Excellent video Michael and great playing! The SD-9 is an enigma for sure! A few observations I've made about the Maxon SD-9 over the years as a preamble to anyone wanting to use it or considering it. 1) As you pointed out, it's really only got one tone setting which is 9:00 or lower (moving towards off). The level also needs to be quite high in order to get beyond unity gain, many players almost max it out depending on how much gain they use. 2) It's really not a recreational player's pedal, heck maybe not even a pro player's pedal as very few folks have been able to effectively use it. The only guys I've seen use it effectively are highly advanced players with incredible control over their right hand dynamics, e.g. Michael Landau and Scott Henderson. 3) It's really only ideal with passive single coil pickups, namely Strat-style guitar (again Landau and Henderson). 4) Its most famous users (again Landau and Henderson) almost never, if ever, use their volume controls on their guitars at 10. This is one of the most, if not the most, critical distinctions about this pedal. It sounds best with the guitar's volume around 6-7 or lower and then using a Boost to add more gain or output - say an RC Booster in Scott Henderson's case - instead of going up to 10 on your volume pot on the guitar. If you read interviews with Landau or Henderson they both mention being very judicious with their volume knobs and rarely max them out. This is an important caveat to understand as it relates to the SD-9 and its performance. With that said, there have been some attempts to make the SD-9 more user friendly, Analogman made a mod to the SD-9 which Henderson and Landau used for a short time only to find themselves back with the stock Maxon SD-9. Also, Scott Henderson has out his new SH-9 by TWA (the designer of the original SD-9 also designed this version) which promises to be an improvement if you play like Scott Henderson and hear things as he does. But I imagine, even with those changes, it requires a certain type of player to really get the most out of it. It's still, at its core, a SD-9. It's a high performance pedal that requires a Landau-type or Henderson-type at the helm to understand when to tame it and when to let it fly. Don't get me wrong, it can make a Strat sound GIANT when used properly, but if you treat it like any ordinary pedal where you set all the knobs and noon and turn it out, you'll be in for an unpleasant surprise and nothing below 5K piercing your eardrum. Like you, it's a pedal I've always wanted to like, but I just don't have the right hand to make it sound consistently good compared to other pedals in my overdrive and distortion stable. God knows I keep buying them hoping for a different result, maybe I'll try the SH-9 and see if I'm destined for a Christmas miracle ;) Thanks again for the video!
ah ah these folks and I share the same philosophy about backing the volume with higher gain on tap. Myself not being a pro with the guitar end up often having a love and hate relationship with gear cause I don't always go for the easier path BUT when I get there let say as much as possible from the source (starting from pickups for the order of priority... to the amp with the EQ as straight as possible and the least of the amp feature used (feedback ctrl, depth, bright switch and stuff...) it's very rewarding! Cheers. Martin
good point AND the amp setting (power amp sweet spot, preamp breakup-slightly ovedriven) of the right amp is also important! I guess that mod is on the Ibanez SD9m,but I'm not sure
1 year later after revisiting this video, all of these things about the SD-9 are true after changing setups over the last year. The dynamic distortion on the other hand funny enough, I actually like it best with high output humbuckers!
It’s something I’ve noticed about many of my old Maxon pedals. There’s always a very specific way to finesse a magically useful and kinda special tone and it usually involves rolling your volume knob back a little to give you dynamic control over how the mud blooms. They’re designed to be in a mix and usually sound weird out of one. We’ve all heard how weird some of those isolated Steely Dan tracks can sound and don’t nobody can talk trash on that legacy of wizard level mixing.
I’ve tried an SD-9 and a vertex dynamic distortion(which is based on the SD-9) and while it doesn’t exactly sound like a fuzz face to me, it has a very “fuzz face” like attack to it in the way it responds, at least to me they did.
I borrowed that description from Wayne Krantz. He described the SD-9 as being a combo of a Tube Screamer and a Fuzz Face, I thought it was kinda "right-on".
I was thinking exactly the same thing hearing this and you beat me to it-Fuzz Face meets Tube Screamer. People kind of gloss over the learned history that happened through the late 80s before the vintage pedal and boutique clone resurgence. Mayer was building an updated UniVibe circuit that played nicely in the modern world, where now we’re back to seeking the authentic experience that was a PITA to deal with. So I get why experienced guys might have liked this one to give them a little FF-ish raunch in a buffered pedal that pushed the amp in a vaguely TS-ish way but less blandly. Reminds me to get back to the tip of trying to think of the DS-1 more like an ersatz Big Muff, since I despise using it like a typical distortion pedal.
