Carl Martin TOD High-Gain Overdrive vs Dunlop MXR M78 Custom Modified OD, also known as the Bad Ass Modified OD
The Carl Martin TOD High-Gain Overdrive and the Dunlop MXR M78 Custom Modified OD, also known as the Bad Ass Modified OD are both pedals sharing saturated, smooth, compressed. The Carl Martin TOD High-Gain Overdrive leans harmonically rich. The Dunlop MXR M78 Custom Modified OD, also known as the Bad Ass Modified OD leans high gain and full.
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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.38% — somewhat different
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Derived from overlapping tonal signals across both listings.- saturated
- smooth
- compressed
- mid-forward
- warm
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Citation/mention fame — how often this gear is cited across artist rigs and gear discussion.The Carl Martin TOD High-Gain Overdrive is a professional high-gain overdrive pedal from Denmark that replicates the tone and feel of an overdriven tube amplifier with authentic valve-like saturation and compressed sustain. The TOD circuit delivers a natural, organic high-gain character that feels different from transistor-based distortion designs, providing the smooth harmonic saturation associated with output-stage tube clipping. Controls include Gain, Tone, and Volume with a separate boost switch. Made in Denmark by Carl Martin.
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.
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Genres this gear is documented as being used in.- Hard Rock
- Classic Rock
- Rock
- Alternative Rock
- Blues Rock
- harmonically rich
- high gain
- full