MXR Badass Modified OD

TOTAL GUITAR APRIL 2017
A
n overdrive pedal is an
overdrive pedal, right?
Well, while that is
generally about the size
of it, the truth is that not all
overdrives are created equal –
and some lend themselves
better to particular styles of
music than others. For example,
what works for high-octane
classic rock won’t necessarily
cut it in a blues context, and
vice versa. And with so many
overdrives on the market – from
both obscure boutique builders
working in a shed to the big
mainstream names – there’s
an awful lot to choose from, so
how do you know what to pick?
Well, here we’ve rounded up
four sub-£100 pedals that are
ideally suited to the task –
they’re all no-nonsense
overdrives that can push your
amp harder for that extra bite
coupled with the sweet sustain
that blues players crave.
BLUES OVERDRIVE PEDALS
104
B
esides standard output and gain knobs,
MXR’s Custom Badass Modifi ed OD
off ers plenty of tonal tweaks. In normal
mode, the sound is pretty transparent but the
Bump switch’s alternate EQ voicing boosts
lows and mids to put you in Tube Screamer
territory, pushing your sound forward for
more sustain. The 100Hz knob boosts or cuts
around that frequency so you can really fatten
up the bottom or make it lean and mean,
while the tone knob dials in ice pick treble or
tones it down for a smoother vibe. It’s an
excellent low to mid-gain overdrive with wide
tonal options and rock-solid MXR build.
D
oes Xvive’s latest roar like a lion? Well,
maybe – but the Leo here actually refers
to Mr Fender. No surprise, then that this
mini pedal – designed by renowned German
axe-slinger Thomas Blug – has more than just
a hint of what some of those early tweed and
blackface amps were famous for, with a range
from a glassy clean boost, through subtle
grittiness to cranked combo raunch. The tone
knob off ers a practical range that perfectly
focuses your guitar’s upper-mid presence,
but the secret weapon is the Growl knob,
which dials a gorgeous extra dimension of
harmonic complexity into the driven sound.
With oodles of nuance this is a versatile asset
for any pedalboard.
MXR Badass
Modified OD
BADASS BY NAME, BADASS BY NATURE
Xvive Sweet Leo
COOL FOR CATS
£99
£62
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FEATURES
SOUND QUALITY
VALUE FOR MONEY
BUILD QUALITY
USABILITY
OVERALL RATING
SUMMARY
FEATURES
SOUND QUALITY
VALUE FOR MONEY
BUILD QUALITY
USABILITY
OVERALL RATING
SUMMARY
BEST BUY
AWARD
BEST BUY
AWARD
TGR291.gear_pedals.indd 104 2/22/17 7:02 PM