Any fans of the MXR Distortion+?

[Dave L]

Hi guys, I´ve been on an old school kick for a while, and one classic overdrive I can´t ever remember using or trying is the Distortion+. I do have some DOD 250s, which may or may not be similar according to the webz, but I just never got around to the MXR. Anyone still digging theirs, and are there some versions best avoided?

 

[cobrahead1030]

I’ve got the RR version, there doesn’t seem to be much consensus as to whether it’s actually a different circuit than the stock ones.

Hitting a driven amp, it can do a cool vocal lead sort of thing, almost a treble booster like quality. I’ve not found much use for it otherwise.

 

[Dave L]

Yeah, the vocal lead thing - my main reference for the MXR would be 80s Dave Murray, I guess, so that seems logical.

 

[Floyd Eye]

Yeah. I have about 6 of them from different years, the newest one being 1979. Some of them are worth a good bit of scratch. I know there are better or “ more refined” distortion devices these days, but the very first guitar pedal I ever owned was a D+ I bought when I was 11 years old in 1979 and it’s a nostalgia thing for me. Personally I still dig the tones I get from them in front of a cranked tube amp, but then I’m also that guy who liked Randy Rhoads’ tone so………


As for what to avoid it’s hard to say. Personally I wouldn’t buy one that had an LED or a battery plug. I’ve been told even those sound pretty close to the old block logos, but fuck that. Script logo trips my trigger and I’d love to run across an original Bud Box version. If you’re only interested in checking out how they sound though I’d just buy the cheapest one you can find on eBay.

 

[Dave L]

Yeah. I have about 6 of them from different years, the newest one being 1979. Some of them are worth a good bit of scratch. I know there are better or “ more refined” distortion devices these days, but the very first guitar pedal I ever owned was a D+ I bought when I was 11 years old in 1979 and it’s a nostalgia thing for me. Personally I still dig the tones I get from them in front of a cranked tube amp, but then I’m also that guy who liked Randy Rhoads’ tone so………


As for what to avoid it’s hard to say. Personally I wouldn’t buy one that had an LED or a battery plug. I’ve been told even those sound pretty close to the old block logos, but fuck that. Script logo trips my trigger and I’d love to run across an original Bud Box version. If you’re only interested in checking out how they sound though I’d just buy the cheapest one you can find on eBay.

Thanks, man. Yeah, if they´re at least close sound-wise across all the eras I´d probably just pick up whatever to start with.

And I´m sure Randy sounded great IRL, but those recorded album tones are tough

 

[Simon Dorn]

Hi guys, I´ve been on an old school kick for a while, and one classic overdrive I can´t ever remember using or trying is the Distortion+. I do have some DOD 250s, which may or may not be similar according to the webz, but I just never got around to the MXR. Anyone still digging theirs, and are there some versions best avoided?

Richie Faulckner is a fan:

 

[Dave L]

Great interview, thanks! And yeah, I´m looking at all these old overdrives because I´ve mostly been using non-master Marshall type amps - plexis in sound if not in name - the last few years, much like what Ritchie is talking about there.

 

[Kapo_Polenton]

I’ve got the RR version, there doesn’t seem to be much consensus as to whether it’s actually a different circuit than the stock ones.

Hitting a driven amp, it can do a cool vocal lead sort of thing, almost a treble booster like quality. I’ve not found much use for it otherwise.

I got the RR as well..paid enough for it. Used it a few times. It is a bit tighter/leaner than the average MXR+ but i found my 81 Distortion + was equally as good. I just don't reach for them much as they def need an EQ or a WAH filter to tighten. I had this idea I would do up a RR sort of rig but without the Altec, it falls a bit flat.

 

[Kapo_Polenton]

Great interview, thanks! And yeah, I´m looking at all these old overdrives because I´ve mostly been using non-master Marshall type amps - plexis in sound if not in name - the last few years, much like what Ritchie is talking about there.

