Ibanez SH-7

This is a bass fuzz pedal! plain and simple.

Use it for bass or the low notes on a baritone and it is awesome. single notes or fouth and fifth intervals only, cause like....it's a FUZZ pedal!

Ibanez designed a great bass fuzz and thought they could sell it better as a metal distortion. Bad move because people don't get what they thought they paid for.

None of the big companies have a bass fuzz on the market. They should have called it what it is and they would have sold well to bass players.

Really great sounding (but mislabeled) bass fuzz. Awesome value. If you're not looking for a bass fuzz don't buy it.

With just four knobs and two switches it's quite a straightforward pedal, it takes some time to get a decent sound out of it but personally it took me more time trying to get a good sound messing with that damn mid/midrange thing of the Boss Metalzone.

Well as I said before it takes some time to get a decent sound out of it, when i bought it i thought it sucked ass and i had it in my unused pedal box for a couple of years. But then I spent a couple of hours with it and found a good setting that worked with my rig. From the two modes i prefer the less fuzzy one and with the noise gate on (helps a ton in small stages). As for the use well, i don't recomend it as a main distortion (it's great for chords and powerchords but it sound a bit too synth-like with single note lines), you gotta keep the gain under 5 or it sounds muddy and you gotta have a low tuned guitar or a 7 string, in standard tuning it sounds horrible! If you bought it and have a baritone or 7 string, give it another chance. If not try it out with your guitar and possibly a similar amp to yours in order to see what you will get. If you play with a standard tuned guitar and you bought it...you've been cheated big time.

Well i got four tone locks in my rig and they are the only ones that didn't require a replacement knob or any other repair, so 10 out of 10.

Never needed it

If you like a rich pedalboard like I do and have the requirements i listed above as far as rig is concerned, go ahead and try it you might like it a lot. If you are looking for a main distortion pedal to use all the time or as an overdrive stay away from this cause it's not for you

Deluxe.

First, let me say this: This is a novelty distortion. If you use this for your main distortion, there are problems. If you say this is totally useless, you are wrong. It has it's uses, but they are very limited. It is good for sections of songs where you want a bass-heavy fuzz that will give you a relative power chord pitch with NO note definition and nearly no second or third order harmonics. Basically, it is something that makes your clean sound explode into a mess of non-harmonic fuzz. Yes, there are sections where this is useful. If you want to do a solo with this, you are delusional. If you want a tame overdrive, you need an overdrive pedal. If you want a crunch distortion, you need a (different) distortion pedal. If you want fuzz, you need a fuzz pedal. If you want a REALLY heavy distortion, you need the SM-7 (the best out there right now, hands down). If you want a novelty distortion, this is different than most any distortion right now. And, like the name suggests, it is EQed for a 7-string, so you need to tune down to at least C# standard or Drop-C to make it sound decent, so Metallica riffs will sound like ass no matter what you try.

By the way, I don't own this, I went to buy the LF7, and just decided to try this out to get a feel for it. Played it for 2 hours. Still got the LF7. In case you really wanted to know.

Other than the anomaly that Ibanez calls a bypass switch, it's really good.

No.

Basically, if you are looking for a normal distortion or fuzz, you don't want this. If you already own multiple distortion pedals and are looking for something as a novelty, buy this, but buy it used, since the $80 bucks stores want for a new pedal is really outrageous for a one trick pony.

This pedal comes with four retractable knobs and two switches. The whole pedal is self explanatory.

I tried it with an Ibanez RG7620 on an 80W Marshall Amp.
This box sounds really fuzzy and tones blend over as you play. If you like this kinda style this is perfect for you. If you like Orgy (the band of course) get it. If you like really bassy sounds get it. Don't get it if you want crunchy palm muted distortion! It sounds really good on 7strings for me.

It has a metal case and retracable knobs, so you have to very rude with it to break it...

No experiences yet...

I'm happy with it.

The Ibanez pedals are made very easy to use. The puch-in nobs are awesome in case you step on the wrong part of the pedal and move a nob while in a gig. One hint... Make sure you keep a battery in the pedal even if you use an AC adapter because the pedal button presses to easily when you dont.

