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Average Price: $480

High-end/Boutique

$80

$181+

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High-end

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Description

The Ibanez MT10 Mostortion is a gem from the late '80s and early '90s, providing guitarists with a versatile distortion pedal that’s renowned for its unique tonal capabilities. This pedal is celebrated not only for its distinctive MOSFET circuitry, which delivers a warm, tube-like overdrive, but also for its incredible adaptability, making it a favorite among rock, blues, and metal guitarists alike. The MT10 allows you to dial in anything from mild overdrive to full-blown, face-melting distortion, all while maintaining clarity and definition.

This pedal stands out with its three-band EQ, a feature that provides precision shaping of your sound, offering unparalleled control over your mids, highs, and lows. Whether you’re looking to add a subtle boost to your solos or craft a rich, overdriven rhythm tone, the MT10 Mostortion gives you the tools to express your creativity without limits. Its intuitive layout makes it easy to find your perfect sound, whether you're on stage or in the studio.

Key Features:

  • MOSFET circuitry for a warm, tube-like sound
  • Three-band EQ for precise tone shaping
  • Versatile distortion range from mild to heavy
  • Intuitive control layout for easy sound customization
  • Durable build quality suitable for live performance and studio use

Product specs

Brand Ibanez
Model MT10 Mostortion
Finish Green
Year 1990s
Made In Japan
Categories Distortion Pedals, Overdrive and Boost Pedals

FAQs

What type of music genres is the Ibanez MT10 Mostortion suitable for?

The Ibanez MT10 Mostortion is highly versatile and can handle a range of genres from blues and rock to metal, thanks to its ability to produce a wide array of overdrive and distortion tones.

How does the Ibanez MT10 Mostortion compare to other distortion pedals?

The MT10 Mostortion is known for its unique EQ section, offering more tonal shaping flexibility than many other distortion pedals, which typically have simpler tone controls.

Does the Ibanez MT10 Mostortion work well with both single-coil and humbucker pickups?

Yes, the MT10 Mostortion is designed to complement both single-coil and humbucker pickups, providing clear and defined distortion tones regardless of the pickup type.

What power supply does the Ibanez MT10 Mostortion require?

The Ibanez MT10 Mostortion typically requires a 9V battery or a compatible 9V DC power adapter for operation.

Is the Ibanez MT10 Mostortion suitable for live performances?

Yes, the Ibanez MT10 Mostortion is well-suited for live performances, offering robust build quality and reliable performance with a wide range of distortion tones.

Tim Pierce Guitar

Tim Pierce Guitar

FINALLY, The RIGHT 3 Pedals for KILLER Tone

Video thumbnail for FINALLY, The RIGHT 3 Pedals for KILLER Tone by Tim Pierce Guitar

FINALLY, The RIGHT 3 Pedals for KILLER Tone

Tim Pierce Guitar

Tim Pierce Guitar

Video thumbnail for Ibanez Mostortion vs. A CLONE?! by R.J. Ronquillo

Ibanez Mostortion vs. A CLONE?!

R.J. Ronquillo

R.J. Ronquillo

Video thumbnail for Vintage Nobels ODR 1 + Ibanez Mostortion MT10! by Steve Sterlacci

Vintage Nobels ODR 1 + Ibanez Mostortion MT10!

Steve Sterlacci

Steve Sterlacci

Video thumbnail for Ibanez MT10 Mostortion by IT11Audio

Ibanez MT10 Mostortion

IT11Audio

IT11Audio

Video thumbnail for Ibanez Mostortion Shootout! - 3 Original Mostortion Pedals Go Head to Head by Cookin' Up Tone

Ibanez Mostortion Shootout! - 3 Original Mostortion Pedals Go Head to Head

Cookin' Up Tone

Cookin' Up Tone

Video thumbnail for Ibanez MT-10 Mostortion test by oneguitar

Ibanez MT-10 Mostortion test

oneguitar

oneguitar

Video thumbnail for Rob McNelley talks Mostortion and Karma MTN-10 with John Bohlinger by Karma Guitar Amplifiers

Rob McNelley talks Mostortion and Karma MTN-10 with John Bohlinger

Karma Guitar Amplifiers

Karma Guitar Amplifiers

Video thumbnail for Your-Guitar Vintage Demo: 1990s Ibanez Mostortion MT10 Pedal by Your Guitar

Your-Guitar Vintage Demo: 1990s Ibanez Mostortion MT10 Pedal

Your Guitar

Your Guitar

Reviews

PROS

  • Produces tube-like, amp-like overdrive/distortion

  • Exceptional with Telecaster bridge pickup for Nashville sound

  • Versatile: works as both overdrive and distortion pedal

  • Dynamic response, cleans up nicely with guitar volume roll-off

  • Offers musical compression for sustained notes

  • Broad tone-variation range via effective EQ knobs

  • Can mimic a TS-808 with mid boost, versatile EQ settings

  • Ideal for classic rock, blues, fusion, and pushing other OD pedals

  • Unique Marshall-character tone at certain settings

CONS

  • Build quality feels dodgy, rehousing often necessary

  • Pots and internal components feel fragile, easily movable

  • Pricey considering build quality; better construction expected at this price point

  • Some find the distortion tone lacking compared to overdrive capability

  • High and Bass knobs can be overly sensitive (muddy or shrill)

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Ibanez MT10 Mostortion.

