The MXR M89 Bass Overdrive is a dedicated bass overdrive pedal made by Dunlop Manufacturing and available since March 2013. It is part of MXR's Bass Innovations line of dedicated bass pedals, and it takes a blend-and-drive approach: a Clean knob mixes a tuned clean signal, made up mostly of lower frequencies, back in under the overdrive, so the low end can stay put while the drive does its work.1
What it does to your sound
Tom Bowlus, reviewing the pedal for Bass Gear Magazine in April 2019, described the M89's character this way:
"the attack is definitely on the 'softer' side, and it presents a darkish, warm overdrive, with a nice range of useable drive settings"
He also found that "the Bass Overdrive seems to behave like a soft-clipping device," which in player terms means the pedal compresses and rounds off the top of the signal gradually rather than chopping it hard, the kind of clipping associated with a smoother, less aggressive break-up than a hard-clipping distortion.1
Controls
The M89 keeps things simple, with four knobs:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Clean | Blends in a tuned clean signal, comprised mostly of the lower frequencies, with the overdrive signal |
| Drive | Controls the amount of overdrive |
| Tone | Adjusts the color of the overdriven signal |
| Volume | Controls the overall output volume |
A very bright white LED indicates when the overdrive is engaged.1
How it plays
Bowlus found the M89 easy to dial in:
"It has a very broad 'sweet spot,' so you don't have to hunt around for those one or two magical combinations of knob set"
He described it as very plug and play friendly, with good touch sensitivity playability, meaning the pedal responds to how hard you play rather than flattening everything out.1
Power, bypass and practical details
The M89 runs on 9V DC and supports battery operation, so it can sit on a board with a standard supply or be used without one. It has true hardware bypass, a 1/4" mono input jack with 1 MOhm impedance, and a 1/4" mono output jack with less than 10 kOhm impedance. The aluminum Hammond 1590B style enclosure measures 2.5"H x 5.5"D x 4.5"W and weighs about 8 oz. with a battery installed. It carries a 1-year limited warranty and is made in the USA.1
Where it came from
The Bass Overdrive has been available since March 2013. Bass Gear Magazine notes that rumor has it the M89 is based on Dunlop's own Way Huge Pork Loin overdrive pedal, specifically a darker, higher-gain iteration of the Pork Loin. That remains a rumor rather than a confirmed design detail.1
The M89 sits in MXR's Bass Innovations line of dedicated bass pedals, a range Bass Gear Magazine has reviewed several pedals from. Other pedals in the wider MXR bass line include the MXR Bass Distortion, the MXR Bass Compressor, the MXR Bass Preamp and the MXR Bass Chorus Deluxe.1
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Questions
Is the MXR M89 Bass Overdrive true bypass?
Yes. Bass Gear Magazine's review lists the M89 as having true hardware bypass, so when the pedal is off, your bass signal passes through the hardware without going through the overdrive circuit. That matters on a bass board, where keeping the low end intact when the pedal is disengaged is a common priority.
Does the M89 run on a battery?
Yes. The review lists battery operation as a feature, alongside the 9V DC power jack. The pedal weighs about 8 oz. with a battery installed, and it uses an aluminum Hammond 1590B style enclosure. For pedalboard use, the 9V DC jack lets you run it from a standard power supply instead.
What does the Clean knob do on the M89?
The Clean knob blends in a tuned clean signal, made up mostly of the lower frequencies, with the overdriven signal. In practice, that lets you keep the fundamentals of your bass tone intact underneath the drive, so the low end stays full while the overdrive sits on top.
Is the MXR M89 made in the USA?
Yes. Bass Gear Magazine's review lists the M89 as made in the USA, and manufactured by Dunlop Manufacturing, the company that owns the MXR brand. The pedal carries a 1-year limited warranty.
What is the MXR M89 based on?
According to Bass Gear Magazine, rumor has it that the M89 is based on Dunlop's own Way Huge Pork Loin overdrive pedal, specifically a darker, higher-gain iteration of the Pork Loin. That remains a rumor rather than an official statement from Dunlop.
How much does the MXR M89 cost?
As of Bass Gear Magazine's April 2019 review, the M89 carried a $219.99 MSRP with a $129.99 street price, both in US dollars. Street prices change over time, so the figure reflects what the review reported at that date.
Sources (1)
- Quick Look, Bass Gear Magazine, 2019-04-03
