Maxon

It's an OD stompbox in the purest Japanese tradition, used on guitars and synths, it makes both tube and solid state sounds shine, can't be compared directly with models from different ranges and/or giving different sounds. A must have for classic rock and blues, it produces a soft, progressive drive, always accurate :bave: velvety sound. The assorted reissue distortion is also a killer with high gains, harmonics flow out by themselves. On my shortlist for other sonic contexts. Uses battery or a 9V supply, "reissue" format, pistachio green color that looks fine side by side with my two AD999 by the way. Three very sensitive, progressive knobs, the OD works fine with my amp/pickup/volume setup. THE SOUND: it's smooth, dense, homogeneous, creamy with a very efficient tone control. Pros: reactivity, flawlessly built, simple to use, respects the incoming signal, true-bypass, designed to provide a very specific medium color, which is very much part of its appeal... Cons: all ODs are known to eat out pat of the low end and this one is no exception, plus sometimes a little background noise at high level... A choice to be made again ;)

Maxon has been making tube powered pedals for a while. The old Real Tube series was replaced recently by the Real Tube II series. THe pedals in this line include the RTC600 Real Tube Compressor, the RTO700 Real Tube Overdrive and the RTD800 Real Tube Overdrive/Distortion. I am going to review the RTD800. The RTD800 has independent overdrive and distortion circuits. It operates its tube at very low voltage to extend the tube life. The overdrive circuit features two stages of clipping. The tube is placed after the OD circuit giving it a more authentic tube OD sound. The built in noise reduction is a great feature for a distortion pedal. UTILIZATION There is an array of controls on the face of this pedal. There is a Master knob that controls the master output of the pedal. There is a gain knob that controls the gain level of the pedal. The bass, mid and tremble knobs control the EQ of th epedal. The OD/Dist switch switches between gain modes on the pedal. The NR switch activates the noise reduction and the knob controls the level of noise reduction you want. The boost switch controls if you want the boost engaged. The boost you get is between 3-9db. The pedal is pretty light for its size. The chassis feels solid and it feels like it can be stepped on plenty of times. The power cable is in 2 parts as one ends with the power brick and the other ends with the plug. SOUND QUALITY With the gain and master on 5, bass and mids on 6 with treble on 8 you can get avery cool 70s overdrive sound. This is with the gain mode on OD. You can get a more modern overdrive sound with you turn the gain all the way up and the mids up slightly still on OD mode. With these settings if you switch on the Noise gate and switch it to Distortion mode you can get a tight chunky metal Rhythm tone. The difference between OD modes and Distortion is pretty big. A lot of pedals like this say they have dual modes but the modes are so similar you can hardly notice. This pedal it is really like two different pedals. The Distortion mode has more volume and much more saturated gain than the OD mode. The whole sound tightens up. Within the Dist mode I had to dial back some high end because the high end can easily become harsh and over the top. OVERALL OPINION If you are a pedal collector you will like this pedal. It has lots of features and does what it says by essentially having 2 pedals in one with a tube driven pedal setup. If you are looking for 1 good versatile pedal this can also work for the same reason. It is a bit pricey at about 400 dollars so you may be better off just getting an amp. If you are a pedal guy and are looking for something else to step on this pedal is a pretty good candidate. Tube driven gain with dual modes and a built in noise gate. Thats just about everything you want in a noise box.

