The Dunlop MXR Distortion Plus is a Dunlop distortion pedal. Close alternatives include the Maxon OD808 and the Dallas Rangemaster Treble Booster. It pairs well with the PRS Archon and the Marshall Super Bass.

Dunlop MXR Distortion Plus

Dunlop · pedal

The MXR Distortion Plus is the original MXR distortion pedal, introduced in 1973 and one of the most influential hard-clipping distortion designs in the history of the electric guitar. The circuit uses a single op-amp with hard germanium diode clipping to produce a compressed, warm distortion character with a distinctive midrange voice. The Distortion Plus is strongly associated with Randy Rhoads, who used it with Ozzy Osbourne, and with Slash on early Guns N Roses recordings. It delivers moderate-to-high gain distortion with warm, natural compression and a mid-voiced character that cuts well in classic rock contexts. The design has been extensively copied and remains in production as the M104.

  • distortion
  • warm
  • compressed
  • midrange
  • clipping
  • compression
  • eq
  • modern

Genres the Dunlop MXR Distortion Plus is commonly used in

Amps that pair well with the Dunlop MXR Distortion Plus

PRS Archon

PRS

28% match

Into the Archon's clear, modern clean channel, the Distortion+'s warm, compressed midrange clipping has real headroom to open up.

Marshall Super Bass

Marshall

27% match

Into the Super Bass's clear, pedal-platform headroom, the Distortion Plus's warm, compressed clipping opens up without losing that amp's own bright presence.

Diezel VH4 4-Channel 100-Watt

Diezel

23% match
$4499.99via Reverb

Push the VH4's tight, huge gain further by stacking the Distortion Plus's warm, compressed clipping in front for extra saturation.

Blackstar 1RH MKII

Blackstar

23% match

Dunlop MXR Distortion Plus pushes a crunchy tone toward mid-forward

Marshall Lead 20 Model 5002 Amplifier

amplifier

20% match

Dunlop MXR Distortion Plus's warm voice suits Marshall Lead 20 Model 5002 Amplifier's own bright character

Randall RG100ES

Randall

19% match

Where this leans bright, Dunlop MXR Distortion Plus answers back warm

Peavey 6505 MH 20W Mini Head

Peavey

tonal match
$767.77via Reverb

Put Peavey 6505 MH 20W Mini Head in front and the mid-forward tone leans further toward high gain

Friedman BE-Mini Head

Friedman

tonal match
$203.48via Reverb

Put Friedman BE-Mini Head in front and the mid-forward tone leans further toward high gain

Pedals that stack with the Dunlop MXR Distortion Plus

Wren and Cuff Box of War Small Foot Fuzz

Wren And Cuff

29% match
$199.99via Reverb

Stack the Box of War's clear, sustaining Muff-style fuzz with the Distortion+'s own warm, compressed clipping for two distinct low-gain textures.

Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi

Electro-Harmonix

29% match
$88.76via Reverb

Stack the Big Muff's thick, creamy sustain with the Distortion+'s own warm, compressed midrange clipping for two very different flavors of heavy.

ZVEX Fuzz Factory

Zvex

28% match
$199via Reverb

Stack the Fuzz Factory's gated, glitchy fuzz after the Distortion Plus's warm, compressed clipping for a wilder, noisier layer on top.

Catalinbread Sabbra Traditional Ink

Catalinbread

25% match

Dunlop MXR Distortion Plus leans warm right where the bright tone needs it

Electro-Harmonix 1973 Violet Ram's Head Big Muff Pi V2

Electro-Harmonix

25% match
$114.30via Reverb

Dunlop MXR Distortion Plus pushes a scooped tone toward mid-forward

Peavey Bandit Supreme Teal Stripe Preamp

Peavey

24% match
$168.92via Reverb

Dunlop MXR Distortion Plus leans warm right where the bright tone needs it

Free The Tone IF-1D

Free The Tone

24% match
$159via Reverb

What Dunlop MXR Distortion Plus brings here leans toward warm — that's worth building a pairing around

Dophix Michelangelo Gold Edition

Dophix

23% match

Stack Dunlop MXR Distortion Plus on top and a crunchy tone tightens toward mid-forward

See all 22 pedals that pair with the Dunlop MXR Distortion Plus →

Alternativessee all similar tone character →

Maxon OD808

Maxon

73% similarity
$118.63via Reverb

Shared character: guitar, boost, hard_rock

Dallas Rangemaster Treble Booster

Dallas

73% similarity
$3558.02via Reverb

Shared character: 1960s, boost, compression

MXR Distortion+

MXR

72% similarity
$169.99via Reverb

Shared character: 1960s, compression, hard_rock

Colorsound Power Boost

Colorsound

72% similarity

Shared character: 1960s, guitar, boost

Dunlop MXR M104 Distortion+

Dunlop

72% similarity
$97.11via Reverb

Shared character: 1960s, hard_rock, middle

Klon KTR

Klon

71% similarity

Shared character: boost, middle, classic_rock

Fender MTG LA Tube Distortion

Fender

71% similarity
$135.62via Reverb

Shared character: compression, hard_rock, guitar

MXR Super Badass Distortion

MXR

70% similarity
$99via Reverb

Shared character: boost, middle, classic_rock

Dunlop MXR Randy Rhoads Concorde Distortion, model RR104C

Dunlop

70% similarity
$169.99via Reverb

“based on the MXR Distortion Plus circuit that Rhoads used extensively during his tenure with Ozzy Osbourne”

Ross "Distorsion"

Ross

68% similarity

Shared character: 1960s, compression, distortion

Death By Audio Supersonic Fu

Death By Audio

66% similarity
$270via Reverb

Shared character: hard_rock, compression, distortion

Ibanez SD9 Sonic Distortion

Ibanez

66% similarity
$187.29via Reverb

Shared character: boost, hard_rock, distortion

See all alternatives to the Dunlop MXR Distortion Plus (cheaper + boutique) →

Questions people ask

What are good alternatives to the Dunlop MXR Distortion Plus?+

The closest matches in character are the Maxon OD808, the Dallas Rangemaster Treble Booster, the MXR Distortion+.

What pairs well with the Dunlop MXR Distortion Plus?+

Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: PRS Archon, Marshall Super Bass, Diezel VH4 4-Channel 100-Watt — Into the Archon's clear, modern clean channel, the Distortion+'s warm, compressed midrange clipping has real headroom to open up..

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Dunlop MXR Distortion Plus — NodeTone