MXR Distortion+ vs MXR M193 GT-OD Overdrive

The MXR Distortion+ and the MXR M193 GT-OD Overdrive are both pedals. The MXR Distortion+ leans gritty and full. The MXR M193 GT-OD Overdrive leans smooth and transparent.

Similarity
citedBlended 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.

34% — somewhat different

Shared genres
citedGenres both listings are associated with.
  • Hard Rock
  • Rock
  • Metal
Citation fame
citedCitation/mention fame — how often this gear is cited across artist rigs and gear discussion.
54%
0%
Price

$155via Reverb

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Description

The MXR Distortion Plus is a classic, simple two-knob dirt box first released in the late 1970s, built around germanium diode clipping with only Output and Distortion controls. It produces an old-school, gritty distortion with juicy, tube-like compression and a raw, dirty character that defined many 1970s and 1980s hard rock and punk tones, famously associated with Randy Rhoads and Dave Murray. It ranges from light, gritty overdrive to a thick, saturated distortion that is not overly piercing, with a treble lift that helps it cut. As gain rises it tightens by rolling off some low end. Beloved for its raw simplicity and vintage warmth, it suits players who want an aggressive, no-frills classic distortion rather than a flexible, EQ-laden modern one.

The MXR M193 GT-OD is a warm, transparent overdrive built for smooth transitions from nearly clean tones into gritty distortion without coloring the underlying guitar tone. Simple controls keep it easy to dial in on stage, delivering clear, articulate rhythm tones and harmonically rich, long-sustaining lead tones. It's built in a heavy-duty diecast metal housing with a spring-loaded footswitch for durability. Reviewers particularly note it nailing early-to-mid-1970s rock tones, from Thin Lizzy and Led Zeppelin-style crunch through early Van Halen-adjacent tones at higher drive settings.

Genres
citedGenres this gear is documented as being used in.
  • Punk
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Tonal lean
  • gritty
  • full
  • smooth
  • transparent
  • warm
  • mid-forward
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