MXR Distortion +

#mxr #mxrdistortion+ #distortionpedal
Welcome to this demo, review and tone tips video on the classic stomp box MXR Distortion Plus! Using a Gibson SG and Fender Telecaster into a Supro Royal Reverb. What do you think?

This was not a sponsored review.

Disclaimer: I do basic audio editing on my videos to account for the microphones, preamp and room. This editing, mostly light EQ and compression, is intended to give you the most accurate representation of how the featured gear actually sounds. NO editing is done to misrepresent how the featured gear sounds in any way.

[angusorvid]

The MXR Distortion + is my favorite distortion pedal of all time. Yes, there are many others that I like, but for me it's my desert island pedal. I've been using them since the 80s when I used one to boost my JMP stack. I had a total Randy Rhoads tone. Just amazing. I played in the L.A. metal shred scene and would always get compliments on my tone. My other pedal that I'd use would be a Boss Overdrive or Super Overdrive. But 98% of the time it was the MXR. They just rock.

[upreydeen]

The MXR is a fantastic pedal I'm obsessed with it's tone, the tones are incredible, very warm, the design of the pedal is very "basic" but there is a lot of mojo, I got the script mustard type, when I got it I noticed the volume is very responsive (for boost ) once you experiment with the distortion low and the volume higher, is where you get amazing results,

[BobPerrone]

I am still loving mine that I bought with birthday money in 1972. You are right, sweet spot is with distortion below 12 o'clock and use the volume to drive the amp.

[smokyFAB]

The Distortion + has been my main push box for the last 30 years. Like you said in the video, it’s an old school “distortion” box that needs to push a cooking amp over the top and this is absolutely overlooked by the current generation of players.
Jerry Garcia was also a well respected user of that pedal amongst thousands others between the early’70 all the way to the ‘90’s.
This is an amazingly convincing clean boost and mild overdrive, which is how I have been using mine exclusively and in that respect it reminds me a lot of the Samash Fuzzz Boxx favored by Tommy Bolin.
I did a clip a long time ago that illustrates just that.
Love your channel Jack, keep on rocking in the free world mate ;)

[PaulMcCaffreyfmac]

I still have my old '70s script logo Distortion+ (battery only, no LED) and it reamins probably one of my top four favourite drive pedals

[jean-baptistemasse]

very interesting job with the tele & clean amp. far more versatile pedal than I thought. good job

[bthjf]

Your "Clean tone" comment is a classic of 90% of the pedal review ;-)

[theslayerofgoblins]

I'm with you on the "here's my clean tone".

[bensmartinez]

Love D+ for the light break up - crunch tones!

[michaelshearer]

This is such a great demo. Thank you!

[basedguitarist]

Good timing, Jack... I'm considering a few distortion pedals at the moment, and I usually look past MXR. Thanks

[graemero]

Guitar, pedal, amp combination is rockin. Bought myself a Fender Cabronita with nice T.V Jones pick ups. was inspired in part by your Gretsch neck pick up video

[ryj]

Thanks for sharing the tip about using it with a cranked amp. I've been debating this or a RAT, and I'd be using through a clean practice amp. Debate over

[richardhenley]

Awesome tone ! 👍
Awesome demo !👍
Awesome playing !👍

[voxpathfinderr]

MXR Distortion + was made during a time when musicians still had loud stage amplifiers. Lots of those MXR and boss pedals back then were made for that era. Today’s bedroom player, unknowingly plug into these pedals and are like….WTF? It’s all about context and how they were used back in the day. I think of the Distortion + as being a great treble booster when I have an annoyingly dark amplifier. Also great for guitar knob twiddlers. Not great for bright amplifiers, or guy’s with volume and tone on 10 all the time.

[budgetguitarist]

Great video and great demo of this pedal.

[jerryyeaaah]

that supro eats these old school dirt boxes for breakfast and asks for more yoo ! Absolutely ass-kicking amp for taking pedals!

[angusorvid]

Wow, you can get some serious Neil Young tones!

[kascausevic]

It looks to me like you've top wrapped your tailpeice (couldn't zoom enough to tell) if so do you like the difference?

[maboya]

I don't feel that my dist plus, is as versatile as the demo. I feel that it doesn't show the punch described. I tend to sense it has a weak signal. I am guessing my pedal is not working properly....