MXR MXR BOOST / LINE DRIVER
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- This item is covered for 3 years
What you need to know
What you need to know
- Ultra-clean boost up to +20 dB to stand out in the mix without altering the original tone.
- True "pedalboard tool": also serves as a line driver to compensate for level and brightness loss in an effects chain.
- Simple and effective analog design: one control, one footswitch, and immediate results.
- True bypass to preserve the signal when the pedal is off.
Manufacturer Information
MXR
https://www.jimdunlop.com
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Algam SAS
Email: contact@algam.net
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A CAE x MXR Collaboration Designed for Stage and Large Rigs
The MC-401 belongs to the Custom Audio Electronics series built around Bob Bradshaw's approach: optimizing the signal, ensuring reliability in complex setups, and maintaining a musical response even with many cables and effects. Historically, CAE offered limited-quantity solutions to a demanding clientele; the partnership with MXR (Dunlop Manufacturing, Inc.) made this quality more accessible while keeping the "pro" spirit: a circuit that doesn't aim to impress with options but to solve concrete problems of signal level and conditioning.
Who It's For, Which Styles, and Where to Place It in Your Chain
The MXR/CAE MC-401 targets guitarists (beginners to advanced) who want a reliable guitar boost pedal that's easy to adjust and adaptable to various contexts. In the studio, it helps restore presence and a sharper attack when the effects chain slightly "eats" the signal. Live, it becomes a formidable ally to raise the level of a solo or bring clarity back to a loaded pedalboard.
Regarding styles, it's a natural choice for blues, rock, pop, funk, country, fusion, and generally anywhere a dynamic clean boost is sought. Fans of heavier tones will also find it useful: placed before distortion, it can push an overdrive for more sustain and responsiveness or tighten the attack depending on the gain setting of the amp/pedal following it.
Typical placements: at the start of the chain to "wake up" a slightly weak signal, in the middle to compensate for loss after certain effects, or at the end (or in an effects loop) for a more pronounced volume increase depending on your setup. The key idea: the MC-401 is not just about being "louder," it's designed as a line driver that stabilizes playing feel and sonic clarity.
Technical specifications
| Effects | Boost | Settings | tone |
| Technology | Analog | Type | sector |
| Format | Pedal | Use | electric guitar |
| Inputs | Jack | Color | Black |
| Outputs | Jack | Power supply included | No |
| True bypass | Yes | Power supply | 9V battery, DC 9 V |
| EQ | Tone | ||
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Customer reviews
Based on 4 reviews
- 5 stars, 4 reviews
- 4 stars, 0 reviews
- 3 stars, 0 reviews
- 2 stars, 0 reviews
- 1 star, 0 reviews
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Buy mainly to serve as a boost to the OD of my Marshall Mini Jubilee, it is perfect. Combined with a Les Paul, his Slash assured. It's perfect, it's what I was looking for, I am satisfied.
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Buy mainly to serve as a boost to the LoD of my Marshall Mini Jubilee, it is perfect. Combined with a Les Paul, his Slash assured. It's perfect, it's what I was looking for, I am satisfied.
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Very good boost. No change in sound quality.
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Very good boost that does what you ask
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Questions frequently asked
What level of boost does the MXR MC401 provide?
The single control allows adjusting the gain from 0 to +20 dB, to raise the volume or push the next saturation stage.
Does the MC401 color the guitar tone?
Its analog circuit is designed for a transparent boost, preserving the character of the pickups and the amp. An input impedance of 1 MOhm and an output impedance of 150 Ohms contribute to its role as a line driver within an effects chain.
Where should this boost pedal be placed on a pedalboard?
At the beginning of the chain, it can strengthen a signal and drive an overdrive or preamp harder. In the middle of the pedalboard, it compensates for level loss after certain effects. At the end of the chain or in an effects loop, it allows a more direct volume increase for solos.
What kind of power supply is needed for this MXR pedal?
The required power supply is 9 V DC with a consumption of 1.5 mA. A 9 V battery can also be used, but no power supply is included.
Does the pedal have true bypass and what connections does it use?
True bypass preserves the signal path when the effect is off. The input and output use 6.35 mm jacks.
