The Dunlop MXR M78 Custom Modified OD, also known as the Bad Ass Modified OD is a Dunlop distortion pedal. Close alternatives include the Dunlop MXR Randy Rhoads Concorde Distortion, model RR104C and the Friedman BE-OD Deluxe. It pairs well with the Peavey MiniMAX and the Hiwatt Custom DR20H.

Dunlop MXR M78 Custom Modified OD, also known as the Bad Ass Modified OD

Dunlop · pedal

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.

What stands out

  • “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 flexi…”

    — from the listing

  • “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”

    — from the listing

  • “Warm, vintage-voiced overdrive based on the 1978 MXR Distortion Plus circuit, with Tone and Filter controls extending the tonal palette of the classic design”

    — from the community notes

  • “The vintage Distortion Plus circuit architecture produces more compression and midrange buildup at high gain than contemporary high-gain alternatives, which is a feature for vintage-oriented players and a limitation for players who need tig…”

    — from the reviews

  • “The compressed saturation and warm midrange character are natural companions to cranked tube amplifiers and single-coil guitars”

    — from the reviews

  • vintage
  • compressed
  • distortion
  • saturation
  • filter
  • high gain
  • midrange
  • warm

Genres the Dunlop MXR M78 Custom Modified OD, also known as the Bad Ass Modified OD is commonly used in

  • Classic Rock
  • Rock
  • Alternative Rock
  • Blues Rock
  • Metal
    citedInferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
  • Blues
    citedInferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.

Amps that pair well with the Dunlop MXR M78 Custom Modified OD, also known as the Bad Ass Modified OD

Peavey MiniMAX

Peavey

29% match

pushes an already-dirty tonePushes an already-dirty tone harder and tightens it up. (saturated → tight)

Peavey MiniMAX pushes a saturated tone toward tight

Comes later in the signal chain

Hiwatt Custom DR20H

Hiwatt

28% match

pushes an already-dirty tonePushes an already-dirty tone harder and tightens it up. (saturated → tight)

Hiwatt Custom DR20H pushes a saturated tone toward tight

Comes later in the signal chain

Mesa Boogie Stiletto Deuce 50/100W Tube Head

Mesa Boogie

tonal match

Comes later in the signal chain

Where this leans warm, Mesa Boogie Stiletto Deuce 50/100W Tube Head answers back bright

Peavey MiniMAX II Bass Head

Peavey

tonal match

Comes later in the signal chain

Stack Peavey MiniMAX II Bass Head on top and a saturated tone tightens toward tight

Orange Gain Baby 100

Orange

tonal match
$475.93via Reverb

Comes later in the signal chain

Orange Gain Baby 100 leans bright right where the warm tone needs it

Hiwatt Leeds AC60

Hiwatt

tonal match

Comes later in the signal chain

Run Hiwatt Leeds AC60 after it and the warm edge settles into something more bright

Hiwatt Leeds GO40

Hiwatt

tonal match

Comes later in the signal chain

Run Hiwatt Leeds GO40 after it and the warm edge settles into something more bright

Soldano SLO-30 2-Channel 30W 1x12 Combo

Soldano

tonal match

Comes later in the signal chain

Run Soldano SLO-30 2-Channel 30W 1x12 Combo after it and the warm edge settles into something more bright

Pedals that stack with the Dunlop MXR M78 Custom Modified OD, also known as the Bad Ass Modified OD

Colorsound Power Boost

Colorsound

25% match

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

Colorsound Power Boost's bright balances out the warm tone

Comes earlier in the signal chain

Xotic EP Booster

Xotic

25% match
$145.60via Reverb

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

Run Xotic EP Booster after it and the warm edge settles into something more bright

Comes earlier in the signal chain

Maestro PS-1A Phase Shifter

Maestro

17% 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 Maestro PS-1A Phase Shifter after Dunlop MXR M78 Custom Modified OD, also known as the Bad Ass Modified OD in the signal chain, clear of Dunlop MXR M78 Custom Modified OD, also known as the Bad Ass Modified OD's own gain stage

Comes later in the signal chain

Roland Corp US LMB-3

Roland

17% match

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

Roland Corp US LMB-3's own bright character is the real reason this is worth trying

Comes earlier in the signal chain

Boss RV-6 Reverb

Boss

13% match
$141.34via 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.

Boss RV-6 Reverb's shimmer voice goes after Dunlop MXR M78 Custom Modified OD, also known as the Bad Ass Modified OD in the signal chain — it's not there to compete with Dunlop MXR M78 Custom Modified OD, also known as the Bad Ass Modified OD's own compressed character — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)

Comes later in the signal chain

Boss DD-200 Digital Delay

Boss

13% match
$237.43via 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.

Run Boss DD-200 Digital Delay after Dunlop MXR M78 Custom Modified OD, also known as the Bad Ass Modified OD in the signal chain, clear of Dunlop MXR M78 Custom Modified OD, also known as the Bad Ass Modified OD's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)

Comes later in the signal chain

TC Electronic Spark Booster

TC Electronic

tonal match
$75.05via Reverb

Comes earlier in the signal chain

TC Electronic Spark Booster takes that saturated character and pushes it toward clean boost

Boss GEB-7 Bass Graphic EQ

Roland

tonal match

Comes later in the signal chain

Boss GEB-7 Bass Graphic EQ leans bright right where the warm tone needs it

Alternativessee all similar tone character →

Dunlop MXR Randy Rhoads Concorde Distortion, model RR104C

Dunlop

60% similarity
$155via Reverb

Shared character: tonal possibilities, compression, warm

Friedman BE-OD Deluxe

Friedman

57% similarity
$229.49via Reverb

Shared character: distortion, vintage charm, classic rock

TC Electronic Vintage Dual Distortion

TC Electronic

53% similarity

Shared character: distortion, warm, vintage charm

Ross "Distorsion"

Ross

53% similarity

Shared character: compression, smooth, distortion

Maxon OD808

Maxon

52% similarity
$134.23via Reverb

Shared character: warm, smooth, distortion

Crazy Tube Circuits Heatseeker Pre-Amp

Crazy Tube Circuits

52% similarity

Shared character: circuit, compression, warm

NuX SSD-10

Nux

52% similarity

Shared character: single coils, high gain settings, filter

MXR Super Badass Distortion

MXR

52% similarity
$99via Reverb

Shared character: warm, distortion, classic rock

Behringer VT999 Vintage Tube Monster

Behringer

52% similarity
$84.49via Reverb

Shared character: compression, alternative, distortion

Abasi Pathos Distortion

Abasi

51% similarity
$189.99via Reverb

Shared character: compression, smooth, distortion

Benson Amps Portable Distortion 424 MKII

Benson Amps

50% similarity
$199via Reverb

Shared character: circuit, compression, warm

Fender Smolder

Fender

50% similarity
$159.80via Reverb

Shared character: single coils, compression, warm

See all alternatives to the Dunlop MXR M78 Custom Modified OD, also known as the Bad Ass Modified OD (cheaper + boutique) →

Questions people ask

What are good alternatives to the Dunlop MXR M78 Custom Modified OD, also known as the Bad Ass Modified OD?+

The closest matches in character are the Dunlop MXR Randy Rhoads Concorde Distortion, model RR104C, the Friedman BE-OD Deluxe, the TC Electronic Vintage Dual Distortion.

What pairs well with the Dunlop MXR M78 Custom Modified OD, also known as the Bad Ass Modified OD?+

Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Peavey MiniMAX, Hiwatt Custom DR20H, Mesa Boogie Stiletto Deuce 50/100W Tube Head — Peavey MiniMAX pushes a saturated tone toward tight.

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