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MXR ZW-44 Wylde Overdrive
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Zakk Wylde's signature overdrive by mxr
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Searched MXR ZW-44 Wylde Overdrive in Reviews
Its good but could be little better. 
| Ease Of Use |
Lets start with the features first, Three small mxr style knobs labelled output, tone and gain. The gain lifts the line level signal to add gain, the tone adjusts the overall sound of the effect and the output controls the volume of the effect into the line, simple. Theres a nice big red led and comes with the neoprene footpad, descant instructions and a battery plate back secured with 4 screws. Manipulation of the knobs to get a good tone is easy, i dont think there is a bad tone in this box but because its an overdrive ts best suited to kick tube amps into total saturation. power is provided via 1 9v battery or a 9v supply.
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| Sound |
Right lets start with a few fundamentals ad i mentioned before this unit is best suited to burning valves rather than a solid state amp as transistors dont compress or load the same way as a valve does, so those that are looking for a noise maker for a solid state amp are best looking at dedicated distortion. Remember the rule's, distortion adds well... distortion rather than gain and overdrive adds gain to break up the sound. This unit i use in a few ways. Firstly it can add a good transparent level boost which after my distortion pedals provides a good lead boost. I also use it on its own in front of my tube amp with the gain all the way up and the tone at about 10.30 to send my amp crazy, or with the same setting after my distortion to get complete sonic obliteration! The pedal isn't tube screamer esque as it has a most definate mid cut which gives a satisfying hard rock and metal chunk or thud but on lower gain and volume levels wil provide a more zz top esque blues rock tone. So whilst its not all singing a dancing it does what you'd expect it to do. There are however some problems a compessor can cause the pedal to clip through the compressor lifting the line signal and under high levels of gain it can be noiny in operation. Its not a pedal for all the people, but none the less for its little flaws it is one of the better overdrives. For an alternitive less extreme pedal try maxon's reissue tube screamer or the mxr gt-od.
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| Reliability |
you can sleep soundly on this score its an mxr, heavy cast enclosure with the solid push switch that clunks satisfyingly under foot lighting the bright red led up. Great feeling control pots that are quite clearly animal tested and lashings of lovely paint with zakks bullseye and signature on which will not wear of in a hurry. 20 years down the line you know this will still be in good operating condition with pretty much all of the paint still on.
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| Liked about it |
lower mids and bass response
Crazy amounts of gain
solid quality feel
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| Didn't like |
extra noise added under high gain.
not all that versatile.
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| Overall satisfaction: |
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3.0 |
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internal use: spec24 spec619 spec582
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