Joe Bonamassa FET Driver Stompbox

The MXR Custom Shop makes its debut with new signature pedal   21-Nov-13

Jim Dunlop says that the MXR Custom Shop is the place where their team of master pedal builders pushes analog circuitry into unexplored territory. They mod classic MXR circuits for added versatility and reengineer rare, extinct circuit designs to sound better than ever. The Custom Shop is also the place where unique and esoteric requests from artists are incubated and explored. The company says that, in every situation, the Custom Shop team strives to uncover fresh ways to deliver the unmistakable tones of all-analog circuitry. Here's more details in their own words...

MXR Custom Shop effects are designed for discerning players with unique and specific needs--players who know their gear inside and out and carefully consider every part of their signal chain, from guitar output to amplifier input. Likewise, the Custom Shop's master pedal builders consider every component and circuit board layout choice with the same discretion, ensuring players with refined tastes and finely tuned ears get the tools they need for their own sonic exploration.

The 2013 Custom Shop collection kicks off with the Joe Bonamassa FET Driver and the Micro Amp+.

The Joe Bonamassa FET Driver captures the rich, creamy sound of an overdriven tube amplifier by cascading an op-amp gain stage into a FET stage. With this pedal, you can thicken up your lead tone with musical, amp-like distortion and sustain without the fragility and inconsistency associated with tubes. "This pedal glued the loose ends of my rig together," Joe Bonamassa says about the FET Driver. "It's very focused and very fat, and it cuts through without being too bright. That's a hard sound to achieve."

The Micro Amp+ combines the classic boosting and tone-sweetening capabilities of the original Micro Amp with a specially-tuned EQ section and low-noise op-amp. You can unleash just as much gain with the Micro Amp+ as you can with the original, but now you can finely sculpt the sound of your boosted signal.

Pricing and Availability:
Available exclusively through a network of hand-picked "pedal mecca" stores. Check the PDF for a list of US MXR Custom Shop-qualified stores.

More information:

• MXR