Maxon OD-9

I bought mine in two months ago, and it's been working great. It is your typical tube screamer with three knobs. No matter where they're pointing, you're getting that nice punchy tube screamer sound. Hard to mess that up. It took me a day to get used to the switch. I'm more used to the loose feel of the TS9's switch, but the OD9 requires just a little more force to engage. No biggie, though.

I run a PRS McCarty into a Mesa F50. I play in a rock/pop band that doesn't require Mesa distortion. I'd been using an Ibanez TS9 on top of the clean channel, but my TS9 got stolen. I mean, who steals a reissue TS9? lol Anyways, I read wonderful things about the OD9, and thought it'd give it a try. I do think it sounds better than the TS9. I didn't get to do a side by side comparision, but the OD9 seems to let wider band of freq. come through than the Ibanez. True bypass is nice, but I wasn't suffering from degradation anyways. Most of the time, I use only about 20% of available gain just to fatten and brighten up the neck humbucker. It sounds so good, people die from it. Well, not really, but it still sounds amazing.

I paid for a Tube Screamer, and I got a tube screamer. It's pretty much plug & play. It's hard to get a wrong sound out of it. I've tried my share of OD pedals, and TS clones, but I learned not to mess around with copies when you can get the real thing that started it all. I bought mine used for $70. By the way, did you know used Maxon OD9 pedals are WAY cheaper than used Ibanez TS9s? Too many people buy into brands.

The pedal is quite simple. The three dials are self explanatory. I think the switch feels awkward but whatever.

I play a Baker Guitar into a Reverend Kingsnake.
My pedal setup is: Maxon OD-9 > Ernie Ball Volume Pedal > Budda Wah > Pigtronix EP-1 > Pigtronix Echolution

The pedal provides classic tube screamer overdrive. As a result it has an emphasis on the mids and doesn???t have much bass. The pedal has a great range of gain without going too far.

It has a great clean-sounding distortion and really screams in the upper register. It is very focused and never muddy. The pedal has a very organic sound and doesn???t sound processed or too noisy. It is absolutely better than what Ibanez is putting out these days.

I???ve never had a problem with the pedal. It is built better than BOSS pedals.

N/A

I play jazz, blues, classic rock, and funk. I have played guitar for 11 years.

All the tonal qualms I have with this pedal have been solved by variations of the OD-9. I am interested in getting the Silver Mod by analogman to give it more bass, less mid, and a less compressed tone. The OD-9 Pro+ also looks pretty cool.

Overall, a quality no frills overdrive.

3 knobs?

Nice tone, a little compressed.
Sounds great in front of my Bandmaster & Bassman.
Not much volume separation for solos.

It's solid. However I know that the switches go out
at some point.

????

For Rock, Punk Rock, Hard Rock it's still one of the best pedals you'll ever find. Do yourself a favor & stay away from the modded TS-9's & OD-9's. These pedals are supposed to have a Mid-Hump. And they sound like shit with added low-end. If you're buying a modded pedal try some other new ones on the market like, Barber, MI Audio, Fulltone etc....
Why spend $150 on a modded pedal? It makes no sense.
The OD-9 is a great pedal & much better than the Reissue Ibanez TS-9.

level, tone, gain knop and the on / off switch !!

Great, I can dail in a range from smooth B.B King Blues to crunchy Pearl Jam Rock, with some added delay I feel like "Smashing Pumkins meets Colplay sound " ;-) Somtimes I also use it as a booster for lead lines, works great for that ! makes the sound louder, fater and more dynamic.
I have a Boss super Overdrive and a red Jekyll and Hyde, a Nobels Overdrive at home, also I have tested the Maxon 808 and the Ibanez TS 9 from my friend and this one works for me, the most.
Its a real musician overdrive and in my oppinion the "true" Tubescreamer.

