MXR

MXR Distortion+

Name: MXR Distortion+
Brand: MXR

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.

On your modeler

Helix:Minotaur

Quad Cortex:Distortion+

Fractal:MXR Dist+

Kemper:MXR Dist+

Boss Katana:Mid Boost (Booster)

Where to buy

Sweetwater Reverb Amazon

Controls

Output0 – 10

Distortion0 – 10

Recipes using the MXR Distortion+

See exactly how this gear is dialed in across different songs and styles.

Randy Rhoads

metal

Crazy Train (1980)

Randy Rhoads' Crazy Train Lead Tone

Randy Rhoads' tone on Crazy Train combines classical precision with heavy metal aggression. His Les Paul Custom through a cranked Marshall with an MXR Distortion+ produces a tight, articulate distortion with singing sustain. The iconic opening riff requires precise note separation and a tone with enough gain for sustain but enough clarity for the rapid alternate picking passages. Rhoads' classical training meant every note was deliberate, and his tone reflected that precision.

HelixQuad CortexBoss Katana

Similar gear

Boss

Boss DS-1 Distortion

Marshall

Marshall Shredmaster

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