MXR Timmy Review: Does It Capture the Magic of the Original?

If you're reading this, you probably already know about the Timmy pedal and why it's so well-loved. The real question is whether you should go for the more affordable MXR Timmy or invest in an original.

The MXR Timmy is based on V2 of Paul Cochrane's Timmy, which features an external switch for selecting between three clipping modes, along with "cut"-style bass and treble controls—meaning as you turn them clockwise, they roll off bass and treble frequencies. Version 3 made some tweaks, moving the clipping mode selection to an internal dip switch, with the external switch toggling between low/high gain modes. It also changed the bass and tone controls from cut-style to more conventional EQ controls. Personally, I’ve always preferred the V2, so I was pleased to see MXR choose to base their version on that design.

The most obvious difference is size. The MXR Timmy comes in a mini format, which some will love and others won’t. I’m not a huge fan of mini pedals, but I think the MXR Timmy looks great. The knobs, however, are tricky to use since they’re small and closely spaced. On the plus side, the knobs have a decent amount of resistance, so once they're set, they stay put and don’t easily get knocked out of place.

Another key difference lies in the EQ controls. While the original V2 Timmy had bass and treble "cut"-style controls, the MXR version uses more conventional EQ controls, similar to the V3 Timmy. The original can be run at 18V, which theoretically provides more volume, headroom, and less gain. The MXR Timmy, however, is limited to 9V operation. That said, in my experience, the range of gain and available volume on the MXR Timmy means you can achieve similar results by running the gain low and the volume high.

The first thing I noticed when using both pedals side-by-side was that the volume taper on the MXR Timmy felt a bit off. It was really quiet until about 1 o’clock, then suddenly got way too loud. This made it tricky to find unity volume and didn’t work as well at lower gain settings. I found a few forum posts mentioning the same issue with the volume taper. Since I bought my MXR Timmy used, I’m guessing this issue has been fixed in newer models, but it’s something to be aware of if you’re picking up a used one. Fortunately, this issue is easy to fix if you're handy with a soldering iron—check out my article, "How to Fix the Volume Taper Issue on the MXR Timmy Overdrive Pedal".

With the volume taper issue fixed, I have to say, side-by-side, the MXR Timmy and my original V2 sound almost identical. Ultimately, if you’re looking for the classic Timmy sound in a smaller, more affordable package, the MXR Timmy is an excellent option. However, if you value the original design and features like 18V operation, the extra investment in an original V2 Timmy might be worth it.

It is, however, a shame that some will encounter the volume taper issue, so buying used—which I always do because you get so much more for your money—is going to be a little risky. Comment below if you’ve experienced the volume taper issue with your MXR Timmy or to share your thoughts!