Dunlop MXR M78 Custom Modified OD, also known as the Bad Ass Modified OD vs Xotic AC Plus
The Dunlop MXR M78 Custom Modified OD, also known as the Bad Ass Modified OD and the Xotic AC Plus are both pedals sharing warm, smooth. The Dunlop MXR M78 Custom Modified OD, also known as the Bad Ass Modified OD leans saturated and high gain.
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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.45% — somewhat different
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Derived from overlapping tonal signals across both listings.- warm
- smooth
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Citation/mention fame — how often this gear is cited across artist rigs and gear discussion.$239.95via Reverb
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 Xotic AC Plus is a dual-channel boost/overdrive combining the classic Xotic AC Booster circuit (Channel A) with a second, more flexible preamp channel (Channel B) closer to the original AC Booster's voice, usable as a sculptable lead boost with a rougher, more ragged edge at higher drive settings than Channel A. Running Channel B into Channel A at lower gain levels stacks into a more mature, two-dimensional gain structure than either channel alone. Channel B's 3-band EQ adds real tone-shaping range, and a Comp switch selects between Hard clipping for early breakup and smooth overdrive, or Soft clipping for later breakup and generous headroom. It suits players wanting a warm, amp-like, transparent boost with real flexibility to stack two distinct gain characters in one box.
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Genres this gear is documented as being used in.- Classic Rock
- Rock
- Alternative Rock
- Blues Rock
- saturated
- high gain
- mid-forward
- full