@@VertexEffectsInc it is a very right on description, especially when you play it. There’s a certain type of roll off and attack that a FF gives you, and the SD-9 topology does both perfectly.
Michael, It's not a high gain thing... it's used to sculpt the tone. Fattens up a strat, gives lower outputs pu's a strong push. It's outstanding with low/mid gain humbuckers. You need a bit of VOLUME in order to get it to do it's "thing". Kinda like a fuzz face kissing the front end of a dimed Plexi 100 watter. You don't need TONS of gain/fuzz at that volume...just enough to enhance the base tone and give it a bit more sustain and push
Ah. That's a buffer in box. Mostly, it was because if I plug into the side of the Polytune, then step on the cable accidentally, all hell breaks loose.
Fair points. I have an Analogman modded one and found that with one of my amps it sounds amazing but with others its not all that great. It's also sensitive to pickup types and input. For me it sounds best with low output single coils.
The XTS Tonic Distortion is basically a modded SD-9, sounds at least as good, and is MUCH easier to dial in with a wide variety of amps/volume levels/skill levels.
I know I'm late to the game, but I love my Way Huge Green Rhino MKII OD. IT replaced my PCE Aluminum Falcon III (Klon Clone) a few years ago and nothing has kicked it off my pedalboard. Many tones with the 5 knobs.
In my opinion SD9 work best with a Plexi style amp and not Vox kind of. It also reacts nicely when using the guitar volume knob especially with Strat. I still got my Ibanez SD-9 made in Japan and I love it
What's surprising to me is for all the clamoring by guitarists for more mids how the newer pedal designs demonstrated here have a noticeable midrange dip when compared to the SD-9. My brother and his wife just had twins, so he's not playing really much at all right now. And he has a SD-9 that he's had for, God, what, Forty years? (Yes, twins at 63 years old!) I think I may have to have him send it to me . . . just temporarily, you understand ; ). (we're on different coasts)
I got an Ibanez SD9 that was left in a guitar case that I had just bought. So you gotta try out a free pedal right? Well, that pedal stayed on my board until I squashed the switch right down into the case. So I took out the guts and put them into another enclosure labelled "Wesley Snipes". Now when anyone asks why I sound so good I just point to that little black box with the Samurai sword decal.
I use mine as a beefed up TS pedal. Gain at 9 o'clock (if that depending on the guitar), tone all the way down (slightly higher depending on guitar/amp) and volume all the way up. I did get the new TWA SH-9 pedal. It's a good pedal and definitely fixed the problem with the original SD-9.
I used various incarnations of the Tube Screamer for years, and what I learned is I really don't like Tube Screamers. LOL I do keep the Behringer version around the studio, since it sounds identical to my old 808 reissue. Don't know why, but I just keep it around.
Reminds me of the boss ds1. They re deceivingly simple pedals. You got to experiment some time with it, the knobs are quite sensitive. Add to that guitar and amp settings, pick ups, etc.
Another great vid, I liked it. Sounds very useable to me, and the other pedals did 'it's' tones. It really takes dialing it in and getting where you like it, then there's that settling in stage where you tweak it and like it more. I have the original Ibanez, which needs the modding, but I stack it with one of two others and it does great. Then I turn on the Sinvertek N5+ and it's game over for any pedal on earth.
I have a Rodenberg 808 that I thought I liked but ultimately didn't. I still have it though. Right now I am really happy with my Boss GE-7 into the Soldano SLO pedal and then into my JMP-1 clean channel 2 on the edge of break up.
Who would have thought, three different distortion pedals used on the same rig, sound identical? You could fill this video up with about 12,000 other models of distortion pedals and yield the exact same result.
i got it for the same reason .. and its one of the best drives iv ever played on ... period .. its sooo in a league of its own ... there are some mass produced pedals that have a unique "boutique" feel .. like the boss blues driver ...its not a perfect pedale at all ( tone knob yes im talking to you) ... but those 2 are some of the best you can get ...
