MXR M80 vs Seymour Duncan Paranormal

[the low one]

Has anyone AB’d the MXR M80 against Seymour Duncan Paranormal? Apart from the distortion channel on the MXR they look to be pretty similar animals.

Both can be bypassed (although the SD has true bypass)

Both have a clean channel with 3 band eq.
The MXR uses the following frequencies:
Bass +-18 dB @ 60 Hz, shelving
Mid +-10 dB @ 850 Hz
Treble +-12 dB @ 4 Hz, shelving

and the SD uses:
Bass - 30Hz
Mid - 650Hz
Treble - 5.2KHz
with a gain range of +/- 12dB

Both have a mid scoop, the MXR has the color button and the SD has the slap contour set at +6dB @ 80Hz; -6dB @ 650Hz

As has been said many times here before you can set the distortion channel to zero distortion so it can work in the same way as the slap contour on the SD.

The frequencies between the two are slightly different so how different will they sound to each other.

[fishtx]

I have both, and am currently test driving the MXR M80 now. I am a bit of a preamp/DI junkie and have gone through several in the past couple of years just to try out.

As you mentioned above, the M80 has a distortion aspect to it (which I actually haven't used at all. I typically use this pedal as a clean boost (FWIW), and as a DI. The clean channel is nice and clean...with low noise even when you dila in a lot of treble (you still get a small amount of hiss as expected, but not bad, and definately not as bad as some other pre's).

The Seymour Duncan is actually one of my favorite preamp/DI's, because it's so clean. The one knock I would give to the Seymour Duncan is "no volume control".

[RickenBoogie]

I can't comment on the Paranormal, but for sure you get more than your money's worth with the MXR. I'm not a huge fan of the distortion channel, but the DI is spot on brilliant, and the eq is very useable. Brightens up my tone so much, I leave it on always. You can dial the distortion down, and also blend it almost all the way out for a more subtle effect, so you may like that, too.

[gus1894]

So can someone tell me... The MXR M-80 doubles as both a boost on the left clicker and distortion on the right clicker?

[the low one]

Originally Posted by gus1894

So can someone tell me... The MXR M-80 doubles as both a boost on the left clicker and distortion on the right clicker?

It can do that.

[waynobass]

Originally Posted by fishtx

The one knock I would give to the Seymour Duncan is "no volume control".

I don't get this. If it had a volume, wouldn't you just leave it on full all the time anyway?

[diechris]

Originally Posted by waynobass

I don't get this. If it had a volume, wouldn't you just leave it on full all the time anyway?

what? do you max out all your volume knobs on your effects?

[fishtx]

Originally Posted by waynobass

I don't get this. If it had a volume, wouldn't you just leave it on full all the time anyway?

Absolutely not...What I would do is set the EQ of the pedal where I like it, then set it for unity gain (volume level the same with the pedal either on or off), and then adjust the volume as needed during the gig...

[waynobass]

Originally Posted by diechris

what? do you max out all your volume knobs on your effects?

The Paranormal is not an effect, it's an active DI box.

[diechris]

Originally Posted by waynobass

The Paranormal is not an effect, it's an active DI box.

i know that. It has an EQ and preset on it doesnt it? it changes the sound of the bass going in to it.. its an effect on the tone... its an effect pedal with a DI or a DI with effect functions... thats not the point at all anyway.

its very possible that your settings will be at a different level then what the "slap" switch engaged will be. a nice feature on the m80 is the ability to even the levels on BOTH stomp settings. a sudden boost/drop in volume when using a DI going FOH usually doesn't make the soundguy too happy.