• From: Mt Clemens Michigan
  • Registered: 2006-09-12
  • Posts: 572

Topic: My New ZVEX Box of Rock Pedal

Hey all. Havent been here in awhile. Just wanted to give a review on my new ZVEX Box of Rock pedal I picked up today at Guitar Center. All I can say is WOW!! What a pedal. This pedal was designed to make any amp sound like a Marshal at 10. And it sure does. Here is the web site incase nobody has heard of them: http://zvex.com/effects.html

Right now I have  Les Paul plugged into a Boss Delay pedal and a Fender Twin with the bright switch off and it sounds so much like Page its not even funny. I cant get over how nice its sounds. I then tried it on my Marshall Vintage/Moderne and same thing. It roared!! Be sure to check out reviews at Eharmony or anywhere on line. I have a Fulltone OCD pedal that will be getting sold now. I love this pedal that much! Dont believe me, go down to your local guiatr shop and try one out. This pedal has two buttons: One is called the Distortion Engine and the other is a boost. The best money I have spent in awhile. They are $200 new but I seen them on Ebay for about $150 and up. They have a hand painted one for over $300. I heard it is the same pedal so why waste money?

Anyone else here have this pedal or have tried one out? Wonder if Joe has tried this pedal yet?

All my tears they fell like rain, cant you hear them falling?
Led Zeppelin: Since I been Loving You
  • ken
  • ken
  • Titanium
  • Offline
  • From: Orlando, FL
  • Registered: 2007-05-28
  • Posts: 949

Re: My New ZVEX Box of Rock Pedal

Davy Knowles uses one of these into (I think) a super reverb. Sounded great at HOB Dallas.

  • From: Mt Clemens Michigan
  • Registered: 2006-09-12
  • Posts: 572

Re: My New ZVEX Box of Rock Pedal

It's designed to emulate the tube path of a Marshall JTM45. It absorbs fuzz, distortion, and other effects just like the front end of an old Marshall. Class-A, baby!

All my tears they fell like rain, cant you hear them falling?
Led Zeppelin: Since I been Loving You

4 Reply by ModTourMan (edited by ModTourMan 2008-12-30 00:02:48)

  • From: South Brunswick, NJ USA
  • Registered: 2006-04-21
  • Posts: 133

Re: My New ZVEX Box of Rock Pedal

I love my Box of Rock.  I purchased one of the hand painted ones about a year and a half ago (pre Vexter).  I play at home only and use the BOR to loosen up my bright and tight THD Univalve.  I also use it with my old Fender Champ.  The boost is great and adds a nice glassy shimmer too!  This pedal is often misunderstood...it is NOT going to give you the classic Plexi tones but it will emulate the JTM45 perfectly as mentioned earlier in this thread.  If you like the deep, sometimes 'flubby' Marshall JTM45 tone this pedal is for you! It is also very amp like in that you can use your guitars volume knobs to clean up your signal.  I've also stacked a tube screamer in front of it with great success.

Russ B.
  • From: Mt Clemens Michigan
  • Registered: 2006-09-12
  • Posts: 572

Re: My New ZVEX Box of Rock Pedal

Modtourman

When experimenting with other pedals, do you place them before or after the BOR? Do you only use OD and Distortion before the pedal?

I also heard that the Carl Martin Plexitube pedal is killer also.


Rob

All my tears they fell like rain, cant you hear them falling?
Led Zeppelin: Since I been Loving You
  • From: South Brunswick, NJ USA
  • Registered: 2006-04-21
  • Posts: 133

Re: My New ZVEX Box of Rock Pedal

zosozep7 wrote:

Modtourman

When experimenting with other pedals, do you place them before or after the BOR? Do you only use OD and Distortion before the pedal?

I also heard that the Carl Martin Plexitube pedal is killer also.


Rob

Rob,
Only OD's so far - I currently use a Tube Screamer (Maxon OD 808) in front of the BOR...I'm VERY pleased with it.  I have also tried my Keely compressor in front but it was too noisy.  I only use the compressor with my Strat (which I play rarely - my main guitar is a Les Paul R8) so I have not relocated it behind the BOR yet.  I'd like to get hold of a good VOX AC30 type pedal...any suggestions?   

-Russ

Russ B.
  • From: Mt Clemens Michigan
  • Registered: 2006-09-12
  • Posts: 572

Re: My New ZVEX Box of Rock Pedal

ModTourMan wrote:
zosozep7 wrote:

Modtourman

When experimenting with other pedals, do you place them before or after the BOR? Do you only use OD and Distortion before the pedal?

I also heard that the Carl Martin Plexitube pedal is killer also.


Rob

Rob,
Only OD's so far - I currently use a Tube Screamer (Maxon OD 808) in front of the BOR...I'm VERY pleased with it.  I have also tried my Keely compressor in front but it was too noisy.  I only use the compressor with my Strat (which I play rarely - my main guitar is a Les Paul R8) so I have not relocated it behind the BOR yet.  I'd like to get hold of a good VOX AC30 type pedal...any suggestions?   

-Russ

Russ, I too have a Maxon OD9 and I plugged it in today and wow! This is the sound I have been looking for for a long time. I must say though that I also have a Boss Delay pedal and thats one of the key ingredients. I am an avid Page fan and I got his tone nailed to a tee now. All this running through my Fender Twin to boot. My DD7 (Boss Delay) is set at 50km in mode, e level is at 3 oclock, f.back is at 11 oclock, and d.time is at 11 oclock also. Try playing some lead guitar on that setting! Think Duane Allman and "Its not my Cross to Bear" all the way!!