I still havent found a gain pedal that sounds better in front of a roaring Hiwatt dr103 than my ancient sd9. Yes I have to keep it in a loop with a boost pedal to get it above unity, yes the tone knob has pretty much zero useable range, and yes the switch eventually failed (and I had it wired to be always on becauae it lives in a loop), but goddamn does it sound great with that amp.
I don't know man. I think it makes you sound and play like Scott Henderson. :) The SD-9 works well with my rig, but it definitely only does one thing. Your reaction to this pedal is how I feel about the rat.
I did the same thing, so don't feel bad. That tone knob is practically worthless, which is a big pet-peeve for me when it comes to gain pedals. I think it works for lead, but is less useful for rhythm; if I'm going to have pedal dedicated to lead, it's going to be a fuzz.
I got pedal paralysis by the end, LOL! To my not so good ear, I think your other pedals covered that tone just fine. But your the pro, not me! Regardless, loved the video and all the testing!!!!
I think people like them because they clean up well with the volume like an amp. It’s kinda like a fuzz. I think the vintage Ibanez sounded different…or at least the one I had had a good rhythm tone when you rolled back the guitar volume. It’s also cool with a boost or another pedal into it. But with the guitar volume full on it can be too much and really has very little range on the tone control. It have a love/hate relationship with this pedal. Also the high/unwound strings sound fatter than most overdrives. I regret selling my way huge green rhino…that’s was another one that was an overall good sounding pedal. I’m chewing on that pedal with faders bc it’s seems like it can sound like a klon or a distortion…or a fuzz…
I mean this pedal was a lot cheaper than the tilt when it came out, it’s just hype that drove the price it’s still decent if you got one for $100 or so 🤷♂️
I wanted one when I started up, just because Ibanez was the only legit brand of effects pedals available in 1982 ... then came Boss. I have one and I don't like it, and KK Downing had one on his pedalboard (not connected)
Consider taking an Ibanez SD9M (Sonic Distortion Modified) for a spin. External, factory mini switches for gain and mid range tweaks. I have two. One new in box should the first one ever get pedal COVID and die.
Sounds PHAT 2 me,I think you don't like it cause judging by your amp playthroughs the pedal is not too compressed. But that's good for blues,blues rock and fusion
@@BigHairyGuitarsI got one of those JHS multi tube screamers (the Bonzai I think it’s called), and it’s great. I couldn’t make up my mind on an overdrive, so now I’m set.
OMG really !?!? that sd9 sounded amazing just as good even better than some of the ones you tried I think it’s visual for you it looks to plain .. but yeah it that sd9 sounded really good compared to the other ones you have… u better check again
Why do you want or need the Maxon? You have the best top og the woorld sound in the Friedmans amp - an amp cost money - why do you want bad sound fror a tecnology that is totally different? You people should stop advertice for guitar pedals. It is not a good thing to do.
You pinned a grifter's comment. You might wanna google Mason bud. From Bonamassa: Hey Guys, I'm sorry to be chiming in so late but I must warn all you fellow gear nerds to stay away from Vertex effects and pedalboard services. Mason is not truthful nor is his work good or in most cases his own. He had me on his site without permission as a user and happy customer. I am/was neither happy nor do I use any of his products. My pedalboard sounded awful, took tons of gain away, and added a huge ground hum. It also cost $1400 and that was after I pitched a fit when the $2000 bill came to my tour manager all the while seeing unauthorized You Tube videos of my " new rig" a rig I never tried nor signed off on. Fortunately Dave Friedman at Rack Systems came in and saved the day for $400. All I wanted and asked for was to have some cables cut to size. I didn't want to waste Dave's time so I gave it to Mason. BIG MISTAKE.... I am very disturbed by his actions and have heard recently that he has been called out on some Wah Wah pedal stuff. Bad News Bear that cat is unfortunately. So... In closing... Just trying to keep my fellow guitar nerds from getting ripped off like I was. Caveat Emptor Joe Bonamassa. The grift is still going in 2023.
![What About The SD9 Sonic Distortion? [Ibanez, Maxon/Analogman, Vemuram Butter Machine & TWA SH9]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/c3Atroyn-kc/mqdefault.jpg)
![What About The SD9 Sonic Distortion? [Ibanez, Maxon/Analogman, Vemuram Butter Machine & TWA SH9]](/img/tr.png)
Excellent video Michael and great playing! The SD-9 is an enigma for sure!
A few observations I've made about the Maxon SD-9 over the years as a preamble to anyone wanting to use it or considering it.