Personally, I use all kinds of pedals for different purposes. THIS PEDAL IS NOT GOOD FOR A MAIN DISTORTION because the notes are not defined through it. It is also really bassy. But, as a side distortion, the actual QUALITY of the sound is great. Its not traditional sounding. If you like experimenting with sound, this pedal is awesome!

Ibanez pedals are built amazingly tough. I probably could throw it out a window and it would be ok...

Never had to deal with them.

I play my own style of music... (rave techno/agressive new metal/progressive metal). Ive been laying for about 5 years now (play for hours a day...) and I love this pedal. I bought it as a secondary distortion for quieter sections of songs but was surprised. It sounds alot different than my regular distortion pedal. DONT BUY IT FOR YOUR MAIN DISTORTION! You will be let down. But, if you want to experiment, buy it.

It's very easy to use indeed, I really like the knobs on the ToneLok series. It's got 2 switches too, one for Void and one for Mode.
4 knobs.

I'm running it thru a ESP M-207 -> Marshall Valvestate 8080 -> bunch of effects....This pedal is just too fuzzy for me. It cannot be called distortion. Very muddy sounding. No way you can palm mute either. Dino Cazares recommended this, but he's got some serious killer amps and guitars. Try before you buy, I didn't...I regret it..

Buildt as a tank. Wouldn't need any backup. Ibanez sure know who to construct stomp boxes.

Never dealt with them

I play mostly just metal, anything from Slayer to Korn. I'm getting rid of this pedal because it doesn't suit my music....it's just too muddy....I guess it would sound nice with lots of other effects, but I can't think of any. Recommend people to try it out before you buy it. I'm gonna try to make a soundclip of this pedal and post it on my webpage. Http://home.no.net/viper82

the set-up for the knobs and switches on it is great... push the knobs up & down, move'em around abit... just like most other distortion boxes

im playing this through a shecter c-7 and ibanez rg320 & marshall valvestate. after a day of messing around with every possible eq setting for both the pedal and my amp, ive come to the conclusion that this pedal sucks major ass. its fuzz is very strong, but even on the lowest settings you lose alot of your chords definition, it doesn't handle mids for shit... it also doesnt produce palm-mutes and harmonics for shit

the upside to this pedal is that its tough as hell. i dont know how you would break this thing unless you run it over with a tank or something
the knobs on it seem kind of cheap although still durable though

i play alot of tool, ratm, korn, and metallica. the only thing the pos is good for is for a select few parts of some tool songs that have a really fuzzy sound, like the intro to pushit

im sry i ever wasted my money on this pedal... i dont know why anyone would want to use this crap

There isn't anything difficult with the pedal's layout. Pop up the knobs, turn them, push it back down. I bought it used, and the manual was missing.

I am running a Gothic Les Paul through a Dunlop Crybaby wah, a digitech XP100, a Digitech RP100, and a Boss GE-7 Equalizer. My amp is a Marshall JCM900. One word describes this pedal: Shit. I went to a local Music Go Round and found both a Boss Metal Zone and this box, and purchased both, seing how my sound had been fairly digital up to that point. I got home and plugged in the Metal Zone and was happy with the sounds I could get after I messed around with its EQ and the Boss GE7 EQ. But this... this pedal is truely horrible. The fuzz is to strong. None of the guitar is able to get through; the only sounds that come out are fuzz. The mids suck ass. Putting it on mode 2 cuts the mids and sounds even more horrid. The void switch seems to quite it a bit when you're not playing, but it constantly cut notes. Listen: Compare this pedal to another, don't believe the hype. The sound is truely horrible. I spent 4 hours messing around with it's 2 band EQ and the Boss EQ. The sound quality is just horrible, believe me. I had this pedal for 3 days and immediatly took it back to get my money back. I play lots of metal (Old Machine Head, Helmet), and lot's of today's nu-metal stuff (40 Below Summer, American head charge). This pedal is good for none of these styles. In fact, I don't think it is good for any style. It sounds nothing like orgy or videodrone as mentioned by some people. I took this back, and before I returned it, I tried it on 5 different brands of amps at the store, ranging from Marshalls to Fenders to Mesas, and tried a Gibson Les Paul, a Fender Stratocaster, and an ESP LTD to see if I could find some kind of decent sound. IT'S NOT POSSIBLE. This thing sounds like you are adding a big fart over the note/chord, no matter what your set up is. If you think this pedal sounds good, GET YOUR EARS CHECKS, our buy an EQ and some other type of distortion. You will see how terrible it really is.