Comparisons

  • The Cascade Pedals Hosstortion, available in metallic green, is noted as a less expensive alternative to the Ibanez MT10 Mostortion, with additional color options like blue/pink and rainbow metallic.

    Source
  • Unlike the TS9, the MT10 offers additional tone shaping controls, making it distinct in its tonal flexibility.

    Source

User experience

  • An owner expressed finding the Mostortion as potentially the ultimate overdrive pedal after trying several others, highlighting its versatile tonal capabilities.

    Source

Features and functionality

  • The Mostortion is praised for its versatility, suggesting it can cover a wide range of tonal needs, which is likely why users desire more clones of this model.

    Source
  • The MT10 features four clipping diodes in the feedback loop of the op-amp for soft clipping, differing from typical MOSFET hype pedals.

    Source
  • The MT10 includes a bass and mids control/filter, unlike the TS9, providing more tonal shaping options.

    Source
  • The pedal uses standard clipping diodes rather than MOSFETs, despite its "Mostortion" name, focusing on traditional soft clipping techniques.

    Source
  • The MT10 uses an op-amp primarily for counteracting tone section loss, with potential compression effects from input loading.

    Source

Critic Reviews

An ’80s Cult-Classic Reborn - Premier Guitar

premierguitar.com

The Cascade Hosstortion pedal is a modern homage to the classic Ibanez MT10 Mostortion, offering a warm, articulate overdrive with excellent touch sensitivity and versatile EQ. While it captures the essence of the original's thick, rich tones, it's not aimed at high-gain enthusiasts. Its MOSFET design may not appeal to everyone, but it provides transparency and dynamic response, making it a solid choice for those seeking an alternative to more common overdrive pedals. Overall, while it skillfully replicates a cult favorite, it may be best suited for players who appreciate its nuanced, vintage-inspired sound.

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4.0 out of 5

Based on 3 Reviews and 5 Ratings

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jimmarchi1

C-MONSTUH!

I'm obsessed with CMOS dirt boxes.... I love how they use those CMOS ivnerter logic chips to make these multiple stage fuzzy beasts. Total punk rock reappropriation of an obsolete, non-audio part.They're a bit hissy and they definitely can sound bad but I collect all these little boxes when I find them cheap enough. Ibanez's take on it has the most controls but the worst tones in it. Just another weird old gadget in the drawer... very similar to Yamaha's CMOS distortion pedal of that era. I know I said the Ibanez had the worst tones in it but it also has some great tones, all the extra control and gain can shoot you in the foot though. its kinda great or terrible, nothing inbetween.

mylittleeye

So Jim, of all these little boxes you've collected so far, I'm curious which do you think has the 'best' tone? ...and have you reviewed it here on Equipboard?

jimmarchi1

its a tie between the red llama reissue and the discontinued catalinbread hyperpak, however these have less gain stages. If you want to get into extreme distortion fuzz turf the best is the catalinbread SCOD followed bythe Ibanez, I think the Ibanez sounds a little better than the Yamaha.... worst in my opinion is the EHX hot tubes which is particularly hissy and has the least 'tube' tone at higher gain settings... these things have a distinct character, grinding, tweedy dirt. The red llama is the Mike Campbell pedal, so if you wanna get some Mary Jane's Last Dance tones that's the one. Pair it with an AC30, tweed deluxe and/or a fender Princeton and boom.

pavlerandjelovic

Ibanez MT10 is great pedal for Rock And Metal and guitar sound is perfect

"The MT-10 produces an amp-like OD/distortion with a hint of Marshall-character. It sounds very 'civilized' at all settings. If you don't rip up the 'High'-knob, it'll produce a sweet, singing tone. Dirty/rough-sounding grind is possible, but this is not where it shines most."

"When pushing the MT-10 into overdrive, a very musical compression appears, helping you to sustain your notes longer. At the same time, when rolling off the guitar's volume, it cleans up nicely -- very dynamic."

"The effect produced is more overdrive than distortion, think 'Fat OD' at max. It suits classic Rock-styles, Blues and Fusion, and does a great job 'pushing' another OD-pedal. Clean boost is also no problem with the 'Level'-knob."

"The tone-knobs are covering exactly the frequencies you'd wish to alter. Be careful with the mighty Bass- (muddy) and High- (shrill) knobs, which are both very effective. With the mids turned up full, one can re-create the sound of a TS-808, and with the flick of three (EQ) knobs you're in smooth-land."

