Maxon

The Japanese company Maxon has been going a long time, despite it never really being known to us. Meanwhile, word got out that the legendary Tubescreamer TS808 has long been manufactured by Maxon, and Maxon is now bringing virtually all of its old treasures back onto the market. Naturally that includes the "mother of all overdrives", the Maxon OD-808.

Similar in design to the earlier, manufactured overseas TS808, it also retains the legendary JRC 4558 D chip. Compared to the later TS-9, it sounds a bit softer and clearer - the "mid-knock" of the later Tubescreamer is less pronounced. For many, it is simply "the" Overdrive.

• Reissue Series
• Often copied, never equaled
• Identical with the original circuit and incl. the JRC4558D chip
• Characteristics: Natural sounding overdrive, similar to a tube amp
• Unbelievably clear
• Dynamic to play
• Suitable power supply: Article Nr 409939 (not included)

• Based on the ST9 Distortion from 1980
• Drive, Level, Mid Enhance, Tone, Low Boost (Low Boost/Classic) controls
• Switch for 9V/18V for more headroom
• Power supply (not included), available under Article Nr 409939

• Overdrive
• Unique voltage doubling circuit with very large headroom
• Reacts very precisely to every picking nuance or playing dynamic
• Controls: Drive, Tone, Level
• LED: Effect On
• Footswitch: Effect Bypass
• Input: 6.3 mm jack
• Output: 6.3 mm jack
• Power supply connection: Barrel connector 5.5 x 2.1 mm, negative polarity inside
• Power consumption: 200 mA
• Power supply via 9 V battery or 9 V DC mains adapter (not included in delivery - suitable mains adapter: Art.409939)
• True bypass
• Dimensions (W x D x H): 145 x 110 x 50 mm
• Weight: 900 g

• Overdrive
• Faithful reissue of the legendary OD-9/TS-9 circuit from the 1980s with the JRC45581C chip, which additionally has a true bypass circuit for clean, more drive and output than the OD808 for more versatility
• Controls: Drive, Tone, Level
• LED: Effect On
• Footswitch: Effect Bypass
• Input: 6.3 mm jack
• Output: 6.3 mm jack
• Mains adapter connection: Hollow female plug 5.5 x 2.1 mm, negative pole inside
• Power consumption: 7 mA
• Powered by a 9 V battery or a 9/10 V DC power supply unit (not included, suitable power supply unit: art. 409939)
• True bypass
• Dimensions (W x D x H): 74 x 124 x 54 mm
• Weight: 580 g
• Incl. 9 V Manganese dry cell (S-006P) battery
• Made in Japan

The Japanese company Maxon has been around for a long time, although it was never really known to us. This is because Maxon was always closely associated with Ibanez, and their effects pedals were mostly developed for Ibanez and sold under their name throughout the world. In the interim, word got out that the legendary Tubescreamer TS808 actually comes from Maxon, and in the course of the retro boom Maxon is now bringing almost all their old darlings back onto the market.

Many might recall the SD9 Sonic Distortion; there was the pretty part (green mamba springs to mind), which was indeed with us in the 80s from Ibanez. And it sounds equally poisonous; in contrast to classic fuzz (as they were earlier called) pedals, the sound and dynamics are not messed up and the tone controller can also add some solid bass - that's some endless punch!

The SD9 has a very particular distortion sound, which is typically loved or hated. However, in quieter settings more moderate crunch sounds are possible, which still manage to retain something of that wonderful scratchiness.

• Low boost / High boost tone control
• Provides more power in the lower range than other pedals
• Up to 55 dB of extra boost
• Controls for Distortion, Drive and Level
• A highly-compressed, singing sustain