The MXR GT-OD is a compact overdrive pedal from MXR, the Dunlop-managed brand1. Dunlop describes it as a "traditionally warm and transparent overdrive" that "adds sustain and gain without coloring your guitar or amp's tone"1. In other words, it is a drive box built to push what you already have rather than stamp its own character on it, which is the same job description most transparent overdrives carry.
Gearnews' Andreas Cordes called it "the oldest and most unassuming of all overdrive pedals" in his 2024 roundup of five overdrives to know, alongside the Origin Effects Revival Drive Compact, Revv Tilt, JHS Morning Glory and Warm Audio Centavo2. That long history and plain three-knob format are a large part of the pedal's identity.
What it does
The GT-OD sits in the low-to-medium gain part of the overdrive spectrum. Josh Scott of JHS Pedals, in his 2020 buying guide, recommended it for players who want "a new overdrive that'll handle light gain all the way to have your gain drive sounds," and said it is "really, really great in the middle gain set"4.
Its circuit has a family connection inside the MXR catalog. Scott explained that the GT-OD is "a few parts removed from their signature Zakk Wylde overdrive," the MXR ZW44 Berzerker Overdrive, rather than a copy of any Ibanez design4. DIY Fever's technical analysis of the shared circuit found two voicing positions, noting that "one (GT-OD I think) is more natural sounding," and that the natural mode "may be useful when pushing an already good sounding overdriven amp into saturation without changing the tone"5. That matches Dunlop's own positioning of the pedal as transparent.
The controls
Three knobs and a footswitch, which Dunlop says make it easy to dial in a great tone quickly6. The manual notes that the single tone control keeps tone-shaping simple1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| GAIN | Sets the amount of overdrive; clockwise increases distortion, counterclockwise decreases it1 |
| TONE | Shapes the color of the distorted signal; clockwise is brighter, counterclockwise is darker1 |
| OUTPUT | Sets the overall volume of the effect; clockwise increases, counterclockwise decreases1 |
| FOOTSWITCH | Toggles the effect on and bypass, with a red LED indicating the engaged state1 |
The Vintage Guitar review of the Custom Shop GT-OD, the earlier version of this pedal, described the same three controls as Tone, Gain and Output level, and noted the brand's "old-school black-plastic knobs with glow-in-the-dark pointers" on that model7.
Power and connections
Setup is a standard mono pedal chain: run a cable from your guitar to the GT-OD's INPUT jack, then out to your amp1. Power comes from either a 9-volt battery or a Dunlop ECB003 9-volt adapter6.
At 2.2 mA of current draw1, the GT-OD is one of the least power-hungry pedals you are likely to own, so a battery is a realistic long-term option and it will not strain a multi-pedal power supply.
Is it a Tube Screamer clone?
The question comes up because the pedal's size and control layout resemble the Ibanez Tube Screamer family, and it was demoed in Guitar.com's 2018 Thomann Tube Screamer shootout alongside the usual suspects8. But the answer from reviewers who have looked inside is no. Josh Scott addressed it directly:
"So you're thinking, 'Oh, it's a Tube Screamer,' but actually it's not a Tube Screamer."4
He traces it to the Zakk Wylde overdrive circuit instead4. On the sound question, Gearnews' Andreas Cordes went the other way in 2024, writing that "for me it's a better alternative to the classic tube screamer" and that the price is nice overall2. So: not the same circuit, but a pedal that reviewers put in the same conversation.
Price and versions
Dunlop's current listing puts the M193 GT-OD at $89.993. Street prices in the press have varied: Gearnews listed it at $113 in 202529, and JHS' 2020 guide cited $654. The earlier MXR Custom Shop GT-OD carried a $159.99 price in Vintage Guitar's 2007 review7.
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Questions
Is the MXR GT-OD a Tube Screamer clone?
No. It looks like one on paper, with three knobs and a similar layout, but Josh Scott of JHS Pedals states plainly that it is not a Tube Screamer circuit. He describes it as a few parts removed from MXR's signature Zakk Wylde overdrive. That said, Gearnews' reviewer called it a better alternative to the classic Tube Screamer, so it competes in the same territory.
Does the MXR GT-OD take a battery?
Yes. Dunlop's product page says the pedal can be powered by a 9-volt battery or a Dunlop ECB003 9-volt adapter. Current draw is a very low 2.2 mA, so a battery lasts a long time. The Vintage Guitar review of the Custom Shop version noted a circuitboard-mounted 9-volt adaptor jack on that model.
Is the MXR GT-OD true bypass?
Dunlop's manual lists the bypass as hardwire, not true bypass. The footswitch toggles the effect on and bypass, with a red LED indicating the effect is engaged. Hardwire bypass is the switching arrangement MXR uses across much of its compact pedal line.
How much does the MXR GT-OD cost?
Dunlop's current listing puts the M193 GT-OD at $89.99. Earlier press listings put it at $113 in 2025 and $65 in a 2020 JHS buying guide, so street price has moved around over the years. The Custom Shop GT-OD version listed at $159.99 in 2007.
Sources (9)
- M193.pdf, Jim Dunlop, 2019
- The Top 5 Overdrive Pedals You Need to Know!, www.gearnews.com, 2024-09-25
- MXR® CAE BOOST/OVERDRIVE, Dunlop (jimdunlop.com)
- $70 PEDALS THAT DON'T SUCK, JHS Pedals, 2020
- Effects > MXR ZW/GT/Classic OD : DIY Fever, DIY Fever (diy-fever.com)
- MXR® GT-OD, Dunlop (jimdunlop.com)
- MXR Custom Shop GT-OD Overdrive, Vintage Guitar magazine, 2021-03-01
- Watch Thomann’s massive Tube Screamer shootout, Guitar.com, 2018-08-20
- The Big Tubescreamer Shootout: 22 Originals and Clones Head-to-Head, www.gearnews.com, 2026-07-08
