MXR Distortion +

It is easy to use it but read on why I don't like it (in the state I bought it)...

This little yellow effect just compresses too much for me. I always thought that a germanium overdrive is sounding better than a silicon overdrive. OK, the distortion IS nice but the dynamics of this pedal are really a shame. You just cannot play clean by soft picking the strings!

After replaceing the germanium diodes with silicon types (1N4007) it did the job for me. It sounds a bit harsher but the dynamics are much more preferably!

There is also an issue with the bass: there is just too less bass and I should replace some capacitors as well to do the trick... lets see

I bought it used and have it for three years now. Its still working, thanks to the well built case!

All in all, it's stubborn as a mule but if you know how to tame it, this pedal may be for you.

Very easy to use. 2 knobs output and distortion.

Im using a SG plugged into a custom Davis amp my grandpa got me (great amp). My chords are 2 planet waves chords.

The sound quality on this M104 distortion + sucks! Since there is only 2 knobs yu cant get a sound yu want, not enough options. I have switched the dials to any possible setting and no matter where they are at the distortion always sounds horrible. I was using some digitech multiple effects pedal before buying this and the Digitech (an average pedal) blows this MXR away. If i were i would not buy this. But i have not tried the old script or vintage mxr pedals. So maybe the older ones are better but the currents ones suck big time.

This thing is unbreakable. Chuck Norris could axe kick it and it wouldnt even leave a scratch.

Have not used.

I play 70's and 80's classic, hard, and metal rock. I play bands such as Van halen, Ratt, Metallica, ACDC, Dio, Megadeth, Black Sabbath, Ozzy Osbourne etc. This pedal could come nowhere close to the sounds of these bands or the sound i wanted. Even though Randy used this pedal, the current ones sound nothing like the sound he got. Maybe the older vintage ones are better idk. But this ones not. If it were stolen i would be pretty happy for it would be an excuse to buy another pedal. i dont really like anything about it. Your better off using a marshall head with a built in distortion in the head of the amp or buying a multi effects pedal like a zoom or a digitech or something.

Simplicity incarnate. Output level. Distortion. Everything I need and nothing I don't.

Noiseless when guitar is off. Noiseless switching. And it still gives the sound I fell in love with 30 years ago. I've added other pedals before and after, but the core of my sound is the Distortion+. I play a UV777 and this vintage unit just roars the 7th string. I didn't have much luck with the newer (Dunlop reissues) version, but lucked into this one chatting at a coffee shop.

My grandchildren will still be using this long after I'm dust. I'm looking for more of the same era, but haven't had much luck, nor am I in the least concerned. I'm 270+ and I can stomp this beast - they knew how to make switches back then.

Doesn't really relate, since I'm rating a 30 year old pedal by a company long since gone.

I play a variety of styles. This device suits my UV777 perfectly, and coupled with a tube screamer, my RGs (heavily modded) scream out everything I need. I've been playing guitar for more than 35 years, and used MXR D+ for 30 of them. My pedal board is roughly the size of a large coffee table, running the gamut from 3 wahs, 4 volumes strategically staged for different swell effects, stereo chorus, stereo delay, stereo rotary speaker emulator, 3 pitch shifters, 2 tube screamers (pre and post D+) and probably more when I go shopping tomorrow. This splits off to a Hughes and Kettner Switchblade 100 with 2 4x12 Celestion Vintage 30 cabs (left channel) and a dog-eared Fender SuperTwin (right channel).

The Distortion + is the core, the heart of the system.

Tone and distortion knobs. That's it.

This is THE worst pedal I've ever used. This on is an old script logo pedal. Maybe 77, or so. It really compresses the sound. I use Marshall, Soldano and Roccaforte amps. I have used many pedals and the are all different but this one just sounds terribe. I have lots of Fulltone pedals snd they all sound different. They each have their own place depending on the the song. This thing has no place in any song for me. I'm not saying that no one should take a look at it. It's just that some people love the very things that others hate. I can be objective about it. That's why Basin Robbins has 31 flavors. You have to try alot of them to see which ones you like.

Built like a 57 Chevy.

Don't have any idea.

I need to sell this thing.

Two knobs. How tough can it be?

Average distortion pedal. Doesn't clean up very well when you turn your guitar volume down, hence it loses some versatility. Not enough output to bang the front end of a loud tube amp hard.

At least it has it's own sound.

Built like a brick.

N/A

For how cheap it is, you might as well have one in the pedal locker. But it's not a first call for anything. Just another color you may occaisionally have use for.

If you can't figure this pedal out, you shouldn't have an electric guitar.

It's unique, I'll give it that. You'll hear a lot of people complain about the lack of low end on this thing, but I don't think that's the problem. The problem is that the treble is just way too out front. This pedal would probably benefit a lot from simply having a treble-cut tone knob. As it is, it's a good pedal of solos. There's a decent amount of gain on board, and the output can get you out front without any other boosters. The cutting treble makes it a good solo pedal, but if you want to do some good rhythm work, you'll need to put an EQ pedal after it. I've got the 10-band MXR, and you can use that to properly adjust this pedal for whatever you want. The bad thing is, though, that you could just buy a different distortion pedal that doesn't need a separate EQ. I've also got an MXR Distorion III, and while that pedal isn't quite as high-gain, it's much more musical and usable.

MXR / Dunlop makes good products, so I'm not worried. Granted, this thing is only used sparingly.

They're okay.

