Offer Details

Used
MXR M104 Distortion+ Analog Distortion Pedal – Used
The iconic little yellow box — germanium diode clipping, single op-amp circuit, two controls, and a sound that has been on records since the 1970s. Responsible for everything from blues-edge amp-drive to classic hard rock saturation.

Used Item. This pedal is sold as used. Questions about condition or what's included? Call or text us at 814-371-5666 before purchasing and we will be happy to walk you through it.

About This Pedal
There are very few pedals with the track record of the MXR Distortion+. First introduced in the 1970s, this circuit found its way onto recordings that defined what electric guitar distortion sounds like — and it did it with just two knobs and a single-stage op-amp circuit using a pair of germanium diodes for clipping. The simplicity is not a limitation; it is the point. The Distortion+ has no tone control because the germanium diode clipping and the mild frequency hump of the op-amp stage naturally shape the character of the distortion in a way that works across a wide range of guitar and amp combinations. Pull the Distortion knob back and push the Output — and you are driving your amp's input hard with a boosted, slightly broken signal that sits in the same territory as a cranked vintage amp. Push the Distortion knob forward and you arrive at the compressed, harmonically rich saturation that defined a specific strain of early 1980s hard rock guitar tone. This used example is a working pedal with a proven circuit and a legacy that speaks for itself.

Key Highlights

Germanium diode clipping circuit — the defining element of the Distortion+ character, delivering a non-brittle, organically saturated distortion voice
Single op-amp gain stage with up to 46dB of gain on tap — a deceptively powerful circuit behind a simple panel
Two controls only: Output (level) and Distortion (gain) — dial from amp-driving boost to full hard rock saturation
No tone control — the natural frequency response of the circuit does the work, resulting in a consistent, musical tonal character
Red LED on/off indicator
Rugged metal chassis — built to survive decades of use, which this circuit clearly has
Powered by 9V battery or standard 9V DC adapter (not included)
Current draw: 2.5mA — extremely low draw, battery-friendly
Works with both single-coil and humbucker pickups across virtually any amplifier

The Germanium Difference
The 1N270 germanium diodes at the heart of the Distortion+ clip differently than the silicon diodes found in most modern distortion pedals. Germanium clipping has a softer knee, a warmer high-frequency character, and a less compressed quality that responds more dynamically to pick attack and guitar volume. That is why the Distortion+ cleans up by rolling back the guitar's volume control in a way that many silicon-diode pedals simply do not.

Two Knobs, Full Range
The combination of Output and Distortion controls covers more tonal ground than it appears. Running low Distortion with high Output pushes the amp's front end hard — a genuine clean boost with just enough edge to add presence and harmonic complexity without obviously distorting the tone. Running both up together produces the compressed, saturated sound that generations of players have associated with this circuit. The absence of a tone control removes a variable and puts more of the shaping responsibility on your guitar and your amp, where it arguably belongs.

A Track Record That Holds Up
The Distortion+ circuit is one of the most studied and most copied distortion designs in the history of guitar effects. Its relationship to the DOD 250 and Ross Distortion circuits illustrates how influential its topology became. Players across rock, blues, alternative, and punk have used it on records that still hold up — and the circuit itself holds up, with extremely low current draw and a robust metal enclosure that takes years of gigging without complaint.

Great Fit For

Guitarists who want a classic, proven distortion voice without menu-diving or complex controls
Blues and classic rock players looking for amp-driving boost and edge-of-breakup tones in a simple, reliable package
Hard rock and early metal players who want the specific compressed, harmonically rich saturation character of the Distortion+ circuit
Players who prefer organic, germanium-clipped distortion over the harder edge of silicon-diode pedals
Pedalboard builders looking for an uncomplicated, low-current-draw distortion that stacks well with other pedals
Players picking up a used pedal with a well-documented, field-proven circuit at a sensible price

Sound and Feel
The Distortion+ has a distinctive tonal character that comes in part from what it does not have. There is no active tone control sculpting the frequency response. The mild mid-frequency hump that the op-amp stage naturally produces, combined with the soft clipping behavior of the germanium diodes, gives the Distortion+ a punchy, present quality in the upper midrange that cuts through a mix without the harshness that can accompany higher-gain silicon distortion. It is a pedal that gets brighter as you turn up the Output, which rewards players who balance the two controls against each other rather than simply maxing one and setting the other. Played through a clean amp, it delivers the full character of the circuit. Played in front of an amp that already has some hair on the signal, it stacks in a way that feels natural and musically productive rather than abrasive.

Specifications

Model MXR M104 Distortion+
Effect Type Analog Distortion
Clipping Type Germanium Diode (1N270)
Controls Output, Distortion
Max Gain Up to 46 dB
Tone Control None
LED Indicator Red On/Off LED
Power 9V Battery or 9V DC Adapter (not included)
Current Draw 2.5 mA
Enclosure Metal, Yellow
Condition Used

There are not many pedals that have been on as many records, as many stages, and as many pedalboards across as many decades as the Distortion+. It is one of those circuits that just works — and picking one up used means getting a proven piece of gear at a price that makes getting it onto your board an easy decision.
If you want to know more about the condition of this particular unit, or just want to talk through how it might sit in your current setup, give us a call or a text. We love this kind of conversation.
Reach us at 814-371-5666 — Spotts Music Center, Dubois, PA. Helping you make music.