The MojoHandFX Extra Special is a high-gain overdrive pedal from Mojo Hand FX, described by the maker as a "High Gain DMBL." It takes the idea behind the company's DMBL overdrive and, in Mojo Hand FX's words, "cranks it to eleven." The pedal is aimed at the medium to higher gain tones associated with what the maker calls "legendary amps," with a range the company describes as "clean to mean."1
Like the DMBL it is based on, the Extra Special uses Germanium clipping diodes, which Mojo Hand FX says give "natural, touch sensitive overdrive." The maker bills the DMBL line as its take on what many consider to be the "Holy Grail of overdrive tones."2
How it relates to the DMBL
The Extra Special is a variant of the Mojo Hand FX DMBL. Paolo De Gregorio, writing in Delicious Audio's buying guide to Dumble-style pedals, put the difference plainly134:
"It features the same control set and delivers the clarity and swampy overdrive of that pedal, but offers a lot more gain"
So the core voicing carries over, but the Extra Special adds two things the standard DMBL does not have: an Accent knob and a Jazz/Rock voicing toggle. Players who want the base DMBL circuit at its original gain level can look at the DMBL itself; Mojo Hand FX also lists a B-stock version of the DMBL on its site.3
Controls
The Extra Special keeps the DMBL's control set and adds to it. Mojo Hand FX lists the following4:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Volume | Output level1 |
| Gain | Amount of overdrive1 |
| Tone | Standard tone shaping1 |
| Accent | Acts much like a Presence or Contour control1 |
| Jazz/Rock toggle (2-way) | Up: jazz voicing, cuts high frequencies; down: rock voicing1 |
On the DMBL, the tone toggle is a 2-way switch where the up position gives a smooth bottom end and flatter EQ, and the down position gives pronounced bite and midrange growl.2 The Extra Special's toggle swaps that for the Jazz/Rock voicings described above.1
The Bass control on the DMBL drew specific praise from reviewers. Mike B, reviewing the DMBL Drive for Pedal of the Day, wrote5:
"One of the things I like best about the DMBL is the Bass Control, which really makes a difference in your tone."
Power and practical details
The Extra Special runs on a standard center negative 9V DC supply or a 9V battery, and neither is included with the pedal. Current draw is about 11mA, light enough for nearly any pedalboard power supply.1 The DMBL shares the same power requirements.2
No power supply or battery comes in the box, so plan to have a 9V center negative supply or a fresh 9V battery on hand.
The pedal is true bypass, in a sturdy die-cast aluminum enclosure with a powder-coated finish and UV printed artwork.1 At 4.8" L x 2.62" W x 1.55" H, it sits in the compact range of overdrive enclosures.1
Videos
Mike Hermans
Chicago Music Exchange
Indie Folk Americana
Questions
Does the MojoHandFX Extra Special run on a battery?
Yes. Mojo Hand FX lists the Extra Special as running on a standard center negative 9V DC supply or a 9V battery, and neither is included with the pedal. Current draw is about 11mA, which is light enough for most pedalboard power supplies. A center negative supply is the standard polarity used by nearly all modern pedals.
Is the Extra Special true bypass?
Yes. Mojo Hand FX specifies true bypass switching, housed in a sturdy die-cast aluminum enclosure with a powder-coated finish and UV printed artwork. With true bypass, the pedal is removed from your signal chain entirely when off, so it will not load down your guitar's signal when disengaged.
What does the Accent knob do?
Mojo Hand FX describes the Accent knob as acting much like a Presence or Contour control on an amplifier. It shapes the upper character of the overdrive, letting you lean the tone brighter and more open or pull it back smoother, on top of what the Tone knob is doing.
What does the Jazz/Rock toggle do?
The Extra Special has a 2-way toggle for Jazz or Rock voicings. In the up position it selects the jazz voicing, which cuts high frequencies for a smoother, darker response. In the down position it selects the rock voicing. It sits alongside the standard Volume, Gain and Tone knobs and the Accent control.
How does the Extra Special differ from the DMBL?
The Extra Special takes the idea behind the DMBL and, in Mojo Hand FX's words, cranks it to eleven. It keeps the same control set and the clarity and swampy overdrive of the DMBL, but offers a lot more gain, plus the added Accent knob and the Jazz/Rock voicing toggle that the standard DMBL does not have.
How big is the MojoHandFX Extra Special?
Mojo Hand FX lists the enclosure at 4.8 inches long by 2.62 inches wide by 1.55 inches high. That is a compact, standard 125B-style footprint, so it fits alongside other pedals on a board without taking up much more room than a typical overdrive.
Sources (5)
- Extra Special, MojoHandFX
- DMBL - MojoHandFX, MojoHandFX (mojohandfx.com)
- MojoHand, Mojo Hand FX (mojohandfx.com)
- Best Dumble-Style Pedals For Your Needs & Budget, Delicious Audio, 2024-09-25
- Mojo Hand FX DMBL Drive, Pedal of the Day, 2014-07-12