As far as a VOX like pedal, I dont know. Have you ever been to the gear page??

http://www.thegearpage.net/board/

I just joined this board under the same user name as here. I have been visiting this board for a few years now and if you cant get your answer at this site, I dont think you will get it anywhere else. Be sure to check it out if you havent allready. When you post a question, you will get a bunch of responses right away. There are alot of people on that board! If you find out a pedal for a VOX sound, please let me know!

Rob

All my tears they fell like rain, cant you hear them falling?
Led Zeppelin: Since I been Loving You

8 Reply by ModTourMan (edited by ModTourMan 2008-12-30 23:56:02)

  • From: South Brunswick, NJ USA
  • Registered: 2006-04-21
  • Posts: 133

Re: My New ZVEX Box of Rock Pedal

zosozep7 wrote:
ModTourMan wrote:
zosozep7 wrote:

Modtourman

When experimenting with other pedals, do you place them before or after the BOR? Do you only use OD and Distortion before the pedal?

I also heard that the Carl Martin Plexitube pedal is killer also.


Rob

Rob,
Only OD's so far - I currently use a Tube Screamer (Maxon OD 808) in front of the BOR...I'm VERY pleased with it.  I have also tried my Keely compressor in front but it was too noisy.  I only use the compressor with my Strat (which I play rarely - my main guitar is a Les Paul R8) so I have not relocated it behind the BOR yet.  I'd like to get hold of a good VOX AC30 type pedal...any suggestions?   

-Russ

Russ, I too have a Maxon OD9 and I plugged it in today and wow! This is the sound I have been looking for for a long time. I must say though that I also have a Boss Delay pedal and thats one of the key ingredients. I am an avid Page fan and I got his tone nailed to a tee now. All this running through my Fender Twin to boot. My DD7 (Boss Delay) is set at 50km in mode, e level is at 3 oclock, f.back is at 11 oclock, and d.time is at 11 oclock also. Try playing some lead guitar on that setting! Think Duane Allman and "Its not my Cross to Bear" all the way!!

As far as a VOX like pedal, I dont know. Have you ever been to the gear page??

http://www.thegearpage.net/board/

I just joined this board under the same user name as here. I have been visiting this board for a few years now and if you cant get your answer at this site, I dont think you will get it anywhere else. Be sure to check it out if you havent allready. When you post a question, you will get a bunch of responses right away. There are alot of people on that board! If you find out a pedal for a VOX sound, please let me know!

Rob

Sounds like you have a decent thing goin' on there! I agree about the delay.  I use a Maxon AD999 myself.  Blues/ Blues-Rocks my thing.  I play at home 90% of the time these days I have been chasing the 'cranked Marshall JTM45 at low volume thing' for some time.  I've tried amp sims and attenuators but finally found a satisfactory low volume tone with the BOR pedal in front of  clean and low volume tube amps.  My unconventional set up is as follows:

Les Paul R8 > Maxon OD 808 >Box Of Rock > Voodoo Labs tremolo > Maxon Ad999 analog delay w/ stereo outs > dry signal to THD Univalve (KT-66 power tube) into a THD 2 X 12 cab and 1 X 10 rotary cab > wet signal to Fender Champ.  Old school all the way - no effects loops on any of amps.  I have weened myself off of digital pedals save for my EH Holy Grail pedal (A tube reverb unit is next!).
I have a pedal board full of all the usual stuff - univibe, phaser, wah, chorus (etc) but those are rarely used these days.  It;s been nice comparing set ups!  Thanks.

Russ B.
  • Registered: 2008-11-05
  • Posts: 190

Re: My New ZVEX Box of Rock Pedal

Just a question. How much do you spend on pedals?

"Music Washes Away From The Soul, The Dust Of Everyday Life"
  • Louis
  • Bronze Member
  • Offline
  • From: Charlotte, NC
  • Registered: 2008-10-17
  • Posts: 35

Re: My New ZVEX Box of Rock Pedal

I Would hate to be judged by 'how much I spend' ... and here, I hope it wont be that way. I would never come here to be some kind of show-off either. The ecclectic group here seem to want to explore new sounds and pedals all the time. You know what Roadshow? It's truly not about what you got here, but what you do with it- I just try to keep it fresh and read/explore new ideas here...about music we really are passionate about   $0.02
  It sounds like the Zvex really is doing some good things for you Zoso... I think my little Blackstar could be just as good- I am trying to get the clean type of sustain which is best for blues... I like a pedal which allows the player to 'tweak' the sound. If you are familiar with the solo in "Black Night" from Joe you know what I am trying to get at. I have listened to that piece many times. The lead is just so CLEAN and ARTICULATE... The great majority of pedals I looked at just will not get you to that place.

"All You have to do is write one true sentence..." E. Hemingway
  • From: South Brunswick, NJ USA
  • Registered: 2006-04-21
  • Posts: 133

Re: My New ZVEX Box of Rock Pedal

roadshow101 wrote:

Just a question. How much do you spend on pedals?

Not much...When my kids got a bit older, and I had a few bucks left over after paying the bills, I began to buy a new pedal every year or so (over a 10 year period).  I also picked up a few nice combos - a Champ and a Valco -nothing too fancy  I buy quality stuff and take care of it so it lasts.  I haven't bought a new pedal in a couple of years now (the BOR was my last purchase).  I'm not rich so guitars and gear will always come last in my house.  One thing to remember is that time is on your side if your patient and careful what you buy...of course my knees and lower back don't appreciate the passage of time as much!

Russ B.