MXR M78 Custom Badass '78 Distortion user reviews ( 8/10) - 8 user reviews

• 02/25/12

  James...'s review "It's alright"

  Characteristics

  MXR Custom Badass '78 Distortion Pedal Features at a Glance:
  
  
  
  Hot-rodded classic circuit gives you huge distortion tones
  
  Roars with both amp stack tones and old-school pedal distortion
  
  Delivers soaring leads and rich, saturated rhythms
  
  CRUNCH button boosts harmonic content of distortion

  Utilization

  I probably wouldn't have tried this box if my friend didn't insist I did. He was seriously nagging me about it actually. I'm really more of an overdrive guy who stays away from distortions in general but I figured what the heck. The layout is nothing out of the ordinary. Tone volume gain...got it? Also there's a crunch button or something that "boosts the harmonic content." Bleh. Okay.
  
  
  
  I tested it with a Peavey Classic 30 and a Tom Anderson Drop Top. I didn't use any other effects. I just wanted to see how it sounded by itself.
  
  
  
  Build quality is good. MXR designs are great. Sometimes they miss the mark in the sound department but I rarely have any issues with pedals being noisy or breaking.

  Sound Quality

  At low levels of gain this is actually a fairly transparent distortion which surprised me. It's almost like a boost if you turn it low enough. The pedal starts to impart a voice of its own at higher settings. It's very tight. Think Aerosmith or old Ozzy stuff. Kind of has that razor sharp 80's upper mids thing going on. It will do the 70's stuff too. But overall this is a pretty raunchilly voiced pedal that lives up to the name. It can definitely take a clean amp and send it into the upper stratosphere.
  
  
  
  The crunch button I find to be really useless. It makes the pedal sound worse overall, and adds to the already questionably versatile voicing. Sure it's great if you want to rock 80's style, but this pedal is basically a one or two trick pony.

  Overall Opinion

  I can say that it seems like another solid MXR pedal, but unless you are in a ZZ Top cover band, I can't see you using this pedal for much else. It's okay as a boost, and it does have a nice range of usable gain, but like I said the voicing limits what you can do with it. Would have been nice for MXR to include a voice knob. I feel like I'm being hard on it because I don't like what it does. But for the price I would like something more flexible. It's just not for me I guess.
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• 03/25/11

  iamqman's review "Spectacular"

  Characteristics

  This pedal was demoed at Namm this year and it will be a huge hit for MXR. It is modeled off that hot rodded tone coming from 1978. Well they don't go into too much detail why they picked that year but I have a theory. One of the most influential guitarists and band came out that year running with the devil.
  
  
  
  Let me start by saying I'm not a huge distortion box guy. I like to get my grit from the amp overdriving the tubes. So when I heard this pedal I was pleasantly surprised at how natural sounding this pedal was to a real tube screaming high gain amp. This pedal is about to make a huge impact on the overdrive pedal scene.
  
  
  
  MXR Custom Badass '78 Distortion Features at a Glance:
  
  
  
  * Hot-rodded classic circuit
  
  * Roars with huge amp stack tones and old-school distortion
  
  * Delivers soaring leads and rich, saturated rhythms
  
  * CRUNCH button boosts harmonic content of distortion

  Utilization

  Really simple operation with only three controls knobs and a crunch mini button that beefs up the tone. Like most distortion boxes it has an Output, Tone, and Distortion controls. The Output will control your volume level for the unit, while the tone will control how bright and how dark the overall tone will get much like a tone control on a guitar, and then the distortion knob will give you the gain you desire. The mini button called Crunch will basically beef up the tone and add rich thick harmonics to the tone.

  Sound Quality

  In my opinion most distortion boxes sound like garbage. And there are even MXR pedals that sound like garbage and I'm a huge MXR fan. This thing really shine in the lead category. The lead are smooth and silky while giving a huge midrange frequency bump that cut through the band mix extremely well. This pedal will be great as a solo boost as well with how well it responds to lead lines. The rhythm is no joke either, in that it has a tight warm gallop to the tone good for mixing in the lead with the rhythm and chugging away.
  