1) As you pointed out, it's really only got one tone setting which is 9:00 or lower (moving towards off). The level also needs to be quite high in order to get beyond unity gain, many players almost max it out depending on how much gain they use.
2) It's really not a recreational player's pedal, heck maybe not even a pro player's pedal as very few folks have been able to effectively use it. The only guys I've seen use it effectively are highly advanced players with incredible control over their right hand dynamics, e.g. Michael Landau and Scott Henderson.
3) It's really only ideal with passive single coil pickups, namely Strat-style guitar (again Landau and Henderson).
4) Its most famous users (again Landau and Henderson) almost never, if ever, use their volume controls on their guitars at 10. This is one of the most, if not the most, critical distinctions about this pedal. It sounds best with the guitar's volume around 6-7 or lower and then using a Boost to add more gain or output - say an RC Booster in Scott Henderson's case - instead of going up to 10 on your volume pot on the guitar. If you read interviews with Landau or Henderson they both mention being very judicious with their volume knobs and rarely max them out. This is an important caveat to understand as it relates to the SD-9 and its performance.
With that said, there have been some attempts to make the SD-9 more user friendly, Analogman made a mod to the SD-9 which Henderson and Landau used for a short time only to find themselves back with the stock Maxon SD-9. Also, Scott Henderson has out his new SH-9 by TWA (the designer of the original SD-9 also designed this version) which promises to be an improvement if you play like Scott Henderson and hear things as he does. But I imagine, even with those changes, it requires a certain type of player to really get the most out of it. It's still, at its core, a SD-9. It's a high performance pedal that requires a Landau-type or Henderson-type at the helm to understand when to tame it and when to let it fly. Don't get me wrong, it can make a Strat sound GIANT when used properly, but if you treat it like any ordinary pedal where you set all the knobs and noon and turn it out, you'll be in for an unpleasant surprise and nothing below 5K piercing your eardrum.
Like you, it's a pedal I've always wanted to like, but I just don't have the right hand to make it sound consistently good compared to other pedals in my overdrive and distortion stable. God knows I keep buying them hoping for a different result, maybe I'll try the SH-9 and see if I'm destined for a Christmas miracle ;)
Thanks again for the video!
ah ah these folks and I share the same philosophy about backing the volume with higher gain on tap. Myself not being a pro with the guitar end up often having a love and hate relationship with gear cause I don't always go for the easier path BUT when I get there let say as much as possible from the source (starting from pickups for the order of priority... to the amp with the EQ as straight as possible and the least of the amp feature used (feedback ctrl, depth, bright switch and stuff...) it's very rewarding! Cheers. Martin
☝Maybe the best explanation of the plight many of us share around the SD9. Well said Vertex.
good point AND the amp setting (power amp sweet spot, preamp breakup-slightly ovedriven) of the right amp is also important! I guess that mod is on the Ibanez
SD9m,but I'm not sure
Everything Vertex said + my two cents:
5) try zinc-carbon battery instead of power supply, you’d be surprised.
1 year later after revisiting this video, all of these things about the SD-9 are true after changing setups over the last year. The dynamic distortion on the other hand funny enough, I actually like it best with high output humbuckers!
For the record. There was something about the midrange I really like. SO I ended up RE-buying it and it's currently on my board.
🤣
There are some good mods out there too
Haha great😂! The midrange has a great depth (Love your videos)
Hahaha
I thought it sounded pretty good right when you started playing it, so that is funny and not really surprising to read.
This is the way
It’s something I’ve noticed about many of my old Maxon pedals. There’s always a very specific way to finesse a magically useful and kinda special tone and it usually involves rolling your volume knob back a little to give you dynamic control over how the mud blooms. They’re designed to be in a mix and usually sound weird out of one. We’ve all heard how weird some of those isolated Steely Dan tracks can sound and don’t nobody can talk trash on that legacy of wizard level mixing.
I love when you buy a hyped up piece that your heroes used, and you immediately think “Ah great, I hate it”
Yeah, for me it was big muffs, I cant stand them in person lol
😆
Keep your maxons. Everyday its getting hard to get one.
Sergey Golovin song Vision is recorded with Analogman sd9 and Marshall 1987x
It’s my favorite pedal!
Distortion minimum
Tone minimum
Volume max!