I can't recommend this pedal because it's too limited in its use. We're spoiled nowadays by everything being so versatile. This will give you screaming lead tone that really cuts, but that's it. If that's all you want, then go ahead and buy this.

Well there's not much to control with this = twop knobs - output, distortion. Output controls, well output, and this could be used as a boost only. But it does change the sound of your guitar switshed on. Don't know if this has a true bypass, but it near. Not much bass and I gues sthis is all to do with how the distortion control brings in some nice square sounds. Thius pedal is quite edgey compared to a more modern overdrive. I'd compare it more with an overdrive because this isn't going to cut it with heavy grungey distortion. It's all very musical with lots of harmonics to make the sound pretty good.

Sounmds almost chorus like as it seems to retain all the harmonics from the guitar whilst cutting the bass quite a lot. However at heavier levels on this pedal, you'd have cut the bass anyway to keep it useable. I really like it. Bought a Bad Monkey at the same time and if I were on a budget and could only keep one - well this would be the one I'd keep. At low levels of distortion it sounds more like overdrive with some edge - but very nice edge. Seems more crunchy than the Bad Monkey - but nowhere near as Hi Fi, bassy and full as the Monkey (Monkey gets repreive then!) Suspect the Monkey sounds great as a solo / bedroom pedal and this one sounds better live where it will cut through.

Very solid. Built in a standard electronics circuit box made from aluminium with corner screws to change the battery. Very nicely made PCB inside. Looks like a quality product made for years of use. Jacks and switch all looks easily repairable.

Haven't tried it so......

I teach and play in a couple of bands. I'd take this anywhere. It's exactly the sort of pedal a pro uses for the one sound it does - which it does vert well if you are looking for a mild distortion rather than soft overdrive. This will give you all the cruch you need for live work and could be pushed into action as a blues overdrive pedal as well. It will sound rather thin in the bedroom - but I know this pedal will sound great in a live mix where it will cut through easily. I'll give it a 9 - perhaps there's something else out there?

I picked this up from eBay, vintage model. Two knobs. Output, Distortion. Piece of cake.

I'll be honest. I bought this pedal because I love Bob Mould and Sugar. But it has taken on it's own life in my songs and guitar/effects setup.

It has massive amounts of crunch, but could be considered a little trebly, or thin for some. So DON'T play it through a shitty amp.

I play a tele with a hot vintage seymour duncan bridge pickup (no idea of model/year) through a matchless lightning, and when the bands going for it, quite frankly this thing sounds frightening.

I'd give it a 10 but it SUCKS TONE BADLY.. maybe the newer ones have fixed this? I got a true bypass loop for it because it completely ruined the chime of my matchless. It's worth it though.

You'd have to use a sledgehammer to break this thing.

Never needed any.

I play pretty lush indie rock, sugar, manic st. preachers, oasis. so I don't need to use it all the time, but it particularly suits the straight ahead power pop numbers.

2 knobs, output and distortion, pretty straight forward.

i took it apart right after i plugged it in, to see if there was a trim pot or anything internal to play with, there wasnt. lol! it looked new, at least i think. it had different potentiometers than my phase 90, which was strange, so maybe it is either brand new or slightly older. i know it is not SCRIPT though.

mxr pedals are simple, easy-breezy, all of them are! that is why they are amoung my favorties! the older i get, in all guitar gear, the fewer knobs, the better! that goes for amps too!

i have never tried the vintage version of this, so it is hard to compare it to something else.

i find it funny, that i also just bought a behringer vt911 tube overdrive, and well, my overdrive sounds more like a DISTORTION, and my distortion sounds more like an OVERDRIVE! go figure.

the distortion is very soft, and tasty for the most part. it seems tube like, but i am playing it through a vintage tube amp, so that might be why.

it also makes a nice BOOST with my OVERDRIVE box, with the distortion low and the output high.

i tend to agree with most of the other reviews here, that is is more like an overdrive than a distortion!

neither sasquach, king kong, nor horton the elephant could destroy this baby! die cast metal boxes that mxr are known for, heavy duty footswitch...!!!!

i bought it used, and if i discover a mod for this, it would not matter if it were new, i would void the warranty like i did my phase 90, because that's how i roll! ;-)

i am still experimenting with this baby. so, no plans to sell it on ebay as of yet. it does seem to make a nice boost!

you see, i play a strat with alnico single coil pickups. i tried the pickup setting with the middle and neck pickups set out of phase. and with the output UP and the distortion DOWN to #1 or 2, i found it made for a nice "chicken picking" country or blues lead tone! amazing that came out of a DISTORTION box!!!

i think it will end up growing on me!

ps; if there are any mods for this pedal, please email me. thanks in advance!!!

Its a distortion pedal with an output and an overdrive.

The bass is a difficult beast to control. To find a good sounding overdrive that can keep the low-end and treble in balance has been hard for me. This pedal is fierce. I a/b to a ampeg ba115 and to a '65 fender bassman and use the pedal for the bassman. Haven't found control like this that can slit your throat or wash you to sleep. I am satisfied.

Solidly built. As for longevity I can't yet say. From experience though, you can tell how well a pedal is made by its sound and its footswitch. The footswitch is just a nice punch.

Don't know, and don't really care for that matter. If this one breaks I'm just getting another one, they're only 50-70 bucks.

Puts big muff, rat, and boss overdrives to shame. The closest distortion that this can be compared to is pure tube saturation from a good amp. Even better when your amp is good. I dig this pedal.