  
  
  Use this with a Les Paul or a single coil guitar like a Strat.....it doesn't matter at all. Any operation you through at this pedal sounds great.

  Overall Opinion

  Well there is something to this pedal that many other distortion boxes don't have and that is being as authentic as possible. I don't used OD boxes anymore that much unless I find one like this one. This is a great pedal and for the price it is a no brainer. At new they come in at around $80 which is a steal for something that sounds this good.
  
  
  
  I would recommend this pedal to any guitar player who needs a solid built OD box and who is on a budget. Even if you're not on a budget this is a great sounding pedal that rivals the best of them out there on the market.
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• 04/29/13

  Linn Sondek's review ( translated ) Improve this translation

  Characteristics

  Analog distortion, classic case of at MXR if not brilliant color!
  
  3 knobs: 1 volume, 1 level gain and 1 tone. Over-MOST-stamped a small push button "Crunch".

  Utilization

  Many settings, opportunities really interesting but easy to use.

  Sound Quality

  Used Gibson Les Paul and Fender Stratocaster.

  Overall Opinion

  I love everything about this pedal. It is a rare versatility and offers a range of rich and varied sounds.
  
  Although this is not a pedal "high gain", the Custom Badass has a sacred headroom switch "Crunch" acts as a booster not volume but rather in the style of a "more drive".
  
  Everything is very subtle and soft on the pedal, whether setting the tone or the distortion. In addition, it responds very well to volume control on the guitar. This provides a large variety of sound and really usable.
  
  It blends perfectly with his sister, the "Custom Badass Mofified OD", which considerably broadens the possibilities.
  
  Only, it offers plenty of sustain without the need to push the level of distortion.
  
  Finally, she excels in rhythmic maintaining intelligibility and coherence.
  
  A distortion of the very best for a very good price.
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• 01/25/13

  Samuel 62150's review ( translated ) Improve this translation

  Characteristics

  Characteristics already described. This is an analog circuit so the sound is pure and natural. 3 knobs standards for distortion and crunch button is all there.

  Utilization

  I wanted a distortion everything more simple and with 3 knobs difficult to get any easier. This is what I wanted.

  Sound Quality

  Stunning! You want the Led Zep? This is what you need. I'm a fan of Seventies Rock and Grunge. How to get this sound? Adopt the MXR Custom Badass '78 Disto is very simple. Try Black Dog Led Zeppelin ... it's here!

  Overall Opinion

  I fell in love MXR pedals after the purchase of the Carbon Copy I recommend elsewhere. I have the Micro Amp and Phase 90 also. I do not know when I will stop buying them. It is sturdy and really nice. This is exactly what I wanted.
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• 12/02/12

  fcalas's review ( translated ) Improve this translation " Surprising!"

  Characteristics

  Analog distortion pedal, MXR signed, solid all their creations, setting standard 3 knobs: volume, tone, distortion, and to top it all, a small button "crunch" booster mediums.

  Utilization

  Conventional use, very effective perfectly fulfills its role distortion, simple adjustments, with a bonus crunch this switch which, when activated, has a tendency to blind us. As it is known that it is switched on, make no mistake.

  Sound Quality

  Very good sound, warm, not screaming very versatile ranging from blues to hard rock, with a stroke of the distortion knob very interesting, especially the last quarter or 1/5 th that wraps completely sound with a high level very clean. I use a les paul, a strat and a tele, and I do not need to change the settings depending on the guitars. To nitpick, I reproach him a slight hiss.

  Overall Opinion

  Like many, I scoured all distos imaginable, I am convinced that this is not the best in the world, but it meets my expectations, simple, clean, versatile, transparent, hot ... And so on. On top of that, it's MXR, so it is beautiful ...
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• 06/06/12

  syl2412's review ( translated ) Improve this translation " Good quality / price ratio for a pedal rock "roots", but not that"

  Characteristics

  Analog distortion pedal. Cf the picture for description.
  
  config + standard small switch "crunch"
  
  Solid metal case.

  Utilization

  Extremely simple as a distortion pedal.
  
