The MXR Timmy Overdrive is an MXR overdrive pedal, currently around $145.80. Close alternatives include the Wampler Tumnus and the Paul Cochrane Timmy. It pairs well with the Marshall JTM45 45W Tube Guitar Amp Head and the Synergy SL2 Module.
MXR Timmy Overdrive
MXR · pedal
The MXR Timmy is a compact, officially licensed version of Paul Cochrane's classic Timmy transparent overdrive, delivering the same uncolored, dynamic drive in a mini enclosure. It is transparent with a capital T, sounding like switching to a mild gain channel on a tube amp, preserving pickup and amp identity while adding a gradual gain bump up to light compression and a pleasing natural breakup. It avoids the compressed mid-hump of a Tube Screamer, offering clear top-end chime and midrange warmth with strong dynamic presence. Like the original it has cut-only bass and treble controls for tightening or shaping the drive. Because it is so transparent it does not fight other pedals, making it ideal for stacking, including smoothing and adding low and high end after a mid-forward Tube Screamer, across blues, rock, and country.
- compression
- dynamic
- treble
- stacking
- cut
- gain
- clear
- presence
Good for
- Busking
- Live
Price updated Aug 27, 2026
Genres the MXR Timmy Overdrive is commonly used in
- Country
- Blues Rock
- Blues
- Rock
- Indie Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Amps that pair well with the MXR Timmy Overdrive
Marshall JTM45 45W Tube Guitar Amp Head
amplifier
28% matchThe transparent tone has headroom to spare — Marshall JTM45 45W Tube Guitar Amp Head gives it mid-forward to fill it with
Synergy SL2 Module
Synergy
tonal matchInto a transparent tone, Synergy SL2 Module brings the high gain it's missing
Friedman BE-Mini Head
Friedman
tonal matchThe transparent tone has headroom to spare — Friedman BE-Mini Head gives it high gain to fill it with
Ceriatone 2202H
Ceriatone
tonal matchInto a transparent tone, Ceriatone 2202H brings the high gain it's missing
Hughes & Kettner Warp 7
Hughes & Kettner
tonal matchInto a transparent tone, Hughes & Kettner Warp 7 brings the high gain it's missing
Friedman Jose LTD
Friedman
tonal matchThe transparent tone has headroom to spare — Friedman Jose LTD gives it high gain to fill it with
Hughes & Kettner Coreblade
Hughes & Kettner
tonal matchRun Hughes & Kettner Coreblade into that transparent platform and it finally gets some high gain
Mesa Boogie Triple Crown TC-100 Head
Mesa Boogie
tonal matchMesa Boogie Triple Crown TC-100 Head's high gain fills in what this transparent tone doesn't make on its own
Pedals that stack with the MXR Timmy Overdrive
EarthQuaker Devices Hizumitas
EarthQuaker Devices
27% matchEarthQuaker Devices Hizumitas's high gain fills in what this transparent tone doesn't make on its own
Pigtronix Octava Micro
Pigtronix
26% matchPigtronix Octava Micro's high gain fills in what this transparent tone doesn't make on its own
Walrus Audio Monument CS
Walrus Audio
19% matchKeep MXR Timmy Overdrive's compressed voice out front: Walrus Audio Monument CS goes after MXR Timmy Overdrive in the signal chain so its low gain voice doesn't muddy it
Electro-Harmonix Nano Tone Corset
Electro-Harmonix
17% matchElectro-Harmonix Nano Tone Corset leans toward mid-forward, and that's a real, usable character to pair with
Mr. Black Bloodmoon
Mr Black
12% matchRun Mr. Black Bloodmoon after MXR Timmy Overdrive in the signal chain, clear of MXR Timmy Overdrive's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Catalinbread Epoch-Set
Catalinbread
11% matchPut Catalinbread Epoch-Set after MXR Timmy Overdrive in the signal chain, clear of MXR Timmy Overdrive's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Electro-Harmonix EH-1335/EH-3075 Hot Tubes
Electro-Harmonix
tonal matchMXR Timmy Overdrive leans into a clean amp's front end, precisely the platform Electro-Harmonix EH-1335/EH-3075 Hot Tubes wants
Black Arts Toneworks LSTR Fuzz
Black Arts Toneworks
tonal matchBlack Arts Toneworks LSTR Fuzz's own voicing points at a clean amp's front end, and MXR Timmy Overdrive delivers it
Cheaper alternatives
Electro-Harmonix Soul Food
Electro-Harmonix
71% similarityShared character: tube_screamer, presence, treble
Warm Audio ODD Box V1
Warm Audio
70% similarityShared character: original, gain, overdrive
Mad Professor Big Tweedy Drive
Mad Professor
69% similarityShared character: compression, warm, blues_players
MXR MC401 Boost/Line Driver
MXR
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Electro-Harmonix Spruce Goose
Electro-Harmonix
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Boss SD-1 Super OverDrive
Boss
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Boutique & premium upgrades
Greer Lightspeed Organic Overdrive
Greer
70% similarityShared character: presence, warm, clarity
Cusack Music Screamer V2
Cusack Music
68% similarityShared character: original, warm, blues_players
Browne Amplification Carbon
Browne Amplification
94% similaritysimilar tone character
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
Wampler Tumnus
Wampler
75% similarityShared character: tube_screamer, original, compact
Paul Cochrane Timmy
Paul Cochrane
74% similarity“is a compact, officially licensed version of Paul Cochrane's classic Timmy transparent overdrive”
Xotic BB Preamp V1.5
Xotic
71% similarityShared character: treble, warm, clarity
Catalinbread Galileo
Catalinbread
70% similarityShared character: high_end, presence, treble
Colorsound Power Boost
Colorsound
70% similarityShared character: treble, compression, warm
JHS Morning Glory
JHS Pedals
70% similarityShared character: tube_screamer, treble, warm
See all alternatives to the MXR Timmy Overdrive (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the MXR Timmy Overdrive?+
The closest matches in character are the Wampler Tumnus, the Paul Cochrane Timmy, the Xotic BB Preamp V1.5. Budget picks: Electro-Harmonix Soul Food, Warm Audio ODD Box V1, Mad Professor Big Tweedy Drive. Boutique upgrades: Greer Lightspeed Organic Overdrive, Cusack Music Screamer V2, Browne Amplification Carbon.
What pairs well with the MXR Timmy Overdrive?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Marshall JTM45 45W Tube Guitar Amp Head, Synergy SL2 Module, Friedman BE-Mini Head — The transparent tone has headroom to spare — Marshall JTM45 45W Tube Guitar Amp Head gives it mid-forward to fill it with.
How much does the MXR Timmy Overdrive cost?+
Around $145.80 (live listing price, updated Aug 27, 2026).