The Dunlop MXR Timmy Overdrive, sold as Dunlop CSP027 is a Dunlop overdrive pedal, currently around $140.51. Close alternatives include the Klon KTR and the J. Rockett Archer Ikon. It pairs well with the Marshall Bluesbreaker and the Laney LA30BL 30W Tube Amplifier.
Dunlop MXR Timmy Overdrive, sold as Dunlop CSP027
Dunlop · pedal
The MXR Timmy Overdrive, sold as Dunlop CSP027, is a Custom Shop production version of Paul Cochrane's legendary Timmy, one of the most respected transparent overdrives ever made. It is designed to add gain while preserving the natural tone and dynamics of your guitar and amp rather than coloring them, with cleverly voiced Bass and Treble controls that cut rather than boost to fine tune the low and high end. A three way clipping switch offers different diode clipping flavors, from open and dynamic to more compressed. It ranges from a clean, edge of breakup boost to medium overdrive, making it a favorite for blues, rock, country and players who want their amp's character to shine through.
What stands out
“The community treats the MXR Timmy as a faithful, affordable take on the classic transparent overdrive”
— from the community notes
“Its standout feature is the EQ, where the Bass and Treble work as cuts to dial out flubby low end or harsh highs, letting the pedal match almost any amp, and the three way clipping switch shifts between more open and more compressed feels”
— from the reviews
“a three way clipping switch offers different diode clipping flavors”
— from the listing
“with cleverly voiced bass and treble controls that cut”
— from the listing
“The trade offs are that it is a low to medium gain, deliberately uncolored drive, so it does , and players seeking an obvious tone transformation may find it too subtle”
— from the reviews
Trade-offs
“mid pushed or high gain voice should look elsewhere”
— from the community notes
“so players wanting a thick”
— from the community notes
- transparent
- overdrive
- treble
- clipping
- cut
- medium gain
- drive
- rock
Price updated Oct 23, 2026
Genres the Dunlop MXR Timmy Overdrive, sold as Dunlop CSP027 is commonly used in
- Rock
- Blues
- Country
- Indie Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Alternative
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Blues Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Amps that pair well with the Dunlop MXR Timmy Overdrive, sold as Dunlop CSP027
Marshall Bluesbreaker
Marshall
34% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (bright → warm)
Marshall Bluesbreaker's warm balances out the bright tone
Comes later in the signal chain
Laney LA30BL 30W Tube Amplifier
Laney
33% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (transparent → mid-forward)
Laney LA30BL 30W Tube Amplifier leans this transparent tone toward mid-forward, which it doesn't make on its own
Comes later in the signal chain
Synergy SL2 Module
Synergy
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Into a transparent tone, Synergy SL2 Module brings a pull toward high gain that's missing
Ampeg V-4
Ampeg
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Into a transparent tone, Ampeg V-4 brings a pull toward mid-forward that's missing
Ceriatone 2202H
Ceriatone
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Into a transparent tone, Ceriatone 2202H brings a pull toward high gain that's missing
Friedman Small Box 50W EL34 Amp Head
Friedman
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Friedman Small Box 50W EL34 Amp Head leans this transparent tone toward high gain, which it doesn't make on its own
Hughes & Kettner Coreblade
Hughes & Kettner
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Hughes & Kettner Coreblade leans this transparent tone toward high gain, which it doesn't make on its own
ENGL Special Edition E670
Engl
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
ENGL Special Edition E670 leans this transparent tone toward high gain, which it doesn't make on its own
Pedals that stack with the Dunlop MXR Timmy Overdrive, sold as Dunlop CSP027
Electro-Harmonix Green Russian Big Muff
Electro-Harmonix
21% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (bright → smooth)
Where this leans bright, Electro-Harmonix Green Russian Big Muff answers back smooth
Comes later in the signal chain
Soldano SLO
Soldano
20% matchInto a transparent tone, Soldano SLO brings a pull toward high gain that's missing
Comes later in the signal chain
MXR Flanger
MXR
18% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Put MXR Flanger after Dunlop MXR Timmy Overdrive, sold as Dunlop CSP027 in the signal chain, clear of Dunlop MXR Timmy Overdrive, sold as Dunlop CSP027's own gain stage
Comes later in the signal chain
Dan Armstrong Orange Squeezer
pedal
15% matchshapes the dynamic responseShapes how the tone responds to picking dynamics rather than its frequency or gain. (dynamic → compressed)
Dan Armstrong Orange Squeezer's own dynamic character is the real reason this is worth trying
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Walrus Audio Fable
Walrus Audio
11% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Keep Dunlop MXR Timmy Overdrive, sold as Dunlop CSP027's transparent voice out front: Walrus Audio Fable goes after Dunlop MXR Timmy Overdrive, sold as Dunlop CSP027 in the signal chain so its smooth voice doesn't muddy it — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Boss DD-3 Digital Delay
Boss
11% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Keep Boss DD-3 Digital Delay after Dunlop MXR Timmy Overdrive, sold as Dunlop CSP027 in the signal chain, clear of Dunlop MXR Timmy Overdrive, sold as Dunlop CSP027's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Warm Audio Jet Phaser
Warm Audio
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Put Warm Audio Jet Phaser after Dunlop MXR Timmy Overdrive, sold as Dunlop CSP027: modulation sits after the gain for a defined swirl
Source Audio L.A. Lady
Source Audio
tonal matchSource Audio L.A. Lady leans this transparent tone toward low gain, which it doesn't make on its own
Cheaper alternatives
Tone City Dry Martini
Tone City
65% similarityShared character: high gain settings, boost, transparent
Caline CP-12 Blue Pure Sky
Caline
64% similarityShared character: high gain settings, boost, treble
EarthQuaker Devices Plumes Signal Shredder
EarthQuaker Devices
60% similarityShared character: high gain settings, boost, transparent
Catalinbread Tribute Parametric Overdrive
Catalinbread
60% similarityShared character: high gain settings, boost, natural
Dunlop MXR M294 Sugar Drive
Dunlop
59% similarityShared character: single rig, boost, transparent
Electro-Harmonix Nano Operation Overlord
Electro-Harmonix
96% similaritysimilar tone character
Boutique & premium upgrades
Walrus Audio Ages Five-State Overdrive
Walrus Audio
63% similarityShared character: high gain settings, treble, boost
Browne Amplification Carbon X
Browne Amplification
61% similarityShared character: boost, treble, subtle
Tru-Fi The Newton
Tru Fi
61% similarityShared character: high gain settings, boost, treble
Walrus Audio 385 MkII Overdrive
Walrus Audio
60% similarityShared character: high gain settings, treble, thickness
Analog Man King of Tone
Analog Man
59% similarityShared character: high gain settings, grit, treble
Origin Effects M-EQ Driver
Origin Effects
96% similaritysimilar tone character
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
Klon KTR
Klon
65% similarityShared character: high gain settings, grit, boost
J. Rockett Archer Ikon
J Rockett
64% similarityShared character: high gain settings, transparent, gain
ThorpyFX peacekeeper
ThorpyFX
63% similarityShared character: high gain settings, natural, subtle
JHS Morning Glory
JHS Pedals
62% similarityShared character: high gain settings, grit, treble
ThorpyFX Peacekeeper V2 Low-Gain Overdrive
ThorpyFX
59% similarityShared character: high gain settings, treble, natural
Paul Cochrane Timmy
Paul Cochrane
59% similarity“The MXR Timmy Overdrive, sold as Dunlop CSP027, is a Custom Shop production version of Paul Cochrane's legendary Timmy”
See all alternatives to the Dunlop MXR Timmy Overdrive, sold as Dunlop CSP027 (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Dunlop MXR Timmy Overdrive, sold as Dunlop CSP027?+
The closest matches in character are the Klon KTR, the J. Rockett Archer Ikon, the ThorpyFX peacekeeper. Budget picks: Tone City Dry Martini, Caline CP-12 Blue Pure Sky, EarthQuaker Devices Plumes Signal Shredder. Boutique upgrades: Walrus Audio Ages Five-State Overdrive, Browne Amplification Carbon X, Tru-Fi The Newton.
What pairs well with the Dunlop MXR Timmy Overdrive, sold as Dunlop CSP027?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Marshall Bluesbreaker, Laney LA30BL 30W Tube Amplifier, Synergy SL2 Module — Marshall Bluesbreaker's warm balances out the bright tone.
How much does the Dunlop MXR Timmy Overdrive, sold as Dunlop CSP027 cost?+
Around $140.51 (live listing price, updated Oct 23, 2026).