Abasi Pathos Distortion vs Dunlop MXR M78 Custom Modified OD, also known as the Bad Ass Modified OD
The Abasi Pathos Distortion and the Dunlop MXR M78 Custom Modified OD, also known as the Bad Ass Modified OD are both pedals sharing mid-forward, high gain, compressed. The Abasi Pathos Distortion leans crunchy and sustaining. The Dunlop MXR M78 Custom Modified OD, also known as the Bad Ass Modified OD leans saturated and warm.
cited
Blended from circuit-archetype lineage, dynamic feel, tone-signal overlap and tone-vector distance — the tone vector itself is derived from editorial description text, not a measured acoustic signal, so this reflects how similarly the catalog copy describes the two, not a lab measurement. Shown only within a gear class, and only where there's enough evidence to be meaningful.45% — somewhat different
cited
Derived from overlapping tonal signals across both listings.- mid-forward
- high gain
- compressed
- tight
- transparent
cited
Citation/mention fame — how often this gear is cited across artist rigs and gear discussion.$199.99via Reverb
The Abasi Pathos Distortion, designed by Tosin Abasi and Brian Wampler, is built to capture the character of a driven American-style tube amp channel rather than a typical stompbox distortion circuit. Its Smooth and Edge voicings range from an emotive, singing crunch to a scorching, tightly controlled high-gain distortion, shaped further by musically tuned EQ shelves and a dedicated mid control. It works equally well as extra grit pushed in front of an already-driven amp, as a full distortion channel in front of a clean amp, or as a boost into a digital modeler. It suits progressive and modern players wanting amp-like distortion character with real tonal shaping rather than a single fixed voicing.
The MXR M78 Custom Modified OD, also known as the Bad Ass Modified OD, is a vintage-voiced overdrive from MXR by Jim Dunlop based on the 1978 MXR Distortion Plus circuit with additional Tone and Filter controls added to increase tonal flexibility. The 1978 vintage Distortion Plus is known for its warm, smooth clipping character and distinctive compressed saturation that works well into an already-driven tube amplifier. The M78 extends the original circuit with front-panel EQ control that was not available on the vintage unit, allowing players to shape the midrange and frequency balance without requiring external pedals. It bridges the original vintage MXR sound with modern usability.
cited
Genres this gear is documented as being used in.- Metal
- Classic Rock
- Rock
- Alternative Rock
- Blues Rock
- crunchy
- sustaining
- saturated
- warm