I play a "pimpt" Fender US Strat. and a Gibson Paula.
In a old 100 Watt Tube Plexi over a 4x12 celestion V 30 Cab.
But more and more over the Engl screamer Combo + 1 x 12 Cab.
( more versatile ) !!
My Effect chain is simple; Boss DD3 - Maxon Od9 - Morley Tremonti WahWah and a Korg Dt 10 Tuner.....sometimes with a Roger Mayer Voodoo Vibe.....all of these are running over a Visual One Spot Adapter.

Becaouse Im very happy with the Od9, it gets 10, well done, points.

have it since 4 years without any problem.
all parts fell strong and good quality like.
But I dont know what is in 20 years ?.......so 9 points.

No points for the unknown.

I play a mix of Hendrix, Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains, Metallica, Al Di Meola, Beethoven and myself Stuff.
Since 20 years, in many Bands, at many gigs and also in some Studios.
Also I have testet many Equipment stuff over the years, some good ones, but the most are bad ones....But not the Maxon OD 9.
When you searching for a Overdrive stomb box, test one of these.

I need only a good Guitar and a good Amp to feel and play good.
So I give it 8 points...

Level, Tone and Drive. I deducted two points because the footswitch takes some getting used to. You must press the footswitch down completely and then release it in order to turn the effect on and off. This must be done with a firm, FAST stomp in order to avoid a split second of silence between your signal and the OD going on or off. Once you get the hang of it you can switch it on and off smoothly without any audible glitches. Still, the fact that you have to learn a new ???stomping technique??? is kind of a pain in the arse initially.

I love Tubescreamers, I???ve played the real deal ???vintage??? TS-9s and I used to own a TS-9 reissue (circa 1997), the Maxon beats them all by a mile. I A/Bd my OD-9 with a 2004 TS-9 and the Maxon was far warmer with more low-end and gain. The TS-9 sounded thin and weak in comparison. Plus, the Maxon is True Bypass making it a no-brainer; this is THE Tubescreamer to get.

As a stand alone OD it has enough gain for AC/DC type tones and that???s as extreme as it gets. The tone works great for classic rock or blues, but it???s not enough for hard rock or Metal. It???s not a ???hi-fi??? sounding pedal either. It does have a compressed, boxy sound due to the bass cut and mid-hump it???s famous for. However, it???s these characteristics that make it cut through in a band mix, which is one reason why this pedal has been so popular with so many guitarists.

My favorite application is to use it as a clean boost into my cranked Marshall (1982 JCM 800 2204). This sends my already distorted Marshall over the edge into total Metal insanity! Chords are thick and crunchy, palm mutes are tight and powerful, and leads have a sweet, violin like sustain.

Don???t know but it???s built like a tank so no worries.

I???ve been playing guitar since 1984, my favorite styles are classic Metal (Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Dio) and Death/Thrash (80s Slayer, Morbid Angel). If lost or stolen I would definitely get another one. Maxon designed and built all of the original Tubescreamers for Ibanez so this is the real deal, more so than an Ibanez RI TS-9 or 808. I own some really nice boutique overdrives that I love but nothing does it for me like a good Tubescreamer boosting a cranked Marshall. Aside from the weird feeling of the footswitch, this pedal is great in everyway, for Tubescreamers it doesn???t get any better. If your looking for a Tubescreamer, you can???t go wrong with the OD-9, highly recommended.

3 knobs... drive, tone and level. every combination sounds awesome but there are definitely sweet spots for every rig so mess around and find what works for you.

manual offers some standard presets and they all sound great.

i play in Turtle Soup which is a jamband. i was looking for that creamy, smooth, crying distortion to and this is it. i tried a lot of pedals but there was too much edge or gain or an attempt to imitate a marshall amp. as soon as i played through this i was instantly hooked. it's the sound i was looking for.

my setup:

Paul Reed Smith fitted with Roland GR-20 Guitar Synth (or) Fender Strat -> Fender Tuner
A/B switch ->
Morley Bad Horsie Wah ->
Keeley Compressor ->
Maxon OD-9 ->
Damage Control Womanizer ->
Fender Hot Rod Deville 212

Effects Loop:
Visual Sound H2O Chorus/Echo
Boss DD8

I usually just back off a bit from pinning the drive, put the tone at around 1, and adjust the output level per situation or gig (every room is different).