If you want fuzz, get a Big Muff.

If you want metal, get a Metal Zone.

It seems built like a tank. I'd be a little worried about the little plastic knobs though, they look pretty fragile. If I did infact like this piece of shit, I doubt I would need a backup for a gig. But, I don't own the damn thing anymore, so I guess I can't really say. =)

Never dealt with them.

I play tons of styles: Blues, rock, prog rock, metal and nu-metal. This pedal is good for none of the above.
I have been playing for over 5 years and I have also teched for about 2 years. Believe me, I know what a good pedal sounds like. And baby, this isn't a good pedal.
If someone was stupid enough to steal it, I figure it would be enough of a punishment to be stuck with this pile of garbage.
If this thing had a mid dial, it may be decent. But it doesn't.
I compared this to a Boss MT-2, and my RP100's fuzz model. It pales in comparison to both of these. The thing pissed me off so much, I was about ready to smash is. Seriously.

I bought this Pedal used from Mountain Music for $50 Can, and I think it was well worth it. Because I bought it used it didn't come with a manual, even if it did, you wouldn't need it, its quiet simple to operate.

I'm playing a Jackson DK10X into the SH-7 into a HM-2 then into a Beheringer Blue Devil, and its sounds awsome. With the Void switch on it is extremly quiet, with it off it has some buzz to it. I've played with Boss Metal Zone and The SH-7 and I feel the SH-7 has better quality sound to it, although the Metal zone is much better for palm muting, the SH-7 makes a big muff sound when trying to palm mute a high volumes. This pedal makes it easy to gets sounds such as Nothingface, and Vision of Disorder.

You could definity depend on it. And I would Gig with it for sure, to gig without a backup is stupid for anything.

Never dealt with them so I couldn't tell you

I Play lots of Metal, from Dillinger Escape Plan to Nothingface and this pedal seems to fullfill everything I need (except for the annoying palm muting thing). I've been playing for 2 years now and I might buy this pedal again if not I would buy a SM-7 for better palm muting.

Very easy to use, but that doesn't matter.

This is the worst piece of shit I've baught in eight years of guitar playing. What a total scam. It has absolutely no high end, no middle, and bearly any bass. And the distortion is fucking awefull-- it's totally lifeless. And that void switch is pretty worthless as well.

This thing is uselss for ANY band out there. And I doubt if anyone would want to use this for thier own sound too. Ibanez just released this piece of shit so they could take advantage of the recent 7-string and nu-metal craze. THIS IS MY LAST IBANEZ PEDAL.

Very easy. Just turn the knobs.

I run this through a marshall G50 RCD combo amp. I have an Ibanez RG 7 string with the fixed brifge.

This pedal has a cool fuzz sound on mode 1. It's great for Orgy or Videodrone stuff. You cant palm mute worth crap though. It makes a big muffle sound. Mode 2 is a kind of butt rock distortion, I dont like it at all. The void switch clips notes, not great, but if you have an adapter that hums this gets rid of that sound. Cool fuzz type distortion, that can get in good lows or highs.

Well it seems to be really high quality. Made out of a good metal. The battery thing inside the end of the pedal isnt the best but its a good quality pedal. I would use it any time without a backup.

Never dealt with them.

I play stuff like Orgy, Videodrone, Deadsy, Rage Against The Machine. This pedal is a great one for all except rage. It sucks for them big time. Palm muting sucks on it but I still love its fuzzy tone. I love it for Videodrone especially. Great pedal to me.

Very easy!!

