The Damnation Audio MBD2 MOSFET Bass Distortion 2 is a bass overdrive and distortion pedal built as the follow-up to the original MBD-1 MOSFET Bass Distortion. It pairs a distortion channel with a parallel clean channel, adds a tilt-style Tone control with a switchable center frequency, and carries an external 20dB boost switch. Damnation Audio describes its sound in two words: "SOUNDS MASSIVE"1.
Damnation Audio marks the MBD2 as a "RETIRED PRODUCT. PAGE LEFT UP FOR POSTERITY." The earlier MBD-1 is likewise sold out and described as "Long discontinued."12 Players looking for the MBD line will need the secondhand market, or current Damnation Audio designs such as the Curmudgeon 2, the Retro Bass Distortion or the MBD 10th Anniversary.
The controls
The MBD2 gives you two channels and two switches. The distortion channel carries the gain and tone shaping; the clean channel runs in parallel so your low end stays intact under the distortion1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Gain | Controls the amount of gain in the distortion channel |
| Level | Controls the output level of the distortion channel |
| Tone | Tilt-style tone control for the distortion channel, centered at 300Hz or 600Hz depending on the Shift switch |
| Clean | Controls the output level of the parallel clean channel, which has a low pass filter with a corner frequency at 1K Hz to retain punchy low end without unnecessary clank |
| Shift | Down position centers the Tone control at 300Hz with a 10dB cut at the center frequency; up position centers it at 600Hz with a 6dB cut |
| 20dB | Adds a 20dB boost on the front end of the distortion channel, useful for boosting your signal for massive gain |
The parallel clean channel is the design idea at the heart of the pedal: instead of running your whole signal through the distortion circuit, the MBD2 blends a filtered clean signal alongside it. The low pass filter at 1K Hz is there, in Damnation Audio's words, "to retain punchy low end without unnecessary clank"1.
Power and practical details
The MBD2 runs on 9VDC through a 2.1mm center negative, boss-style power adapter, the same standard as most pedalboard supplies. It does not accept a 9V battery, so a battery-only setup will not work here1.
The pedal measures approximately 2 1/2" x 4 5/8" x 2 1/4", with top-mounted jacks. Damnation Audio lists the smaller enclosure, the top jacks, the external 20dB boost switch, the silent bypass switching and a new look among the enhancements over the MBD-11.
Where it sits in the MBD line
The MBD2 is the second version of Damnation Audio's MOSFET bass distortion. The maker's own pages describe the original MBD-1 and MBD2 as "our original Damnation Audio MBD-1 and MBD2 bass overdrive and distortion pedals"3, and the MBD2 page calls it "the long awaited follow up to our original MBD-1 MOSFET Bass Distortion"1. Both are now off the market, and the line has since grown to include other bass distortion designs from the same maker, such as the Bass Power Distorter, the Bass Amp Grinder and the Bass Fuzz Enforcer. For a wider view of the category, see the site's pages on distortion pedals and overdrive pedals, or the broader bass pedals listing.
Videos
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Questions
Does the Damnation Audio MBD2 take a 9V battery?
No. Damnation Audio states that its pedals do not accept 9V batteries, and the MBD2 is no exception. It runs on a 9VDC power adapter with a 2.1mm center negative, boss-style connector, so plan on a dedicated power supply or a output from a pedalboard power brick rather than battery power.
What does the Shift switch do on the MBD2?
The Shift switch changes the center frequency of the Tone control. In the down position, the Tone control is centered at 300Hz with a 10dB cut at the center frequency. In the up position, it is centered at 600Hz with a 6dB cut at the center frequency, giving a brighter voicing for the distortion channel.
Is the Damnation Audio MBD2 still available?
No. Damnation Audio marks the MBD2 as a retired product, with the product page left up for posterity, and it is sold out. The earlier MBD-1 MOSFET Bass Distortion is also sold out and described as long discontinued. Finding either pedal now means looking at the secondhand market.
What does the 20dB switch do on the MBD2?
The 20dB switch adds a 20dB boost on the front end of the distortion channel. Damnation Audio describes it as useful for boosting your signal for massive gain, so it effectively lets you push the Gain control harder without changing your playing dynamics or the pedal's output level.
Does the MBD2 have a true bypass?
Damnation Audio does not describe the MBD2 as true bypass. The maker specifies silent bypass switching, which it describes as being for quiet stages. That means the pedal switches without pops or clicks, but the maker's own wording stops short of a true bypass claim.
What size is the Damnation Audio MBD2?
The MBD2 measures approximately 2 1/2 inches by 4 5/8 inches by 2 1/4 inches. Damnation Audio counts the smaller enclosure among the enhancements over the original MBD-1, along with top-mounted jacks and the external 20dB boost switch.
Sources (3)
- MBD2 MOSFET Bass Distortion 2, Damnation Audio
- MBD-1 MOSFET Bass Distortion, Damnation Audio
- MBD | Bass Overdrive & Distortion Pedal | Damnation Audio | Heavy Bass Effects, Damnation Audio
