The Dunlop Custom Badass is a Dunlop distortion pedal, currently around $169.99. Close alternatives include the MXR ZW-44 Berzerker Overdrive and the Suhr Riot Mini Black Edition. It pairs well with the Peavey VTM-120 and the Hiwatt DR103H.
Dunlop Custom Badass
Dunlop · pedal
The Dunlop Custom Badass is a high-gain distortion pedal from the Jim Dunlop and MXR family, positioned as an aggressively saturated drive in the Badass product line. The Custom Badass delivers compressed, full-bodied distortion with a wide gain range suitable for hard rock and metal rhythm playing, with a character that prioritizes power and saturation over transparent articulation. It is designed for players who need a dependable, hard-working distortion at the heavy end of the gain spectrum, and it draws on MXR component standards and build quality associated with the broader Dunlop catalog.
- distortion
- compressed
- high gain
- rhythm
- hard rock
- metal
- saturation
- aggressive
Price updated Aug 27, 2026
Genres the Dunlop Custom Badass is commonly used in
- Blues
- Rock
- Classic Rock
- Hard Rock
- Metal
- Alternative
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Amps that pair well with the Dunlop Custom Badass
Peavey VTM-120
Peavey
19% matchPeavey VTM-120 takes that high gain character and pushes it toward tight
Hiwatt DR103H
Hiwatt
19% matchHiwatt DR103H takes that high gain character and pushes it toward tight
Traynor BB115
Traynor
tonal matchFeed a high gain signal into Traynor BB115 and it comes out closer to tight
Egnater Renegade 65 4x10 Combo
Egnater
tonal matchEgnater Renegade 65 4x10 Combo takes that high gain character and pushes it toward tight
Gallien-Krueger Legacy 410
Gallien Krueger
tonal matchStack Gallien-Krueger Legacy 410 on top and a high gain tone tightens toward tight
Phil Jones X4C NanoBass 35W 1x4 Combo
Phil Jones
tonal matchPhil Jones X4C NanoBass 35W 1x4 Combo pushes a high gain tone toward mid-forward
Gallien-Krueger Legacy 210 Bass Combo
Gallien Krueger
tonal matchFeed a high gain signal into Gallien-Krueger Legacy 210 Bass Combo and it comes out closer to tight
Phil Jones BG-75 Double Four Bass Combo
Phil Jones
tonal matchPhil Jones BG-75 Double Four Bass Combo pushes a high gain tone toward mid-forward
Pedals that stack with the Dunlop Custom Badass
Boss BD-2 Blues Driver
Boss
17% matchStack Boss BD-2 Blues Driver on top and a high gain tone tightens toward clean boost
Keeley Red Dirt Overdrive
Keeley
17% matchKeeley Red Dirt Overdrive takes that high gain character and pushes it toward mid-forward
Electro-Harmonix Electric Mistress
Electro-Harmonix
15% matchKeep Dunlop Custom Badass's compressed voice out front: Electro-Harmonix Electric Mistress goes after Dunlop Custom Badass in the signal chain so its lush voice doesn't muddy it
Crazy Tube Circuits Golden Ratio
Crazy Tube Circuits
12% matchCrazy Tube Circuits Golden Ratio's own tight character is the real reason this is worth trying
Walrus Audio Fathom
Walrus Audio
11% matchPut Walrus Audio Fathom after Dunlop Custom Badass in the signal chain, clear of Dunlop Custom Badass's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Meris Mercury7 Reverb
Meris
11% matchKeep Dunlop Custom Badass's compressed voice out front: Meris Mercury7 Reverb goes after Dunlop Custom Badass in the signal chain so its ambient voice doesn't muddy it — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Wampler Cory Wong
Wampler
tonal matchStack Wampler Cory Wong on top and a high gain tone tightens toward clean boost
Friedman Buxom Boost
Friedman
tonal matchDunlop Custom Badass leans into a high-gain amp's front end, precisely the platform Friedman Buxom Boost wants
Cheaper alternatives
MXR Super Badass Distortion
MXR
73% similarityShared character: boost, thickness, crunch
Catalinbread CB-Distortion
Catalinbread
73% similarityShared character: higher_gain, full, aggressive_playing
Behringer OD300 Overdrive Distortion
Behringer
73% similarityShared character: higher_gain, full, boost
Marshall Guv'nor
Marshall
71% similarityShared character: full, compression, thickness
Carl Martin Crush Zone
Carl Martin
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Dunlop MXR M77 Custom Modified Badass OD
Dunlop
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Boutique & premium upgrades
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
MXR ZW-44 Berzerker Overdrive
MXR
75% similarityShared character: full, boost, aggressive_playing
Suhr Riot Mini Black Edition
Suhr
72% similarityShared character: aggressive_playing, hard_rock, crunch
JHS Charlie Brown
JHS Pedals
71% similarityShared character: full, boost, compression
Dunlop MXR M94SE Super Badass Distortion
Dunlop
70% similarityShared character: higher_gain, boost, crunch
Electro-Harmonix Hellmaster Distortion
Electro-Harmonix
69% similarityShared character: higher_gain, hard_rock, boost
Fender Godzilla Distortion Limited Edition
Fender
96% similaritysimilar tone character
See all alternatives to the Dunlop Custom Badass (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Dunlop Custom Badass?+
The closest matches in character are the MXR ZW-44 Berzerker Overdrive, the Suhr Riot Mini Black Edition, the JHS Charlie Brown. Budget picks: MXR Super Badass Distortion, Catalinbread CB-Distortion, Behringer OD300 Overdrive Distortion. Boutique upgrades: Death By Audio Supersonic Fu, Crazy Tube Circuits Motherload.
What pairs well with the Dunlop Custom Badass?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Peavey VTM-120, Hiwatt DR103H, Traynor BB115 — Peavey VTM-120 takes that high gain character and pushes it toward tight.
How much does the Dunlop Custom Badass cost?+
Around $169.99 (live listing price, updated Aug 27, 2026).
Compare
- vs Fender Godzilla Distortion Limited Edition
- vs Crazy Tube Circuits Motherload
- vs Carl Martin Heavy Drive