The MXR Custom Shop Raijin Drive is an overdrive and distortion pedal in one box, built in the USA by the MXR Custom Shop and designed in collaboration with Japanese pedal designer Shin Suzuki. Instead of stacking two separate pedals, a single mini-toggle moves you between the two channels, both of which were designed from scratch1.
The concept is a reworking of two classic Japanese stompboxes: the Ibanez TS9 Overdrive and the Boss DS-1 Distortion2. Dunlop describes the pedal as one that "reinvents two iconic Japanese stompboxes, an overdrive and a distortion, with greater tonal range and usabili[ty]"3. Shin Suzuki designed both channels from scratch, keeping what Dunlop calls the best qualities of those original pedals rather than cloning them3. It was the second Suzuki collaboration with the Custom Shop, following the Shin-Juku Drive4.
What it does to your sound
The two channels give the pedal two distinct jobs. The overdrive side is not a clean boost through a transparent circuit. In Guitar.com's review, Michael Watts wrote531:
"This is not a transparent OD, it beefs up your sound for modern thick crunch"
The distortion side is the heavier of the two. Dunlop says "the distortion signal packs an aggressive, harmonically rich punch with just enough gain to get good and heavy"3, and Guitar.com's news coverage described the distortion channel as "voiced for a rich, aggressive punch"5. For a player, that means the overdrive channel suits rhythm work and pushing an amp, while the distortion channel covers heavier lead and rhythm tones without needing a second pedal.
The controls
The control layout is deliberately simple: three knobs and one switch1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Drive | Sets the gain of the selected channel6 |
| Tone | Sculpts the drive flavor, shaping the brightness of the channel5 |
| Level | Sets the output volume6 |
| Mini-toggle | Switches between the overdrive and distortion channels1 |
Dunlop says the "Level, Tone, and Drive controls make it super easy to dial in a great sound and start playing"3. Guitar.com's review also noted the pedal's "uncluttered control layout, bright-blue LED and stylised Monshō graphic" as part of a visually pleasing design1. There is one set of knobs shared by both channels, so switching the toggle changes the character of the sound while the knob positions stay where you left them.
Designed with Shin Suzuki
Shin Suzuki is a Japanese pedal designer whose work with the MXR Custom Shop began with the Shin-Juku Drive. The Raijin Drive was the second collaboration between the two4. According to Dunlop's own history of the brand, "the MXR Custom Shop serves as a testing ground for the MXR team's most ambitious and adventurous ideas"7. The Custom Shop was founded in 1999 and, per the Dunlop manual line, "has brought together the world's leading design engineers and the hottest" designers since then8.
MXR Custom Shop pedals are built in limited edition short runs and are available only from MXR Custom dealers, not from every shop that stocks the regular MXR line910. If you want a Raijin Drive, that narrower dealer network is where they were sold.
What reviewers said
Guitar.com reviewed the pedal in September 2019 and gave it a positive overall verdict1:
"A well-thought-out foot in the door for guitarists aiming for the classic Dumble sound."
The review listed the UK price at the time as £1401. Gearnews had earlier noted the pedal's release in April 2019, calling it a "keenly anticipated" release2, and MusicRadar covered the announcement alongside the control set2.
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Questions
Who designed the MXR Custom Shop Raijin Drive?
The Raijin Drive was designed in collaboration between Japanese pedal designer Shin Suzuki and the MXR Custom Shop. It was the second collaboration between the two, following the Shin-Juku Drive. Suzuki designed both of the pedal's channels from scratch rather than copying the original circuits outright.
What does the mini-toggle on the Raijin Drive do?
The mini-toggle switches between the pedal's two channels: overdrive and distortion. Each channel is a from-scratch design based on a classic Japanese stompbox, an overdrive and a distortion, and the toggle is the only way to move between them.
Where is the MXR Raijin Drive made?
The Raijin Drive is made in the USA. It comes from the MXR Custom Shop, which Dunlop describes as a testing ground for the MXR team's most ambitious and adventurous ideas, and which produces limited edition short run pedals.
What is the model number of the MXR Raijin Drive?
The MXR Raijin Drive carries the model number CSP037, which places it in the MXR Custom Shop series. Custom Shop pedals are sold only through MXR Custom dealers rather than every general MXR stockist.
How big is the MXR Raijin Drive?
The Raijin Drive measures 59 x 47 x 110mm, according to Guitar.com's review. That is a compact, standard MXR-sized enclosure that fits easily on a small pedalboard alongside other MXR effect boxes.
Sources (10)
- Review: MXR Custom Shop Raijin Drive, Guitar.com, 2019-09-24
- MXR releases Raijin Drive overdrive and distortion pedal by Shin Suzuki (at last!), gearnews.com, 2019-04-28
- MXR® RAIJIN DRIVE™ PEDAL, Dunlop (www.jimdunlop.com)
- MXR Releases the Raijin Drive, Premier Guitar, 2019-04-26
- MXR teams up with Shin Suzuki on custom shop Raijin Drive pedal, Guitar.com, 2019-04-26
- MXR unleashes Raijin Drive overdrive and distortion pedal, MusicRadar, 2019-04-26
- MXR: A Short History, Dunlop (lifestyle.jimdunlop.com), 2014-03-05
- M235, Dunlop Manufacturing, Inc., 2019
- MXR unveils two new MXR Custom Shop pedals, MusicRadar, 2013-10-28
- MXR announces Phase 99 pedal, MusicRadar, 2013-11-19
