The MXR Fullbore Metal is an MXR distortion pedal, currently around $119.99. Close alternatives include the Citadel Particle Drive preamp and the Boss MT-2w. It pairs well with the Laney RB3 Richter Bass Amp and the Roland Cube Street.

MXR Fullbore Metal

MXR · pedal

The MXR Fullbore Metal is a high-gain metal distortion pedal from MXR by Jim Dunlop, model number M116. It delivers extreme saturation suited to modern metal and heavy rock styles, featuring a three-band EQ with a sweepable midrange frequency control and a Scoop switch that simultaneously boosts the low and high frequencies while scooping the midrange for the signature modern metal frequency curve. A built-in, switchable noise gate controls the high-gain noise floor between notes. Despite the metal-specific branding, the M116 has been found useful for high-gain hard rock, stoner rock, and heavily driven lead tones outside the strict metal context.

What stands out

  • “High-gain metal distortion with the scooped frequency curve and heavy saturation associated with modern metal rhythm playing, shaped further by the three-band EQ and sweepable mid control”

    — from the community notes

  • “It delivers extreme saturation suited to modern metal and heavy rock styles, featuring a three-band EQ with a sweepable midrange frequency control and a Scoop switch that simultaneously boosts the low and high frequencies while scooping the…”

    — from the listing

  • “The built-in noise gate is a practical inclusion that”

    — from the community notes

  • “featuring a three-band eq with a sweepable midrange frequency control and a scoop switch that simultaneously boosts the low and high frequencies while scooping the midrange for the signature modern metal frequency curve”

    — from the listing

  • “switchable noise gate controls the high-gain noise floor between notes”

    — from the listing

  • metal
  • noise gate
  • scoop
  • noise
  • frequency
  • saturation
  • hard rock
  • high gain
$119.99View on Reverb

Price updated Oct 24, 2026

Genres the MXR Fullbore Metal is commonly used in

Amps that pair well with the MXR Fullbore Metal

Laney RB3 Richter Bass Amp

Laney

27% match
$407.89via Reverb

fills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (scooped → mid-forward)

Laney RB3 Richter Bass Amp pushes a scooped tone toward mid-forward

Comes later in the signal chain

Roland Cube Street

Roland

27% match
$199.99via Reverb

fills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (scooped → mid-forward)

Roland Cube Street pushes a scooped tone toward mid-forward

Comes later in the signal chain

Roland Cube Street EX

Roland

tonal match
$522.09via Reverb

Comes later in the signal chain

Feed a scooped signal into Roland Cube Street EX and it comes out closer to mid-forward

Gallien-Krueger GK Legacy 4x10 Bass Combo Amp

Gallien Krueger

tonal match

Comes later in the signal chain

Stack Gallien-Krueger GK Legacy 4x10 Bass Combo Amp on top and a scooped tone tightens toward mid-forward

Ceriatone HRM 50

Ceriatone

tonal match

Comes later in the signal chain

Ceriatone HRM 50 pushes a scooped tone toward mid-forward

ENGL E610II Savage 120 MkII Head

Engl

tonal match
$3169.99via Reverb

Comes later in the signal chain

Stack ENGL E610II Savage 120 MkII Head on top and a scooped tone tightens toward mid-forward

Phil Jones BG-400 Suitcase Compact Bass Combo

Phil Jones

tonal match
$930.21via Reverb

Comes later in the signal chain

Feed a scooped signal into Phil Jones BG-400 Suitcase Compact Bass Combo and it comes out closer to mid-forward

Ceriatone Overtone Special HRM Bluesmaster 50

Ceriatone

tonal match

Comes later in the signal chain

Stack Ceriatone Overtone Special HRM Bluesmaster 50 on top and a scooped tone tightens toward mid-forward

Pedals that stack with the MXR Fullbore Metal

Browne Amplification Gritador

Browne Amplification

24% match
$219via Reverb

fills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (scooped → mid-forward)

Browne Amplification Gritador takes that scooped character and pushes it toward mid-forward

Comes earlier in the signal chain

J. Rockett The Dude

J Rockett

24% match
$229.99via Reverb

fills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (scooped → mid-forward)

Feed a scooped signal into J. Rockett The Dude and it comes out closer to mid-forward

Orange Series Phaser

Orange

20% match

sits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.

