Pricing and availability
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Average Price: $110
Standard/Professional
$80
$181+
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Price History
Based on price data from 3 merchants for "MXR M78 Custom Badass '78 Distortion". Prices shown reflect NEW condition. Tracking began Apr 2, 2026.
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Description
Unleash your inner rock star with the MXR M78 Custom Badass '78 Distortion Pedal. This pedal is a tribute to the golden age of rock music, delivering the same roaring, old-school distortion that defined the genre. We're talking about a pedal that doesn't just add flavor to your sound; it serves up a full-course meal of rich, saturated tones.
MXR has taken a classic distortion circuit, and like a '78 muscle car, they've hot-rodded it to create a pedal that offers a spectrum of tones from smooth overdrive to grinding distortion. The result is a pedal that can handle the heavy rhythm work for those chunky power chords and also deliver soaring leads for your solos.
The '78 Distortion pedal keeps things simple with only three knobs – Distortion, Output, and Tone – making it easy to dial in your desired sound. But don't let this simplicity fool you; the pedal packs a punch with its CRUNCH button that boosts the harmonic content of your distortion, adding another level of intensity to your sound.
Under the hood, you'll find top-notch circuitry and hardware that's built to last, ensuring this pedal will be a part of your gear collection for a lifetime.
Key Features:
- Hot-rodded classic distortion circuit for a wide range of tones
- CRUNCH button to boost harmonic content and add extra intensity
- Simple three-knob layout for easy tone shaping
- Built with top-notch circuitry and hardware for durability
- Delivers rich, saturated rhythms and soaring leads
- Roars with huge amp stack tones and old-school distortion
Product specs
| Pedal Type | Distortion |
| Analog/Digital | Analog |
| Inputs | 1 x 1/4" |
| Outputs | 1 x 1/4" |
| Bypass Switching | True Hardwire |
| EQ | Tone Control |
| Power Source | 9V DC power supply (sold separately) |
| Batteries | 1 x 9V |
| Power Usage | 6mA |
| Height | 2.12" (including knobs) |
| Width | 2.62" (including jacks) |
| Depth | 4.37" |
| Weight | 0.48 lbs. |
FAQs
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What kind of distortion tones can I expect from the MXR M78 Custom Badass '78 Distortion?
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The MXR M78 Custom Badass '78 Distortion delivers a range of tones from classic crunchy overdrive to aggressive, high-gain distortion, making it versatile for rock and metal genres.
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Does the MXR M78 Custom Badass '78 Distortion work well with both clean and overdriven amps?
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Yes, the MXR M78 is designed to complement both clean and overdriven amps, providing a wide-open, amp-like sound in either setting.
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What is the function of the "Crunch" button on the MXR M78 Custom Badass '78 Distortion?
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The "Crunch" button on the MXR M78 allows you to toggle between different clipping modes, enhancing the harmonic content and adding versatility to your distortion sound.
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Is the MXR M78 Custom Badass '78 Distortion pedal true bypass?
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Yes, the MXR M78 Custom Badass '78 Distortion features true hardwire bypass switching, ensuring your signal remains unaffected when the pedal is off.
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What power options are available for the MXR M78 Custom Badass '78 Distortion?
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The MXR M78 can be powered using a 9V DC power supply or a 9V battery, providing flexibility for various performance settings.
Videos
ProGuitarShopDemos
MXR Custom Badass '78 Distortion
Reviews
PROS
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Versatile, offering tones from light bluesy drive to full-on distortion
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Excellent tonal clarity, even with heavier distortion
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Works well with a variety of guitars (Les Paul, SG, Tele)
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Crunch button adds fullness and a bit of volume, enhancing the sound
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Durable, compact, and well-made construction
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True bypass ensures no tone loss when pedal is off
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Can be effectively stacked with other pedals for enhanced tones
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Provides classic rock/hard rock/bluesy sounds excellently
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Tone knob offers useful high frequency adjustments
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Affordable price for the quality and range of sounds
CONS
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Not suitable for metal genres, lacks mid scoop and extreme gain
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Crunch button cannot be activated via footswitch, limiting live versatility
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Some users find the aluminum construction less robust than older MXR models
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High gain settings may introduce too much gain for some setups
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Limited sustain for high gain or tapping techniques without additional pedals
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about MXR M78 Custom Badass '78 Distortion.
Features and functionality
Use cases and applications
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The '78 is considered suitable for Marshall-style hard rock tones but may require stacking with other pedals for heavier sounds.
