Pricing and availability
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Store
Reviews
Price
Average Price: $193
High-end/Boutique
$80
$181+
Price Tier
Budget
Standard
High-end
Price History
Based on price data from 5 merchants for "Marshall ShredMaster". Prices shown reflect NEW condition. Tracking began Apr 2, 2026.
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Description
Meet the Marshall ShredMaster, a distortion pedal that speaks volumes, literally and figuratively. Its impressive knob control for Gain, Bass, Contour, Treble, and Volume allows you to dial in your desired tone with precision. This pedal isn't just a piece of equipment, it's a legend. Favored by renowned artists such as Jonny Greenwood and Thom Yorke of Radiohead, Alex James of Blur, and Kevin Shields of My Bloody Valentine, it's a testament to the versatility and quality of the ShredMaster. Its solid build and responsive controls make it a reliable companion for the gigging musician and the bedroom rocker alike.
Key Features:
- Comprehensive knob control for Gain, Bass, Contour, Treble, and Volume
- Favored by renowned artists across a variety of genres
- Solid and durable build quality
- Versatile tonal range suitable for various music styles
Product specs
| Brand | Marshall |
| Model | Shred Master |
| Finish | Black |
| Year | 1990s |
| Made In | United Kingdom |
| Categories | Distortion Pedals |
FAQs
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What kind of music genres is the Marshall ShredMaster best suited for?
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The Marshall ShredMaster is ideal for rock and metal genres due to its high-gain capabilities and versatile distortion tones, allowing for both crunchy rhythms and searing leads.
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How does the Marshall ShredMaster compare to the Marshall Guv'nor?
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The ShredMaster offers higher gain and more aggressive distortion than the Guv'nor, making it better suited for heavier music styles, while the Guv'nor provides a more classic overdrive tone.
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Can the Marshall ShredMaster be used with a bass guitar?
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While primarily designed for electric guitars, the ShredMaster can be used with a bass guitar, though it may result in a loss of low-end frequencies and a more aggressive distortion.
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What power supply does the Marshall ShredMaster require?
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The Marshall ShredMaster typically requires a 9V DC power supply or a 9V battery for operation, making it compatible with most standard pedalboard power setups.
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Does the Marshall ShredMaster have true bypass switching?
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The Marshall ShredMaster does not feature true bypass; it uses a buffered bypass system, which can help maintain signal strength over long cable runs.
Videos
Sweetwater
Marshall ShredMaster Pedal Demo
Reviews
PROS
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Unique contour knob for versatile tone shaping
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Delivers classic Marshall crunch and searing leads
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Wide gain range suitable for various playing styles
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Durable, with longstanding presence on pedalboards
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Effective for both guitarists and bassists
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Broad EQ and MID filter for precise sound control
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Ideal for achieving 90's riffs and sustained tones
CONS
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Considered a one-trick pony by some
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Not true bypass, affecting tone when off
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Last 25% of gain adjustment may be unpredictable
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Can produce excessive feedback with high gain settings
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May sound empty or lacking in lead/solo play
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Marshall ShredMaster.
Features and functionality
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The ShredMaster provides a Johnny Greenwood-like sound, especially through clean solid state amps such as the JC-120 or Roland KC-350.
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The pedal launched in 1991 and uses TL072CP ICs, which may have date codes indicating the production year.
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Some clones of the ShredMaster lack bass EQ and a noise gate, which may be important for users seeking specific tonal adjustments.
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Build quality
Setup and maintenance
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The pots are prone to attracting dust and dirt, causing tacky or crackly knobs over time.
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Comparisons
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The MXR M75 Super Badass Distortion is noted to be based on the Marshall Guv'nor, which shares similarities with the ShredMaster.
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The ShredMaster is noted for having less gain than the MXR Fullbore Metal but still offers plenty for lead tones without being overly scooped.
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Compared to the RAT pedal, the ShredMaster offers a "cleaner" distortion, making it suitable as an always-on pedal for added tonal consistency.
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Use cases and applications
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Used effectively as a lead boost with a JCM 800 head, enhancing the amp's sound when pushed with the pedal.
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The ShredMaster's tone is versatile, fitting well in genres outside of metal, unlike the MXR Fullbore's narrow range suited for nu-metal or early Metallica styles.