Amazing how you can cop the sounds from each pedal and have them sound so close.
I’ve tried an SD-9 and a vertex dynamic distortion(which is based on the SD-9) and while it doesn’t exactly sound like a fuzz face to me, it has a very “fuzz face” like attack to it in the way it responds, at least to me they did.
I borrowed that description from Wayne Krantz. He described the SD-9 as being a combo of a Tube Screamer and a Fuzz Face, I thought it was kinda "right-on".
I was thinking exactly the same thing hearing this and you beat me to it-Fuzz Face meets Tube Screamer.
People kind of gloss over the learned history that happened through the late 80s before the vintage pedal and boutique clone resurgence. Mayer was building an updated UniVibe circuit that played nicely in the modern world, where now we’re back to seeking the authentic experience that was a PITA to deal with.
So I get why experienced guys might have liked this one to give them a little FF-ish raunch in a buffered pedal that pushed the amp in a vaguely TS-ish way but less blandly.
Reminds me to get back to the tip of trying to think of the DS-1 more like an ersatz Big Muff, since I despise using it like a typical distortion pedal.
@@VertexEffectsInc it is a very right on description, especially when you play it. There’s a certain type of roll off and attack that a FF gives you, and the SD-9 topology does both perfectly.
Michael,
It's not a high gain thing... it's used to sculpt the tone. Fattens up a strat, gives lower outputs pu's a strong push. It's outstanding with low/mid gain humbuckers.
You need a bit of VOLUME in order to get it to do it's "thing".
Kinda like a fuzz face kissing the front end of a dimed Plexi 100 watter. You don't need TONS of gain/fuzz at that volume...just enough to enhance the base tone and give it a bit more sustain and push
I agree. If you have hot pickups it doesn't work as well.
What is the "Wesley Snipes" box?
Ah. That's a buffer in box. Mostly, it was because if I plug into the side of the Polytune, then step on the cable accidentally, all hell breaks loose.
You cracked me up. I bought the same pedal, for the same reason, and sold it for the same reason.
Fair points. I have an Analogman modded one and found that with one of my amps it sounds amazing but with others its not all that great. It's also sensitive to pickup types and input. For me it sounds best with low output single coils.
Nice monitor. What size and make is that puppy?
I have this pedal in my Line 6 Helix. I should try it, thanks :)
The XTS Tonic Distortion is basically a modded SD-9, sounds at least as good, and is MUCH easier to dial in with a wide variety of amps/volume levels/skill levels.
I know I'm late to the game, but I love my Way Huge Green Rhino MKII OD. IT replaced my PCE Aluminum Falcon III (Klon Clone) a few years ago and nothing has kicked it off my pedalboard. Many tones with the 5 knobs.
In my opinion SD9 work best with a Plexi style amp and not Vox kind of.
It also reacts nicely when using the guitar volume knob especially with Strat.
I still got my Ibanez SD-9 made in Japan and I love it
thanks. sounds fine. like a screamer with more gain less high mids. now i know what to do if I ever have to use one
From what I hear, it sould sound very good for lead sound into the crunchy channel of a tube amp!
Lol!
After 10 years, I still have it and never use it and always hated it!
What's surprising to me is for all the clamoring by guitarists for more mids how the newer pedal designs demonstrated here have a noticeable midrange dip when compared to the SD-9.
My brother and his wife just had twins, so he's not playing really much at all right now. And he has a SD-9 that he's had for, God, what, Forty years? (Yes, twins at 63 years old!) I think I may have to have him send it to me . . . just temporarily, you understand ; ). (we're on different coasts)
I got an Ibanez SD9 that was left in a guitar case that I had just bought. So you gotta try out a free pedal right? Well, that pedal stayed on my board until I squashed the switch right down into the case. So I took out the guts and put them into another enclosure labelled "Wesley Snipes". Now when anyone asks why I sound so good I just point to that little black box with the Samurai sword decal.
The SD9’s big trick is that it works allmost like a fuzz with your guitars volume control.
If you are allways on 10 - you’re missing out imho
On the upside, this video reminded me how good the Heavy Hand sounds, so there is that?
hey Mike, What's your current go to compressor pedal for 80s squish?
i bought the sd9 for christmas. michael landau inspired. i can say i really like it.
I love the color of the SD9… makes me think of Wrigley’s doublemint gum.