Maxon has been around since the 70s making effects pedals for Ibanez and as well for themselves. They have continuously upgraded these pedals to keep up with the times by using true bypass and better switches. The OD-9 Pro+ is an improvement on the old OD-9/Tube Screamer design. Maxon talked to many guitarists using the old pedals and asked them what they should change or improve. The original OD-9 circuit was used as the base, but for the Pro+ an additional Op-Amp was placed in the output stage to prove a more open and less compressed drive when used in regular drive mode to offer a more balanced frequency response. UTILIZATION The controls on the OD-9 Pro+ are basically the same as most over drive pedals. It has a Drive knob a Tone knob and a Level knob. Something different it has is an extra little boost knob. The boost knob increases the midrange and drive level to make a thicker tone that is more compressed and sustains more. The Pro+ has an internal dip switch which is accessed under the battery cover. With this switch you can select 9 or 18 volts operation through an on board DC voltage doubling circuit. SOUND QUALITY With the drive control cranked and with the boost mode on the OD-9 Pro+ is best used with a clean amp. It sounds a lot like a Tube Screamer. It has really in your face mids that can be used for blues or rock. With the boost off and lighter overdrive it sounds a bit like a fender blackface. The tone control can be used to balance out bright amps and make the sound better. The 9 or 18 volt selector also can change the sound. If you change it to 18 volts the overdrive becomes bigger and more dynamic. It is more open sounding. 9 volts provides a more traditional Tube Screamer sound. OVERALL OPINION Maxon has been making overdrive pedals since the 70s. Many of the classic overdrive tones you have heard over the years probably came from a Maxon or a Tube Screamer manufactured by Maxon. If you are looking for an evolution of that classic overdrive pedal sound the OD-9 Pro+ overdrive may be what you are looking for.

The PT999 is an oldschool type phaser, basically like the old orange box from the seventies. I really dig the look of this pedal, nice color :-) It is a simple pedal although there are some tricks under the bonnet. Basically, you have just the rate control for the phaser but on the inside there are 2 little controls you can turn with a small screwdriver. You can set the Q and depth of the phaser. I checked them out but left them in the original position after trying to tweak it a bit. The little controls are set at the factory, not sure how they do it but the pedal sounds at its best with their suggested setting. UTILIZATION 1 control, how hard can it be? Set the range and play away. It will get you a darker phase sound that is close to the orange phaser from the seventies. It's a fun pedal to play with. Although there are 2 small dials on the inside, I don't think the manual mentions them, I wonder why... SOUND QUALITY The phaser sounds great, I a/b-ed it with a bunch of others and really liked the sound. I was using it in my rack system, work just fine except for 1 thing. Switching the pedal on, or the loop in my case, I was losing a bit of volume. I tried rectifying it with the internal controls but that didn't work out. I could make the pedal sound brighter and then it would cut through a bit better but the sound wasn't as nice. I think there's a mod available for this volume issue but in the end I swapped mine for another phaser. OVERALL OPINION Small box, good rice, great sound. What's not to like? Well, the volume drop is annoying. If you can deal with that, this is highly recommended

The SD-9 is a high gain overdrive and distortion pedal. It can also be used nicely as a boost because it has plenty of output. it has a big fat midrange and will work well in a number of applications. I have run it with great results in front of Fender and Marshall amps and it is very versatile. It's definitely not a transparent OD as it firmly puts it's tonal footprint down but it sounds great so who cares! Oh yeah, these are build like a brick! UTILIZATION The SD-9 looks straight forward but it's a bit different. On the stock models, the useable range for the tone control is limit as it tends to get pretty bright, pretty quick. So you have to be carefull with the tone control. A lot of people simple turn it all the way down. I owned a stock model and now have an analogman modded version. The AM-modded version make the range of the tone control more useable and I run mine around 9:00 SOUND QUALITY For me, the SD-9 and definitely the AM-modded version is one of the best pedals you can have. Not only does it sound killer, it also can be used with pretty much any amp and can do a killer boost, od or distortion sound. I have used mine for so many things, you wouldn't believe it. Even if I don't have it on my board or rack-shelf, I have it with me as it can be a live-safer. I have yet to find an application where it did not sound killer. Most of the time I'm either using it to get a big fat boost on a crunch channel or as an OD/Distortion into a Marshall set clean-ish. It works great in combination with a tubescreamer and boost pedals in front of it. OVERALL OPINION Fantastic pedal, very versatile, even with the limited range on the tone control. If they could fix the range of the tone control, it would get a 10 all around from me but maybe the tone control is what gives it it's mojo.