I use a Jackson with Seymour Duncan Distorion in the Bridge position, and this box really sucks!!! i hate this distortion.
I use with a Marshall VS102r.

I have it for one day only!!! I trade it for a Boss Metal Zone!
I have luck!!! hehehe

I play metal music like Dream Theater/Megadeth/Pantera and this box isn't for this type of music!!

Very easy controls, just some simple knobs and two switches(don't use the VOID switch though, IT SUCKS!!).

I use a modified Ibanez Artist AX 7521 7 string guitar(has DiMarzio Universe pickups instead of the factory ones). A Hughes & Kettner Attax 80 head and Ampeg 4x12 cab.

This is one of the worst sounding distortions pedals I've used, it's not really distortion:it's fuzz(and shitty at that). Sounds nothing like Korn or any new metal bands(deftones, factory 81, Nothingface etc.), very horrible fuzz, if you want a fuzz that sounds like Korn get a Electro-Harmonix Big Muff, and if you want a distortion, get a tubescreamer. Tone has hardly any lows to it, i had to set the low on 8 and the high on 2, and this makes the guitar produce virtually no harmonics. Palm muting sucks on this, and the void switch is the worst noise suppressor ever, cuts out your notes. Definatly not recommended

Very strong and sturdy, made of an alloy metal that's very thick and the knobs push in so they can't break off or get pulled out.

never had to deal with Ibanez

I play heavy music along the lines of KoRn, deftones, Nothingface, Factory 81, Taproot, it is not a good for this type of music, is better for Metallica or Ozzy. I have been playing 3 years. I would definately not buy this again if it were stolen.

real easy to use

it sucks! the quality of sound sucks butt! its all fuzzy and stuff, the smash box kicks that pedals mouth in! and i mean bad, i dont like it so i keep it as my pre distortion pedal and my smash box for full blown!

yes u can, it hasnt broken

havent had to use them

overall i'll give it a 4, and thats it

Really easy to use, the tone-lok thing doesn't make much of a difference.

I use S470 through this and an Peavy Envoy 110 for my distortion. This thing is CRUSHING new-metal style distortion. Very heavy and low. It has alot of noise and stuff when drive is turned all the way up, but that's fine. One of the modes are thick fuzz, and the other is crushing crunchy heavy distortion. The void clips notes, but it's good for rythmic stuff. This is great for limp bizkit korn ect. This is really, really crushing. It sounds like a tank/machine churning and making noise. It's crazy. That is all.

Yeah, reliable. IT's made of metal. No problems except that the battery buttons was messed on mine.

Amazing sound. Good for new metal rythmic playing!

Unless you're drunk, stoned and high, you should have no trouble using the Seventh Heaven.

If you play a Seven String, oh my god...This thing is crushing. Mode 1 is a really thick, chunky, square-wave fuzz and Mode 2 is a brittle, static with thumping lows. If you play Nu Metal or Rap/Metal, you can't lose with this thing! It's pure death.

The thing is made of metal that's about .08 thick (thicker than your low B). It's not gonna break.

Haven't dealt with Ibanez. All I know about them is they take forever to ship stuff to their dealers.

If it were stolen, I'd buy it again. If another seven string guitarist (or even a sixer string that tuned down) were to ask my opinion on distortion, I'd reccommend this. This is a flexible distortion pedal, bottom line. I don't know what some of those guys are on, saying that it's "too thin and fuzzy" or "TOO fuzzy" because it's really not. They're just morons. People who think this is too fuzzy should stick to overdriving their amps or using overdrive pedals. Listen to the guy in Seventh. This thing rocks.

If u don't know how to use this pedal give it to a younger brother or sister and get them to teach u...
way too easy... Turn knobs to acheive desired mayhem.

