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MI Audio Crunch Box: Box o'Crunch
| Description | One of the most popular Marshall-in-a-box pedals |
| Yek’s Tip | Nothing subtle here, it’s straight in-to-your-face Marshall tone |
| Original Controls | Vol. (Level), Tone (Tone), Gain (Drive), internal Presence control in later versions |
Many manufacturers have tried to capture the essential sound of a tube amplifier in a pedal. John Suhr did it with the Riot pedal. Another one who succeeded, is MI Audio. Their Crunch Box Distortion is one of the most popular amp-in-a-box pedals, providing that straight in-to-your-face blistering “Marshall on stereoids” sound, with prominent mids, feedback and all. It’s been said that the Crunch Box is based on Marshall’s own Guvnor (Guv’nor) pedal. JHS' Angry Charlie, responsible for Andy Timmons' overdriven sound these days, is based on the Crunch Box.
“The Crunch Box Distortion is our take on high gain British amp distortion. Careful multiple clipping architecture design and development has meant we have achieved our goal of creating a pedal which captures the huge crunch of a Marshall on steroids.”— MI Audio
The Crunch Box uses LED (light-emitting diode) clipping. Yes, those little lights can be used for intentional signal clipping, creating distortion. LEDs have a lot of headroom and are less fizzy and louder than other diodes. Video: test different clipping modes for diy pedals
Gitarre & Bass: Andy Timmons Sound: MI Crunch Box
Fractal Audio’s model, added in firmware Ares 13 for the Axe-Fx III, is based on the 1st version of the Crunch Box. Later versions of the original have more top end and more features.
“The model is based on a V1” — Fractal Audio
The pedal has three knobs:
- Gain: amount of overdrive (model: Drive)
- Tone: cuts highs (model: Tone)
- Vol: output level (model: Level)
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