A SICK RIDE.
you can play screaming leads without that shrill high-endy metal sound. it's warm and bubbly, similar to a horn, but it's got balls too. i mix it with the keely comp and the H20 Chorus to get an AMAZING tone.

INSANE SUSTAIN
Keely comp -> OD-9 -> DC Womanizer (nuclear)
when i want to kick it in more, i can change the channel on the fender amp or use the DC womanizer pedal. literally i can hold notes forever. if i wanted, i can bend into a note, hold it for literally 18 minutes and come down on it without breaking the phrase.

NOISE FACTOR
well, its supposed to be noisy, cmon now. hello? has no noise while playing. BUT this pedal has true bypass so there is no coloration of the sound when off. and for a tube screamer that sounds this good, you don't even notice the minimal noise unless you're an anal retentive sound guy or something. again, though i do have the drive near dimed.

SOLID AS A ROCK
this pedal is built sturdy as hell. i use it all the time without a backup. but it's my main go-to lead tone.

N/A

This is perfect for me. i've been playing for over 12 years, and currently play in the jamband Turtle Soup, mixing rock, jazz, funk, blues and many more elements. there's a lot of guitar soloing and this pedal delivers a smooth ripping sound, without that edge that gets tired. however it is a signature sound and has it's place in the pallette. it's not a one-stop shop.

if lost or stolen, i would definitely buy another one, and have considered buying 2 and cascading them.

I mix the driven guitar tones with the roland guitar synth GR-20 and it sounds so incredible you really don't belive what is going on. I love everything about this pedal.

I compared it to a lot, and i'd say that if you wanted a heavy sound, this pedal is not it. i have the Damage Control womanizer for that edgier power chord arena rock sound. it's vicious! this pedal is great for mellower, smoother distortion.

Highly recommended!

If you'd like to hear the Maxon OD-9 in use in both live and studio settings, visit Turtle Soup's website at www.myspace.com/turtlesoupband for sound clips and gig dates.

3 knobs..drive tone level.,,

id say better than the ts9RI..im pretty sure its the RI..i a/bd this pedal with a 1981 ibanez TS9-no difference at all!i dont have to pay $345 anymore..i was gona buy the TS9 before buh i was a bit hesitant to buy it cause of the price ($345AUD)..so i went to other stores and check other TS clone pedals MI Auido Blues Pro-its ok.not impressed,behringer to800-identical with TS9RI pedal but reliability is the issue,bad monkey-it was a good pedal.i was gona buy it buh when i turned the gain up my tone sounded like fake well for me i dunno maybe its jus me,ibanez ts808-yeah its alrightbuh im still looking for something else,maxon od9-at first(today was the 2nd time i tried it) cudnt get the sound i wanted so i checkd the maxon site to get some ideas so yeah went back to the store and had a go with it.even with low volumes i was amazed with it..found the tone i was lookinh for..

wellits brick

very helpful

BUY IT!!!

Very easy, can't get any easier ...

BRILLIANT !

Sure you can !

Great !

I SOLD a Maxon OD808 reissue just to go and buy this one !
Need to say anything else ? ?? I will, the 808 wasn't bright enough for me and, when I turned the tone knob clockwise the lows were simply gone ... real shit !
I dug this pedal more because it does have some extra bite and it's quite crispy without ever becoming short of low-end, which I consider to be quite important.
Also, the True-Bypassing switching is a MUST-HAVE !
This OD9 has a bit more overdrive than the OD808 and it really has become a keeper for me, simply GREAT !

p.s. - The Ibanez original "equal" isnt't equal at all. Please check Analogman's website where he explains this is a Tube Screamer circuit and the Ibanez never was ...

Not much to say about this. There is no relevance. This is a simple distortion pedal with three knobs and a switch.

