DEMO GOTA Distortion Supreme-BOSS MD-2 Mega Distortion

[Guardians of the analog]

Build Rating

5.00 star(s)

There aren't many of these left of these analog circuits for me to make and this is one I've wanted to make for a long time. This was like the last original all analog circuit boss made before going full digital or before they started doing the waza craft series of reissues. The MD-2 Mega Distortion was realsed back in 2001 and despite remaining in production the past 20+ years it is often overlooked and misunderstood. This is a great pedal that I'm stoked to have built. Anyways, here's wonder wall

I originally wanted to do this pedal a few years back and like most things, life got in the way. Last year scouring schematics I found a couple and David at EF made a couple boards and even after a few revisions it wasn't functioning properly. Turns out none of the schematics were really right, so I did the least logical thing, I got a cheap used one and tore it apart and traced it myself.
This is a rather complex circuit that uses a topology I haven't seen in a distortion pedal before. It's a clean boost running into a mid focused high gain distortion that has a hearty bass boost available. Imagine pushing a DS2 with a lpb-1 and adding a bass boost, that's sort of what it reminds me of. There are so many tonal options that this is not just a one trick pony. Lower the drive and push the boost for more of a QOTSA power amp distortion type sound. Push both for a fuzzed out super saturated tone. Raise the bass and really make it doom or make it lean and mean. It has a great mid forward character to the drive and I don't think people ever learned how to use it or were misinformed on what it was.

For the enclosure I went with a tayda matte violet box with UV print. For my design I used Clea, the sorceress supreme. For my sound clip I tried to demonstrate just what this can do. The pedals gain, boost and bottom controls are all at around 1 o'clock and the tone was around 11, so lots of range still on the knobs. This thing transformed my little vibro champ and SG into a monster.

 

[Mentaltossflycoon]

 

[szukalski]

That's a sexy little bugger there.

 

[Guardians of the analog]

That's a sexy little bugger there.

Thanks Dave, It was a fun rewarding process.

 

[Paradox916]

Excellent build! This has so many unrealized iconic tones! I love these under the radar circuits you chase. Well done man.

 

[Bio77]

Hats off, sir!

 

[MattG]

Absolutely top-shelf build (as always!).

I had the actual Boss MD-2 not too long ago. I had high hopes for it as a kind of higher-gain swiss army knife, i.e. something to make with a flexible low to medium gain drive/boost, which together with the MD-2 would allow for a lot of ground to be covered. I never got excited about the tones I was getting out of it, and in a moment of clutter-anxiety, I sold it.

Now seeing your build and hearing your demo, I kind of wish I'd kept it, at least a little longer!

Have you (or anyone else) tried using it live/in a band mix? I'm wondering if that mid-forward boost would help it sit nice in the mix (which I find hard to achieve with high gain/distortion).

See also: Guitar Pedals Visualized: Boss MD-2.

 

[Guardians of the analog]

View attachment 75020

Excellent build! This has so many unrealized iconic tones! I love these under the radar circuits you chase. Well done man.

Thanks Rob. This is a really good pedal and a sleeper for sure.

Hats off, sir!

High Praise as always John

Absolutely top-shelf build (as always!).

I had the actual Boss MD-2 not too long ago. I had high hopes for it as a kind of higher-gain swiss army knife, i.e. something to make with a flexible low to medium gain drive/boost, which together with the MD-2 would allow for a lot of ground to be covered. I never got excited about the tones I was getting out of it, and in a moment of clutter-anxiety, I sold it.

Now seeing your build and hearing your demo, I kind of wish I'd kept it, at least a little longer!

Have you (or anyone else) tried using it live/in a band mix? I'm wondering if that mid-forward boost would help it sit nice in the mix (which I find hard to achieve with high gain/distortion).

See also: Guitar Pedals Visualized: Boss MD-2.

Thank You. I wouldn't use it for low gain, maybe medium/high gain power tube type distortion at low but this wants to be pushed. I think like all things, the gear used will lead to different tones and results. I have used it in recording, and in a band mix that way I had no issues in that context. Minimal standard EQ clean up that's all. I don't play out anymore and pretty much only use my 5 watt vintage vibro champ, so I can't attest to stage volume in a live band setting with it.

 

[GizzWizzKing]

That riff crushes. I think at this point I've learned about more Boss pedals from GOTA than from the rest of my life experience combined.

That PCB is slick too. I like the I/O & DC portion being up in its own little world. Very visually pleasing.

 

[airbud]

SPOONMAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!

looks amazing, love the pink enclosure.

 

[MattG]

@Guardians of the analog - do you know if/when Effects Layouts will be offering this board for sale?

 

[Guardians of the analog]

@Guardians of the analog - do you know if/when Effects Layouts will be offering this board for sale?

Not sure what his plans are for this. I did the trace of my pedal and he did the layout for me.

 

[MattG]

@Guardians of the analog - do you remember which JFETs you used for Q1/Q2/Q3? The 2SK170 that the build doc calls out don't seem to be readily available. @VanWhy used 2SK209-GR in his build. Looks like LSK170 are supposedly the modern replacement for 2SK170, but (at least at Mouser) they are over $6/each!