypass and uses either battery or 9 volt input. It has 3 knobs and a 3 way switch. The switch basically re-voices the dynamics of the pedal. My pedal was made to my specification and ear on sight at Blues Angel Music. I wanted asymetrical "Hard" clipping on one position, symetrical "hard" clipping on another position and "straight clip" in the middle position. The tone knob was altered for my treble needs to act as a treble boost if I wanted. Top left knob is gain, top right knob is volume and the middle knob is tone. Right below the tone knob is the three way switch and then comes a very sturdy switch. The pedal has a LED to show battery/power on /off and it is in the most wonderful hand painted box which no two are alike. This pedal can be modified based on your input and Johns skill. He also sells a kit for 25.00 that allows you to modify your circuit. The board is socketed to allow component changes and mods for you to tinker with. He uses the best components for sound and clarity and makes all other pedals obsolete. This is the last distortion pedal I will ever buy...unless he designs another one that I like...

I play all styles and having his Dynamic Overdrive and this very cool "Mo D" distortion pedal...I can play everything I hear inside my head. I play a strat guitar with a Humbucker and two single coils and I tested both pedals with the John Landgraff "Fifty" which I also reviewed on this sight. My search for the ultimate tone is over. I sold every pedal I owned on EBAY at a loss just to get these pedals and will never regret it. I look so forward to all the other pedals he is developing...so much so...I will only play Landgraff pedals and amps.
The pedal has your typical swoosh when engaged with no playing but hey...the sound quality is superb to any other pedal I A/B with. The pedal never sounds weak when turned on you know its presence and touch and feel. It does not sound as good with a solid state amp. This pedal is designed to input a 1st stage tube and push it to the next level without muddying up the signal. When the pedal is off...there is no drop in volume with the true bypass wiring. I have also ordered #6 out of 10 John Landgraff "Fifty" watt head. I can cover Jimi to Stevie to Lynch and Van Halen with absolute conviction...not to mention I am playing the most inspired "Bradley" (ME) I have ever heard!!!! I just can't wait to see where this Landgraff sound ends up. I know if Stevie was alive...he would own this amp and pedals...and I feel Billy Gibbons will be a customer very soon!!

These pedals and amps are built for a lifetime. You really need to make this trip and meet John and Jim at Blues Angel Music. If you don't...it is very much your loss. Once word gets out on John Landgraff Pedals and amps...you will be waiting for years. He builds them one at a time not to be eccentric or mysterious...just because he truly loves what he does and puts his all into each and every one...ONE AT A TIME... Point to point pedals and amps with Jesus and Heaven in mind... You have to see, hear, and feel this to really know what I am saying. I was on my way to New Orleans to test a KJL dirty thirty amp...and never got passed the John Landgraff experience...sorry Kenny of KJL... I found my Mecca!!!!

AGAIN...James Destafney and John Landgraff at Blues Angel Music in Pensacola, FL. (800-823-6302)is all you could ever dream of in support and you will find a true friendship in them. I played for 20+ hours over a week after work at a very loud volume...testing all the possibilities and am just amazed at the way it reacted to my playing. I am a believer of word of mouth and finding this pedal and John Langraff is worth its weight in gold. Also my very special thanks to Jim Destafney for introducing me to John and taking me next door to the best Mexican resturant in P-Cola. Muchos Gracious Seniores...and very much God Bless You guys!!!! You are the best in the business!!

I think the above comments say everything...I have owned every amp, pedal, guitar out there and have all but sold everything I own for a complete Landgraff system of pedals and one beautiful amplifier. If anything of mine were stolen...I would forgive the person who did it...but I would go to all ends to get it all back. I will have insurance covering all my Landgraff gear!!! I love everything about the product in the way that John built it for my ear and needs. I wish everyone this inner peace I have found in my ultimate quest for tone through John Landgraff!!! I look so forward to all up coming pedals.