The MXR Eric Gales Raw Dawg is a signature overdrive pedal developed with the American blues-rock guitarist Eric Gales, who is also known by the nickname Raw Dawg1. It is a mini pedal carrying the classic Output, Tone and Drive control set, built around an overdrive circuit that has been tweaked to Gales' preferences for a more balanced mid range and more gain2. MXR and Gales announced the pedal in early March 2021, with Guitar World reporting it available for $119 at that time3.
What it is and what it does
The Raw Dawg is an overdrive aimed squarely at blues players. Gearnews described it as "the perfect companion for you blues players," designed to give "plenty of growl and bite when required"2. The circuit is based on a classic overdrive famous for grit and crunch, according to Guitar World, and has been tweaked to deliver a more balanced mid range and more gain, shaped to what Gales wanted from his own drive sound25.
Because it is a signature pedal, the sound is tied to Gales' approach: he is known for his raw blues tone, and the pedal was developed with him as the signature artist2.
Controls and format
The pedal keeps things simple. Three knobs cover the standard overdrive duties3:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Output | Sets the pedal's output level3 |
| Tone | Shapes the treble character of the drive2 |
| Drive | Sets the amount of overdrive3 |
The circuit sits in a mini chassis, which MXR describes as offering "ultimate pedalboard convenience": the small footprint lets it squeeze into crowded pedalboards where a full-size enclosure would not fit3. Gearnews made the same point, noting the mini-pedal format makes it easy to fit onto most pedalboard rigs2.
Where it came from
The pedal is the result of a partnership between MXR and Eric Gales, announced by Guitar Player in March 20215. According to Vintage Guitar magazine's review, Dunlop got Gales in touch with Jeorge Tripps, of Way Huge pedals, and "in a few months Gales had exactly what he wanted"4. The name carries a double meaning: Raw Dawg is Gales' own nickname, and the pedal is "graced with the same name as Gales' signature DV Mark amplifier range"5.
The pedal first surfaced in early March 2021 before its official release, showing up on MXR dealer sites such as Thomann, with no official audio demos available yet at that point and information still scarce2. Guitar World reported it as available for $119 on March 1, 20213, and Vintage Guitar's later review listed the price as $119.994.
What reviewers said
Vintage Guitar magazine reviewed the pedal as the MXR Eric Gales EG74 Raw Dawg in September 2021, describing it as a mini overdrive and crediting Jeorge Tripps with the design work that got Gales to the sound he was after4. The early press coverage was consistent in its description: a custom circuit in a mini housing with a simple three-knob layout, tuned for blues players who want growl and bite on demand23.
For other overdrives in MXR's range, see the MXR Sugar Drive, the MXR Timmy or the broader Overdrive Pedals page.
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Questions
Is the MXR Raw Dawg released yet?
When the pedal first appeared in early March 2021 it had not been officially released, though it was already showing up on MXR dealer sites such as Thomann, and Guitar World reported it as available for $119 on March 1, 2021. Official audio demos were not out at first, and information was still scarce in the earliest coverage.
How much does the MXR Eric Gales Raw Dawg cost?
Guitar World reported the Raw Dawg as available for $119 in March 2021, and Vintage Guitar magazine's review later that year listed the price as $119.99. Both figures are US list prices from 2021.
Why is the pedal called Raw Dawg?
Raw Dawg is Eric Gales' own nickname, and it is also the name of his signature DV Mark amplifier range, which the pedal shares. The pedal carries the same name as that amp range and was developed with Gales as a signature overdrive.
Who designed the MXR Raw Dawg?
According to Vintage Guitar magazine's review, Dunlop got Eric Gales in touch with Jeorge Tripps of Way Huge pedals, and within a few months Gales had the pedal he wanted. The circuit is an overdrive design tweaked to Gales' preferences.
Sources (5)
- Eric Gales & DryBell Vibe Machine for Hendrix-Inspired Tones, DryBell, 2025-06-30
- MXR Eric Gales signature Raw Dawg overdrive pedal is out for blood!, gearnews.com, 2021-03-02
- Eric Gales partners with MXR for signature Raw Dawg overdrive pedal, Guitar World, 2021-03-01
- The MXR Eric Gales EG74 Raw Dawg, Vintage Guitar magazine, 2022-05-11
- MXR, Eric Gales Team Up for Raw Dawg Overdrive Pedal, GuitarPlayer (www.guitarplayer.com), 2021-03-01
