MXR M251 FOD DRIVE

MXR REBRANDS THE DOOKIE DRIVE WITH THIS VERSATILE AMP-BLENDING OVERDRIVE.

MXR’s Dookie Drive pedal was based on the rig of modified Marshalls that Billie Joe Armstrong used on Green Day’s third album. It had the basic aim of putting the sound of two amp stacks in a single housing with options for blending the two – and that’s exactly what the new M251 FOD Drive is designed to do, albeit with no artist affiliation and the option of a toggle-switched midrange boost, plus a scoop and a flat setting.

A Blend knob sets the mix between the two sounds. To the right is the High Gain channel, with Gain controlled by a the front-panel knob while to the left is the Crunch Gain channel with internal set-and-forget trimmers for its gain and volume if you want to deviate from the factory settings.

Both sides have the flavour of a nicely cranked stack and each individually has a range of useful tones whether you’re looking for rhythmic graunch or saturated leads. It’s the combinations, though, that give the pedal its signature voicing and these are where you can dial in really rich tones that combine saturation and sustain with an extra edge of clarity from the Crunch side. Tailored EQ and extra boost from the Output knob add to the options.

VERDICT

The FOD does a neat job in combining two different but complementary overdrive flavours and the controls you need to blend them.

PROS

Compact MXR format.

Good price.

FOD offers rich overdrive tones.

CONTACT

Australasian Music Supplies Ph: (03) 9549 1500

Web: austmusic.com.au

CONS

Four-screw battery access.