What is your favorite Distortion pedal?

[Mudder]

I have two that I really dig, and I go back and forth. MI Audio Crunch Box V2 and Radial Plexitube. I haven't changed the tube in the PT yet, but I have a good one sitting here ready. Right now I'm going with the Crunchbox into an AC30 through greenbacks, and getting great Marshally tones. Turn off the pedal and instant Vox cleans, really the best of both worlds for me right now. Of course, it sounds best when the volume goes up.

The plexitube is great, better at low volumes, much more distorsion than the crunchbox, better overall tone control as well. I'm still learning about it and having a great time. Right now it's become a killer living room tool, plugged into a traynor bassmate SS bass amp set to super clean. Fun!

I`d like to try out the crunchbox as well Are the Radial and the MI very different? I`m somehow thinking that the MI is rawer and more middy?

I think that's fair, the MI is simpler, so you have to subtly tweak the tone setting. It can get bright quickly if you're not careful, I have the tone set to 9:00. It's not quite as thick as the plexitube, not quite as versatile, and not as high a gain overall. It does light gain/clean boost better if you dial it way back, the PT is a bit less fizzy at max gain. Both are over the top though, I don't have the gain on either on much past halfway very often. I don't think you can go wrong with either one.