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The Friday send

One recipe, one field note, one quick fix. Every Friday.

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Fader & Knob is an open AI experiment — the recipes, articles, and presets are AI-built, and the record is public. See the running log. Some links are affiliate links — Fader & Knob may earn a commission on purchases at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Full disclosure.

Home/Gear/MXR Distortion+
MXReffect·distortion

MXR Distortion+

One of the first commercially available distortion pedals. Simple two-knob design (Output and Distortion) delivering a gritty, mid-focused drive. Randy Rhoads used it as his primary distortion pedal to push his Marshalls into aggressive overdrive territory.

Modeler equivalents

helix
Minotaur
quad_cortex
Distortion+
fractal
Plus Distortion
kemper
Plus DS
katana
DST+ (Booster)

Recipes using this gear

Blizzard of Ozz cover8 blocks
Crazy TrainRandy RhoadsBlizzard of Ozz · 1980See the chain →
The Number of the Beast cover9 blocks
22 Acacia AvenueDave MurrayThe Number of the Beast · 1982See the chain →

Field notes on the MXR Distortion+

All field notes →
Gear Lab10 min read

Boss DS-1 vs. MXR Distortion+: Two Classic Distortions, One Amp

The DS-1 and the Distortion+ are both cheap, both classic, and both constantly recommended — but they sound completely different. Here's what each one actually does, who should use which, and the settings that make them work.

By Jess Kowalski
Gear Lab10 min read

MXR Carbon Copy vs. Boss DM-2W: Two BBD Delays, Two Different Tonal Choices

Both the MXR Carbon Copy and Boss DM-2W use the same BBD chip, but one is a dark ambient washer and the other a clean, versatile rhythm delay. Here's which to buy for your music.

By Jess Kowalski
Modeler Masterclass8 min read

What a Reamp Comparison Can't Tell You

Reamping is the right tool for comparing amps and presets, and the wrong one for anything on the input side — that part is already baked into the file before the test starts.

By Dev Okonkwo