The Dunlop EG74 Raw Dawg Overdrive is a mini overdrive pedal sold under Dunlop's MXR brand and built as a signature pedal for blues-rock guitarist Eric Gales. Dunlop describes it as a classic crunchy overdrive circuit customized with a more balanced midrange and a bump in gain, for what the manual calls "a sweet, organic sound"1. Vintage Guitar's reviewer called it simply "a mini pedal with controls for Output, Tone, and Drive"2.
The EG74's manual covers the basics of getting it on a board: an instrument cable runs from the guitar to the pedal's INPUT jack, and another runs from its OUTPUT jack into the amplifier's input1. The kickswitch toggles the effect on and off, with a blue LED indicating when it is on1.
The controls: Output, Tone and Drive
Three knobs and a footswitch are all there is to it, which is the point of the mini format. Dunlop's manual breaks down each control1:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| OUTPUT | Controls overall effect volume |
| TONE | Controls overall EQ |
| DRIVE | Controls overdrive intensity |
| KICKSWITCH | Toggles effect on/bypass, with a blue LED indicating on |
For a starting point, the manual suggests setting all three knobs to 12 o'clock and depressing the footswitch to switch the effect on, then adjusting from there1. Because the Drive knob sweeps the gain from 21 to 47 dB1, the pedal covers a wide range of intensity from one control: low settings give a lighter crunch, while cranking it pushes well into high-gain overdrive territory.
Power and specifications
The Raw Dawg runs on 9V DC, center negative, and draws only 6 mA13. It is powered by the Dunlop ECB003 9-volt adapter, and the manual also lists compatibility with the DC Brick, Iso-Brick and Mini Iso-Brick power supplies1.
There is no battery option. Dunlop's manual states that "This pedal cannot be powered by a battery"1, so this pedal needs a wall adapter or a pedalboard power supply from the first day.
Hookup is conventional: an instrument cable from the guitar into the EG74's input jack, and another from its output jack into the amplifier's input1. The full measured specifications from the manual1:
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Input impedance | > 450 kΩ |
| Output impedance | < 100 Ω |
| Gain | 21 to 47 dB |
| Noise floor | < -100 dBV, A-weighted, all controls at mid-position |
| Measurements | Made at 1 kHz |
The sub -100 dBV noise floor, measured with all controls at mid-position, means the pedal itself stays quiet in the bypassed-on state at moderate settings1.
Where it sits among Dunlop's overdrives
Dunlop publishes the Raw Dawg under the MXR name3, and it is one of several signature and collaboration overdrives in the company's range, alongside pedals like the Dunlop M251 FOD Drive and the Dunlop CSP027 Timmy Overdrive. Its distinguishing features are the small enclosure, the three-knob layout and the Eric Gales connection, with the circuit voiced for a balanced midrange rather than a mid-hump13.
MXR describes the circuit in its own words:
"A custom circuit, this pedal is based on a classic OD famous for its grit and crunch, but we balanced out the midrange and bumped up the gain for a sweeter, more natural sound even when cranked."3
Videos
Jim Dunlop UK
HangszerPláza
Rhythm & Beard
Questions
Can the Raw Dawg Overdrive run on a battery?
No. Dunlop's manual states plainly that the pedal cannot be powered by a battery. It runs on a 9V DC center-negative supply, drawing 6 mA, via the Dunlop ECB003 adapter or a DC Brick, Iso-Brick or Mini Iso-Brick power supply.
Is the Dunlop EG74 Raw Dawg true bypass?
Yes. The manual lists the bypass type as True Hardwire, so with the effect switched off the guitar signal passes through without the circuit coloring it. A blue LED on the footswitch lights when the effect is on.
Is the EG74 Raw Dawg an MXR pedal?
It is sold under the MXR brand, which Dunlop owns, and press coverage calls it the MXR Eric Gales EG74 Raw Dawg. The manual itself is published by Jim Dunlop, so both names refer to the same mini overdrive pedal.
How much gain does the Raw Dawg Overdrive have?
Dunlop's manual lists a gain range of 21 to 47 dB, measured at 1 kHz. That spread covers a light crunch through the Drive knob's lower settings up to a substantial push when the knob is cranked.
Sources (3)
- EG74.pdf, Jim Dunlop, 2021
- The MXR Eric Gales EG74 Raw Dawg, Vintage Guitar magazine, 2022-05-11
- EG74 RAW DAWG OVERDRIVE by MXR, RockBoard PedalPedia, 2026
Eric Gales
