The MXR DL E MXR M 236 is an MXR fuzz pedal, currently around $184.30. Close alternatives include the Black Arts Toneworks Priestess Custom and the EarthQuaker Devices Hizumitas. It pairs well with the Marshall Origin 20 Combo and the Engl Savage 120 Mark II E610II 120 Watt 4 Channel Tube.
MXR DL E MXR M 236
MXR · pedal
The MXR M236 Super Badass Variac Fuzz offers a Voltage control letting players adjust the circuit's internal power from 5V to 15V: lowering the voltage creates a sagging, gated "dying battery" fuzz character prized for vintage textures, while raising it delivers more headroom and clarity. Running on 9V DC power (or a 9V battery) with true bypass switching, it turns the fixed internal voltage most fuzz pedals rely on into a hands-on, real-time tone-shaping control.
What stands out
“The MXR M236 Super Badass Variac Fuzz offers a Voltage control letting players adjust the circuit's internal power from 5V to 15V: lowering the voltage creates a sagging, gated "dying battery" fuzz character prized for vintage textures, whi…”
— from the listing
“Running on 9V DC power (or a 9V battery) with true bypass switching, it turns the fixed internal voltage most fuzz pedals rely on into a hands-on, real-time tone-shaping control”
— from the listing
“Primary use case is players wanting to explore the full range from clean, headroom-rich fuzz to unstable, gated, vintage-sagging textures from one knob”
— from the community notes
“Valued for putting direct control over internal circuit voltage in the player's hands, a feature usually only accessible via internal trim pots or aftermarket mods on other fuzz pedals”
— from the community notes
“Range from clean headroom to gated, dying-battery textures covers meaningfully different fuzz personalities from one pedal”
— from the reviews
- fuzz
- clean headroom
- bypass
- headroom
- clarity
- rich
- distortion
- full
Good for
- Busking
Price updated Oct 22, 2026
Genres the MXR DL E MXR M 236 is commonly used in
- Rock
- Noise Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Stoner 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 MXR DL E MXR M 236
Marshall Origin 20 Combo
Marshall
25% matchInto a high headroom tone, Marshall Origin 20 Combo brings a pull toward crunchy that's missing
Comes later in the signal chain
Engl Savage 120 Mark II E610II 120 Watt 4 Channel Tube
Engl
24% matchInto a high headroom tone, Engl Savage 120 Mark II E610II 120 Watt 4 Channel Tube brings a pull toward mid-forward that's missing
Comes later in the signal chain
Bogner Ecstasy Mini 30W
Bogner
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Into a high headroom tone, Bogner Ecstasy Mini 30W brings a pull toward saturated that's missing
Blackstar HT20 Mk. II 20 Watt Combo
Blackstar
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Put Blackstar HT20 Mk. II 20 Watt Combo after MXR DL E MXR M 236
Hiwatt Crunch 150R 112C
Hiwatt
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Hiwatt Crunch 150R 112C leans this high headroom tone toward medium gain, which it doesn't make on its own
ENGL Special Edition E670
Engl
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
ENGL Special Edition E670 leans this high headroom tone toward mid-forward, which it doesn't make on its own
Engl 120 E610 MK II
Engl
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Into a high headroom tone, Engl 120 E610 MK II brings a pull toward mid-forward that's missing
Ceriatone 2202H
Ceriatone
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Into a high headroom tone, Ceriatone 2202H brings a pull toward high gain that's missing
Pedals that stack with the MXR DL E MXR M 236
Ibanez Pentatone Preamp
Ibanez
23% matchInto a high headroom tone, Ibanez Pentatone Preamp brings a pull toward saturated that's missing
Comes later in the signal chain
Carl Martin Hot Drive'n Boost MK3
Carl Martin
23% matchCarl Martin Hot Drive'n Boost MK3 leans this high headroom tone toward high gain, which it doesn't make on its own
Comes earlier in the signal chain
EarthQuaker Devices Grand Orbiter
EarthQuaker Devices
17% 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 EarthQuaker Devices Grand Orbiter after MXR DL E MXR M 236 in the signal chain, clear of MXR DL E MXR M 236's own gain stage
Comes later in the signal chain
Lab Ratz 3D Boum Warming Unit
Lab Ratz 3d
14% matchshapes the dynamic responseShapes how the tone responds to picking dynamics rather than its frequency or gain.
MXR DL E MXR M 236 leans toward fuzzy, and that's a real, usable character to pair with
Comes earlier in the signal chain
TC Electronic Alter Ego V2 Vintage Echo
TC Electronic
11% 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 MXR DL E MXR M 236's fuzzy voice out front: TC Electronic Alter Ego V2 Vintage Echo goes after MXR DL E MXR M 236 in the signal chain so its pristine voice doesn't muddy it — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Binson Echorec Delay
Binson
10% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Run Binson Echorec Delay after MXR DL E MXR M 236 in the signal chain, clear of MXR DL E MXR M 236's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Dr. Scientist Frazz Dazzler V2
Dr Scientist
tonal matchInto a high headroom tone, Dr. Scientist Frazz Dazzler V2 brings a pull toward fuzzy that's missing
Dophix Dante
Dophix
tonal matchComes earlier in the signal chain
Into a high headroom tone, Dophix Dante brings a pull toward compressed that's missing
Cheaper alternatives
Fulltone '69 MkII Fuzz
Fulltone
53% similarityShared character: wide range, fuzz, distortion
SONICAKE Fazy Cream
Sonicake
46% similarityShared character: true bypass, wide range, fuzz
Dunlop Fuzz Face Mini Germanium
Dunlop
45% similarityShared character: true bypass, fuzz, distortion
Electro-Harmonix Ram's Head Big Muff
Electro-Harmonix
43% similarityShared character: rich, fuzz, distortion
Mooer MFZ1 Blue Faze
Mooer
41% similarityShared character: true bypass, circuit, fuzz
Fender The Pelt
Fender
41% similarityShared character: fuzz, full
Boutique & premium upgrades
Similar character
Black Arts Toneworks Priestess Custom
Black Arts Toneworks
49% similarityShared character: wide range, headroom, fuzz
EarthQuaker Devices Hizumitas
EarthQuaker Devices
48% similarityShared character: fuzz, clarity, distortion
Dunlop PSF30
Dunlop
47% similarityShared character: true bypass, distortion
Suhr Rufus Reloaded
Suhr
46% similarityShared character: fuzz, distortion, full
JHS x Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi 2
JHS Pedals
45% similarityShared character: fuzz, distortion
Wampler Velvet Fuzz V2
Wampler
43% similarityShared character: true bypass, wide range, fuzz
See all alternatives to the MXR DL E MXR M 236 (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the MXR DL E MXR M 236?+
The closest matches in character are the Black Arts Toneworks Priestess Custom, the EarthQuaker Devices Hizumitas, the Dunlop PSF30. Budget picks: Fulltone '69 MkII Fuzz, SONICAKE Fazy Cream, Dunlop Fuzz Face Mini Germanium. Boutique upgrades: Spaceman Spacerocket II, Wren and Cuff Irkalla Manifest Fuzz.
What pairs well with the MXR DL E MXR M 236?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Marshall Origin 20 Combo, Engl Savage 120 Mark II E610II 120 Watt 4 Channel Tube, Bogner Ecstasy Mini 30W — Into a high headroom tone, Marshall Origin 20 Combo brings a pull toward crunchy that's missing.
How much does the MXR DL E MXR M 236 cost?+
Around $184.30 (live listing price, updated Oct 22, 2026).