The MXR Randy Rhoads Distortion+ is a signature distortion pedal from MXR, built as a recreation of the vintage MXR Distortion+ that Randy Rhoads, Ozzy Osbourne's guitarist, used on his recordings. MXR says the pedal "has been painstakingly matched to the legend's own MXR Distortion+ to recreate the same raw, overdriven tones heard on Randy's most beloved hits"1. It keeps the two-knob format of the original MXR Distortion+, adds a true bypass footswitch, and comes in a custom finish inspired by Rhoads' Flying V guitar12.
The project began publicly in December 2022, when MXR and the Rhoads family announced a Randy Rhoads signature Distortion+ for the following year32. A series of lengthy delays pushed the release back by a year before the pedal finally arrived in 202424.
A Distortion+ matched to Randy Rhoads' own pedal
The core of the pedal is the circuit. MXR's engineers spec'd Randy's vintage Distortion+ with the direct involvement of his sister, Kathy Rhoads1. As part of the research and development, the MXR design team dissected Rhoads' pedalboard, the famous "chip pan" board, for the first time, after the Rhoads family unveiled it at their Musonia School of Music in Los Angeles78.
The result is a pedal MXR describes as producing "the same overdriven tones heard on Randy's most beloved hits"1. Press coverage framed it the same way: Guitar Pedal X noted that "the Randy Rhoads one is simply a version of the MXR Distortion+"9, and Gearnews reported it as a recreation of the original pedal Randy himself used10.
The Rhoads family endorsed the project in a statement quoted at the release:
"We are very proud of and honored by this special signature pedal. It is a true tribute to Randy's musical legacy."
The controls: Output and Distortion
The control layout matches the original Distortion+: two knobs and a footswitch2.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| OUTPUT knob | Controls the overall volume of the effect6 |
| DISTORTION knob | Controls the amount of distortion6 |
Setting up is a two-step process:
- Run a cable from your guitar to the pedal's INPUT jack6.
- Run another cable from the OUTPUT jack to your amplifier6.
GuitarPlayer's coverage of the release confirmed the layout: "There are dials for Output and Distortion and a true bypass footswitch"11. The 2025 Special Edition keeps the same control layout10.
Power: 9V battery or adapter
The pedal runs on a single 9-volt battery, installed by removing the bottom plate16. For adapter power, the manual specifies a 9-volt AC adapter such as the Dunlop ECB003/ECB003EU, or an MXR Brick Series power supply6.
The battery sits under the bottom plate, so you need to unscrew the enclosure to swap it. Adapter power avoids that, and the manual's recommended supplies are the Dunlop ECB003/ECB003EU or an MXR Brick Series unit6.
Who was involved in the design
The design work was a collaboration between MXR's engineers and the Rhoads family. Dunlop says its "MXR engineers worked directly with sister Kathy Rhoads to ensure that this tribute would be equipped with all the correct components"4. Kathy Rhoads described her own role when the design was first revealed on 8 January 2024:
"I personally got to design and choose every detail alongside Jimi Dunlop."
Alongside the release, Dunlop gathered musicians to discuss Rhoads' influence on their playing, including Chris Shiflett, Phil Demmel, Phil X, Pete Thorn, and Rhoads' bandmate Rudy Sarzo4.
Versions and limited editions
The Randy Rhoads Distortion+ has appeared in several forms:
| Version | What it is |
|---|---|
| RR104 Randy Rhoads Distortion+ | The 2024 original, matched to Randy's own pedal, with a Flying V inspired finish1 |
| RR104C Randy Rhoads Special Edition Distortion+ | The 2025 return of the pedal after the first run sold out, same circuit and controls12410 |
| Randy Rhoads Special LTD | A limited-run version of the 2024 model in a new finish10 |
| RR104-PARTS | A parts version of the pedal13 |
MXR describes the pedal as a "special limited edition" that "features an exclusive booklet and certificate of authenticity"1. Guitar Pedal X reported that the artist editions were "limited to some degree" but that the numbers were not disclosed, and that they were "mostly sold out" by September 20249. Dunlop later confirmed the first run sold out quickly and the pedal returned in 20254.