Agree, one trick. For a dark high bass amp it can even things out a bit but obviously the Riot and/or Tilt does that and like 11 other things
Way to go, but you need one of everything. That pedal sounded great!
I bought one about a year ago, couldn’t figure it out, and sold it within a couple hours of it arriving from reverb. 🤷♂️
I use mine as a beefed up TS pedal. Gain at 9 o'clock (if that depending on the guitar), tone all the way down (slightly higher depending on guitar/amp) and volume all the way up. I did get the new TWA SH-9 pedal. It's a good pedal and definitely fixed the problem with the original SD-9.
I friking LOVE that pedal, but it´s a trick pony. It need a good and loud amp.
You instantly didn't like it? 🤔 It must be the color. Kaka green
hahaha! funny. I didn't like it, but then making the video I did like it a lot. Buy already had committed to selling it. So... I rebought it.
I used various incarnations of the Tube Screamer for years, and what I learned is I really don't like Tube Screamers. LOL
I do keep the Behringer version around the studio, since it sounds identical to my old 808 reissue. Don't know why, but I just keep it around.
Reminds me of the boss ds1. They re deceivingly simple pedals. You got to experiment some time with it, the knobs are quite sensitive. Add to that guitar and amp settings, pick ups, etc.
Another great vid, I liked it. Sounds very useable to me, and the other pedals did 'it's' tones. It really takes dialing it in and getting where you like it, then there's that settling in stage where you tweak it and like it more. I have the original Ibanez, which needs the modding, but I stack it with one of two others and it does great. Then I turn on the Sinvertek N5+ and it's game over for any pedal on earth.
That amp sounds so good on its own, I wouldn’t put anything in front of it. Especially not the Maxon.
Is all the pedal your have a copy/clon of sd9😱
Cool video thank 😎🤘👍
If I had that Mike Morin preamp you have I’d never play anything else 😊
I had one with the Analogman mids knob mod. I hated this pedal. Either in front, or after Voodoo-1. And I’m a huge Landau fan.
I have a Rodenberg 808 that I thought I liked but ultimately didn't. I still have it though. Right now I am really happy with my Boss GE-7 into the Soldano SLO pedal and then into my JMP-1 clean channel 2 on the edge of break up.
Who would have thought, three different distortion pedals used on the same rig, sound identical? You could fill this video up with about 12,000 other models of distortion pedals and yield the exact same result.
i got it for the same reason .. and its one of the best drives iv ever played on ... period .. its sooo in a league of its own ... there are some mass produced pedals that have a unique "boutique" feel .. like the boss blues driver ...its not a perfect pedale at all ( tone knob yes im talking to you) ... but those 2 are some of the best you can get ...
I still havent found a gain pedal that sounds better in front of a roaring Hiwatt dr103 than my ancient sd9. Yes I have to keep it in a loop with a boost pedal to get it above unity, yes the tone knob has pretty much zero useable range, and yes the switch eventually failed (and I had it wired to be always on becauae it lives in a loop), but goddamn does it sound great with that amp.
Also, most dynamic distortion I ever tried
I like it.
I don't know man. I think it makes you sound and play like Scott Henderson. :) The SD-9 works well with my rig, but it definitely only does one thing. Your reaction to this pedal is how I feel about the rat.
Just got the Ibanez cp9 an ts9 . I like this one.. lol
one of the few distortion pedals that work with the neck pickup ;)
Check out the Way Huge Geisha Drive. Tripps take on the SD9. Great sounding pedal
I did the same thing, so don't feel bad. That tone knob is practically worthless, which is a big pet-peeve for me when it comes to gain pedals. I think it works for lead, but is less useful for rhythm; if I'm going to have pedal dedicated to lead, it's going to be a fuzz.
I got pedal paralysis by the end, LOL! To my not so good ear, I think your other pedals covered that tone just fine. But your the pro, not me! Regardless, loved the video and all the testing!!!!
I do not like the sound of SD9 by itself, but strangely it does great in a mix!
harsh by itself but blooms nicely in a sea of frequency
Maxson for the win!
Gain on 1 tone on 1 volume to taste close to the end of your signal path.