  The small switch "crunch" gives a boost in the midrange. You can not miss when this switch is engaged, because the blue LED that lights flashing damn.
  
  Nothing special to say, easy to adjust.

  Sound Quality

  I find the pedal very effective. I have not noticed any problem with the attack.
  
  It can give a little warmth to a rather cold. It can also serve as a boost.
  
  The directory will use the punchy blues to rock, ... the cat to the lion (of purr to roaaaar).
  
  I particularly love with my guitar in the bridge position split (I have an SH4). Must be really nice with a strat or tele.
  
  The group's sound engineer (who is also gratteu) told me when he heard: "Oh? Another Texan pedal!"

  Overall Opinion

  I use it for about 6 months. This is not a pedal that will revolutionize the distortion, however, it does not invent anything. But this is a pedal that offers sound we know and love at a great price.
  
  Choice again? Certainly though ... I might go looking sidewise at the Badass Custom Modified ... Try it.
  
  Unless moving average weights to another category, the heavyweight with a Xotic AC Booster?
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• 03/17/12

  Enix49's review ( translated ) Improve this translation " Effective"

  Characteristics

  See other descriptions.
  
  I do not like the position of the power input.

  Utilization

  Config and simple little more appreciable the swich crunch. I leave it always switched on.

  Sound Quality

  I think it's a distortion that sounds rather round and warm, fairly accurate with a good presence of mediums. I have not heard of too much compression as some say. It goes well with a light amplifier on a clean channel but a little less of a crunch or overdrive channel. In this case it sounds a bit too dark.
  
  Equipped to Roxane on my humbuncker and sh2 sh4, it sends hot and heavy on my Telecaster, it's incisive and biting. It can lower the gain and have a fairly punchy crunch or a big boost.
  
  With two guitars, a clean sound fendérien, sleep easily mix live.
  
  Good point, max gain it does not become an infamous boiled. But hey it all depends on the amp and guitar without doubt ...
  
  Sonnorités very 70's rock.

  Overall Opinion

  A good little pedal, a bit expensive but that perfectly accommodates a lamp with an amp like Fender clean sound. It can complement an amp already has a good crunch because its sonnorité malleable enough without being too typical.
  
  I'm not disappointed even if it does not revolutionize the world of DSTO. Effective, it is essential to good rock.
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• 01/19/12

  AceLeppard's review ( translated ) Improve this translation " Disappointing ..."

  Characteristics

  Analog Distortion pedal.
  
  
  
  A knob "output", volume effect, a "tone" that manages the tone and distortion control "distortion" which operates as its name suggests, the rate of saturation.
  
  One in, one out, all mono.
  
  Note a mini switch "crunch" is supposed to add fat.
  
  It's Mxr is beautiful, well made, still sucks to be supplied (or difficult to access 9v adapter not a great location.)

  Utilization

  The general configuration is simple, and get the sounds you want is easy ... for those who love the sounds produced by this pedal I suppose!
  
  The manual provides "examples" sound unnecessary, since any change of course depending on your guitar or your amp!

  Sound Quality

  I bought this pedal because I was looking for a boost meaner than my TS-808 to complete it. It does the job in about two weeks, then I realized she was crushing attacks in a rather uncomfortable with humbuckers ...
  
  
  
  I quite enjoyed this pedal sounds crunch for the Gallagher / Blackmore with my Start, it really is! if that is what you seek, you will not be as disappointed as me.
  
  I think its clear rendering really awful. It looks like a rat in less warm, and no media. Aggressive, very bright, no music. The switch "crunch" just arranges things ... I did not like the overall sound.

  Overall Opinion

  I used it two weeks and then Tristan Music Drugstore in Toulouse has kindly agreed to resume against a credit in his store. I had bought on a favorite, then get my Flying V and see this crushing attack with humbuckers. C'en was over between us!
  
  
  
  The value for money is fair I guess, although I do not know why Mxr released a pedal ... so disappointing.
  
  
  
  Go rather to see the side of Proco even surpass their current RAT2 the 78 badass in this category distos.
  
  
  
  I do not have that choice would do.
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