The MXR Distortion+ is an MXR distortion pedal, currently around $129.97. Close alternatives include the Mooer The Juicer and the Walrus Audio Fundamental Series Distortion. It pairs well with the Fender Prosonic and the Dumble Steel String Singer.
MXR Distortion+
MXR · pedal
The MXR Distortion Plus is a classic, simple two-knob dirt box first released in the late 1970s, built around germanium diode clipping with only Output and Distortion controls. It produces an old-school, gritty distortion with juicy, tube-like compression and a raw, dirty character that defined many 1970s and 1980s hard rock and punk tones, famously associated with Randy Rhoads and Dave Murray. It ranges from light, gritty overdrive to a thick, saturated distortion that is not overly piercing, with a treble lift that helps it cut. As gain rises it tightens by rolling off some low end. Beloved for its raw simplicity and vintage warmth, it suits players who want an aggressive, no-frills classic distortion rather than a flexible, EQ-laden modern one.
What stands out
“It produces an old-school, gritty distortion with juicy, tube-like compression and a raw, dirty character that defined many 1970s and 1980s hard rock and punk tones, famously associated with Randy Rhoads and Dave Murray”
— from the listing
“Strengths are its raw character, juicy compression, and cutting presence”
— from the reviews
“With only two knobs it is used for everything from light gritty overdrive to thick saturated distortion, usually as an always-on or lead sound into a cranked amp”
— from the community notes
“A characterful vintage distortion whose germanium clipping and tube-like compression give it a raw, gritty voice that nails late-seventies and eighties hard rock”
— from the reviews
“Despite just two controls it spans light, dirty overdrive to a thick, saturated distortion that stays musical , and a built-in treble emphasis helps notes cut with authority”
— from the reviews
- distortion
- gritty
- compression
- juicy
- tube
- thick
- hard rock
- overdrive
Price updated Oct 24, 2026
Genres the MXR Distortion+ is commonly used in
- Hard Rock
- Rock
- Metal
- Punk
- Alternative
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Garage Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Amps that pair well with the MXR Distortion+
Fender Prosonic
amplifier
38% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (bright → warm)
The Prosonic's warm, responsive breakup gives the Distortion+'s thick, gritty gain a tube-driven amp voice to push into.
Comes later in the signal chain
Dumble Steel String Singer
Dumble
36% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (bright → smooth)
The Dumble's already-organic breakup gives the Distortion+'s thick, gritty gain a boutique amp voice to push into.
Comes later in the signal chain
Ampeg SFT Ampeg Inspired Overdrive
Ampeg
27% matchfills 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 MXR Distortion+ after it and the warm edge settles into something more bright
Comes later in the signal chain
Orange Terror Bass
Orange
27% matchfills 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 MXR Distortion+ after it and the warm edge settles into something more bright
Comes later in the signal chain
Ampeg RB-112
Ampeg
26% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (warm → bright)
MXR Distortion+ leans bright right where the warm tone needs it
Comes later in the signal chain
Victory Amps V10 The Baron
Victory
26% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (warm → bright)
MXR Distortion+'s bright balances out the warm tone
Comes later in the signal chain
Ampeg V-4B 100w Bass Head
Ampeg
26% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (warm → bright)
MXR Distortion+ leans bright right where the warm tone needs it
Comes later in the signal chain
Peavey MiniMAX 500W Lightweight Bass Head
Peavey
15% matchWhat MXR Distortion+ brings here leans toward gritty — that's worth building a pairing around
Comes later in the signal chain
Pedals that stack with the MXR Distortion+
Hughes & Kettner Tube Rotosphere MKII The Analog Leslie Simulator
pedal
35% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Keep Hughes & Kettner Tube Rotosphere MKII The Analog Leslie Simulator after MXR Distortion+ in the signal chain, clear of MXR Distortion+'s own gain stage
Comes later in the signal chain
Caroline Guitar Company Kilobyte
Caroline Guitar Company
34% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (warm → bright)
The Kilobyte's digital and analog delay modes trail cleanly behind the Distortion+'s thick, compressed gain. — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Walrus Audio Julia
Walrus Audio
33% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (warm → bright)
MXR Distortion+'s bright balances out the warm tone
Comes later in the signal chain
Caroline Guitar Company Icarus
Caroline Guitar Company
33% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (warm → bright)
Boost first with the Icarus, then hit the Distortion+'s germanium clipping harder — you get thicker, more compressed gain than either pedal alone.
Comes earlier in the signal chain
One Control Lingonberry Overdrive
One Control
31% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (warm → bright)
Stack the Lingonberry's warm, musical blues overdrive with the Distortion+'s own gritty, compressed hard-rock gain for two very different flavors of dirt.
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Suhr Discovery
Suhr
31% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (warm → bright)
MXR Distortion+'s bright balances out the warm tone — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Greer Soma
Greer
30% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (warm → bright)
Where this leans warm, MXR Distortion+ answers back bright
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Greer Mizuki blue
Greer
30% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (warm → bright)
MXR Distortion+ leans bright right where the warm tone needs it
Cheaper alternatives
Walrus Audio Fundamental Distortion
Walrus Audio
59% similarityShared character: simple, gain, distortion
Mooer Black Secret Vintage Turbo Distortion
Mooer
56% similarityShared character: gain, distortion, aggressive playing
ProCo RAT 2
Proco
55% similarityShared character: 1960s, thickness, simple
Boss SD-1 Super OverDrive
Boss
52% similarityShared character: simple, warm, response
Fender Hammertone Metal
Fender
51% similarityShared character: high end, hard rock, simple
Boffin FX Dino-Mite Distortion #129
Boffin Fx
49% similarityShared character: thickness, gain, distortion
Boutique & premium upgrades
Similar character
Mooer The Juicer
Mooer
61% similarityShared character: overdrive
Walrus Audio Fundamental Series Distortion
Walrus Audio
60% similarityShared character: thickness, gain, distortion
Black Country Customs Monolith
Black Country Customs
59% similarityShared character: presence, hard rock, warm
Dallas Rangemaster Treble Booster
Dallas
56% similarityShared character: 1960s, treble, compression
Tru-Fi Rat Pack Compact
Tru Fi
51% similarityShared character: hard rock, gain, distortion
Maxon SD-9 Sonic Distortion
Maxon
51% similarityShared character: raw, distortion, aggressive playing
See all alternatives to the MXR Distortion+ (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the MXR Distortion+?+
The closest matches in character are the Mooer The Juicer, the Walrus Audio Fundamental Series Distortion, the Black Country Customs Monolith. Budget picks: Walrus Audio Fundamental Distortion, Mooer Black Secret Vintage Turbo Distortion, ProCo RAT 2. Boutique upgrades: Boss OD-1 Overdrive.
What pairs well with the MXR Distortion+?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Fender Prosonic, Dumble Steel String Singer, Ampeg SFT Ampeg Inspired Overdrive — The Prosonic's warm, responsive breakup gives the Distortion+'s thick, gritty gain a tube-driven amp voice to push into..
How much does the MXR Distortion+ cost?+
Around $129.97 (live listing price, updated Oct 24, 2026).