Keep MXR Fullbore Metal's scooped voice out front: Orange Series Phaser goes after MXR Fullbore Metal in the signal chain so its mid-forward voice doesn't muddy it

Comes later in the signal chain

Pigtronix Philosopher's Tone Micro

Pigtronix

19% match
$119via Reverb

fills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (scooped → mid-forward)

Both lean toward scooped and mid-forward respectively — close enough in character that they complement instead of clashing

Comes earlier in the signal chain

Catalinbread Epoch-Set

Catalinbread

10% match
$217.58via Reverb

sits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.

Catalinbread Epoch-Set's warm voice goes after MXR Fullbore Metal in the signal chain — it's not there to compete with MXR Fullbore Metal's own scooped character — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)

Comes later in the signal chain

Boss RV-5 Digital Reverb

pedal

10% match
$81.48via Reverb

sits 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 RV-5 Digital Reverb after MXR Fullbore Metal in the signal chain, clear of MXR Fullbore Metal's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)

Comes later in the signal chain

MXR CAE Wah

MXR

tonal match
$120.88via Reverb

Comes earlier in the signal chain

MXR CAE Wah goes in front of MXR Fullbore Metal — a wah tracks picking dynamics best on the raw signal

J. Rockett The Dude V2

J Rockett

tonal match
$187.78via Reverb

Comes earlier in the signal chain

J. Rockett The Dude V2 takes that scooped character and pushes it toward mid-forward

Cheaper alternatives

NUX Metal Core Deluxe

Nux

66% similarity
$79via Reverb

Shared character: noise gate, metal, hard rock

NuX Drive Force

Nux

62% similarity
$46.80via Reverb

Shared character: high gain settings, noise gate, metal

Electro-Harmonix Micro Metal Muff TOP Boost

Electro-Harmonix

59% similarity
$68.70via Reverb

Shared character: high gain settings, metal, distortion

Caline CP-15

Caline

58% similarity
$30.88via Reverb

Shared character: hard rock, metal, crunch

Behringer HM300

Behringer

58% similarity
$29.83via Reverb

Shared character: high gain settings, noise, hard rock

TC Electronic Eyemaster

TC Electronic

56% similarity
$50.04via Reverb

Shared character: metal, hard rock, distortion

Boutique & premium upgrades

Amptweaker Tight Rock 2

Amptweaker

62% similarity
$189.99via Reverb

Shared character: high gain settings, noise gate, hard rock

Amptweaker Tight Metal

Amptweaker

60% similarity
$189via Reverb

Shared character: high gain settings, noise gate, hard rock

Wampler Dracarys

Wampler

60% similarity
$199via Reverb

Shared character: high gain settings, noise gate, noise

Rainger FX Break Box

Rainger Fx

56% similarity
$239via Reverb

Shared character: noise gate, crunch, gain

Gamechanger Audio Third Man Records Plasma Coil

Gamechanger Audio

56% similarity
$332.20via Reverb

Shared character: noise gate, distortion

Carl Martin Heavy Drive

Carl Martin

56% similarity
$166.60via Reverb

Shared character: hard rock, noise, distortion

Similar charactersee all similar tone character →

Citadel Particle Drive preamp

Citadel

70% similarity

Shared character: noise gate, noise, high gain settings

Boss MT-2w

Mt 2w

60% similarity

Shared character: noise, high gain settings, hard rock

Dean Markley Overlord

Dean Markley

60% similarity

Shared character: high gain settings, noise gate, noise

Joyo Maximum Overdrive

Joyo

59% similarity

Shared character: noise, distortion, high gain settings

Friedman Box of Doom Distortion

Friedman

58% similarity

Shared character: hard rock, distortion, high gain settings

Joyo British metal

Joyo

94% similarity

similar tone character

See all alternatives to the MXR Fullbore Metal (cheaper + boutique) →

Questions people ask

What are good alternatives to the MXR Fullbore Metal?+

The closest matches in character are the Citadel Particle Drive preamp, the Boss MT-2w, the Dean Markley Overlord. Budget picks: NUX Metal Core Deluxe, NuX Drive Force, Electro-Harmonix Micro Metal Muff TOP Boost. Boutique upgrades: Amptweaker Tight Rock 2, Amptweaker Tight Metal, Wampler Dracarys.

What pairs well with the MXR Fullbore Metal?+

Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Laney RB3 Richter Bass Amp, Roland Cube Street, Roland Cube Street EX — Laney RB3 Richter Bass Amp pushes a scooped tone toward mid-forward.

How much does the MXR Fullbore Metal cost?+

Around $119.99 (live listing price, updated Oct 24, 2026).

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