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The pedal excels at recreating the sound of Radiohead's "Airbag" solo when paired with delay and reverb, appealing to fans of Jonny Greenwood's tone.
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Value and pricing
User experience
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The ShredMaster is favored by users who prioritize tone over price, even when compared with more budget-friendly options like the Boss MT-2 and MXR Fullbore Metal.
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Owners describe the ShredMaster as having a distinct "bite" that enhances notes when paired with reverb and delay, reminiscent of 90s Marshall amp distortion.
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Critic Reviews
4.5 out of 5
Based on 6 Reviews and 40 Ratings
8716
Great and wide sounding pedal
This pedal is great! I always searched for a great sounding pedal, and boy, this pedal comes close. Imagine a broad gainrange, a very dedicated EQ section, a well designed MID filter and enough volume to suit your needs. This pedal goed beyond shred, this pedal is an Overdrive pedal to suit (most) all needs.
I really enjoy the broad EQ that is has and the wide setting of gain. You need low gain? This does it! You need (semi) high gain? Look no further!
Cons: not true bypass. And the gain pot does have it quircks (the last 25% gives you all the gain options). Dime the bass, adjust the treble and keep the 'Contour' (or mids) low and you can cut through any mix!
Preferred Settings + Usage:
Gain: set to 2 o'clock, bass: full open, contour: set to min, treble: set to 10 o'clock, volume: to taste
8195
Excellent high-gain distortion
Great pedal, thrashing sounds, and of course, it has no match for getting that harsh guitar sound on "Creep". Just note that this pedal is perfect for rhythm playing, it sounds a bit empty when playing lead parts and solos.
1073
Será que comprei modificado...
esperava mais? ele dá um baita ganho, não existe "drive leve" com ele haaah
Artist usage
Add artist
Clarence posted this in response to a question on Discord about his guitar chain.
Dado Villa-Lobos uses a Marshall ShredMaster distortion pedal, as shown in a photo of his pedal board by High Voltage Custom Shop on Flickr.
"The Boss LS-2 Line Selector — which provides no sound manipulation at all — is a life saver. Without it, I wouldn’t be able to gig with my Marshall Shredmaster distortion pedal. My Shreadmaster sounds great but it’s old and finicky and doesn’t always respond when the on/off button is pressed. Additionally, in order to get my desired tone from the pedal I set the knobs in a way that makes the overall guitar volume significantly and undesirably louder when the Shredmaster is turned on. Both problems are solved by setting up the Line Selector to act as a remote control for the Shredmaster.
To make sure the Shredmaster turns on and off when I want and to protect it from further wear and tear, I keep it on for the whole set and virtually bring it in and out of the signal chain by stepping on the Line Selector instead of the Shredmaster. And to fix the volume problem without sacrificing tone, I set the Shredmaster knobs exactly how I want and then adjust the overall volume of the pedal with the Line Selector. Using the Boss Line Selector to trigger the Shredmaster allows me to keep it on my pedal board and use it live, not just the studio."
In the concert video, René van Barneveld is using a Marshall ShredMaster pedal, identifiable by the white knob visible in the photo, distinguishing it from the Drivemaster, which has a red knob.
In a user-uploaded photo, Tom Barman's Marshall ShredMaster pedal is visible on a platform, indicating its use for vocal effects.
Jr Tostoi, known for his work with Lenine, has used the Marshall ShredMaster distortion pedal, as mentioned in an Instagram post by efeitosparaguitarra.
Rodrigo Brasil shows his pedalboard in this video at 0:27. You can see he has a Marshall ShredMaster there.
Album Usage
The Marshall ShredMaster has been featured on the following albums:
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 Marshall ShredMaster, it is most commonly used with the following gear.
Community setups
Show yoursSimilar
Add recommendation6 alternative and related items for Marshall ShredMaster, curated by the Equipboard community.
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The V1-V2 Jekyll and Hyde feature a Marshall Shredmaster based distortion side, making it a great budget alternative.
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The current reissue version of the Shredmaster, virtually identical to its 1990's counterpart.
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The JF-04 is an ultra affordable clone of the Marshall Shredmaster.
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