Zvex Box of Rock Vexter

This unit is very great distortion box. it is modeled after the Marshall JTM45 which in many people's opinion was the best sounding classic rock crunch of all time. It was Marshall's first amp that could get that overdrive when cranked hard so there is an allure there to recreate this sound and tone.

I must say first that I am not a fan of overdrive pedal because I don't feel they have that natural feel and sound that an overdriven tube amp can create. So therefore my bias comes from that perspective. This pedal does an outstanding job recreating that tone from the glory days of rock.

Much like all Zvex pedals this pedal is extremely loud. I'm not an engineer but I really don't know how they are able to get a pedal sounding that loud. It really is a testament to the design team over there at Zvex.

UTILIZATION

This pedal has many applications. You can use it as a main distortion unit or you can use it as a clean boost. Since this is two in pedals on one you can get some unbelievable variations to boot.

I personally like using pedals like this as a boost function to an already overdriven high gain amp such as a Marshall JCM 800. The boost side does this quite well in my opinion.

Here are some suggestions from the manual.

The Controls:
Drive: Sets the amount of distortion. Start around 1:00 o'clock.
Tone: Adjust for treble content. Start around 2:00 o'clock.
Vol: Adjust for distortron engine volume level. Start around 9:00 o'clock.
Boost: Sets the boost level, which is engaged with the left stomp switch. Start around 11:00 o'clock.

The Drive and Boost controls are based on my original Super Hard-On gain control, so they may crackle when turned. This is perfectly normal.

Operation:
Plug your guitar (or any effect’s output) into the right hand input jack. Plug the output into an amp or other effect’s input. Rock out. Careful with the Boost setting when using a high-powered amp with lots of headroom... you may be shocked at how loud it can get!

The best way to complete this pedal is to run it through a Marshall amplifier on a warm clean setting (try strapping the channels, setting the volumes below 3, and setting all other controls to 6 as a start point), which has the proper voicing to reveal the "rock" in the Box of Rock.

Battery Change:
If the performance of your pedal seems diminished or the LEDs become very dim, it's time to change your battery. Remove the four screws on the bottom of the pedal and carefully remove and replace the old battery, putting it back exactly in the center of the pedal on edge so that it is gripped tightly by the lid when it is screwed back in place.

Specifications:
Uses 1 9V battery (preferably alkaline, but the unit is shipped with a carbon-zinc battery.) The low current operation of this pedal's circuit will give you a long battery life. Current draw is approximately 3mA. A DC power jack (standard Boss configuration with center negative) is provided on the side of the pedal. Use a high- quality 9V adaptor for all high-gain effects!

Warranty:
Your Vexter Box of Rock is warranted for 1 year from date of purchase, or 2 years if you send in your warranty card.

SOUND QUALITY

The boost in my opinion is the best thing about this pedal. I am not really a fan of the tone that the distortion side gets since its just not my thing. However, the boost side has a great clarity and warmth that slams the front of a dirty amp quite well.

I use a Strat with this pedal along with a clean amp. I suggest using it with a Fender Twin or a Vox to get some good classic rock tones. Or use it in front of a Marshall JCM 800 or Plexi reissue. By couple ling this with a great tube driven amp you'll get some good sustaining notes coming from just about any guitar.

OVERALL OPINION

For what is does it does very well. This is a great little pedal that gives a solid overdrive in a small little unit. If you already have a clean amp and what to go into classic rock territory and or pop rock than this might be a great pedal to start with. At new price they come in at around $200. This is the same parts as the higher end hand painted. Great little pedal for the buck.

Overdrive pedal transistor circuit with "hard-on" created by visionary Zechariah able to can a JTM45 pushed into a corner and almost a clean boost.
Simple and effective connectivity:
- Volume booster
- Overdrive volume
- Tone
- Gain
- 2 switches booster / overdrive
- Input and output true bypass (I assume given the circuit)
- Input type boss to supply 9V + (• - or stack.

UTILIZATION

Placing child, 2 jacks, an amp and a guitar and let's rock!
The little knobs facilitates settings, everything at noon and it sounds except the boost prudent combination lest your speakers through the Tolex your favorite 2x12 because it sends harsh!
However, even if this pedal still sounds, the fact remains that it knows how to be subtle.
Indeed, the knobs are responsive and allow their relatively wide access to various sounds, soft and shimmering percussive beach or as the fist of a Polish drunk on a table when he realized that there was shortage of vodka .. I will discuss below (sounds, huh!)

