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MXR

collapse expand iconDescription

The MXR Custom Badass '78 Distortion roars with huge amp stack tones and old-school distortion. MXR took a classic distortion circuit and hot-rodded it to deliver over-the-top, soaring leads and rich, saturated rhythms. With only three knobs, dialing in a badass tone is a cinch. Engage the CRUNCH button to boost the harmonic content of the distortion. Under the hood, this high-performance machine features top-notch circuitry and hardware meant for a lifetime of use.
MXR M78 Custom Badass '78 Distortion Guitar Effects Pedal
MXR M78 Custom Badass '78 Distortion Guitar Effects Pedal
MXR M78 Custom Badass '78 Distortion Guitar Effects Pedal

collapse expand iconFeatures

  • A hot-rodded classic circuit
  • Roars with huge amp stack tones and old school distortion
  • Delivers soaring leads and rich, saturated rhythms
  • CRUNCH button boosts harmonic content of distortion

collapse expand iconWarranty

All pedals - one year parts and labor warranty.

Featured Articles

collapse expand iconReviews

4.81

31 Reviews

100%

of respondents would recommend this to a friend

B.A. Combo From: Dunlop and MXR
B.A. Combo From: Dunlop and MXR
Really good

Most Liked Positive Review

5

Awesome Pedal for the $$$

I purchased this pedal as a backup to a high dollar pedal I own. I did not want to take the expensive pedal on vacation with me and have it get stolen. What I found was that the '78 is a great buy! It is simple to use and has a nice gain boost feature. More importantly it sounds great with my other pedals and I now use it all the time. So, what do I now do with my high dollar pedal? Nothing, I traded it because I don't need it anymore now that I have my new '78 pedal. FYI, I never usually write reviews but found this pedal was worth taking the time to write this for you. I hope it helps.

VS

Most Liked Negative Review

3

A different review

I saw some reviews of this little pedal online and in each one, it sounded great. After picking it up, I gotta say, it all depends on what you're playing it through. I'm using a Blackstar HT5 and an Agile Les Paul with Seymour Duncans '59/Jazz pickups and this pedal sounds flat and uninspiring. The reviews I saw online were using something else and it sounded great... so while I won't bash this pedal, beware what you're playing it through as it makes a world of difference.

Filters
Best Uses
  1. Performances10
  2. Amateur Recording9
  3. Home Studio8
  4. Professional Recording8
  5. Outdoor Events / Games7
Cons
  1. Limited Selection Of Effects1
Describe Yourself
  1. Experienced6
  2. Professional Musician4
  3. Novice2
Pros
  1. Excellent Sound Quality10
  2. Responsive8
  3. Versatile8
  4. Compact5
  5. Good Selection Of Effects3

Reviewed by 31 customers

  • Great pedal, tone and size is perfect

    5

    Verified BuyerVerified Buyer

    submitted2 years ago

    byEd

    fromVirginia Beach, CA

    Submitted as part of a sweepstakes

    Great distortion pedal, sounds great and I can't believe I waited so long to get it.

  • B.A. Combo From: Dunlop and MXR

    5

    submitted3 years ago

    byTröv

    fromConcord, Ca.

    This is the best sounding Distortion to run threw my Fender Hit Rod DeVille and pairs with the Dunlop MXR custom B.A. Modified O.D. Then when you need it they slam together like an arsenal . Never Muddy.👍🏼Spoiler

  • Great as an OD or boost

    4

    submitted4 years ago

    byVince R

    fromChicago, IL

    This is a good quality pedal. However, I like it more as an overdrive pedal than a distortion pedal. When I turn the distortion knob up past 12, it starts to sound fizzy and unpleasant. But lower than that and I get a great overdrive sound that is very responsive to dynamics. Putting a compressor before it helps me get more of a distorted tone without all the fizz. It also works great as a boost pedal behind other distortion pedals. Although I would have thought I'd like the Crunch setting because I play heavier rock, I find that I don't care for it. I use this pedal with a Strat and a Fender Bluesman Junior IV.

  • Sounds like a low gain Marshal

    5

    submitted5 years ago

    byShaundivisions

    fromIone, CA

    This pedal makes any tube amp sound like its pugged directly into an old 78 Marshal stack. Anyone who has played those knows that your not going to get the Randy Rhodes sound without a distortion boost like the D+ from MXR... You need both though. Otherwise you get a sharp classic rock tone that sounds similar to Rush. Humbuckers sound thick and Single Coils sing.

  • Nice little headbanger pedal

    5

    submitted5 years ago

    byKevin

    fromArkansas

    A great distortion pedal for those looking for a classic head banging tone, it so doubles up as a good slight overdrive tone for a nice alternative/blues tone

  • Instant Favorite

    5

    submitted5 years ago

    byGuitarMan84

    fromSan Diego ca

    I play through a Vox amp (AC10). I love the clean chime. I needed a pedal that didn't provide coloring; I needed a pedal that could crunch up that very sound without losing the chime but also keeping a nice low end to match the amp. Lo and behold... I bought this one used on a whim from GC. Best buy yet. MXR will forever be the poorman's boutique brand.

collapse expand iconQ&A

Have a question about this product? Our expert Gear Advisers have the answers.

  • submitted4 years ago

    asked byMichael

    fromHopkinton, MA

    I just recently received a MXR 78 distortion pedal and did not realize it didn't come with a cord. Please let me know what I need to order for a cord to plug it in. Thank you!

    I just recently received a MXR 78 distortion pedal and did not realize it didn't come with a cord. Please let me know what I need to order for a cord to plug it in. Thank you!

    Open Reply - Thomas
    Please see "Livewire Pedal Power Adapter 9VDC 300MA"
    Open Reply - Kenneth
    This will use a 9V power adapter

  • submitted4 years ago

    asked byMichael

    fromHopkinton, MA

    Can I use the MXR M78 Custom Bad___'78 Distortion Guitar Effects Pedal in-line with my multi effect pedal?

    Can I use the MXR M78 Custom Bad___'78 Distortion Guitar Effects Pedal in-line with my multi effect pedal?

    Open Reply - Kenneth
    Yes you can

  • submitted4 years ago

    asked byMichael

    fromHopkinton, MA

    Can this pedal be used in-line with another multi-effect pedal that I am currently using?

    Can this pedal be used in-line with another multi-effect pedal that I am currently using?

    Open Reply - Kenneth
    Yes it can

  • submitted6 years ago

    asked byPunkRock

    fromNorth Carolina

    This would be my first pedal. I'm trying to play punk rock and some 60-90 rock. Would this be the pedal for me?

    This would be my first pedal. I'm trying to play punk rock and some 60-90 rock. Would this be the pedal for me?

    Open Reply - Kenneth
    Usually those genres use fuzz pedals instead of distortion. Distortion is used mainly for metal.