MXR MC402 CAE Boost/Overdrive Pedal

£169.00

Just pedals are excited to share the latest New Overdrive Pedals by MXR, the MXR MC402 CAE Boost/Overdrive Pedal Overdrive Pedals is a great Overdrive choice for new and experienced guitarists alike.. Read More below for more images, videos and latest UK prices from the MXR brand, delivered by a UK retailer, with warranty & more.


Description

Just pedals are excited to share the latest New Overdrive Pedals by MXR, the MXR MC402 CAE Boost/Overdrive Pedal Overdrive Pedals is a great Overdrive choice for new and experienced guitarists alike.. Read More below for more images, videos and latest UK prices from the MXR brand, delivered by a UK retailer, with warranty & more.

The MXR MC402 CAE Boost/Overdrive is the ultimate pedal for guitarists seeking to add versatile drive and pristine boost to their rig. Designed in collaboration with Custom Audio Electronics, this compact pedal combines a dynamic, touch-sensitive overdrive circuit with MXR’s renowned clean boost/line driver, making it a flexible tool for both stage and studio. Whether you want to push your amp into creamy saturation, add a little sparkle to your solos, or simply reinforce your signal without colouration, the MC402 delivers outstanding tonal clarity and response.

With its intuitive controls and rugged build quality, the MC402 is perfect for musicians who demand reliability and sonic excellence. The overdrive section is exceptionally responsive to your playing dynamics, allowing you to shape your sound with your hands as much as with the pedal’s controls. Meanwhile, the boost section offers up to +20dB of clean, uncoloured gain, perfect for cutting through the mix or driving long effects chains without sacrificing tone.

Dynamic Overdrive and Distortion

The MC402’s overdrive section is designed to respond to every nuance of your playing. From subtle breakup to full-on distortion, it captures the expressive dynamics of your touch and picking attack, letting your guitar’s voice shine through while delivering a punchy, musical drive. This makes it an ideal choice for blues, rock, and fusion players who rely on expressive, dynamic playing.

Transparent Clean Boost

One of the MC402’s standout features is its transparent boost circuit. With up to +20dB of additional volume, you can lift your solos or push your amp’s front end without altering your core tone. The boost is uncoloured and highly musical, making it a fantastic tool for driving vintage amps, boosting effects chains, or simply adding more presence to your sound.

Simple, Intuitive Controls

Dialling in your perfect tone is effortless thanks to the simple, straightforward layout. The overdrive section features Output, Tone, and Gain controls, allowing you to fine-tune your sound from warm and smooth to bright and aggressive. The boost section is engaged with a dedicated footswitch and offers a single knob for precise control over your volume lift.

Built for the Stage

MXR pedals are known for their reliability, and the MC402 is no exception. Its rugged construction, true hardwire bypass, and robust footswitches ensure trouble-free performance night after night. Whether you’re gigging, recording, or practising, you can count on the MC402 to deliver consistent, high-quality sound every time.

Key Features

  • Dynamic Overdrive Circuit – Sensitive to your touch and picking dynamics, the overdrive section lets you express yourself fully, from smooth bluesy grit to aggressive rock crunch.
  • Up to +20dB Clean Boost – The transparent boost allows you to raise your signal without colouring your tone, perfect for solos, driving tube amps, or compensating for pedalboard signal loss.
  • True Hardwire Bypass – Maintains the purity of your guitar’s signal when the pedal is not engaged, ensuring zero tonal loss and maximum clarity.
  • Rugged MXR Construction – Built for reliability, the MC402 features sturdy hardware and a robust enclosure, making it ideal for demanding live and studio environments.

Specifications

  • Boost/Line Driver: Up to +20dB of uncoloured clean boost
  • Overdrive/Distortion: Dynamic, touch-sensitive drive circuit
  • Input Impedance: 1 kΩ
  • Output Impedance: Boost ON: 87 dB
  • Bypass: True hardwire
  • Controls: Boost Level, Overdrive Output, Tone, Gain
  • Current Draw: (manufacturer spec, TBC)

Dimensions & Construction

  • Compact, pedalboard-friendly enclosure
  • Sturdy footswitches for independent boost and overdrive
  • MXR reliability and build quality

Related videos

Brand

MXR

MXR is a renowned manufacturer of guitar effects pedals and audio electronics, recognized for their classic designs and high-quality sound. Established in the 1970s, MXR has played a significant role in shaping the landscape of effects pedals, producing iconic units that have become staples in countless musicians’ rigs. The company’s pedals are celebrated for their rugged construction, intuitive controls, and versatile tones, making them popular among guitarists and bassists across genres.

MXR’s product lineup encompasses a wide range of effects categories, including distortion, delay, modulation, and more. Some of their most notable pedals include the Phase 90 phaser, the Dyna Comp compressor, and the Carbon Copy analog delay, all of which have earned legendary status among players for their distinctive sound and reliability. With a legacy of innovation and a commitment to quality, MXR continues to be a respected name in the world of guitar effects, inspiring musicians to explore new sonic possibilities and express themselves creatively.

Category

Boost Pedals

Boost pedals increase your signal level, helping solos stand out, pushing an amplifier harder or adding extra presence to your tone. Some boosts are clean and transparent, while others add colour, midrange, grit or brightness depending on the circuit design.

A boost pedal can be used before overdrive to add saturation, after drive pedals for a volume lift, or at the start of the chain to strengthen the guitar signal. It is one of the simplest but most useful pedals for live players and tone-shapers alike.

Overdrive Pedals

Overdrive pedals add warmth, grit and amplifier-like breakup to your guitar tone. They can be used as a light always-on tone enhancer, a bluesy crunch box, a mid-focused solo boost or a way to push a valve amp into richer saturation.

Different overdrive circuits have very different personalities, from transparent low-gain pedals to classic mid-hump designs and heavier modern drives. They are one of the most important pedal types because they respond to picking dynamics, guitar volume and the character of your amplifier.

Tags

Boost

Boost pedals and related effects are commonly used by guitarists looking to shape their tone in a more focused and creative way. Different designs offer their own response, feel and tonal character depending on the style of music and the type of amplifier or guitar being used.

Many players build pedalboards gradually over time, combining different effects and utilities to create a setup that suits their own sound and workflow. Boost related gear can play an important role in both live performance and studio recording.

Overdrive

Overdrive pedals recreate the sound of an amplifier being pushed harder, adding warmth, breakup and sustain while still responding naturally to picking dynamics and guitar volume changes. They are one of the most important and widely used pedal types in modern guitar rigs.

Different overdrive circuits offer very different flavours, from transparent low-gain boost-style pedals through to mid-focused classic rock tones and heavier amp-like saturation.