SOUND QUALITY

I recently started using this pedal on an Ibanez head TSA15-h + Engl 4x12 Celestion V12-60 equipped with mainly a Gibson Les Paul with Emg pickups 57/66 (for those who do not know, see the opinion that I 've left on these, very successful and is closer to microphones bam supercharged), a Squier Strat (SSS tex mex) and a Gretsch g5259 special jet (microphones Dearmond Us). With the lp, we live in sounds to AC / DC, the gain at noon.
The gain in depth it sounds like hard rock Guns'n'Roses, see.
With the Gretsch is already different: the output level is lower and it will do with playing in more rock than hard rock records.
In short, it can range from very mild subtle crunch, crunch through a more sustained effort to finally kicking the big fat rock hard if the pickups are humbuckers that send a minimum.
Passont the booster: it can be implemented alone or in addition to the overdrive, which will further extend the capabilities of the rock box. On one, it will warm your sound by injecting him what little I know what I very adictif. Climbing gradually it, we can do slightly cruncher arpeggios while retaining clarity. Attention, as mentioned above, it boosts the volume, adding something, but no extra gain because it is placed after the overdrive and not before. But then this something is what ?!
It's hard to describe, the overdrive becomes edgier, more open somehow.
If you want to hunt in more couillus records, put a TS9 or boosters and ts-like and there: bah is not a pie in the face that you make, but the ball!

OVERALL OPINION

I tried it and not have a lot of pedals (over 35, see my gear plug, which mainly od or distos) and honestly this box of rock still empty as me.
To say that it sounds like a JTM45 and the loud arguing?
Well I do not know! I do not own this amp, so I will not speculate on a few comparisons whatsoever. But it is clear that it sounds your Marshall, we find this famous sound as heard on the pieces of these last 3 or 4 decades, so yes, I do it again this choice.
As you can see, I'm thrilled.
The price is in my opinion justified by the sounds and sensations it provides, I am not crazy bad if the price of return is 30 or $ 50, because we had to be able to create it and it is precisely this famous expertise which has a price. And as we keep it to life almost is already paid!

Pedal Type 2 1.
Distortion + Boost
Boost SERIES is after the distortion, so increases the volume but does not change the texture of the distortion.
The boost circuit is identical to the Pedal Super Hard-On Zvex also ...
Between-and output jack.
Socket for power supply-type boss.
-2 Footswitch to activate the spare and distortion boost.
As Port-Hi, rgalges are marked above and without quivoque ...
Impecable finish.
This is the version Vexter, ie the same version but not painted by hand. YOU SAVE $ 100 wholesale.

UTILIZATION

Very easy to utilistation
No need to use manual!

SOUND QUALITY

So if you are looking for the ACDC is the one for you.
JTM45 in a box.
Good recess must pair it with an amp FITNESS FOR ca.
So an amp with an excellent response and percussive.
The effect is very responsive to the signal level, therefore lowering the volume control on the guitar is much the level of distortion.

OVERALL OPINION

It does a good week I have one then I would update when I have more perspective.

Couraging hand analog pedals well Describes prcedemment!

UTILIZATION

Trs simple to use!

SOUND QUALITY

Unlike the other view, the changes lgrement Boost the sound!
lowering the volume level in rglant Boost to get a volume
identical, it erases a little low end is lgrement
intrusive at times and my taste!

The sound is excellent, it goes with everything: Rock, Blues Jazzy even see!
ncessite a bit of a boost with single coil so that it is expressed
fully.
This PDAL Ragit trs well set the user, trs good momentum.
PDAL a vibrant and "singing" as I apprcie!

The gain is not phnomnale, so too for the advice mtal for the rest
no problem.

Used with the following config:
Squier Tele with Custom Shop pickups Nocaster, handle Mapple
Compressor ED-1 + Z-Vex + DI Palmer PDI09 + table mix + Headset

OVERALL OPINION

Ultimately that's good with the Z-Vex, although its sound Rock / Blues enjoyable trs
over what it Ragit trs that connects derrire, a digital exchange
everything ... Trs good rglages latitude thanks to knobs progressive and effective.

I t's just the Metal Rod Monster and 880 both "lamp"
dcidemment my opinion nothing beats a good "all transistor"

Hlas some CHRE nanmoins purchase but the investment is interresting trs,
it is one of pedals that we keep what is not so common ...

Addition of 26/10/07: really excellent, I use it more and more I apprcie!
nothing to do with all the other pedals tried for several years ...
possde it really something in addition to the Z-Vex!