The Dunlop MXR Distortion III, model M115 is a Dunlop distortion pedal. Close alternatives include the Ashdown Jmy-dd and the Ashdown James LoMenzo Mega Drive. It pairs well with the Laney DBC410 Digbeth 4x10 Cabinet and the Phil Jones Compact 2 (C2 Black).
Dunlop MXR Distortion III, model M115
Dunlop · pedal
The MXR Distortion III, model M115, is a distortion pedal from MXR by Jim Dunlop that delivers a moderate-gain drive tone reviewed as sounding closer to overdrive than high-gain distortion in character. The M115 covers classic overdrive through medium distortion and works well as an all-purpose moderate-gain drive into a tube amplifier. It features Output, Tone, and Distortion knobs on a straightforward control layout. Reviews from Sweetwater, Audiofanzine, and Guitar Pick Reviews note its excellent tone quality for blues lead lines and all-around rhythm guitar overdrive, while also noting it loses low-frequency content when engaged, making it less ideal for bass applications.
- distortion
- drive
- frequency
- blues
- high gain
- classic rock
- natural
- rhythm
Genres the Dunlop MXR Distortion III, model M115 is commonly used in
- Classic Rock
- Rock
- Blues
- Metal
- Hard Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Alternative
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Amps that pair well with the Dunlop MXR Distortion III, model M115
Laney DBC410 Digbeth 4x10 Cabinet
Laney
20% matchFeed a high gain signal into Laney DBC410 Digbeth 4x10 Cabinet and it comes out closer to tight
Phil Jones Compact 2 (C2 Black)
Phil Jones
20% matchFeed a high gain signal into Phil Jones Compact 2 (C2 Black) and it comes out closer to tight
Traynor BB115
Traynor
tonal matchTraynor BB115 takes that high gain character and pushes it toward tight
Gallien-Krueger Legacy 212
Gallien Krueger
tonal matchGallien-Krueger Legacy 212 pushes a high gain tone toward mid-forward
Phil Jones X4C NanoBass 35W 1x4 Combo
Phil Jones
tonal matchStack Phil Jones X4C NanoBass 35W 1x4 Combo on top and a high gain tone tightens toward mid-forward
Egnater Renegade 65 4x10 Combo
Egnater
tonal matchEgnater Renegade 65 4x10 Combo pushes a high gain tone toward tight
Phil Jones BG-75 Double Four Bass Combo
Phil Jones
tonal matchPhil Jones BG-75 Double Four Bass Combo takes that high gain character and pushes it toward mid-forward
Gallien-Krueger Legacy 410
Gallien Krueger
tonal matchGallien-Krueger Legacy 410 pushes a high gain tone toward tight
Pedals that stack with the Dunlop MXR Distortion III, model M115
Electro-Harmonix Electric Mistress
Electro-Harmonix
20% matchRun Electro-Harmonix Electric Mistress after Dunlop MXR Distortion III, model M115 in the signal chain, clear of Dunlop MXR Distortion III, model M115's own gain stage
Suhr Shiba Drive
Suhr
19% matchSuhr Shiba Drive takes that high gain character and pushes it toward mid-forward
Electro-Harmonix "Ram's Head" Big Muff Pi V2
pedal
19% matchElectro-Harmonix "Ram's Head" Big Muff Pi V2 takes that high gain character and pushes it toward mid-forward
Free the Tone Future Factory FY-1
Free The Tone
16% matchKeep Free the Tone Future Factory FY-1 after Dunlop MXR Distortion III, model M115 in the signal chain, clear of Dunlop MXR Distortion III, model M115's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Hungry Robot Moby Dick V2
Hungry Robot
16% matchKeep Dunlop MXR Distortion III, model M115's high gain voice out front: Hungry Robot Moby Dick V2 goes after Dunlop MXR Distortion III, model M115 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)
Warm Audio Pedal 76 Compressor
Warm Audio
15% matchWarm Audio Pedal 76 Compressor's own tight character is the real reason this is worth trying
Benson Amps Delay PT2399 Echo
Benson Amps
tonal matchBenson Amps Delay PT2399 Echo's own voicing points at a clean amp's front end, and Dunlop MXR Distortion III, model M115 delivers it — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Beetronics Wannabee
Beetronics
tonal matchDunlop MXR Distortion III, model M115 leans into a clean amp's front end, precisely the platform Beetronics Wannabee wants
Alternativessee all similar tone character →
Ashdown Jmy-dd
Ashdown
69% similarityShared character: bass, definition, high_gain_settings
Ashdown James LoMenzo Mega Drive
Ashdown
68% similarityShared character: bass, definition, distortion
Electro-Harmonix Nano Operation Overlord
Electro-Harmonix
68% similarityShared character: bass, definition, distortion
Dunlop MXR M85 Bass Distortion
Dunlop
67% similarityShared character: bass, high_gain_settings, classic_rock
EarthQuaker Devices Scrolls V1
EarthQuaker Devices
67% similarityShared character: bass, definition, high_gain_settings
Electro-Harmonix Blogger
Electro-Harmonix
66% similarityShared character: bass, definition, classic_rock
Boss ODB-3
Boss
63% similarityShared character: bass, high_gain_settings, distortion
Death By Audio Basswar
Death By Audio
61% similarityShared character: bass, definition, high_gain_settings
Behringer OD300 Overdrive Distortion
Behringer
96% similaritysimilar tone character
Friedman BE-OD Deluxe
Friedman
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Dunlop Custom Badass
Dunlop
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Dunlop MXR GT-OD Overdrive
Dunlop
95% similaritysimilar tone character
See all alternatives to the Dunlop MXR Distortion III, model M115 (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Dunlop MXR Distortion III, model M115?+
The closest matches in character are the Ashdown Jmy-dd, the Ashdown James LoMenzo Mega Drive, the Electro-Harmonix Nano Operation Overlord.
What pairs well with the Dunlop MXR Distortion III, model M115?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Laney DBC410 Digbeth 4x10 Cabinet, Phil Jones Compact 2 (C2 Black), Traynor BB115 — Feed a high gain signal into Laney DBC410 Digbeth 4x10 Cabinet and it comes out closer to tight.