The MXR RR104C Randy Rhoads Signature Special Edition Distortion+ is a meticulously recreated tribute to the MXR Distortion+ pedal that defined Rhoads's searing tone on Ozzy Osbourne's early albums. Rhoads famously used the original MXR Distortion+ (a 1970s staple known for its raw, harmonic-rich overdrive) to push his high-gain Marshall amps, creating the violin-like leads and saturated riffs that became his sonic signature on tracks like "Crazy Train" and "Over the Mountain."Released in September 2024 by Dunlop Manufacturing (MXR's parent company), the RR104C marks the first time in over four decades that Rhoads's preserved pedalboard—housed at the family-run Musonia School of Music in Los Angeles—was opened for public inspection. For 42 years since his death, it remained sealed as a private relic. MXR's design team, with direct input from Rhoads's sister Kathy Rhoads D’Argenzio, painstakingly analyzed and spec'd the vintage pedal's circuitry to replicate its exact overdriven, tube-like response. The limited-edition model features a custom white-and-pinstripe finish inspired by Rhoads's iconic Jackson "Concorde" guitar (modeled after a supersonic airliner he encountered on tour), along with an exclusive collector's booklet detailing the project. True bypass, battery-powered, and handcrafted for authenticity, it honors Rhoads's legacy by delivering the same "torrent of harmonics" that etched his sound into heavy metal history.