I think people like them because they clean up well with the volume like an amp. It’s kinda like a fuzz. I think the vintage Ibanez sounded different…or at least the one I had had a good rhythm tone when you rolled back the guitar volume. It’s also cool with a boost or another pedal into it. But with the guitar volume full on it can be too much and really has very little range on the tone control. It have a love/hate relationship with this pedal. Also the high/unwound strings sound fatter than most overdrives. I regret selling my way huge green rhino…that’s was another one that was an overall good sounding pedal. I’m chewing on that pedal with faders bc it’s seems like it can sound like a klon or a distortion…or a fuzz…
I liked it better than some your other pedals in that demo honesty except for the Chase Bliss Pre sounded great too. 🤷🏻♂️
It sounds cool to me.
I mean this pedal was a lot cheaper than the tilt when it came out, it’s just hype that drove the price it’s still decent if you got one for $100 or so 🤷♂️
ahhh ... did I spot a Robotech Cyclone? 😃😃
YES! I have a little Scott Bernard dude. Nicely spotted! 🤘
Both Riot & Tilt sound more 3-D. Maxon is a bit darker, flatter, & 1-D. Still sounds good though. Your playing is great!
😂😂......I see what you did there. Bravo, sir!! 🤘🤘
Sounds fuckin amazing to meh
I wanted one when I started up, just because Ibanez was the only legit brand of effects pedals available in 1982 ... then came Boss. I have one and I don't like it, and KK Downing had one on his pedalboard (not connected)
Consider taking an Ibanez SD9M (Sonic Distortion Modified) for a spin. External, factory mini switches for gain and mid range tweaks. I have two. One new in box should the first one ever get pedal COVID and die.
It’s a great pedal, not a pretty sounding or polished. There’s very few pedals that standout in a mix and maintains the low end quite like the SD-9.
The Wesley Snipes sounded best
Sounds PHAT 2 me,I think you don't like it cause judging by your amp playthroughs the pedal is not too compressed. But that's good for blues,blues rock and fusion
"Wesley Snipes" Buffer?
This proves the theory that all overdrives sound the same 😂
Apparently **DANN HUFF** wants to wish you a Happy Holidays... but you have to fire him an email so that he can contact you back... ;)
My back hurts just from 👀.
Maybe a TS10 then.
I think I'd really like a TS10. Maybe the JHS thing with all of the options is a good way to go.
@@BigHairyGuitarsI got one of those JHS multi tube screamers (the Bonzai I think it’s called), and it’s great. I couldn’t make up my mind on an overdrive, so now I’m set.
OMG really !?!? that sd9 sounded amazing just as good even better than some of the ones you tried I think it’s visual for you it looks to plain .. but yeah it that sd9 sounded really good compared to the other ones you have… u better check again
Isn't that the cool thing? How one piece of gear can totally not work for YOU, yet it's a crucial device for someone who sound destroys yours?
I dunno, I thought it actually sounded pretty good. Eh, different strokes, yada yada...
od820 all the way.
I bought it because of Scott Henderson too. Meh!
It’s a one trick pony for two players.
Why do you want or need the Maxon? You have the best top og the woorld sound in the Friedmans amp - an amp cost money - why do you want bad sound fror a tecnology that is totally different? You people should stop advertice for guitar pedals. It is not a good thing to do.
What if you go jam with friends, and they don't have Friedman's, only a Fender Hot Rod? PEDALS! 😎
You pinned a grifter's comment. You might wanna google Mason bud. From Bonamassa:
Hey Guys,
I'm sorry to be chiming in so late but I must warn all you fellow gear nerds to stay away from Vertex effects and pedalboard services. Mason is not truthful nor is his work good or in most cases his own. He had me on his site without permission as a user and happy customer. I am/was neither happy nor do I use any of his products. My pedalboard sounded awful, took tons of gain away, and added a huge ground hum. It also cost $1400 and that was after I pitched a fit when the $2000 bill came to my tour manager all the while seeing unauthorized You Tube videos of my " new rig" a rig I never tried nor signed off on. Fortunately Dave Friedman at Rack Systems came in and saved the day for $400. All I wanted and asked for was to have some cables cut to size. I didn't want to waste Dave's time so I gave it to Mason. BIG MISTAKE.... I am very disturbed by his actions and have heard recently that he has been called out on some Wah Wah pedal stuff. Bad News Bear that cat is unfortunately.
So... In closing...
Just trying to keep my fellow guitar nerds from getting ripped off like I was.
Caveat Emptor
Joe Bonamassa.
The grift is still going in 2023.