How similar is the Vintage MXR Distortion Plus and a Vintage Rat?

[gnugear]

Lets say we're comparing the best of the vintage models ... I know the Rat has a filter control but other than that, are they similar in gain/tone?

 

[Non-Digital Tom]

Not really all that similar, other than being a distortion pedal with an IC and a pair of clipping diodes...

 

[Unadan]

I'm interested in the script/early block logo MXR plus pedal. Which is better? Which IC did the distortion plus use in those days? Do the new MXR distortion pedals match the old versions tone?

 

[Non-Digital Tom]

I'm interested in the script/early block logo MXR plus pedal. Which is better? Which IC did the distortion plus use in those days? Do the new MXR distortion pedals match the old versions tone?

The original D+ used a 741 single op-amp, which was super lo-fi and of course is now obsolete.

 

[Unadan]

By obsolete do you mean it is unavailable or that it doesn't sound good by todays standards.

 

[Lolaviola]

I think the Rat was based on the D+ and features an extra gain stage, so it's much louder. I don't think the "chips" make much difference in these pedals. That's just puffery.

 

[Davo17]

Any idea how the DOD 250 compare to the D+?

 

[Mystik Spiral]

totally different sounds, rat smokes it with fender typ amps, boosting something cranked mxr is something else... but it can no volume unless the gain is up