The MXR M116 Fullbore is a super high gain distortion pedal from MXR, the pedal brand owned by Dunlop Manufacturing. Its maker's manual describes it as a "Super high gain distortion" pedal, built around a three-band EQ with sweepable mid frequencies and a switchable noise gate1. Tone Island's Adam Connell, writing in a distortion pedal buying guide, describes the pedal as offering "high gain Pantera style tone at a price point that is affordable without sacrificing build quality tone and value"2.
What it does
The Fullbore is aimed at players who want a heavy, saturated distortion voice. The manual describes the circuit as a three-band EQ with sweepable mid frequencies, paired with a switchable noise gate1. Tone Island's review highlights the same feature set from a player's angle: "There's a scoop switch that will boost high & low frequencies," alongside "a 3-band EQ with sweepable mid-range frequencies, volume, and gain controls"2.
The built-in noise gate is there to keep the high gain circuit quiet when you stop playing: "A built-in noise gate to remove hum between sections in your songs"2. If you want to alter the sensitivity of the noise gate, you can adjust a control inside the pedal2, so the amount of gating is set with a screwdriver rather than a top-panel knob.
Controls and power
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Gain | Sets the amount of distortion2 |
| Volume | Sets the output level2 |
| Three-band EQ | Bass, mid and treble, with sweepable mid-range frequencies2 |
| Scoop switch | Boosts high and low frequencies for a scooped metal voice2 |
| Internal control | Adjusts the sensitivity of the noise gate, accessed inside the pedal2 |
The pedal runs on a standard 9V battery or a 9V power supply2, and it is true bypass, so it will not impact the tone of your signal chain when turned off2.
The maker's manual titles the pedal the MXR Fullbore Metal1; it is the same M116 circuit that players and retailers list as the Fullbore Distortion.
Where it sits in MXR's distortion range
MXR's distortion line runs from the classic Distortion + and M104 Distortion+ through the Super Badass Distortion and Prime Distortion to signature designs like the Dime Distortion. The Fullbore sits at the high gain end of that range: where the Distortion+ is a simple gain-and-voicing circuit, the Fullbore adds the three-band EQ, the scoop switch and the noise gate that a heavy, saturated tone needs to stay usable on stage. For more on the wider category, see Distortion Pedals and Noise Gate Pedals21.
Videos
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Questions
Does the MXR M116 Fullbore have a noise gate?
Yes. The pedal has a built-in noise gate to remove hum between sections in your songs. If you want to alter how the gate responds, there is a control inside the pedal that adjusts the sensitivity of the noise gate, so you can set it to suit your playing and how much gating you want.
How is the MXR M116 Fullbore powered?
The MXR M116 takes a standard 9V battery or a 9V power supply. It is also true bypass, so it will not impact the tone of your signal chain when it is turned off.
Sources (2)
- M116.pdf, Dunlop Manufacturing, Inc., 2019
- 13 Best Distortion Pedals For 2026 (Top Picks), Tone Island (toneisland.com), 2026