"As all knobs cover broad ranges of tone-variation, it's always easy to adjust your tone to amp, guitar and personal preference. The great thing is that the MT-10 doesn't 'mush-up' tone with something artificial -- it just overdrives what's there, while giving one the opportunity to enhance or lower parts of the freq-spectrum that may need to be adjusted."

beeflin

Smooth as velvet

A smooth sounding overdrive which, with gain set low, sounds very close to a Marshall crunch channel. It also has tone controls which can boost treble, scoop or boost bass to create different tones.

Preferred Settings + Usage:

I usually use both my dry and wet amps set clean, and use the Mostortion to emulate a light Marshall crunch when required.

It's so good at this trick that you can even play it into a totally dead-sounding PA and get a reasonable guitar tone.

I have also used it many times, with higher gain, for a very creamy mid-hump lead distortion which doesn't kill treble or dynamics.

From Gear Setup

Artist usage

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See how Tim Pierce uses Ibanez MT10 Mostortion

Tim Pierce

Guitarist

Michael Jackson (band)

...
Verified via YouTube

In the YouTube video titled "FINALLY, The RIGHT 3 Pedals for KILLER Tone" by Tim Pierce Guitar, Tim Pierce demonstrates the use of the Ibanez MT10 Mostortion pedal at approximately 1:20 minutes.

See how John Shanks uses Ibanez MT10 Mostortion

John Shanks

Guitarist, Composer

Bon Jovi

...
Verified via Premierguitar

He uses that effect on Bon Jovi tour.

See how Charlie Megira uses Ibanez MT10 Mostortion

Charlie Megira

Singer, Guitarist

Charlie Megira & The Modern Dance Club

...
Verified via YouTube

In the beginning of the video "Charlie Megira live @ The Music House 8/1/2004 [full show]" by Morphlexis on YouTube, you can see what initially appears to be a TS-10 pedal. However, upon pausing, the extra knobs indicate it is actually an Ibanez MT10 Mostortion. Other videos also show the distinctive yellow on the knobs.

See how Derek Wells uses Ibanez MT10 Mostortion

Derek Wells

Guitarist

...
Verified via YouTube

In the Truetone Lounge session (Part 3 of 3) on YouTube, Derek Wells includes the Ibanez MT10 Mostortion in his gear setup, alongside his RC Booster, JHS Mini Fuzz, and XTS Winford.

See how Lee Roy Parnell uses Ibanez MT10 Mostortion

Lee Roy Parnell

Singer, Guitarist

...
Verified via Telecaster Guitar Forum

According to a thread on TDPRI, Lee Roy Parnell's use of the Ibanez MT10 Mostortion helped popularize this briefly produced pedal.

See how Rob McNelley uses Ibanez MT10 Mostortion

Rob McNelley

Guitarist

...
Verified via YouTube

At 54:16 in the YouTube video titled "Rob McNelley Rig Rundown Guitar Gear Tour from Sound Stage Studios in Nashville", the Ibanez MT10 Mostortion pedal is visibly attached to Rob McNelley's pedalboard.

Genre Usage

Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.

Used With

Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Ibanez MT10 Mostortion, it is most commonly used with the following gear.

Community setups

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beeflin

beeflin

Gear IQ 351

beeflin

beeflin

Gear IQ 351

9 alternative and related items for Ibanez MT10 Mostortion, curated by the Equipboard community.

Danelectro Roebuck

$157.15 - $199.00

similar sound cheaper alternative mod

One of the most affordable Mostortion clones, with an added three stage clipping switch.

Wampler Mofetta

$169.97 - $199.97

similar sound cheaper alternative mod

Designed after the MT10 Mostortion, per the official product description:

The original MT10 MOSTORTIONtm was released in 1990 as part of a budget pedal series to meet the demand of a growing market. Despite the pedal's "cheaper" qualities, guitarists began to take note of its amp-like low-gain tones, attributing them—arguably incorrectly—to the onboard MOSFET Op-amps. Though the pedals were discontinued a couple of years later, used ones command insane prices today and are extremely hard to find. The Mofetta is my way of bringing it all back and re-creating those singing tones while diving even further into the amp-like world of MOSFETs.

Nordland Electronics MT-11

 

similar sound mod

A refined take on the Mostortion, created by Nobels ODR-1 engineer Kai Tachibana.

3rd Power Amplification Roosevelt Drive

 

similar sound cheaper alternative

According to the 3rd Power website;

The ROOSEVELT DRIVE pedal represents 3rd Power’s take on a classic vintage ’80s mosfet overdrive pedal, the Mostortion. The ROOSEVELT DRIVE possesses the spirit of this classic drive pedal but now with feel and headroom of one of our amplifiers.

Aion FX Quantum MOSFET Distortion

 

similar sound cheaper alternative mod

A DIY clone of the Mostortion, with an additional diode clipping switch.

Cascade Pedals Hosstortion

 

similar sound cheaper alternative mod

A reworked clone of the original Mostortion, with an optional active clean blend.

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Gear Guides

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    hughred
    hughred

    Gear IQ 68