Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Premier Guitar features affiliate links to help support our content. We may earn a commission on any affiliated purchases.

TC Electronic MojoMojo Paul Gilbert Review

A vastly underrated overdrive gets even more rating worthy.

TC Electronic MojoMojo Paul Gilbert

4.5
Tones
Build Design
Ease of use
Value
Street: $79
PG Premier Gear

Pros:

Great capacity for balanced detail across gain range. Sweet growl in low mids. Silky smooth. Useful EQ section.

Cons:

20 bucks more than the original—but who's countin'?

Our Experts

Charles Saufley
Written by
Charles Saufley is a writer and musician from Northern California. He has served as gear editor at Premier Guitar since 2010 and held the same position at Acoustic Guitar Magazine from 2006 to 2009. Charles also records and performs with Meg Baird, Espers, and Heron Oblivion for Drag City and Sub Pop.

Were TC Electronic stomps not already abundant in our Killer Pedals Under $100 feature, the original MojoMojo would have been a shoo-in. I've had one for years, used it in recording situations, and watched other artists select it in place of more exotic and expensive overdrive fare. In general, the original MojoMojo's flexibility, liveliness, capacity for detail, balance, and organic amp-ish gain textures made it a hit. All of those qualities live on in the new Paul Gilbert version, but with more available gain, higher headroom, and a robust low-mid bump that impressively adds airiness rather than flab.


The Gilbert edition retains its silkiness and capacity for detail at the most saturated settings too.
Recorded with Fender Telecaster, black panel Fender Tremolux, Universal Audio OX with Marshall 4 x 12/Greenback cabinet emulation.
  • TC Paul Gilbert Mojo Mojo: all controls at noon for rhythm track, progressively advanced gain, treble and bass settings as lead track develops.

Played side-by-side and at equivalent settings, the original MojoMojo sounds comparatively boxy and thinner. But the Paul Gilbert version's extra low mids don't just add mass. They make the output sound more full-spectrum and a lot silkier—a tone picture that really flatters single coils but is just as detailed with all but the muddiest humbuckers. The Gilbert edition retains its silkiness and capacity for detail at the most saturated settings too—even with the toggle in extra-gain "11" mode and the gain knob up high. Predictably, such settings make solos sing, but it's easy to dial in acerbic early-Jimmy Page tones with enough treble. Full chords sound balanced and sparkling across the gain range too—exhibiting a deep growl in the low-mids and lots of assertive top end.


Table of Contents