MXR Timmy
MXR (based on Paul Cochrane Timmy) · 2019
What It Is
The Timmy is an overdrive pedal originally designed by Paul Cochrane, later manufactured by MXR at larger scale. Its reputation is built on transparency — it claims to add gain without changing the fundamental character of your amp or guitar. In reality it has a distinct character: a very open, clear overdrive with subtle clipping and a flexible two-band EQ that can cut bass and treble independently. The bass and treble controls work by cutting (not boosting), which means the default position is full-on for both, and you dial back to taste. This gives the Timmy a very interactive relationship with the amp it's driving.
Tonal Character
Open, airy, and musical. At low gain settings it adds subtle harmonic complexity and warmth without obvious coloration. Higher gain settings are smooth rather than aggressive — the Timmy doesn't push into heavy saturation. The EQ flexibility lets you shape the tone around your amp: reduce bass before hitting a darker amp, reduce treble before hitting a bright one. Its strength is that it rarely sounds bad with anything.
Found In
| Platform | Model Names |
|---|---|
| HeadRush | Jimmy OD |
Videos
Manual
View ManualFamous Uses
- →John Mayer — known to use Timmy variants
- →Beloved by session and studio guitarists for clean boost applications
Best For
Controls Explained
Descriptions reflect the real-world gear these models are inspired by. Your modeler's implementation may vary. Use as a starting point — always trust your ears.
Volume
Output level. Because the Timmy's gain structure is more subtle than most overdrives, running volume well above unity (60–100%) is often the right approach — using it as a clean boost or a lightly-driven boost pedal ahead of an amp model. On a modeler, a volume boost above unity from the Timmy will push the amp model's input stage harder, which is usually the desired result. Setting volume at or below unity turns the Timmy into a tone-shaping tool rather than a boost tool.
Gain
Controls drive amount. The Timmy's gain range tops out at light overdrive — it is not designed for high gain. At minimum settings it is essentially a clean boost with slight harmonic enhancement. At maximum it produces a smooth, even overdrive with more compression but without the pronounced midrange hump of a Tube Screamer. The Timmy sounds its best in the lower half of the gain range for most applications — low drive with volume boosted is more versatile than maximum gain.
Bass
Unlike a typical knob that boosts and cuts, this one only cuts. Turned all the way up, the full bass response is intact — nothing is removed. Roll it back to reduce low-end before it hits the amp. This is useful for preventing the overdrive from adding muddiness to the amp's low end. When using the Timmy in front of an already-dark or bass-heavy amp model, rolling bass back to 50–70% keeps the tone defined without losing body. When using it in front of a thin or bright amp, keeping bass at full maximum preserves the warmth.
Treble
Same as the Bass control — cut only. At maximum, full treble response is intact. Roll it back to reduce high-frequency content before hitting the amp. This is useful for taming bright amp models or aggressive pickup combinations. The Timmy's treble cut is smoother than a typical tone control — it doesn't get harsh or brittle as settings change. For most setups, treble in the 70–100% range (slightly rolled back to full) provides the most versatile starting point.
Clipping Switch
Toggles between different internal clipping configurations. The standard mode provides asymmetrical silicon clipping, producing the Timmy's characteristic smooth overdrive. The alternative mode produces a different harmonic character — slightly more open and less compressed. Experiment with both modes at your normal gain settings, as the preferred mode is highly subjective and depends on your guitar, amp model, and playing style.
Sample Configurations
Starting points for common tones — dial in from here.
| Name | Volume | Gain | Bass | Treble | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clean Boost | 8 | 1 | 10 | 10 | Near-zero gain, volume above unity. Pushes amp input for feel and warmth. |
| Light Drive | 6 | 4 | 8 | 9 | Gentle overdrive with slight bass cut to prevent muddiness. |
| Bright Boost | 8 | 2 | 7 | 10 | Clean boost into a dark amp. Treble fully open. |