I own an Ibanez TS9. I really like this pedal, far better than TS808. TS9 has clear highs and better fidelity. Considering what I need out of a distortion pedal in my current setup, where I need just a little more juice & cut during solos on top of either already overdriven signal or clean, none can do a better job than a TS9. TS808 is silky/smooth, but too round sounding for this paticularapplication. TS9 & TS808 truly are two different animals. Both great pedals. Ok.. enough on the TS talk.

True-bypass has become such a hot thing nowadays. While it's such a tentalizing idea to maintain the signal unaltered by the pedal cirtcuit when the pedal is not in use, the question is how much different does it make, and is it worth the extra money? The verdict is it REALLY does make a difference, however with varying degrees of difference depending on the pedals/manufacturers. For example, I made a HUGE improvement in tone, when I replaced the regular switch on my Vox wah with a fulltone DPDT switch. Some pedals suck some good tone out by thinning/weaking the signal.

Now the main topic! How does OD9 compare to TS9, tone-wise? How does TS9 sound/how much does TS9 alter the tone when it's off? First off, Maxon used to make TS9, so they do nail the looks. I AB'ed the two pedals and they do sound very close too as well. However, Maxon sounds very very slightly more focused midrange. I'm guessing this difference is as a result of the difference in the use of JRC4558 IC chip on Maxon, compared to TA75558 IC on Ibanez. But again, the difference is very sutle. In terms of bypass, again the difference is sutle as well. You're probably not be able to tell the difference between them two in the live application.

Aside from all the analysis and comparison, the Maxon pedal, standalone, is a great TS9 pedal.

Maxon sounds great, and does give you a peace of mind with the DPDT true-bypass switching. The justification of paying extra $35 depends on your current setup and where you use them. If you run a few pedals with your amp, going true-bypass with one pedal will not make a big difference. If you use many pedals on your signal path, you'll need to go true-bypass on most of your pedals to make a difference. Also, if your application is in live situations, the difference/improvement becomes less obvious.

3 knobs. Standard Tubescreamer set-up. Trick is to find the best combination for your sound.

I play a stock 1985 Japanese '57 Reissue Strat (I bought it in Tokyo and it was made for the Japanese market, not for export) through a Blues Jr. with a Jensen C12N. When I first bought the unmodded pedal I was a bit disappointed. It hissed loudly when on. The hiss increased with an increase in gain and effect level. The tone control was unusable past half as it became raspy with ice pick treble. With the Analogman 808 mod the pedal is almost silent unless gain and effect are all the way up (even through my single coil pups). The tone control can be used in all settings. I get a beautiful clean boost with the gain turned off or barely on, to a bluesy solid tube crunch with the gain up from one-quarter to half, and an incredible double-stack Marshall tube distortion at three-fourths. The sound is transparent, natural and sweet. Absolutely Incredible!

Maxon builds pedals that could survive a nuclear bomb. I don't anticipate that the mod will have any problems. I have, and will gig without a backup.

Mike replied to all emails quickly and was able to change the return address upon request. Much appreciated.

I've been playing on and off for over 35 years, mostly blues and classic hard rock. This mod allows me to achieve the cranked up sound I love for rock at low volumes and that smooth, creamy, just at the point of breaking up sound that suits my preference for blues. It also allows me to increase the volume with or without an increase in gain or unwanted "pedal" noise. I use a Digitech RP50 with the Blues Jr. for a touch of delay and reverb (a great pedal for this purpose). The modded OD-9 eliminates my need for multiple amp and effect settings on the RP50. I would feel confident to use the OD-9 without the RP50 to gig if needed. I am very pleased with the work that was done as I now have a useful pedal that allows me to pick and choose my sound within a natural tube driven framework. If lost I would quickly replace this pedal from Analogman and I am thinking of adding another, perhaps the Silver Mod, at some time in the future. It is well worth the additional investment. Next time I will purchase directly from analogman.com.