The Mesa Boogie Flux-Five is a Mesa Boogie overdrive pedal, currently around $135. Close alternatives include the Paul Cochrane Timmy and the Snouse BlackBox Overdrive 2. It pairs well with the Marshall Bluesbreaker and the Mesa Boogie F-30 1x12 Combo.
Mesa Boogie Flux-Five
Mesa Boogie · pedal
The Mesa Boogie Flux Five is a supercharged overdrive pedal featuring an integrated five-band graphic EQ with footswitchable HI/LO performance modes. The circuit is an enhanced version of the Flux Drive, delivering amp-style overdrive character that lets guitar tone shine through naturally. The five-band EQ provides ±12dB boost or cut at 80Hz, 240Hz, 750Hz, 2.2kHz, and 6.6kHz with auto-assignability to either mode via independent on/off switches. The LO Gain Mode delivers the original Flux Drive character; the HI Mode provides a higher-gain version of the same soulful sound. True bypass switching and footswitchable modes enable responsive tonal control during live performance.
- overdrive
- drive
- eq
- responsive
- quick character
- stacking
- bypass
- organic
Price updated Aug 27, 2026
Genres the Mesa Boogie Flux-Five is commonly used in
- Alternative
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Blues
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Amps that pair well with the Mesa Boogie Flux-Five
Marshall Bluesbreaker
Marshall
35% matchMarshall Bluesbreaker's own voicing points at Marshall-style amps, and Mesa Boogie Flux-Five delivers it — also used together by 1 artist
Mesa Boogie F-30 1x12 Combo
Mesa Boogie
33% matchMesa Boogie F-30 1x12 Combo leans toward transparent, and that's a real, usable character to pair with
Mesa Boogie Triple Crown TC-100 Head
Mesa Boogie
tonal matchVoiced for Mesa-style amps
Mesa Boogie Mark V
Mesa Boogie
tonal matchVoiced for Mesa-style amps
Mesa Boogie Mark Five:90 1x12 Combo
Mesa Boogie
tonal matchVoiced for Mesa-style amps
Victory Amplifiers V100
amplifier
tonal matchVoiced for Mesa-style amps
Mesa Boogie Rectifier Badlander EL34/50 1x12 Combo
Mesa Boogie
tonal matchVoiced for Mesa-style amps
Mesa Boogie Rectifier Badlander EL34/100 Head
Mesa Boogie
tonal matchVoiced for Mesa-style amps
Pedals that stack with the Mesa Boogie Flux-Five
Hughes & Kettner Tube Rotosphere MKII The Analog Leslie Simulator
pedal
13% matchHughes & Kettner Tube Rotosphere MKII The Analog Leslie Simulator's transparent voice goes after Mesa Boogie Flux-Five in the signal chain — it's not there to compete with Mesa Boogie Flux-Five's own dynamic character
Catalinbread SFT
Catalinbread
13% matchWhat Catalinbread SFT brings here leans toward warm — that's worth building a pairing around
Electro-Harmonix Green Russian Big Muff
Electro-Harmonix
13% matchWhat Electro-Harmonix Green Russian Big Muff brings here leans toward smooth — that's worth building a pairing around
Ashdown Velvet Compressor
Ashdown
11% matchMesa Boogie Flux-Five's dynamic character and Ashdown Velvet Compressor's compressed voice sit in the same lane rather than fighting each other
Caroline Guitar Company Kilobyte
Caroline Guitar Company
8% matchPut Caroline Guitar Company Kilobyte after Mesa Boogie Flux-Five in the signal chain, clear of Mesa Boogie Flux-Five's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Catalinbread Belle Epoch
Catalinbread
8% matchKeep Mesa Boogie Flux-Five's dynamic voice out front: Catalinbread Belle Epoch goes after Mesa Boogie Flux-Five in the signal chain so its analog warmth voice doesn't muddy it — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Boss CE-2 Chorus
Boss
tonal matchVoiced for Mesa-style amps
Mesa Boogie Flux-Drive
Mesa Boogie
tonal matchVoiced for Mesa-style amps
Cheaper alternatives
Rarebird effects Hatchet Overdrive
Rarebird Effects
71% similarityShared character: circuit, aggressive_playing, gain
Electro-Harmonix Spruce Goose
Electro-Harmonix
68% similarityShared character: true_bypass, gain, boost
Boss SD-1 Super OverDrive
Boss
68% similarityShared character: subtle, gain, boost
Joyo Hot Witch
Joyo
66% similarityShared character: aggressive_playing, gain
Mooer Tone Capture
Mooer
66% similarityShared character: live_performances, live
Electro-Harmonix Soul Food
Electro-Harmonix
94% similaritysimilar tone character
Boutique & premium upgrades
Xotic BB Preamp V1.5
Xotic
70% similarityShared character: circuit, gain, boost
Mesa Boogie Flux-Drive
Mesa Boogie
70% similarity“The circuit is an enhanced version of the Flux Drive, delivering amp-style overdrive character that lets guitar tone shine through naturally.”
Browne Amplification Carbon
Browne Amplification
68% similarityShared character: circuit, subtle, boost
Eventide Micropitch
Eventide
68% similarityShared character: subtle, live, overdrive
Catalinbread Airstrip CB-Range Overdrive Preamp
Catalinbread
67% similarityShared character: subtle, boost, live
Carl Martin Contour
Carl Martin
67% similarityShared character: guitar_tone, boost
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
Paul Cochrane Timmy
Paul Cochrane
71% similarityShared character: guitar_tone, gain, boost
Snouse BlackBox Overdrive 2
Snouse
69% similarityShared character: circuit, subtle, gain
JHS Kirkland Custom Boost
pedal
68% similarityShared character: subtle, gain, boost
JHS Pedals JHS AT+
JHS Pedals
67% similarityShared character: circuit, boost, overdrive
Godlyke Ibanez TS9 Tamura-Mod
Godlyke
62% similaritySimilar voicing: dynamic, mid-forward
MXR CSP039 Duke of Tone Overdrive
MXR
94% similaritysimilar tone character
See all alternatives to the Mesa Boogie Flux-Five (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Mesa Boogie Flux-Five?+
The closest matches in character are the Paul Cochrane Timmy, the Snouse BlackBox Overdrive 2, the JHS Kirkland Custom Boost. Budget picks: Rarebird effects Hatchet Overdrive, Electro-Harmonix Spruce Goose, Boss SD-1 Super OverDrive. Boutique upgrades: Xotic BB Preamp V1.5, Mesa Boogie Flux-Drive, Browne Amplification Carbon.
What pairs well with the Mesa Boogie Flux-Five?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Marshall Bluesbreaker, Mesa Boogie F-30 1x12 Combo, Mesa Boogie Triple Crown TC-100 Head — Marshall Bluesbreaker's own voicing points at Marshall-style amps, and Mesa Boogie Flux-Five delivers it — also used together by 1 artist.
How much does the Mesa Boogie Flux-Five cost?+
Around $135 (live listing price, updated Aug 27, 2026).