My Setup-

Ibanez RG7621 (7-string w/fixed bridge)--> SH-7 --> PH-7 phaser --> CF-7 chorus/flanger --> DE-7 delay/echo --> Boss chorus ensemble --> Boss TR-2 tremolo which run in front of my 100-watt Peavey Supreme head and Eminence speaker loaded quad... I also use an Ibanez GE-10
graphic EQ in the amps efx loop (set in the V shape)

I found this setup to be the best after many hours of tweaking and f**kin' around... This pedal is a must have for anyone into Korn, Limp Bizkit, Deftones and so on, although it might not articulate palm muting very well the units strengths are realised when performing phat chorus chords or 7-string industrial bass playing with your drummer..
Also when used in conjunction with the Ibanez DE-7 delay/echo u can generate a huge synth soundscape reminiscent to the band Orgy..

I gig, record and practice with these, never failed me...
Not yet anyway...

I've never had to use customer support

The SH-7 seventh heaven is a key feature to my guitar arsenal and if it was stolen I definitely would purchase another. Although not very good for palm mute riffing (I just use my amp distortion for that) it makes up for with power chordal girth and bass heavy single note patterning with your drummer...

Checkout my band at www.seventh.com.au

TOO easy , only Drive , EQ ( Hi , Lo & no MID!WTF?) , volume.Also a noise supressor and a Mid sweeper.

I run thru a marhsall 50 watt combo (g50rcd)with a Ibanez RG7420 2000 model and it sounds damn noisy feedback all the time , and the Noise supressor ("VOID") sucks it clips notes.On mode 1 , which has mids , it sounds so messy and there are pops whe you palm mute so forget metallica , it sucks really , then mode 2 takes out the mids altogehter and goes fuzz mental , like
Everlasting Gaze like the pumpkins on Machina.It sounds like no one else so its only good for the pumpkins or making stuff up , I use it just for making feedback or some bits where the fuzz needs to go through the roof.Its no work horse , its really a noveltey pedals theres just too much fuzz and no proper mid control either 100% mid or 0% .Its basically like the weird fuzzy chords KoRn do on BBK that sound way too fuzzy (not the whole song just during the verese when its all quite then FUZZ! then quiet etc).Overall just too peculiar .l

Perfect , no probs id say.Has power supply and rather nice set and forget tone-lok knobs.Can be relied upon to make annoying feed back and fuzz:)

never dealt with them , but i hear its terrible.

I play metal( from KoRN to Metallica ) , Alt rock (pumpkins) and some classic rock n roll like Guns n Roses and its was useless for all this stuff , again its a little fun for a laugh but 60$/80$ no way!its a real mess , its just so fuzzy and thin it just isnt possible to play a song with it.However i have a Boss metal-zone which i use most the time since i gave up on the SH-7 so i sometimes plug in the SH-7 for a little fun. In conclusion : its a joke pedal.
Unlike the excellent CE7 tone-lok which i brilliant.

Even an idiot will be able to find his favourite sound !
Just GREAT !!!

The sound quality is fuckin' GREAT !
I use a Marshall JCM 900 with 4X12 box and after you turned this
pedal on you've got a "HAMMER-SMASHED FACE" !!!!

We are going on stage very soon !
I am so glad, that I've bought the SM-7 a few days before !
I used to play on "KORG AX-300G" and the distortion was a fuckin'MESS !

Hmmmmm... I dunno !

I am playing the lead guitar of "HELL's PARADISE" from germany !
We are playing fast, melodic metal !

I like DEATH METAL most ! (Malevolent Creation - Style)
This pedal was made for METAL, I think !!!
The GAIN is so POWERFUL, it blasts your brains out !!!!!!! ;-]

It is easy to use.....push it on, push it off. the dials are self explainitory, and thats about it.

it sounds ok....but i can't really judge to much considering i use a rage 158. it is a little heavy for my taste at the moment but when i feel like playing some godsmakc it does the job.

it could kick it to hell and back and it would still sound good

N/A

overall it is pretty good.