The Maxon GE601 is a graphic equalizer pedal, intended for use with guitar. It's a six band EQ and can also serve as a booster. It's an analog pedal that has the standard configuration of a 1/4" input and 1/4" output and is powered by a nine volt power supply. It's not going to be rack mountable as it's a stomp box. UTILIZATION Using the Maxon GE601 is very simple. It has six sliders for six different fixed frequencies, starting at 100 Hz and going up to 3.2 Hz, with each band being double the amount as the previous. There is also an overall level output slider. That's more or less what you need to know here, so I don't think a manual is crucial. SOUND QUALITY The Maxon GE601 has a great sound that is extremely precise. It doesn't take much to alter the tone with each of the frequency bands, so don't feel like you have to crank or pull the bands by too much. It's great for getting rid of unwanted low end guitar rumble or for adding some brightness and using it as a booster. I like it better than the Boss and MXR graphic EQs that I've used before as it just seems to sound cleaner and only add to the harmonic worth of your sound. OVERALL OPINION While I'm not of the school of thought that you need to have a graphic equalizer in your chain, I can definitely see the worth of the Maxon GE601. It's great to have some extra control for your sound, but for me I'm usually okay the EQ on my amplifier and the tone knobs on my guitar. Still, this can be very helpful if you use it right. I don't know that it's as useful inside the studio as it can be for live shows, unless it's really part of your sound. It's not the cheapest EQ guitar pedal out there, but it's definitely up there with the best.

The Maxon OD808 features the few characteristics standard to a typical ‘tubescreamer’ overdrive, including -1 overdrive knob (gain) -1 balance knob (level) -1 tone knob -guitar in and out to amplifiers -powered by either 9V battery or AC adapter -JRC4558 IC-based circuit as found in the original Ibanez TS808 tube screamers UTILIZATION Using the Maxon OD808 is quite simple. Depending on your settings, I can be used as a stand alone overdrive over a clean sound, or a boost over an already dirty sound of an amplifier. Hook it up, turn it on, and go! SOUND QUALITY The Maxon OD808 is easily my favorite of the tubescreamer clones. On its own, it produces a nice and warm overdrive, and can produce a decent amount of crunch even on its own. My favorite application for it is using it as a boost over an already overdrive channel. Setting wise, this is gain off, level up (anywhere between noon and full on depending on the amp), and tone to taste. It pairs amazingly with the gain structure of my Mesa Boogie amplifiers. When running it with a Rectifier, for example, I boost for a much tighter and more response rhythm sound. The tone becomes much crisper and clearer, as the pedal brings out a little more of the midrange, and cuts some lows, which is EQ curve that definitely helps a rectifier. With my Mark IV, I love boosting the lead channel for an amazing smooth and saturated solo tone that just screams. A third application altogether is to boost a medium gain sound for an alternate high gain sound. Whatever the use, the Maxon OD808 delivers beautifully. A final plus for the pedal, the Maxon adds very little noise to my signal path when boosting, which was a problem with some other pedals I had tried before this one. OVERALL OPINION This pedal is one that every guitarist should own for an additional texture of gain when needed. It is a great tool for adding that little extra ‘something’ to your base sound.

The Maxon AD-9 Pro Analog Delay is a pedal intended for electric guitar, but suitable for use with other electric instruments. This pedal is very similar in look and make up to the Ibanez AD-9, so the comparisons will be obvious. The AD-9 has a simple make up, with a jack and battery compartment for 9 nine power to go along with 1/4" connections for input, output, and an extra dry output. The pedal isn't in any way rack mountable as it's a pedal. UTILIZATION It's easy to use the Maxon AD-9 Pro Analog Delay as it's only got a few parameters to be aware of. It has three knobs for controlling delay time, delay level, and feedback. Each is capable of changing the tone pretty drastically, but it's not hard to use in general and a manual won't be necessary for most users. SOUND QUALITY The sound of the Maxon AD-9 Pro Analog Delay is pretty unbelievable. It's certainly up there with the best sounding analog delay pedals that I've used, but isn't the best. It's got a very defined sound that is quite realistic as far as analog delay pedals go. In my experience, it's a better pedal than the Ibanez AD-9, as it just sounds fuller and more authentic overall, although the Ibanez model is also solid for the price. This is a great analog delay pedal for any player's rig. OVERALL OPINION While not the cheapest pedal out there, the Maxon AD-9 Pro Analog Delay is going to be worth the price if you're looking for a top tier analog delay pedal to use on a consistent basis. I think it just depends on what you're doing with the pedal, but for professionals who are recording and gigging, having a Maxon AD-9 definitely makes a big difference. I don't own one of these as it's still a bit out of my price range, but it's definitely something I'm going to consider once I'm able to afford it...