The finish
The RR104 carries a custom finish inspired by Randy's legendary Flying V guitar1. The Special Edition draws on a specific guitar: inspired by a supersonic airliner he flew on while on tour with Ozzy Osbourne, Randy designed a white Flying V-style guitar with a pinstripe accent, and that design informs the pedal's look8. Guitar Pedal X's reviewer felt "the polka dots design of the Randy Rhoads edition makes that version a little more visually appealing"9.
How it differs from other MXR distortions
The Randy Rhoads Distortion+ sits inside MXR's wider distortion line as a signature recreation of the original MXR Distortion+ circuit9. Where pedals like the MXR Super Badass Distortion or the MXR Fullbore Metal offer more control over modern high-gain tones, the Rhoads pedal keeps the original's two-knob simplicity26. Players comparing it with the standard reissue can read more on the MXR M104 Distortion+ page, and the limited-run finish version is covered at MXR Randy Rhoads Special LTD.
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Questions
Is the MXR Randy Rhoads Distortion+ true bypass?
Yes. The RR104 manual lists its bypass as True Hardwire, and press coverage of the release describes a true bypass footswitch. When the pedal is switched off, the signal passes without the effect circuit coloring it.
What is the difference between the RR104 and the standard Distortion+?
The RR104 is a version of the MXR Distortion+ whose circuit was matched to Randy Rhoads' own vintage Distortion+, with the direct involvement of his sister Kathy Rhoads. It also carries a custom finish inspired by his Flying V guitar, and the limited edition includes a booklet and certificate of authenticity.
Is the Randy Rhoads Distortion+ limited edition?
Yes. MXR describes it as a special limited edition with an exclusive booklet and certificate of authenticity. Press reporting noted the run was limited to some degree without disclosed numbers, and that the first run sold out quickly before the pedal returned in 2025.
What is the MXR RR104C Special Edition?
The RR104C is the Randy Rhoads Special Edition Distortion+, a return of the pedal after the first run sold out. It is the same circuit matched to Randy Rhoads' own Distortion+, with the same Output and Distortion controls, True Hardwire bypass, and 9V battery or adapter power.
What does the Randy Rhoads Distortion+ finish look like?
The original RR104 carries a custom finish inspired by Randy's legendary Flying V guitar. The Special Edition draws on his white Flying V-style guitar with a pinstripe accent, a design he made after flying on a supersonic airliner while on tour with Ozzy Osbourne.
Sources (13)
- MXR® RANDY RHOADS DISTORTION +, Jim Dunlop (jimdunlop.com)
- “Randy was using all the latest guitar techniques, and was able to incorporate all this into his sound and make it his own”: MXR's limited-edition Randy Rhoads Distortion+ is finally here, Guitar World, 2024-08-20
- MXR to release Randy Rhoads signature Distortion+ pedal in 2023, Guitar World, 2022-12-07
- FLYING HIGH AGAIN: RANDY RHOADS MXR SPECIAL EDITION DISTORTION+, Dunlop (lifestyle.jimdunlop.com), 2025-09-02
- MXR Yngwie Malmsteen Overdrive, gearnews.com, 2024-09-04
- RR104.pdf, Jim Dunlop, 2024
- MXR's Randy Rhoads signature Distortion+ pedal revealed, Guitar World, 2024-01-08
- RANDY RHOADS MXR® SPECIAL EDITION DISTORTION+, Jim Dunlop (jimdunlop.com)
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2024-09-11
- Guitar Journal: MXR Randy Rhoads, Jack White Roto-Echo and more, gearnews.com, 2025-09-02
- “Sparkling like glass and abrasive but still so smooth”: MXR's Randy Rhoads Distortion+ pedal is finally here, GuitarPlayer, 2024-08-21
- RR104C.pdf, Jim Dunlop (jimdunlop.com), 2025
- MXR® DISTORTION+, Jim Dunlop (jimdunlop.com)
Randy Rhoads