Source -
It's noted for excellent stacking capabilities, especially with a Russian Muff or Rat, enhancing heavy tones by brightening and scooping when the tone knob is adjusted.
Source
Comparisons
User experience
4.5 out of 5
Based on 21 Reviews and 100 Ratings
922
360
Really good pedal for the price I got it at
I bought a brand new version of this pedal for $80 at guitar center, and I have to tell you, it is VERSATILE. I was able to get some tones out of it that sounded like some of my favorite bands: I got a nice thrash tone for Metallica, a crunchy tone with a British voice from the amp for Green Day, and a lighter crunch for some stuff like AC/DC.
The pedal died, unfortunately. It won't work even plugged into the wall anymore. I think I broke it somehow, probably when I dropped it down the stairs when I slipped on my dog's tail (the dog is OK). But the bottom line is, this is a very nice pedal for the price.
I only gave it 4 stars because there are BETTER pedals, but this is great for the price.
41029
its a souped up Boss DS1... anyway, its probably an easy fix, something the power supplu or even just an issue with the 9v barrel jack not contacting the board right after you dropped it.... get some solder on any sketchy looking connections and see what happens
360
@jimmarchi1 thanks for the advice!
80
One of the best guitar distortion pedal
This pedal have a really evil distortion sound like a real HARD ROCK. Three knobs in a front panel give you full control of tone. You can customize your tone like hard rock and glam metal. Yeah you really can play GLAM METAL use this pedal and it's awesome. Also you can play just killing hard rock rhythm use a "Crunch" button. I think this is a one of the best old school distortion tone sound Just love this pedal)
41029
Its a heavily modified Boss DS1 circuit. That's a hair metal sort of pedal.
72
My favourite distortion
I recorded a four track EP in 2013 with the intention to mix and match my gear on every song to make them all sound different. I ended up just using the MXR Custom Badass on every track and the four different guitars I used ended up providing the tonal difference in each track. My pedalboard changes like the seasons but the MXR remains a solid constant!
514
Great tones for reasonable price
This distortion pedal is probably the best in its price range. Offers really wide palette of tones - from mild and warm overdrive to harsh, classic,aggresive and vintage-voiced distortion. Three simple controls and additional "crunch" (for a little more grit) make this box quite simple to use so an average player will get a desired tone pretty easily. I'm really pleased to have it in my board!
659
Brilliant tone, lacking a little in sustain
The tone that comes out of this pedal is everything I could have asked for, particularly with the crunch mode equipped; smooth, with more than enough gain for a powerful rhythm section. My only suggestion would be to boost it with a compressor or clean gain for lead tones, no matter how hard I try the sustain doesn't quite go as far as I'd like. Easily fixed though; a fine pedal all round.
751
This little pedal likes tube amps and plays great with them ....
This is a great distortion, not a high gain, so you can push distortion at 100% it sounds very clear and every note is reproduced like you played it, without missing any one in the tubes !!!!! Tone knob is very efficient to color your sound form dark to bright
360
Great For Chords
Great for getting fat rock distortion tones for juicy 80s rhythm. Kinda lacking when it comes to lead work; notes don't sustain very well. But if you're looking for fat dense chord sound, this might do it for you.
Artist usage
Add artist
Marked pedal in the attached picture. Used on John's studio pedalboard. Currently unknown if he used it to record guitar parts on Unlimited Love.
Paul Gilbert uses an MXR M78, as shown on Dunlop's website.
In the "My Chemical Romance Rig Rundown with Frank Iero, Ray Toro & Mikey Way" video by Premier Guitar, at the 30:29 mark, an MXR M78 Custom Badass '78 Distortion Pedal is visibly included in Ray Toro's pedal setup.
Brian Molko has used the MXR M78 Custom Badass '78 Distortion Pedal as part of his touring setup, according to a Facebook post from Placebo.
On this page of Dunlop's website, it lists the MXR M78 Custom Badass '78 Distortion Pedal as one of the MXR pedals used by Doug Wimbish.
Used on the Hollow Meadows 2015 tour, as photographed in Guitarist magazine, February 2016.
In the YouTube video "KADAVAR - 'Rough Times' In The Studio (OFFICIAL ALBUM TRAILER #1)" by Nuclear Blast Records, Christoph "Lupus" Lindemann is seen adjusting his pedalboard, which includes the MXR M78 Custom Badass '78 Distortion Pedal.
Album Usage
The MXR M78 Custom Badass '78 Distortion 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 MXR M78 Custom Badass '78 Distortion, it is most commonly used with the following gear.
Community setups
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