MXR Distortion Plus = fuzzy lows

[Dave_11]

I was thinking about getting some silicon diodes for the kit to see how they sound. I'll probably build it to spec first though because I want to hear how a $40 kit compares to the Goldbox.

I checked out the Maiden video above. It wasn't as buzzy as I was expecting, but there was a lot going on with the song it had to compete with. Regarding RR, I wonder if he ran his EQ before or after the Dist+. That never occurred to me until last night when Kman suggested the switch.

 

[TheKman76]

Good result Dave. I hope I've managed to expand your thinking on how to use and abuse your pedals?

 

[jeffb]

I was thinking about getting some silicon diodes for the kit to see how they sound. I'll probably build it to spec first though because I want to hear how a $40 kit compares to the Goldbox.

I checked out the Maiden video above. It wasn't as buzzy as I was expecting, but there was a lot going on with the song it had to compete with. Regarding RR, I wonder if he ran his EQ before or after the Dist+. That never occurred to me until last night when Kman suggested the switch.

You really hear it when Adrian is holding the chords when he switches it on and then off. For the lead part, it sounds fantastic and you don't hear the buzzyfuzzies and that's why I used to use one for a couple years BITD (then I went down the TS and Boss rabbit hole). If I ever get back to the point where I can crank up a vintage style Marshall amp again, I'll likely buy a D+ again just for the lead tone.

I know there are somewhat recent pics of Randy's pedalboard out there. I believe his mother kept it, untouched, stored away for the decades.

 

[Dave_11]

Good result Dave. I hope I've managed to expand your thinking on how to use and abuse your pedals?

Yeah, thanks for helping me to think outside the box
Also, Gene Balizz helped me with a JohnH attenuator build which was a game changer in how I use my amps and pedals. This forum has been a great place to learn new things for sure.

 

[Dave_11]

You really hear it when Adrian is holding the chords when he switches it on and then off. For the lead part, it sounds fantastic and you don't hear the buzzyfuzzies and that's why I used to use one for a couple years BITD (then I went down the TS and Boss rabbit hole). If I ever get back to the point where I can crank up a vintage style Marshall amp again, I'll likely buy a D+ again just for the lead tone.

I know there are somewhat recent pics of Randy's pedalboard out there. I believe his mother kept it, untouched, stored away for the decades.

I'll give that another listen. I thought he turned it on and then never turned it off but there was a lot of sound going on.

Regarding RRs pedal board, I've seen a few recent pics where some Dunlop/MXR people (I think) are dissecting it to build a RR Dist+ reissue. But I haven't seen any pics of the actual guts. All you see are some guys (one with a near plumbers crack wardrobe malfunction) leaning over the board on a table. OK, I take that back - I just checked and there is one gut shot but I can't make heads or tails of what they're showing. I don't see the MXR-shaped Dist+ board or the EQ in what they're showing.

 

[Len]

I was thinking about getting some silicon diodes for the kit to see how they sound. I'll probably build it to spec first though because I want to hear how a $40 kit compares to the Goldbox.

I checked out the Maiden video above. It wasn't as buzzy as I was expecting, but there was a lot going on with the song it had to compete with. Regarding RR, I wonder if he ran his EQ before or after the Dist+. That never occurred to me until last night when Kman suggested the switch.

I think most folks run it with volume high and gain low.

It’ll also depend on how loud you play your amp. At 100dB the lows are perceived differently by your ears.

 

[Dave_11]

I think most folks run it with volume high and gain low.

It’ll also depend on how loud you play your amp. At 100dB the lows are perceived differently by your ears.

That's how I was playing it, then last weekend I came across a youtube video of a guy showing he had his Dist maxxed and the Volume at about 10 or 11 o'clock. I tried those settings and all of the low end fuzz was gone, or maybe it was just covered up by the high end fuzz. Either way, it actually sounded really good that way, so I've been running it somewhere in that ballpark ever since. I backed the Dist off a little, and increased the Volume, but there are lots of good old school tones in there running through my Origin 5 and 20.