Dunlop MXR M85 Bass Distortion

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

Stack Laney DBC410 Digbeth 4x10 Cabinet on top and a high gain tone tightens toward tight

Comes later in the signal chain

Comes later in the signal chain

Run mid-forward into EVH 000 for more high gain on top

Comes later in the signal chain

Put Mesa/Boogie JP-2C John Petrucci Signature 60/100-Watt in front and the mid-forward tone leans further toward high gain

Comes later in the signal chain

Hughes & Kettner Warp 7 stacks high gain on top of the mid-forward already here

Comes later in the signal chain

Run mid-forward into Randall KH103 Kirk Hammett Signature 3-Channel 120W Head for more high gain on top

Comes later in the signal chain

Put Randall RD100H Diavlo 100W 3-Channel Head in front and the mid-forward tone leans further toward high gain

Comes later in the signal chain

Run mid-forward into Friedman RUNT-50 for more high gain on top

Comes later in the signal chain

Synergy SL2 Module stacks high gain on top of the mid-forward already here

gain stackingStacks two gain stages for more saturation than either produces alone. (mid-forward → fuzzy)

Fjord Fuzz Fjaer Spring Reverb stacks fuzzy on top of the mid-forward already here

Comes later in the signal chain

gain stackingStacks two gain stages for more saturation than either produces alone. (mid-forward → fuzzy)

Put Fjord Fuzz Odin in front and the mid-forward tone leans further toward fuzzy

Comes later in the signal chain

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 CE-1 Chorus Ensemble's lush voice goes after Dunlop MXR M85 Bass Distortion in the signal chain — it's not there to compete with Dunlop MXR M85 Bass Distortion's own high gain character

Comes later in the signal chain

shapes the dynamic responseShapes how the tone responds to picking dynamics rather than its frequency or gain.

Crazy Tube Circuits Golden Ratio's own tight character is the real reason this is worth trying

Comes earlier in the signal chain

sits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor. (high gain → lush)

Put Hungry Robot Moby Dick V2 after Dunlop MXR M85 Bass Distortion in the signal chain, clear of Dunlop MXR M85 Bass Distortion's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)

Comes later in the signal chain

sits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor. (high gain → modulated)

Hungry Robot The Borderland's modulated voice goes after Dunlop MXR M85 Bass Distortion in the signal chain — it's not there to compete with Dunlop MXR M85 Bass Distortion's own high gain character — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)

Comes later in the signal chain

Comes later in the signal chain

Run mid-forward into Death By Audio Destruction for more fuzzy on top

Comes earlier in the signal chain

Put Subdecay F-Bomb in front and the mid-forward tone leans further toward fuzzy