Easy as hell to use, but you'd better keep a good battery in it or anytime you play more than one note at a time the signal will sound like you are using the tonelok fuzz with the damage switch on full, only worse. Has two band eq, two preamp modes, dirve, and a volume switch that will match your guitar clean at 1/3 full, and drop to absolutley nothing at 0.

setup: depends. I have the whole tonelok set, and i usually have them in this order de7,cf7,(all five distortions here, i doesn't matter what order cuz two distortions on at the same time sounds bad. unless you want screaming harmonics on everthing and loads of feedback), ph7. Then into my good sounding, although horribly quiet, rock town 30 watt amp.I like the phaser after everthing. call me crazy, but it sounds good. i use the 2nd mode with full bass and the treble at "3 o'clock". on my six sting tuned to dropped C works sweet. sounds like deftones, limp bizkit, and static x. on my De Armond S-67 (7 string) works well for korn and even the smashing pumpkins' new stuff. Great sound, but keep it powered, i.e. : don't try to use batteries in it that your cf7 or de7 already chewed up.

You can probably beat someone to death with this thing. Also, with all of the tonelok pedals, the knobs push in so you can jump on it without canging the sound. I haven't had any problems with it so far.

N/A

sweet sweet sweet. this is a superb match for harcore music. they are being used by orgy, limp bizkit, staind, korn, and even the wallflowers. NOT FOR ONLY SEVEN STRINGS. works great on a six too. I loved this and all of the tonelok pedals as soon as i heard them. if they got lost or stolen, i'd definately get them again. they are pretty cheap too. i think i paid about $350 US for all eight of them.

This pedle is amazing for thick heavy distortion! Its great for heavy stuff. For fuzz or something more trebly take metal zone but this is great for low stuff. It can get really bassy if you want. The two modes are both really good. One is a heavy low sound but the other has more highness. If your playing heavy music, this is a great peddle. Try it first though, it might not be the distortion you want and it cant sound like everything.

Tone Lok works. Two modes, both cool. The void option is a noise supressor, its ok but makes a weird sucking sound sometimes.

Strong, ive had no problems. Tone Lok helps keep settings. So far dependable. Only thing is the knobs are plastic, but tone lok helps alot.

never delt with

A great peddle if you want heavy new metal stuff. AND CHEAP

Fairly easy to use with the new Tone-lok feature thingy

My setup runs like this Hamer strat-copy with hot-rail in bridge>>> to a Morley Bad Horsie (best wah-wah around)>>> Boss Metal Zone>>> Ibanez sh-7>>> Crate GFX 15. Generally the sound, regardless of settings is, concentrated on the bass end of the sound range. Virtually unable to get a palm mute going out of it, but is great for heavy rhythm. Produces a great fuzzy tone, almost to the caliber of a Swollen Pickle (cant beat it though) I tune down to C-G-C-F-A-D which is pretty mild compared to a 7-string. I am scared to know what kind of crazy tones you can get from tuning down to A . One thing that really pissed me off was the "void" feature. It is the cheapest noise suppressor I have ever heard but hey, 68$?? not bad

Sounded good to my, stomp all day on it and it wouldnt bust, not as sturdy as a boss obviously. As long as you keep that damn "void" feature off you wont have any problems.

Did not come with a warranty card or anything, but I havent had a problem with Ibanez

I generally play heavy stuff (obviously why I bought the pedal) I had this thing on order for a good 2 weeks, it was well worth the price,I was looking for a distortion with more bass since the Metal Zone is way too trebly, this thing has crazy bass!!!! I would buy this thing again definitely. Although very disappointed with the "no palm mute" thing, a VERY heavy pedal.(great to get a Stephen Carpenter tone heard on Adrenaline or White Pony)

it's just like the rest the ton-lok set,super easy,and no need for a manual.

i use all the ibanez ton-lok pedals there currently in this order Flanger,phasher,tubscreamer,fuzz,delay,seventh heaven,distortion,smashbox. and there pluged into my shitty 15 watt peavey amp which gets feedback becuase it's so damn cheap.but the pedal itself is great.this pedal is great for korn songs,you can get it to sound just like them.and if you do a little tweaking you can get great custom sounds

i have never had a problem with this or any of my ton-lok pedals for that mattter.i use this one mainly at home not on stage.but the few times i did it worked great.

never delt with ibanez.

i play alot of industrial and metal and this pedal isn't to good with that style,but it has it's own sound that sounds great.