I don't know how Ritchie is getting his tones with a Plexi and MXR Disto+. How does he set it to prevent the bloat? ..his settings don't work for me.

 

[Greazygeo]

I don't know how Ritchie is getting his tones with a Plexi and MXR Disto+. How does he set it to prevent the bloat? ..his settings don't work for me.

Just got the white one. Mine is set about like that one. It has a fair amount of lows, but I run the bass on the amp pretty much off anyway and it is pretty good.

 

[cobrahead1030]

You can hear it here 20 seconds in.

 

[shar-vell Dan]

Original Dis + tweaked by Pete's pedals. Works great with certain amps.
Its a 1970's pedal, one of the first distortions. It ain't Petrucci or Metallica but it works.

 

[Kapo_Polenton]

You can hear it here 20 seconds in.

So your tone was better with the Koko lol..which is exactly my point. This pedal missed the mark in that it should of had a switch with a built in filter to tighten it up. It doesn't do the RR thing unless you further shape it and can play.

I have a v1 Koko too btw, love that pedal!

 

[Greazygeo]

So your tone was better with the Koko lol..which is exactly my point. This pedal missed the mark in that it should of had a switch with a built in filter to tighten it up. It doesn't do the RR thing unless you further shape it and can play.

I have a v1 Koko too btw, love that pedal!

You know Randy used an eq with his? Same with Maiden…not sure if Accept did. From what I read Dunlop copied his, his had no push button filter so why would they include one?

The RR I have is different than the block letter I have and both are different from the og Script one I had years ago. RR is more like the Script.

 

[LanBaul]

Definitely worth trying, some older runs are better than later budget ones.

 

[cobrahead1030]

So your tone was better with the Koko lol..which is exactly my point. This pedal missed the mark in that it should of had a switch with a built in filter to tighten it up. It doesn't do the RR thing unless you further shape it and can play.

I have a v1 Koko too btw, love that pedal!

Yes, in this context I prefer the Koko by a mile.

The RR dist+ was basically a novelty buy, which occasionally I take out & try to find a use for. That’s not to say it’s a terrible pedal, but in my collection of a dozen other dirt boxes, it doesn’t get used so much.

 

[Kapo_Polenton]

You know Randy used an eq with his? Same with Maiden…not sure if Accept did. From what I read Dunlop copied his, his had no push button filter so why would they include one?

The RR I have is different than the block letter I have and both are different from the og Script one I had years ago. RR is more like the Script.

Yes of course I know that..that is why I said they missed the boat with not having a filter/ eq switch. My reasoning behind including it would be to give it a unique feature that would make it usable without eq or using wah as a filter. Why would they give it polkadots or concorde finish then? That isn't " original" is it? Guess I am being a bit of a prick here but come on, if you are a fan of his, you know his setup and I have mentioned this in countless threads. They missed a chance to make it unique.

 

[Greazygeo]

Yes of course I know that..that is why I said they missed the boat with not having a filter/ eq switch. My reasoning behind including it would be to give it a unique feature that would make it usable without eq or using wah as a filter. Why would they give it polkadots or concorde finish then? That isn't " original" is it? Guess I am being a bit of a prick here but come on, if you are a fan of his, you know his setup and I have mentioned this in countless threads. They missed a chance to make it unique.

I don’t know that I would want it that way. They probably figured guys that buy these already have the eq etc.

 

[PhilC]

I have a Fulton Webb Textosterone which I believe is basically one. I like it for fuzzy leads. Wouldn’t find a lot of use for anything rhythm related.

 

[griff10672]

Thanks, man. Yeah, if they´re at least close sound-wise across all the eras I´d probably just pick up whatever to start with.

And I´m sure Randy sounded great IRL, but those recorded album tones are tough

I could build you a custom one .... could add a couple of the more popular mods that people do to them .... like the treble cut switch .... and some diode clipping options ... even get your own custom graphics ...