MXR advice

SunDevil Frets: 512
17 Dec, 2024
Pedal newby(ish) needing some advice

Loving the Carr Superbee! Setup to break up when you dig in

Q: ..Is there anything in the MXR range that’s micro amp based, but can add a little light drive (clipping) and is true bypass?

Alternatives that fit the bill if not?

I’ve just tried the Nobels ODR1 and that’s pretty good when on, but I can’t justify the trade off, in that the amp sounds worse when the pedal is off (buffered bypass)
Comments
I can do what I think you're looking for with an 8W Carr Mercury and a 4 knob TC Spark. True bypass when off, set the gain up (for drive) and the volume to whatever level you want to hit the amp with. But this is all so personal... :-) 
I love my Microamp.. never heard it have an effect on tone when not on.  But if I was getting a new boost with an edge, TC Spark would be on the shortlist but the MXR Microamp + has true bypass and a bit of tone shaping and the best choice.

https://www.jimdunlop.com/mxr-micro-amp-1/




EricTheWeary Frets: 17041
18 Dec, 2024
Just looking at the MXR website and yes the Microamp+ does sound like what the OP is describing. 
SunDevil Frets: 512
18 Dec, 2024
Cheers gents - appreciate the suggestions, but neither Micro amp or Distortion plus are true bypass unfortunately- think I will just turn the amp up and be done with it 
EricTheWeary Frets: 17041
18 Dec, 2024
SunDevil said:
Cheers gents - appreciate the suggestions, but neither Micro amp or Distortion plus are true bypass unfortunately- think I will just turn the amp up and be done with it 
The website says the Microamp+ is true bypass. It would be an odd thing for the manufacturer to get wrong. 
Well, dear OP, it's your call, obv. The Micro Amp Plus actually is true bypass (the original is not and I didn’t like mine much when I owned that, but I've never tried a "plus").  But the Spark is only £49 and has the added ability to add gain yet reduce the volume if you don't want to overdrive the amp input. It's brill! 
koss59 Frets: 908
18 Dec, 2024
Is the bypass of the Nobels really that bad? Some of the best players in the world use that pedal and don’t seem to have a problem.
Rich Frets: 18
18 Dec, 2024
On the Nobels theme: the mini ODR pedals are both true bypass, and the new full-size ODR-1X lets you switch between true and buffered bypass modes. 
stickyfiddle Frets: 29583
19 Dec, 2024
Def worth trying an MXR Microamp+, though I'm not sure that adds any more grit than the standard MA. ThorpyFX Peacekeeper would be an excellent alternative - it's a brilliant pedal.

But honestly don't worry about true bypass vs buffers - worry about what sounds good and what doesn't. 
Def worth trying an MXR Microamp+, though I'm not sure that adds any more grit than the standard MA. ThorpyFX Peacekeeper would be an excellent alternative - it's a brilliant pedal.

But honestly don't worry about true bypass vs buffers - worry about what sounds good and what doesn't. 
This is the right approach ^^^^. 

My first pedal ever - way back in the mists of 1979 - was a mains-powered (no wall wart) Deluxe MemoryMan. The signal went through the pedal all the time and improved the tone as far as my ears were concerned.

My H90 is always in my signal path and I cannot tell the difference between on and off. 
SunDevil Frets: 512
19 Dec, 2024
I actually flipped on this and have a Nobels ODXR-1x (switchable buffer) and a DOD250 incoming tomorrow to try

I also thought the MXRs were true bypass, but I didn’t see that confirmed on the MXR site and there is forum talk about the pedals loading down the pickups, even when ‘bypassed’

For me, I can 100% hear a detrimental flattening in the tone when I have the buffered ODR1 switched off - it’s the only pedal, but I can imagine the difference being trivial, if it was part of a pedalboard
Dave_Mc Frets: 2501
20 Dec, 2024
It's not MXR, thought it's very definitely MXR-based, but the DemonFX YJM308 will more or less do that. I'm not sure exactly how close it is to each of those circuits, just to be clear. But it sounds pretty good, and is fairly versatile, at least considering how basic and old-school that circuit is.

The Mosky LM741 Preamp presumably will too, but I haven't tried it.