The AD999 Pro has a larger footprint than a traditional effects pedal measuring 4.75'(W) x 6'(D) x 2.35'(H). The pedal is part of the Vintage line of effects from Maxon and features vintage style knobs, vintage style footswitch and mini switches. I'm a professional guitarist and have studied for 31 years. I currently play in a cover band and use this unit on my pedalboard. I acquired this pedal from Godlyke Distributing. This unit can be purchased for USD $399.99. <a href="http://www.Godlyke.com">http://www.Godlyke.com</a> The Maxon AD999 Pro has a warm sound that's pleasing to the ears thanks to all analog operation. Maxon took the features of two of Maxon's most advanced delay units and combined them into a single, powerful package. The AD999 Pro uses 3 mini toggle switches to control the 'Multi-Head' mode, which adds midstream delay signals to the normal delay to emulate the sound of Tape Echo multi-head operation. Using a variety of settings the player can choose rhythmic delay effects such as triplet and sixteenth note subdivisions against the main delay. Eight custom made Maxon MC4107D bucket brigade IC's made their way under the hood and it boasts 900 milliseconds of delay time. Maxon also uses their proprietary RMS level sensor and noise reduction circuit to provide clean, low noise levels. I actually use this pedal to replace reverb when I'm performing live and in the studio. The multi-head emulation allows me to dial in just the right amount of space on my sound so the multi delays overlap and create a natural sound. The only thing that could be improved on this unit is the addition of a tap tempo feature. If this type of delay isn't important in your playing than this shouldn't be an issue. I don't rely on tap tempo features personally however, if you want to perform some U2 songs you'd need a separate digital delay to achieve tempos. Like all Maxon pedals, the quality is top-notch. I never have an uncomfortable feeling when I gig with this pedal - I always know it'll be there for me. The switches have a solid feel and the vintage style knobs turn with a smooth feel. Quality all the way here. This Professional delay offering from Maxon might set you back a few bucks more than other delays, but you'll understand why when you dig into the plethora of delay variations and the beautiful sound you'll hear with your first chord. https://www.youtube.com/johngorbe#p/u/7/pay6XEk0AZM <img src="http://www.musicgearreview.com/dbpix/Maxon AD999Pro.jpg" /> This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

This is one of my favorite compression pedals out there. It's a relatively simple pedal, but it will cover a broad spectrum of good-sounding compression. There aren't any modern additions to this thing, it's pretty old and usually hard to find. No MIDI, no audio ins/outs, and no computer editing. UTILIZATION The editing of these effects couldn't be simpler. There are only two knobs on it. I've lately gotten more into pedals like this, I tend to think the lack of too many precise controls is liberating. That being said, you better know exactly how it's going to sound with your setup, because it's not exactly the most versatile thing in the world. It's simply a question of really knowing whether or not this is going to work. SOUND QUALITY It's got a great sounding compression that really brings one back the old days. There's a point where I realized the reason I wasn't very good at getting jazz tones, live and in the studio, was because I didn't have the right setup. A barely-there helping of compression can help correct this issue for many people. It should never squash the dynamics forcefully, but if it minimizes the distracting elements of a flubbed not or a volume discrepancy. I think this is a great choice, mainly for jazz and blues, and perhaps some country although I haven't used it in that context. OVERALL OPINION I definitely like the real tame quality of this compressor. I don't always need my compressor to squash everything I own. This is actually better for just getting a little more sustain and evening things out a little bit. It's really expensive, and it's mostly good for jazz blues and light rock, so I'm thinking, demographically speaking, most interested buyers are either going to be older amateurs (with other jobs), or pros. Either way, probably a good investment. I think rocker kids should avoid it, for there is not much for those kinds of players here.

