Dunlop MXR M78 Custom Modified OD, also known as the Bad Ass Modified OD vs Mad Professor 1 Overdrive
The Dunlop MXR M78 Custom Modified OD, also known as the Bad Ass Modified OD and the Mad Professor 1 Overdrive are both pedals sharing smooth. The Dunlop MXR M78 Custom Modified OD, also known as the Bad Ass Modified OD leans saturated and high gain. The Mad Professor 1 Overdrive leans tight and transparent.
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.43% — somewhat different
cited
Genres both listings are associated with.- Rock
cited
Derived from overlapping tonal signals across both listings.- smooth
cited
Citation/mention fame — how often this gear is cited across artist rigs and gear discussion.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.
The Mad Professor 1 is a distortion and reverb pedal built to recreate the brown sound of late-70s and early-80s rock, most associated with Eddie Van Halen. A single Brown knob controls overdrive gain, which stays present even at zero, while a Presence knob adds amp-like brightness and tightness. Its reverb is not a spring emulation but a hi-fi digital plate reverb, giving the drive a smooth, studio-thickened character rather than a boingy surf tone. The combined circuit delivers a tight, punchy, British-tinged drive with clarity through medium to heavy gain. It is a purpose-built pedal for one specific vintage tone rather than a general-purpose overdrive.
cited
Genres this gear is documented as being used in.- Classic Rock
- Alternative Rock
- Blues Rock
- Hard Rock
- saturated
- high gain
- mid-forward
- warm
- full
- tight
- transparent