This is your basic analog distortion pedal. This is one of the finer pedals Ibanez has made. It's sort of comparable with the Tube Screamer by Ibanez, and in fact it could be considered a ripoff of that pedal. This effect is traditional, just the 1/4" ins and outs, and the basic 9V AC Adaptor plug in. There's no midi connections or USBs, and it's not rackable. UTILIZATION The effects editing on this is simple, There's three knobs, Gain, Tone and Level. The setup is pretty simple, just plug it in and go. The manual is very short, and almost unnecessary. SOUND QUALITY I have used this with a Les Paul and a Strat. I mainly wanted to compare this pedal to the tube screamer, which will run you about $400 more than the Maxon. I think that the difference is notable, but not really that drastic. The sound in both pedals is basically a smooth, melodic overdrive. It can give some of your open chords and rock riffs some extra kick without getting too crunchy. It isn't going to give you the most heavy low-end crunch out there, but that's not really the point. Cranking the gain gives your leads a soaring, powerful tone that will give every note you play more of an edge and a warmth. The one crucial difference between the Ibanez and the Maxon was brightness; the Maxon was brighter, but the Tube Screamer was warmer. I think they are both so similar and good in their own right that it's a matter of taste, and I had a difficult time deciding which one was better. I ultimately went with the Tube Screamer, but it was tough to deny how good this pedal is. OVERALL OPINION The main appeal that this pedal has over the tube screamer is the price; its far cheaper than an original and arguably just as good. The sound quality is great for some rhythm sounds and great leads. It's certainly a pedal I'd recommend to anyone who plays similarly to me.

(Originally written by drapeau_rouge/translated from Audiofanzine FR) Vintage analog chorus effect: Maxon CS 550. One input and two outputs. When both outputs are used channel A delivers the effect signal and channel B the dry source signal. 9-volt input with negative center, which allows you to easily power the pedal (I personally use my Cioks Big John so I don't use the PSU provided...). The pedal has a low power consumption (12 or 13 mA), which is convenient! The pedal size is less convenient: it's very bulky for my pedal board! It has almost the same dimensions as a Big Muff Pi... Luckily, the inputs and outputs are placed on the sides of the housing... Four controls: Delay time, depth, speed and a very small control on the top of the pedal to adjust the wet/dry balance... Comprehensive! I give it an 8 because of the size. UTILIZATION Plug'n'play effect: just turn the controls and listen to the sound... In the worst case, read the user's manual to understand the controls and get nice setting ideas! The small control on the top of the housing is not easy to use... But it's a minor detail... The device looks great, the silk screen print is very nice... This pedal looks beautiful! No switching noises, sturdy switch... No complaints!! And to top it off, the effect on/off LED also displays the battery status... 10 / 10. SOUND QUALITY It produces the nicest chorus I've ever heard on my CDs and my guitar. I already owned a Voodoo Lab Chorus ('76 Boss CE1 reissue), I tested some EH Nano Clone and Small Clone and a Boss Chorus... They all sounded artificial! With this one, the sound is... WONDERFUL, very WARM and vintage... It produces a terrific sound. It even sounds good for Metallica!!! With distortion it also provides a extremely good sound. It's a delight! From a filtered sound to a light chorus effect and strong and/or fast chorus, a sort of tremolo, vibrato and unique effects... Everything is possible. The main advantage of this pedal is its delay time, which influences the frequency response of the effect... It's great!!!! 10 / 10, I love it. OVERALL OPINION It has some small cons (size and price) but overall it's a great product! The price is somewhat high for a chorus pedal but.. You won't regret having bought it! I don't regret my purchase! I just found the chorus I'll use my whole life... Test it and look at the review on Youtube...